Difference between revisions of "SYMBiFACE II"

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== Introduction ==
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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. Detailed documentation can be found here: [[Programming:SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II documents]]
  
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[[Image:Cpc-ide.jpg|200px|thumb|Prototype of the CPC-IDE interface]]
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== Availability ==
  
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In autumn 2004 the CPC-IDE was developed by [[Dr.Zed]] 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.
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About 200 units of the SYMBiFACE 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 [[X-MEM]] and the [[X-Mass]] hardware created by [[TotO]], which is still available today (2016).
  
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It was fully working, but still had a prototype state, so only 10 pieces have been produced.
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== Features  ==
  
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During the production of the CPC-IDE [[Prodatron]] joined the team and created IDE-support in [[SymbOS]] for [[Disc_format|FAT]]16 and FAT32 harddiscs until Xmas 2004.
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[[Image:Symbiface II.jpg|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II]]
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[[Image:Symbiface2.gif|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II with description]]  
  
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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.
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CPC SYMBiFACE II provides one solution for connecting a CPC with an IDE hard disc. You can use a master and a slave device.
  
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== Features ==
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''IDE Features''
  
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[[Image:Symbiface2.gif|400px|thumb|SYMBiFACE II with description]]
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*Supports IDE hard discs with up to 128 GB.
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*Bigger HDD or CD/DVD drive support possible with drivers.
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*Simultaneous operation of two hard discs (master and slave) for a total of up to 256 GB on your CPC!
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*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).
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*External power supply provided: no extra load for the CPC's internal PSU.
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*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.).
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*Traffic activity display via a LED on the board.
  
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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.
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''Additional Features''
  
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''IDE Features''
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*512 KB RAM extension, which is fully compatible with the CPC [[6128|6128]] and the [[Dk'tronics|dk'tronics]] RAM extension
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*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.
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*PS/2 mouse connector. This makes it possible to connect wireless and optical mice (PC compatible, therefore inexpensive) to your CPC.
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*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.
  
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* Supports IDE-Harddiscs with up to 128GB
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[[Image:Sf2romman.gif|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II ROM manager]]  
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* Bigger HDDs or CD/DVD drives support possible with drivers
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[[Image:RM-Info.jpg|thumb|400px|SYMBiFACE II ROManager]]
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* Simultaneous operation of two harddiscs (master and slave):for a total of up to 256GB on your CPC!
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== ROM-Manager  ==
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* 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).
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* External power supply required: no extra load for the CPC's internal PSU
+
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* No timing problems: Interrupts don'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.).  
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* Traffic activity display via a LED on the board
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'' Additional Features''
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*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.
  
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* 512KB RAM extension, which is fully compatible with the CPC [[6128]] and the [[dk'tronics]] ram extension
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*The simulated ROMs of the SYMBiFACE II can also be handled by a ROM manager which runs under [[SymbOS|SymbOS]]. This tool allows displaying, loading, saving and deleting the 32 x 16K ROMs.
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* 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.
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* PS/2 mouse connector. This makes it possible to connect wireless and optical mouses to your CPC.
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* Realtime clock, which is fully PC compatible and provides additional 128 byte persistant RAM, which can be used to store config data.
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== Rom-Manager ==
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*The most comprehensive application for the SYMBiFACE II ROM management "[[ROManager|ROManager]]" runs under [[FutureOS|FutureOS]]. It allows you to display the existing ROMs, load or save one or all ROMs, test a ROM, adapt the checksum, copy, paste and delete ROMs etc.
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[[Image:sf2romman.gif|thumb|320px|SYMBiFACE II rom manager]]
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SYMBiFACE II includes a rom manager software, which runs under [[SymbOS]]. This tool is needed for displaying, loading, saving and deleting of the 32 x 16K ROMs.
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* A very comfortable program called ("[[ROManager]]") is available for [[FutureOS]]. It allows the complete backup and restoration of all 32 ROMs and loading, saving, testing, copying, shifting, erasing and (un)parking single ROMs. It supports the languages German, English, French and Spanish.
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* [http://www.symbos.de/sf2.htm SYMBiFACE II homepage]
 
* [http://www.symbos.de/sf2.htm SYMBiFACE II homepage]
  
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[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:SymbOS]] [[Category:Memory expansions]]
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[[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Memory expansions]][[Category:Expansion ROM]] [[Category:SymbOS]] [[Category:FutureOS]][[Category:DATA Storage]][[Category:Input Device]]

Latest revision as of 07:30, 8 August 2017

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. Detailed documentation can be found here: SYMBiFACE II documents

Availability

About 200 units of the SYMBiFACE 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 X-MEM and the X-Mass hardware created by TotO, which is still available today (2016).

Features

SYMBiFACE II
SYMBiFACE II with description

CPC SYMBiFACE II provides one solution for connecting a CPC with an IDE hard disc. You can use a master and a slave device.

IDE 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-FAT-driver).
  • External power supply provided: no extra load for the CPC'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.

Additional Features

  • 512 KB RAM extension, which is fully compatible with the CPC 6128 and the dk'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.
SYMBiFACE II ROM manager
SYMBiFACE II ROManager

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 SymbOS. This tool allows displaying, loading, saving and deleting the 32 x 16K ROMs.
  • The most comprehensive application for the SYMBiFACE II ROM management "ROManager" runs under FutureOS. It allows you to display the existing ROMs, load or save one or all ROMs, test a ROM, adapt the checksum, copy, paste and delete ROMs etc.

See also

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