Graphics Booster 128

saehn · October 29, 2009, 01:03 AM

Many of you might already know about Graphics Booster 128, a hardware-based "BASIC extension for the 80 column mode (VDC) of the C128." I've heard of it before, but I've never seen a picture of its output until recently. Sorry about the size... mods, feel free to adjust.

More info: http://www.c128.net/infos/gb128info.htm

"It provides a graphical resolution of up to 752 x 700 (monocolor, interlaced) and 640 x 540 (multicolor, interlaced) respectively. The Graphic Booster needs a VDC with 64 K RAM (already available in the C128 DCR) and has therefore been sold for use with "normal" C128's together with a VDC-64K-upgradeboard."

RobertB · October 29, 2009, 03:09 AM

Thanks for that. Now I have more information on this near-mythical piece of hardware.

However, from the fuzzy photo,
what comprises it?
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

saehn · October 29, 2009, 03:38 AM

All I know is what I've read on the site... this PDF is pretty informative:

http://www.c128.net/pdf/The_C-128_GraphicBooster.pdf

RobertB · October 29, 2009, 04:37 AM

Quote from: saehn on October 29, 2009, 03:38 AM
All I know is what I've read on the site... this PDF is pretty informative...

Yeah, but I want to know what exactly are those chips on the board.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

Mark Smith · October 29, 2009, 07:12 AM

Squinting at the picture there is a little wire leading off to some where near the ROM socket .. wonder if he has loaded more that 64K onto the VDC and then doing some sort of bank switching with 64k being the odd lines and the other 64k for even lines ?

Be nice if someone had one of these and took it apart for us :-)

Mark

megabit · October 29, 2009, 09:43 AM

Here is more information:

http://www.c128.net/pdf/CW_8901_GraphicBooster_en.pdf

Dan...

Mark Smith · October 29, 2009, 10:10 AM

Ahhhh .. so it is simply a 64k RAM upgrade!

But then the article says that there are 2 new versions that let you use 256 out of 3000 colours ... wonder how that is done ? FLI for VDC ? OR actual real hardware to do it ?

Mark

Hydrophilic · October 29, 2009, 03:00 PM

This (almost) has to be hardware related, if we can trust the English translated manual. For example, using dithering + interlace is approximately like FLI. There are some programs that I've heard use this technique to produce 16*16 = 256 colors.

But according to the manual, "The colorblocks 8x6 pixel can be set independent from each other. 256 foreground and 256 backgroundcolors. If this matrix is filled with PATTERN1,0,0,0 you can display 65000 colors in this matrix."

If you can get 256 colors without dithering (65000+ with dithering), then it must use some special hardware... Unless they use double dithering: interlace for one layer, then patterns for a second layer...

Also the PDF describes installation for C128D and C128DCR. Since these have 64K VRAM already, it seems it must be more than simple VRAM upgrade...

Very interesting!

saehn · October 29, 2009, 11:40 PM

Quote from: Mark Smith on October 29, 2009, 10:10 AM
Ahhhh .. so it is simply a 64k RAM upgrade!

But then the article says that there are 2 new versions that let you use 256 out of 3000 colours ... wonder how that is done ? FLI for VDC ? OR actual real hardware to do it ?

I don't think it's just a 64k VDC upgrade... I think it also involves another chip. I remember reading that it was available for either the 128 or 128D, and that the non-D version included the RAM upgrade. Take a look at this picture:

saehn · October 29, 2009, 11:43 PM

And be sure to read this as well:

http://www.c128.net/pdf/CW_8901_GraphicBooster_en.pdf

airship · October 30, 2009, 02:37 AM

In the past, I've seen several discussions on this 'mysterious' product, all of them inconclusive.

A careful reading of the linked documents leads me to believe:
The hardware component is simply a 64k upgrade. The additional wire may give it some special ability, but I have no idea what it might be.
The software appears to be a wedge into BASIC that is auto-booted from disk at system startup.

saehn · October 30, 2009, 02:41 AM

Well if that's the case, then we're in luck... because there are downloads available on the site. I'm not sure if it'll work on my NTSC 128D, but I'll give it a try as soon as I get my power switch working again...

megabit · October 30, 2009, 06:00 AM

QuoteA careful reading of the linked documents leads me to believe:
The hardware component is simply a 64k upgrade. The additional wire may give it some special ability, but I have no idea what it might be.
The software appears to be a wedge into BASIC that is auto-booted from disk at system startup

It looks like there may be a firmware change also. Below is a portion of the installation instructions. U34 in the DCR is BASIC ($4000-BFFF).

