== Introduction ==SYMBiFACE II is a multi-function expansion, developed by [[Dr.Zed]], with financial and initial software support from [[Prodatron]]. Portions of the design are based on the [[CPC-IDE]] prototype.
[[ImageFile:Cpc-ideSymbiface II highres.jpg|200px|thumb|Prototype of the CPC-IDE interface600px]]
In autumn 2004 the CPC-IDE was developed by Detailed documentation can be found here: [[Dr.ZedProgramming:SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II documents]] with support by [[Octoate]], [[Tolkin]] and [[TFM]]. It is the first hardware solution ever that allowed connection of IDE-harddrives and CF-cards to the CPC with the maximum possible data transfer speed. Technically the CPC-IDE interface was based on the GIDE IDE interface by Tilmann Reh.
It was fully working, but still had a prototype state, so only 10 pieces have been produced.== Availability ==
During the production About 200 units of the CPCSYMBiFACE II have been built and shipped between 2006 and 2012. Today it is only available in the second-hand market. The RAM/ROM and the IDE feature of the SYMBiFACE II can be replaced by the [[ProdatronX-MEM]] joined the team and created IDE-support in the [[SymbOSX-Mass]] for hardware created by [[Disc_format|FATTotO]]16 and FAT32 harddiscs until Xmas 2004, which is still available today (2016).
After working successfully, [[Dr.Zed]] and [[Prodatron]] made plans for a second version, which includes a lot of more extensions. So the '''SYMBiFACE II''' is not only an IDE interface anymore. It merges the CPC with current PC technology.== Features ==
== Features ==[[Image:Symbiface II.jpg|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II]][[Image:Symbiface2.gif|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II with description]]
[[Image:Symbiface2.gif|400px|thumb|CPC SYMBiFACE II provides one solution for connecting a CPC with description]]an IDE hard disc. You can use a master and a slave device.
CPC SYMBiFACE II contains the optimal solution for connecting a CPC with an ''IDE harddisc. It provides the maximum - both for the performance and for the simpleness in accessing the harddisc.Features''
*Supports IDE hard discs with up to 128 GB.*Bigger HDD or CD/DVD drive support possible with drivers.*Simultaneous operation of two hard discs (master and slave) for a total of up to 256 GB on your CPC! *Transfer speed of 162 KByte/s. That's as fast as copying memory inside the CPC with LDIR. In practice (loading FAT16/32 files) the speed is still about 130 KB/s ([[SymbOS|SymbOS]]-FAT-driver).*External power supply provided: no extra load for the CPC'IDE Features's internal PSU.*No timing problems: Interrupts don't need to be disabled during the data transfer with the hard disc. The hard disc can operate while you play sound or doing other things with your CPC (multitasking etc.). *Traffic activity display via a LED on the board.
* Supports IDE-Harddiscs with up to 128GB * Bigger HDDs or CD/DVD drives support possible with drivers* Simultaneous operation of two harddiscs (master and slave):for a total of up to 256GB on your CPC! * Transfer speed of 162KByte/s: That's as fast as copying memory inside the CPC with LDIR. In practice (loading FAT16/32 files) the speed is still about 130KB/s ([[SymbOS]]-FAT-driver).* External power supply required: no extra load for the CPC's internal PSU* No timing problems: Interrupts donAdditional Features''t need to be disabled during the data transfer with the harddisc. The harddisc can operate while you play sound or doing other things with your CPC (multitasking etc.). * Traffic activity display via a LED on the board
*512 KB RAM extension, which is fully compatible with the CPC [[6128|6128]] and the [[Dk'tronics|dk' Additional Features''tronics]] RAM extension *512 KB rewriteable ROM. You can upload up to 32 ROMs, which are persistent. You can also use the ROM space as an additional RAM extension. ROMs can be switched on or off via switches or via software. *PS/2 mouse connector. This makes it possible to connect wireless and optical mice (PC compatible, therefore inexpensive) to your CPC. *Real time clock, which is fully PC compatible and (as seen on the photo) provides additional 128 byte persistent RAM, which can be used to store config data.
* 512KB RAM extension, which is fully compatible with the CPC [[6128Image:Sf2romman.gif|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II ROM manager]] and the [[dk'tronicsImage:RM-Info.jpg|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II ROManager]] ram extension * 512KB rewriteable == ROM. You can upload up to 32 ROMs, which are persistant. You can also use the ROM space as an additional RAM extension. ROMs can be switched on or off via switches or via software. * PS/2 mouse connector. This makes it possible to connect wireless and optical mouses to your CPC.* Realtime clock, which is fully PC compatible and provides additional 128 byte persistant RAM, which can be used to store config data.-Manager ==
== Rom-Manager ==*Under [[BASIC]] you can use [[ROManager BASIC]] to manage all 32 ROMs of the SYMBiFACE II. It can load/save all 32 or one 16 KB ROM. Further you can copy, move, erase, park, unpark or check ROMs.
*The simulated ROMs of the SYMBiFACE II can also be handled by a ROM manager which runs under [[Image:sf2romman.gifSymbOS|thumb|320px|SYMBiFACE II rom managerSymbOS]]. This tool allows displaying, loading, saving and deleting the 32 x 16K ROMs.
*The most comprehensive application for the SYMBiFACE II includes a rom manager software, which ROM management "[[ROManager|ROManager]]" runs under [[SymbOSFutureOS|FutureOS]]. This tool is needed for displayingIt allows you to display the existing ROMs, loadingload or save one or all ROMs, saving and deleting of test a ROM, adapt the 32 x 16K checksum, copy, paste and delete ROMsetc.
What's more, "== Background ROMs == [[ROManagerHDCPM]]" is available for or [[FutureOSUniDOS]]. It allows are excellent complements to load/install or save/backup all 32 Pseudo-ROMsthe Symbiface II. Furthermore, it can load, save, install, clear, copy, move, park, unpark and test single ROMs [[File:hdcpm.gif|HDCPM booting CP/M Plus]]
== See also ==
* [[Programming:SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II documents]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161019055304/http://www.symbos.de/sf2.htm SYMBiFACE II homepage]
[[Category:HardwarePeripherals]] [[Category:PeripheralsMemory expansions]][[Category:Expansion ROM]] [[Category:SymbOS]] [[Category:Memory expansionsFutureOS]][[Category:DATA Storage]][[Category:Input Device]]