Xref: utzoo alt.religion.computers:2320 alt.folklore.computers:8963 comp.sys.misc:3207 Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!dkuug!daimi!pilgrim From: pilgrim@daimi.aau.dk (Jakob G}rdsted) Newsgroups: alt.religion.computers,alt.folklore.computers,comp.sys.misc Subject: Sord M5 Summary: Sord M5 Keywords: Sord M5 Message-ID: <1991Jan21.182135.2143@daimi.aau.dk> Date: 21 Jan 91 18:21:35 GMT Sender: pilgrim@daimi.aau.dk (Jakob G}rdsted) Organization: DAIMI: Computer Science Department, Aarhus University, Denmark Lines: 92 I recently bought an old japanese microcomputer (1982-1983) called a Sord M5. So now I'm trying to get in touch with other people owning such a creature. I've got an Amiga 5OO right now, and before that a C64. A long time ago, when I wondered about buying the C64, I also considered buying the Sord M5, but I chose the C64 for several reasons. But last week I got the possibility to get a Sord M5 cheap. In fact, I have some questions about the computer, answers to which only the net will be able to provide me with(maybe). They are: 1. Are there any (old) books describing the computer on the deeper levels, like a ROM kernal Manual/Reference Manual and/or stuff like that ? I need titles/names, to search for them. There must be some books, at least by the manufactores of the machine. I have the Basic-I, Basic-G, and some gamemodules for the system. The look of the games suggests that the ROM's in the game modules are only 1k/2k bytes. I also know there exists a Basic-F, which I maybe can get my hands on. - 2. What does Basic-F imply ( what is it that I and G are not ?) I got plenty of books with the computer, and they vaguely, but not quite clearly, suggests that the biggest amount of RAM I will ever have free under Basic-G is 16k bytes - 3. does anybody have any information about this ? ^ As I have understood things, this Z80A (8bit) equipped computer has 20 k bytes video ram, adressable by the Z8O, and with nothing else than BASIC-I in it it says about 4kbytes free for basic, and when I plug BASIC-G, it says approx. 7 kbytes free, so I expect basicG to contain an additional 3kbytes. 4. Is it possible to expand the RAM, and how, and how much ? (as there are no other ports, I guess either doing something in- side the machine, or doing something with the cartridge, or getting another cartridge) ? 5. There are 32 sprites, and collision detection between them, but is there any way to do sprite versus any of the background collision check ? 6. What newsgroup should I instead have posted this to ? (mail me) Thats all the questions, now for some facts about the machine for the interested reader (I don't expect more than one to exist ;-): Its a 16color, 32sprite, 4soundchannel,Z80A-3.87 MHz,32/24k? computer. It's got TV uhf and composite video/monosound output, two NONstandard joystick ports, and rubber keyboard! (like the spectrum). Its japanese, and never sold any much, as far as I know. To describe it briefly, it reminds me of a mixture between a ZXspectrum and a C64. It only works when a module is stuck into its expansionport, like BasicI or BasicG. BasicG is great, with great sound and graphic control (no C64 pokes): You can move the sprites around yourself, or give them orders to move in a direction, with a speed, and/or to a specified location and stop. Music can be played with a command where you give it the notes and it stops execution of the program until it has finished playing, or you can make it play tunes independently(interruptdriven), still with basic- commands. It has error-traphandling, and supports in- terrupts in much the same fashion as Amigabasic does. But, before you all rush out and buy one, some of the limitations: In basicG, there are NO semiReals - this is -32767 to 32767 only!(it does not have -32768, but it IS two's complement. I know from the AND/OR) Arrays can only be 255 long, like DIM A(255), (but you Can say DIM A(28,21,56,5) ) The 3 of the 4 soundchannels are for music, the fourth is sundry kinds of white noise, which if wanted can be made to interact with channel 2. The channels have individual volume, and a number of preset ADSR settings, but only one waveform(I dont know what it is). The graphics display is something - always 256x192 pixels, but both 32x24, 40x24 and hires, at the same time(you switch between them). For each 8x1 pixel block (8pixels wide, 1 pix high) you can choose 2 out of 16 colors, this means in some ways better graphics than the C64, some- times pourer, but always better than Spectrum. Basic commands for scrolling in all four directions. It is quite easy to use machine code in basic. (transfer to and from registers, putting things on of the stack, VARPTR command). Save/load of prg's and pictures with a tape- recorder the C64way. But the screen stays on, and it prints a period (.) for every 256 bytes it reads (which it does quite fast(?). Thats all for now.