Commodore 128 DCR (with metal-housing)

Installation: Remove the 5 screws on the back and side, slide the housing to the back and lift to remove.
Remove the EPROM on U34 with a screwdriver, install the Eprom, delivered with GB128.
Check same orientation as removed Eprom.
Remount housing and close. Ready.

Danâ€¦

Mark Smith · October 30, 2009, 09:39 AM

Again looking at the pictures .. that wire seems to only go to pin 28 on U34 .. which is "Vcc" which is just power isn't it ?

Can you control that pin on the C128 ? Toggle it on and off ? Maybe it does do some sort of bankswitch on the VDC RAM board ?

Someone go buy one so we can solve this puzzle once and for all!!! :-)

Mark

megabit · October 30, 2009, 11:47 AM

QuoteSomeone go buy one so we can solve this puzzle once and for all!!! :-)

Where would you buy one?

Dan...

RobertB · October 30, 2009, 03:19 PM

Quote from: megabit on October 30, 2009, 11:47 AMWhere would you buy one?

Hmm, I can send an e-mail to my friend, Dirk K., of http://www.Dienstagstreff.de and see if he has more information on this device.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

Wagner · October 31, 2009, 09:10 AM

It's a 64K upgrade. I downloaded the software from their site and tried it out on my 64K upgraded 128. Even though my 1084 can't really handle such high-res displays, it's still impressive what the VDC is capable of--VGA in a chip or something.

saehn · October 31, 2009, 11:11 AM

Quote from: Wagner on October 31, 2009, 09:10 AM
It's a 64K upgrade. I downloaded the software from their site and tried it out on my 64K upgraded 128. Even though my 1084 can't really handle such high-res displays, it's still impressive what the VDC is capable of--VGA in a chip or something.

Do you have an NTSC or PAL system?

Wagner · October 31, 2009, 12:51 PM

Quote from: saehn on October 31, 2009, 11:11 AM

Do you have an NTSC or PAL system?

NTSC

RobertB · October 31, 2009, 02:10 PM

Quote from: Wagner on October 31, 2009, 09:10 AM
It's a 64K upgrade. I downloaded the software from their site and tried it out on my 64K upgraded 128. Even though my 1084 can't really handle such high-res displays, it's still impressive what the VDC is capable of--VGA in a chip or something.

Does that mean you have the Graphics Booster board?

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

Wagner · November 01, 2009, 09:49 AM

Quote from: RobertB on October 31, 2009, 02:10 PMDoes that mean you have the Graphics Booster board?

No, a 64K upgrade. I think the board is a way of upgrading a C128 to 64K video RAM without desoldering the existing 16K RAM. Pull the VDC, plug it into the board, and put both back into the 128. Done.

RobertB · November 01, 2009, 02:42 PM

Quote from: Wagner on November 01, 2009, 09:49 AMNo, a 64K upgrade.

I'm confused. I always thought that the Graphics Booster was a hardware daughterboard and software package and that one couldn't run without the other. With 64K VDC in a C128 or a C128DCR, you are able to run the software and see the video results mentioned in its literature?

If that it is so, that is great news,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

Wagner · November 02, 2009, 11:12 AM

Quote from: RobertB on November 01, 2009, 02:42 PM
I'm confused. I always thought that the Graphics Booster was a hardware daughterboard and software package and that one couldn't run without the other. With 64K VDC in a C128 or a C128DCR, you are able to run the software and see the video results mentioned in its literature?

Apparently the software needs 64K of VDC RAM to run in. Since no flat C128 has that much memory for VDC display, they created said daughterboard to boost the graphics to a full 64K. At least, that's what I'm gathering from what I've seen and from what they say on their site.....

QuoteThe Graphic Booster needs a VDC with 64 K RAM (already available in the C128 DCR) and has therefore been sold for use with "normal" C128's together with a VDC-64K-upgradeboard.

Yes, I've basically seen several of the pictures above. A couple pictures were not included on the disks, but there were others on the disks not shown above. I say basically, because I have to make my 1084 monitor go out of sync to scroll the picture down. And since the 1084 isn't interlace, it flickers badly.

RobertB · November 02, 2009, 11:33 AM

Quote from: Wagner on November 02, 2009, 11:12 AMYes, I've basically seen several of the pictures above. A couple pictures were not included on the disks, but there were others on the disks not shown above.

Ah, you are able to display the pictures. Without the specialized GB board and its EPROM, are you able to create pics in its extended resolution/colors?

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

RobertB · November 02, 2009, 04:26 PM

Quote from: I on October 30, 2009, 03:19 PM...I can send an e-mail to my friend, Dirk K. ... and see if he has more information on this device.

No word back yet. I might have to telephone him in Germany.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org