HELP w/ C-64 Accelerator

From: Professor Dredd (profdredd_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 2001-03-09 17:05:38

I recently picked up an odd card for the C-64 which
appears to be an accelerator. I need help identifying
the card and getting documentation. This is NOT a
SuperCPU!

The board is blue colored and bears a single
identifying mark "4 Mhz". It contains the following
components:
65816 processor W65C816P-5
EPROM GI 27C256-15
a DIP-block with 8 toggle switches
a single red LED
1 250K Ohm variable resistor
1 1K Ohm variable resistor
1 3 pin connector
1 2 pin connector
1 pushbutton momentary-contact switch connected to
(RESET)

The 'solder' side of the board contains a one
component, a VARTA SafeTronic 2.4v 100mA black-box. I
think this is either a real-time clock or possibly a
battery unit for saving configuration settings.

With the card plugged in, the computer powers up with
blue border and blue screen and the message
"TURBO-PROCESS 38911 BASIC BYTES FREE"

The card contains its own KERNAL which defeats the
Commodore-RUN/STOP shortcut for LOAD":*",8 on my
SX-64.

I'm afraid to mess with the variable resistors since
tuning a resistor to zero Ohms may damage other
componenets if they depend on it for a load. I have
been experimenting with the dip switches and here's
what I've found:

Switch #1 - Enable/Disable, seems to totally kill the
card when set to zero although the LED remains lit.

Switch #2 - No apparent effect.

Switch #3 - No effect.

Switch #4 - When enabled the computer resets to a
flashing border, but no BASIC prompt or screen display
of any kind.

Switch #6 - No effect.

Switches #7 and #8 - Enabling either of these switches
prevents BASIC from starting on reset. No menu or
other screen display.

And Switch #5 (OH YEAH!) - With #5 enabled the
computer powers up with blue border, black background
and yellow cursor. The sign-on message at the top of
the screen is green and reads:
"**COMMODORE 64 & TURBOPROCESS**"
"38911 BASIC BYTES FREE SYSTEM 3 (UP)"

In this mode there is a "@" DOS wedge present.
LOADing a basic program yeilds the response:
"SEARCHING"
"LOADING TO AREA: 0801-0869"

Some programs work with the card, others not, but I
don't notice any acceleration.

Can anyone help me identify this card and learn more
about it, please?

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