DATE: 17 April 1987
TO: Amiga Abusers Everywhere
FROM: Wood S. Clodfelter, aka Wood*Stock (PLink)
SUBJECT: Transformer with a 68010, KS 1.2 in ROM
This is dedicated to all you Amiga Abusers out there, that just can't
wait to NewZap a new program, or add the latest hardware to your
favorite toy.
As a note of background info (not .info), I've been tinkering with the
Amiga since December of 1985, have partially paid for the machine by
co-authoring "Deluxe Help for Deluxe Paint" (a special note of
interest for you 600 or so fans out that bought it, and you 6000 or so
pirates that "borrowed" it). I've built a fair reputation in the West
Palm Beach, FL area for being the one who manages to "make it work" on
the Amiga. And last, but by no means least, I'm a founding member of
the Northern Palm Beach County Amiga Abusers Group (NPBCAAG).
All of us at NPBCAAG are dedicated to wringing the most out of our
toys, paying frequent visits to the Guru, and above all not taking
ourselves or our work very serious. We bought the Amiga for FUN, and
we have it. If you're ever in our area, look us up.
But on to the meat of the matter. Since all of us at NPBCAAG always
want MORE (more what is never very clear), we began looking in
enhancements for the Amiga at an early date. Since none of us were
very rich, we were always looking for the cheap but powerful add-ons.
The first one that looked promising was the 68010 cpu.
The 68010 cpu is a pin-compatable replacement for Amiga's 68000 main
microprocessor. It just so happens to be 99.9% software compatable as
well. The only incompatability is that the 68000 can execute the MOVE
SR,ea instruction in user mode (where it is when it's running your
program, and the 68010 can not. If a 68010 executes that instruction,
it's Hello Guru!. Not to fret, there is a simple solution.
When the Amiga is running as a multi-tasking machine, a small segment
of code can be added to the system which "catches" ("traps" for you
techies) the error, fixes the problem by changing MOVE SR,ea to MOVE
CCR,ea and then continuing with your program. How do you get that
code in place, you say? Just add the DeciGel program to the root or c
directory of your boot disk(s), and make it the first command in your
Startup-Sequence. That's it. For you memory starved users, note that
this will only cost you about 100 bytes!
So why do it? Speed. It may not be lightning, but on some programs,
it's invaluable. The improvement is probably most appreciated when
running Deluxe Music Construction Set. The difference in this
heavyweight software package is amazing. For those of you into Midi,
it's indespensible.
So what's the cost? I got my 68010 chip through a friend who bought
it from a chip distributor who wasn't quite sure of the cost, but best
bets say it can be had for less than $50. A Baby Turbo Amiga for $50.
How can you go wrong?
Well, you can go wrong, but not too far. Certain misbehaving Amiga
programs don't multitask. If the program really won't multitask, and
it executes the dreaded MOVE SR,ea instruction, say hello to the Guru.
The only program that I know of that is that abusive (in the negative
sense) is Commodore's Transformer. What's that? Can't give up
Transformer until SideCar (tee-hee) arrives? Read on.
I have no love for Transformer. It's slow, it's quirky, it's all a
lot of us have. Sooooo... One afternoon (evening, night...) I went
to work on Transformer. Studying the Motorola docs on the 68000 and
68010, writing a loader for "at1" on the Transformer disk, and
disassembling 'til the cows came home, I uncovered the fix. If you
elect to plug in a 68010 and run Transformer, get yourself a copy of
NewZap 3.0, and follow the instructions below.
1. Make a copy of the Transformer disk. Put it in drive "x" and
start NewZap with the command NewZap dfx:at1.
2. Using the Search function (Amiga-Z and Amiga-C), change all
occurances of the hex numbers 40c2, 40c4, 40c6 and 40c7 to 42c2,
42c4, 42c6 and 42c7, respectively, saving each disk block as you
go. I admit there's a bunch, but this fix works!
What you have when you're done is a copy of Transformer that will run
(and will run better) with a 68010. I don't know if it will still run
on a 68000, I don't know anybody that still has one! You're welcome.
Everyone in NPBCAAG has a 68010. Nobody has problems with them.
There may be programs that don't work, but we haven't found them.
The other transformation that is in the works here at the NPBCAAG is
the permanent switch to KickStart 1.2. In ROM, of course. So far, we
have two Amigas with KS in ROM, and more in the works. Here the
pluses and minuses are more difficult to assess. There are nasty
programs out there that just plain demand KS 1.1. If you have some of
these, and just can't bear to part with them, then too bad.
The only KS 1.1 program that can be fixed (that I know of) is (you
guessed it) Transformer. Copy the "Trans12" program to a copy of
Transformer, cd to that disk, and run Trans12. It will patch "at1" so
that it hooks into 1.2 instead of oblivion.
So if you're locked out of KS 1.1, why do it? Because in the process,
you get 256K of Fast Ram Free! The memory previously used to hold KS
is available after you install the ROM's. See the end of this doc for
the address, etc. of how to get KS 1.2 in ROM, BUT READ THIS FIRST!
The installation of KS 1.2 in ROM is not for lightweights! It
involves soldering, cutting and disassembly down to the last screw!
The memory you wind up with does not Auto-Config, so you'll have to
add "AddMem" to your Startup-Sequence to take advantage of the memory,
but if you can handle the installation, you can handle the Sequence.
There are just two things I want to point out that the makers of this
wonder don't tell you in advance. First, if you have an aMega ram
board, you have to make a simple mod to it to continue using it, and
the mod in the early edition of the manual is WRONG. Call them and
get the latest poop. (Note: According to one source at Creative
Microsystems, THEY designed the aMega for C-ltd.)
Second, and MOST important, there are two drives used in the Amiga and
the external 3-1/2's. Some are NEC's (the early ones), the rest are
Panasonics. In order to use the sockets provided for the ROM's, you
must use a Panasonic drive as the internal Amiga drive. The NEC's
simply don't have enough clearance. If your setup is (was?) like
mine, you may have to swap your internal and external drive mechanisms
to get the Panasonic where it fits. If you do, remember that NEC and
Panasonic drives have their connectors flipped. If you change drives,
put a twist in the ribbon cable to keep things straight.
The alternative to the drive swap, is to solder the ROM's directly to
the motherboard. My advice ----> DON'T DO IT!
Well, that's about it. I recommend both of the above changes whole-
heartedly for those of you who are able. The Amiga turns into a
different machine with a 68010 and Fast Ram. And of course, that's
why we all bought it - because it was different.
I can be reached on People Link as Wood*Stock, or by name on Amiga
Link BBS at (305)622-0138. Praises and questions only, all complaints
to nil:
Happy Abusing!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits:
Scott Turner (where ever he is) wrote DeciGel. Bless him.
John Morgensen (PLink -> JMORG) wrote Trans12. Bless him 1.2.
Kickstart Eliminator, the KS ROM's and Fast Ram people are:
Creative Microsystems, Inc.
10110 SW Nimbus #B1
Tigard, OR 97223
(503) 684-9300
Kickstart Eliminator is available direct from CMI, Abel Supply, and
brave Amiga Dealers everywhere.
