FastRAM Compatible CD32 Disc Project

Amigajay · 14 August 2018, 20:56

..

jotd · 14 August 2018, 21:20

I'm sure there are "NOFASTMEM" programs around. The sfx glitches are probably blitterwait errors due to code loaded in fastmem & blitter routines not fixed.

whdload boot also fixes this

jotd · 15 August 2018, 09:46

CD audio I just forgot about that... So basically how did you fix the bugs? by eating all fastmem at startup? It could be a nice touch to create CD images that still work with the unexpanded CD32.

Fun fact: I have a TF328 but my CD-ROM isn't working anymore. I guess that "fixes" it for me

FOL · 16 August 2018, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amigajay

Mainly a combination of various Tude commands so far.

Not sure why you would need to have these new images that work on unexpanded CD32’s? Just use the original ISO! Though no reason why these wont work on all CD32’s too.

There’s more support for CD32 people fixing machines out there, sort out poor old machine out!

Would rather one CD covers all, as appossed to have two of each CD.
MicroCosm runs much smoother with FastRAM, however on real hardware it checks and crashes. I haven't tried my updated CD yet with TF328 (had it almost a year and just have not had the time to really sit down and play with it).

wairnair · 20 August 2018, 15:36

I've done a modified version of Flink - it has a modified startup-sequence that disables fast ram (via Tude maybe, can't remember) so it works on a TF328. I also lowered the volume of the cdda tracks, so it blends nicely with the sound effects. Game is quite enjoyable - only badly missing a save feature but there's no easy workaround for that.
I can upload the iso to the zone, or the eab ftp if there's interest. (And if I'm allowed to - not sure as I haven't done this yet)

wairnair · 22 August 2018, 14:37

Uploaded Flink to the Zone for a member here but it's there for everyone. http://eab.abime.net/zone/FlinkCD32WorksWithFastram.iso

SKOLMAN_MWS · 23 August 2018, 08:30

Can not disable FastRAM in TF328?

jotd · 23 August 2018, 09:40

You can certainly disable it by software. I've written something like this, but it probably exists: it consists of allocating fast memory in big chunks and if it fails, divide by 2, repeat (yeah TUDE does that)

SKOLMAN_MWS · 23 August 2018, 10:06

I had A1200 and FastRAM and software would never replace hardware shutdown.

jotd · 23 August 2018, 11:09

yeah rip the board from the machine (preferably when powered on)

(the blizzard 1260 also has a nice "press 2 on rainbow screen" feature to disable the board & mem)

spudje · 23 August 2018, 13:42

Guys, wasn't this thread about making the games work WITH the FastRAM, and ideally making use of it to improve the game, rather than disabling the FastRAM?

NeoHippie2016 · 23 August 2018, 17:56

Thank you, AmigaJay and wairnair!

supaduper · 23 August 2018, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKOLMAN_MWS

Can not disable FastRAM in TF328?

You can disable the TF328 from the CD32 and take it back to stock 2mb by removing the Clockbuffer jumper or best to make a fly lead like below with a jumper or toggle switch, this was available from firmware ver 41

Click image for larger version

Name: TF328 Jumper cable.jpg
Views: 423
Size: 366.4 KB
ID: 59473

wairnair · 24 August 2018, 09:54

thank you, that's great

Quote:

Originally Posted by supaduper

You can disable the TF328 from the CD32 and take it back to stock 2mb by removing the Clockbuffer jumper or best to make a fly lead like below with a jumper or toggle switch, this was available from firmware ver 41

Attachment 59473

wairnair · 24 August 2018, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudje

Guys, wasn't this thread about making the games work WITH the FastRAM, and ideally making use of it to improve the game, rather than disabling the FastRAM?

I think it's about making ISO's that work on fastram equipped cd32's so that you can just pop in a CD and play. E.g. Flink doesn't benefit from having fast ram and most 2D games don't. It does crash / has weird audio errors if fastram is present. Games that benefit from having fastram are coded accordingly so they likely don't have problems with fastram in the first place.

