Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Commodore Trivia 33
-------Commodore Trivia Edition #33 Questions and Answers Preface--------
Not to leave you in the dark for too long, here are the trivia
answers to the previous edition of Commodore Trivia. I am posting the
answers at this time, and will post the scores and winners in a few
days. This time frame is set up to allow time for any discussions on the
correctness of these answers. By this time, the newest edition of
trivia has been posted. I encourage you to enter it.
This edition of trivia answers has been posted to the USENET newsgroups:
comp.sys.cbm, alt.folklore.computers, and comp.sys.amiga.advocacy. It
has also been posted to the FidoNET CBM Echo.
Feel free to use these trivia answers in newsletters, magazines, and other
publications (please see disclaimer). If you use the trivia, I would
appreciate knowing where it has ended up. If you intend to use this
information, please wait a few days after the posting date to allow for
major errors to be corrected.
Please mail any new questions for upcoming trivia (with answers) to my
address.
This edition and previous editions the trivia can be obtained from my
mailserver.
To: brain@mail.msen.com
Subject: MAILSERV
Body:
send trivia1
quit
This will retrieve the first edition of the trivia. Replace the
number with the edition you want.
**NEW** Interested persons can now subscribe to the Trivia Mailing
List. To add your name to the list, please mail a message:
To: brain@mail.msen.com
Subject: MAILSERV
Body:
subscribe trivia Firstname Lastname
help
quit
Each new edition of the trivia will be automatically mailed to you when
it is made available on the Internet.
I try to post the answers for the questions shortly after the monthly
contest has ended. However, I usually wait a few days for any errors
I may have made to be worked out before scoring the contest.
-------Commodore Trivia Edition #33 Questions and Answers (BEGIN)--------
The C128 Set:
Q $200) How many general purpose central processing units does a C128
contain?
A $200) The "3 computers in one" machine only contains 2 CPUs. The
Z80 handles CP/M mode, while the 8502 handles both 64 and 128
mode. The "3" in the C128 motto threw a bunch of folks.
Q $201) The Commodore 128 contains a MMU IC. What does MMU stand for?
A $201) MMU = Memory Management Unit. Technically, the 64 contains one
as well, but it was always referred to as the PAL or PLA in the
64. The 128 MMU does more than the 64 version, though.
Q $202) What Commodore produced cartridge is specifically mentioned in
the 128 PRG as being incompatible with the 128?
A $202) The Commodore 64 CP/M 2.2 cartridge.
Q $203) The C128 introduces the concepts of "banks" How many such banks
are recognized by the C128 BASIC?
A $203) 16. Bank 0 through Bank 15.
Q $204) What version is the BASIC included in the C128 in native mode?
A $204) BASIC 7.0.
Q $205) Can any of the BASIC graphics commands be used on the 80 column
screen?
A $205) It depends on how you define "graphics commands". When writing the
question, I was thinking of commands like BOX and CIRCLE that are
written solely for use with the 40 column screen. However, commands
like SCRNCLR, CHAR, and COLOR commands are considered part of the
graphics set. Graphics commands that draw pixels on the bitmapped
screen will NOT work on the 80 column screen, but those that merely
set attributes or put characters at certain locations will work.
However, don't let this fool you into thinking the 80 column screen
can't support graphics. It can.
Q $206) How many high-level graphics commands are available on the C128
in C128 mode?
A $206) 14 high level graphics commands are included on the 128.
Q $207) In C128 mode, at what location does screen memory start?
A $207) It resides in the same location as on the 64: 1024-2023
($0400 - $07e7).
Q $208) The 80 column IC in the 128 can display how many full character
sets of 256 characters each at one time?
A $208) 2. While the VIC-IIe can only display 1, the VDC IC can handle
display opf both sets simultaneously. That means a person can
print upper/lowercase and graphics/uppercase characters on the
same screen.
Q $209) Many have scorned the C128's 80 column video IC. What about this
IC makes it so hard to use?
A $209) The VIC-IIe 40 column IC maps its configuration registers and
screen memory into the C64/C128 memory map. The 8563 VDC IC
does neither. All of its registers, screen memory, and color
memory are hidden behind two registers. These two registers
control access to the entire IC. In effect, these two registers
are the "portal" to the VDC memory map. To modify or read a
VDC internal register, the programmer must place the register
number in one lcoation and wait for the result to appear in the
other register.
Q $20A) What number is the 80 column IC referenced by?
A $20A) 8563
Q $20B) What machine language addressing modes cannot be used with the
80 column chip?
A $20B) The manual warns against using "indirect" addressing opcodes by
claiming their use could generate "false" bus states that confuse
the IC. In reality, howevr, only the indirect mode of the STA
opcode will cause any harm. To understand why, one must note that
the STA ($00),y instruction executes a read of memory before doing
its write.
Q $20C) The C128 contains keyboard keys not present on the C64. What IC
is used to read these keys? (besides the CIA, as on the 64)
A $20C) There are two answers. Aside from the ROM, the CPU, and the above
mentioned CIA, the VIC-IIe IC provides the extra 3 lines used to
scan the keyboard. The C128 MMU IC provides the capability of
reading the status of the 40/80 key. (Thanks for Marko Makela
for this info)
Q $20D) Following the introduction of the C128, a new version of was
developed. Name it.
A $20D) It is alternately called CP/M Plus or CP/M 3.0
Q $20E) Many people refer to C128s as 16k or 64k units. To what does this
refer?
A $20E) In question $209, we noted that the 8563 80 column IC in the C128
has an internal memory map. As such, the 8563 can have varying
amounts of RAM attached to it. Earlier C128 contained 16kB of
this "VDC" RAM, while later variations and some third party
products increased this to 64 kB VDC RAM.
Q $20F) According to the C128 literature, the C128 can be expanded to use
how much memory?
A $20F) 640 kB.
The information in this between the lines marked by (BEGIN) and (END)
is copyright 1996 by Jim Brain. Provided that the information
between the (BEGIN) and (END) lines is not changed except to correct
typographical errors, the so marked copyrighted information may be
reproduced in its entirety on other networks or in other mediums. For
more information about using this file, please contact the address
shown below.
Jim Brain
j.brain@ieee.org
10710 Bruhn Avenue
Bennington, NE 68007
(402) 431-7754
--------Commodore Trivia Edition #33 Questions and Answers (END)---------
