Action Replay memory limits

CLXIV · 14 September 2021, 18:23

Hello! I'm aware the Action Replay Mk 2 wouldn't work on machines with too much memory (there was a limit of either 2MB or 4MB, which of course is more than gamers would have had at the time anyway so wasn't a problem).

I have a Mk 3 though (the red label version) and can't find anything on whether that limit was raised, removed or unchanged. The documentation doesn't mention a limit, but then there's plenty else the documentation doesn't mention (it's a pretty big manual already so guess they couldn't cover everything).

Can anyone enlighten me if it would work with a larger amount of RAM?

Jope · 14 September 2021, 18:53

It is unchanged for the mk3.

CLXIV · 14 September 2021, 18:58

Thanks Jope. Do you know what the limit is? And what happens if you exceed it?

Jope · 14 September 2021, 19:40

I think it was 4MB, but this is off the top of my head. If you exceed it, it won't work very well as the AR does not autoconfigure, it will overlap with RAM.

CLXIV · 14 September 2021, 21:11

Ahhhh OK so I guess the AR is occupying some of the $600000 address space?

Thanks again Jope, you're certainly a knowledgeable chap! Do you ever (or have you ever) developed Amiga hardware?

Jope · 15 September 2021, 08:54

No prob.

I haven't developed any expansion of my own, but I know a little bit about many things after being fanatical about the Amiga for so many decades.

musashi5150 · 16 September 2021, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

I think it was 4MB, but this is off the top of my head. If you exceed it, it won't work very well as the AR does not autoconfigure, it will overlap with RAM.

That sounds pretty right from my experience

My A500 is 512K + 1.5MB (slow) + 8MB (fast external with passthrough).

I have to jumper the fast RAM down to 4MB or the AR3 just produces a black screen.

kamelito · 16 September 2021, 19:03

New C64 freezer has been made or enhanced nothing for Amiga

CLXIV · 16 September 2021, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by musashi5150

That sounds pretty right from my experience

My A500 is 512K + 1.5MB (slow) + 8MB (fast external with passthrough).

I have to jumper the fast RAM down to 4MB or the AR3 just produces a black screen.

Good to know! Is that one of those 1.5MB trapdoor expansions with Gary adaptor? (and what side expansion is it by the way?)

musashi5150 · 17 September 2021, 08:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLXIV

Good to know! Is that one of those 1.5MB trapdoor expansions with Gary adaptor? (and what side expansion is it by the way?)

Yup, 1.5MB with Gary adaptor. The external RAM is from Reference with the LED that flashes when the RAM is being accessed (which I always thought was cool

). For good measure there's a SupraTurbo 28 hanging on the side as well as it's really compatible with everything (including the AR3).

Jope · 17 September 2021, 08:50

It's surprising that the AR3 doesn't explode with the supraturbo. :-) 68010 makes it quite unhappy.

Toni Wilen · 17 September 2021, 09:52

AR3 (and 2) hidden ROM and RAM is located at $00400000-$0043ffff (Conflicts with >2M Fast RAM expansion). Freezer code also expects 68000-style exception stack frame.

zipper · 17 September 2021, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

It's surprising that the AR3 doesn't explode with the supraturbo. :-) 68010 makes it quite unhappy.

Worked fine for me, and there was a Roctec hdd on the chain - AR3 was sitting in an Alfa Data 86pin Expansion Adaptor. Made a pretty broad A500...

CLXIV · 19 September 2021, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by musashi5150

That sounds pretty right from my experience

My A500 is 512K + 1.5MB (slow) + 8MB (fast external with passthrough).

I have to jumper the fast RAM down to 4MB or the AR3 just produces a black screen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

AR3 (and 2) hidden ROM and RAM is located at $00400000-$0043ffff (Conflicts with >2M Fast RAM expansion). Freezer code also expects 68000-style exception stack frame.

Thanks for the replies! Bit of a discrepancy here though, or does it vary by AR version?

Jope · 20 September 2021, 06:58

Toni was the most correct of us all, he's had the most recent experiences messing around with AR3. The rest of us are working on failing memories.

musashi5150 · 20 September 2021, 08:13

Definitely 4MB configured here. Perhaps it would blow up if I happen to use more than 2MB of it

14 September 2021, 18:23	#1
CLXIV Registered User Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Eastbourne Posts: 157	Action Replay memory limits Hello! I'm aware the Action Replay Mk 2 wouldn't work on machines with too much memory (there was a limit of either 2MB or 4MB, which of course is more than gamers would have had at the time anyway so wasn't a problem). I have a Mk 3 though (the red label version) and can't find anything on whether that limit was raised, removed or unchanged. The documentation doesn't mention a limit, but then there's plenty else the documentation doesn't mention (it's a pretty big manual already so guess they couldn't cover everything). Can anyone enlighten me if it would work with a larger amount of RAM?

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14 September 2021, 18:53	#2
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	It is unchanged for the mk3.

14 September 2021, 18:58	#3
CLXIV Registered User Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Eastbourne Posts: 157	Thanks Jope. Do you know what the limit is? And what happens if you exceed it?

14 September 2021, 19:40	#4
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	I think it was 4MB, but this is off the top of my head. If you exceed it, it won't work very well as the AR does not autoconfigure, it will overlap with RAM.

14 September 2021, 21:11	#5
CLXIV Registered User Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Eastbourne Posts: 157	Ahhhh OK so I guess the AR is occupying some of the $600000 address space? Thanks again Jope, you're certainly a knowledgeable chap! Do you ever (or have you ever) developed Amiga hardware?

15 September 2021, 08:54	#6
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	No prob. I haven't developed any expansion of my own, but I know a little bit about many things after being fanatical about the Amiga for so many decades.

16 September 2021, 19:03	#8
kamelito Zone Friend Join Date: May 2006 Location: France Posts: 1,801	New C64 freezer has been made or enhanced nothing for Amiga

17 September 2021, 08:50	#11
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	It's surprising that the AR3 doesn't explode with the supraturbo. :-) 68010 makes it quite unhappy.

17 September 2021, 09:52	#12
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,505	AR3 (and 2) hidden ROM and RAM is located at $00400000-$0043ffff (Conflicts with >2M Fast RAM expansion). Freezer code also expects 68000-style exception stack frame.

20 September 2021, 06:58	#15
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	Toni was the most correct of us all, he's had the most recent experiences messing around with AR3. The rest of us are working on failing memories.

20 September 2021, 08:13	#16
musashi5150 move.w #$4489,$dff07e Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norfolk, UK Age: 42 Posts: 2,351	Definitely 4MB configured here. Perhaps it would blow up if I happen to use more than 2MB of it

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