SKOLMAN_MWS · 26 August 2018, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by supaduper

You can disable the TF328 from the CD32 and take it back to stock 2mb by removing the Clockbuffer jumper or best to make a fly lead like below with a jumper or toggle switch, this was available from firmware ver 41

Attachment 59473

Do we have access after such surgery to IDE? I mean only to turn off FastRAM and not the entire card.

supaduper · 26 August 2018, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKOLMAN_MWS

Do we have access after such surgery to IDE? I mean only to turn off FastRAM and not the entire card.

No it completely disables the TF328 from the CD32, so no IDE access

Amicol · 24 January 2019, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by wairnair

Uploaded Flink to the Zone for a member here but it's there for everyone. http://eab.abime.net/zone/FlinkCD32WorksWithFastram.iso

link broken, do you still have this to share?

Good game this but the loud music is annoying!

DamienD · 24 January 2019, 20:45

Back in The Zone! for you Amicol

jotd · 24 January 2019, 20:56

Or game makers locate all their code to chipmem to avoid fastmem issues, but then the game crawls ...

14 August 2018, 20:56	#1
Amigajay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: > Posts: 2,956	FastRAM Compatible CD32 Disc Project .. Last edited by Amigajay; 07 February 2021 at 09:47.

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14 August 2018, 21:20	#2
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,386	I'm sure there are "NOFASTMEM" programs around. The sfx glitches are probably blitterwait errors due to code loaded in fastmem & blitter routines not fixed. whdload boot also fixes this

15 August 2018, 09:46	#3
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,386	CD audio I just forgot about that... So basically how did you fix the bugs? by eating all fastmem at startup? It could be a nice touch to create CD images that still work with the unexpanded CD32. Fun fact: I have a TF328 but my CD-ROM isn't working anymore. I guess that "fixes" it for me

20 August 2018, 15:36	#5
wairnair Registered User Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Budapest Posts: 355	I've done a modified version of Flink - it has a modified startup-sequence that disables fast ram (via Tude maybe, can't remember) so it works on a TF328. I also lowered the volume of the cdda tracks, so it blends nicely with the sound effects. Game is quite enjoyable - only badly missing a save feature but there's no easy workaround for that. I can upload the iso to the zone, or the eab ftp if there's interest. (And if I'm allowed to - not sure as I haven't done this yet)

22 August 2018, 14:37	#6
wairnair Registered User Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Budapest Posts: 355	Uploaded Flink to the Zone for a member here but it's there for everyone. http://eab.abime.net/zone/FlinkCD32WorksWithFastram.iso

23 August 2018, 08:30	#7
SKOLMAN_MWS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Poland Posts: 168	Can not disable FastRAM in TF328?

23 August 2018, 09:40	#8
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,386	You can certainly disable it by software. I've written something like this, but it probably exists: it consists of allocating fast memory in big chunks and if it fails, divide by 2, repeat (yeah TUDE does that)

23 August 2018, 10:06	#9
SKOLMAN_MWS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Poland Posts: 168	I had A1200 and FastRAM and software would never replace hardware shutdown.

23 August 2018, 11:09	#10
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,386	yeah rip the board from the machine (preferably when powered on) (the blizzard 1260 also has a nice "press 2 on rainbow screen" feature to disable the board & mem)

23 August 2018, 13:42	#11
spudje Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,408	Guys, wasn't this thread about making the games work WITH the FastRAM, and ideally making use of it to improve the game, rather than disabling the FastRAM?

23 August 2018, 17:56	#12
NeoHippie2016 Freak Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Gladbeck Age: 47 Posts: 581	Thank you, AmigaJay and wairnair!

24 January 2019, 20:45	#19
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 47 Posts: 20,420	Back in The Zone! for you Amicol

24 January 2019, 20:56	#20
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,386	Or game makers locate all their code to chipmem to avoid fastmem issues, but then the game crawls ...

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