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PostPosted: January 26th, 2013, 6:41 pm 
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Joined: April 12th, 2009, 9:04 am
Posts: 190
Location: Italy
Hi all,
it seems the RAM expansion for FM-TOWNS MArty realy exists as documented in this Yahoo Jpalan auction:

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n115282471

From what I understood from the auction it would allow to play games that require more than 2MB (like Super Street Fighter 2, if RASTER option turned OFF) adding an extra 2MB to the system (4MB in total).

Could someone , please, translate the auction description?Thanks


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PostPosted: January 28th, 2013, 1:04 am 
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Joined: October 17th, 2012, 5:18 am
Posts: 84
Wow. Didn't know this existed.

Yeah, that's pretty much what it says. Also says attaching it will make the system run slower, and warns that you have to be careful not to jar the card around while it's attached. That's about it.

I wonder what other games this would allow you to run besides SSFII.


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PostPosted: February 2nd, 2013, 6:04 pm 
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Joined: November 12th, 2010, 3:00 pm
Posts: 33
Nice find, I always had thought this accessory was more a myth and didn't actually make it to store shelfs.

As for what other games this could potentially run on the Marty, here's a compatibility list:
http://www.gamescollection.it/special/show/43
Among them Samurai Shodown and Mahou Daisakusen (probably)


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PostPosted: February 9th, 2013, 5:39 pm 
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Joined: January 30th, 2008, 11:16 am
Posts: 76
Location: Austria
Currently finding this PDF on the Internet!
http://www.bergfiles.com/i/bf51ff7199h32i0
IC Memory Cards for FM-Towns Computers - 2005-12-20.pdf

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FM Towns SJ26 + UX10 + HR20


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PostPosted: February 10th, 2013, 9:24 pm 
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Joined: April 12th, 2009, 9:04 am
Posts: 190
Location: Italy
bernhardh wrote:
Currently finding this PDF on the Internet!
http://www.bergfiles.com/i/bf51ff7199h32i0
IC Memory Cards for FM-Towns Computers - 2005-12-20.pdf


Yes, I have an IC Memory Card for my FM-TOWNS Marty 2 but this kind of card doesn't act as a RAM expansion but it's only useful for files transfering .


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PostPosted: February 10th, 2013, 9:42 pm 
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Joined: January 30th, 2008, 11:16 am
Posts: 76
Location: Austria
Can you post a Picture from this card.
Years ago, i also got one of those Cards. It was delivered with a Marty2. But i never knew how to use it.

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FM Towns SJ26 + UX10 + HR20


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PostPosted: September 14th, 2013, 10:09 pm 
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Joined: January 5th, 2007, 8:05 am
Posts: 30
Hi there,

I am the author of the pdf "IC Memory Cards for FM-Towns Computers - 2005-12-20" :)

It can be found on the tokugawa site, in "staff articles".


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PostPosted: January 26th, 2014, 1:32 am 
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Joined: November 3rd, 2013, 7:47 am
Posts: 37
Well, I'm the happy owner of one of those 2MB expansion card.

I tested a few games which are otherwise unplayable on the Marty due to RAM requirements :

  • Super Street Fighter II runs well, although you have to put raster mode off to make it run faster.
  • There's a video on youtube by user 'ravior ortiz' showing it, among other interesting videos.

  • Samurai Spirits : IIRC it does not boot on my Marty.
  • The same guy has it working at the end of this other video, so it's probably a problem on my side, or it also needs a CPU upgrade to run. Looks like I'm not missing much though, as it looks very slow.

  • Mahou Daisakusen does run on my Marty with this... well, run is a bit of stretch, it crawls. Totally unplayable.

Last point, also mentioned by ravior ortiz : the expansion board should be removed when using software that does not need it, otherwise it makes it slower.
I assume the memory chips themselves are running slower, or even more likely the memory bus to access the expansion port is slow...

Are you guys aware of other games which are not running on the Marty because of memory restrictions ?


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PostPosted: February 18th, 2017, 4:16 pm 
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Joined: February 27th, 2009, 3:36 pm
Posts: 2
Does anyone know anything about this?

http://ord.yahoo.co.jp/o/auction/RV=1/R ... QDanBjMDAz

Translation of description:

It is 2 MB RAM board for FM Towns Marty.
When I was sorting out the parts storage box, only one piece appeared.
This is for an expansion slot behind Marty, and when installed, the total memory is 4 MB.
There are quite a lot of arrangements, so the state is as it is because the goods are old.

The point of caution is that when you install this memory board, the operation of games etc will be delayed.
So it is better to remove as much as possible, except when using 3MB or more software.

Other precautions please do not shake up and down when detaching this board.
(If you shake it up and down, the motherboard may warp accordingly)
When detaching please press or pull horizontally against the motherboard, or shake it to the left and right to detach it.


Although it is something like this, I'd like to try a 4 MB special game at Marty,
How would you like to play with lowering the speed of high-difficulty games like Masters King playing?
Come also accompany the year-end and new year.


Since it is how old it is, treat it as junk and thank you.


--- 4 MB required status of the game is as follows. - -

If you are Super Street Fighter 2, you can play with rasters off.
4MB mandatory magic campaign and samsupi are too slow to play properly.
Darkside of Jean can play fairly well except for opening slow. Music is also cool.
Purira 's 4MB mode, SIMCITY 2000 and large reverse scale can play enough if there is a CPU accelerator.
In addition, when playing in Purira's 4MB mode, it is necessary to create a startup FD like the original Towns.

Image


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PostPosted: February 18th, 2017, 8:05 pm 
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Joined: January 9th, 2007, 9:57 pm
Posts: 529
Location: Russia
Saw on sale two more expansions for FM Towns Marty
SCSI card to connect to console MIDI card
Image
Image
SCSI card to connected to console HDD (I have available, but it is a pity to break a console)
Image
FM Towns Marty RAM Expansion
Image
Image


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PostPosted: February 21st, 2017, 10:53 pm 
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Joined: November 3rd, 2013, 7:47 am
Posts: 37
Yep

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1342


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PostPosted: February 23rd, 2017, 1:46 am 
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Joined: June 23rd, 2007, 10:34 pm
Posts: 485
Location: You know
Thanks Parodius for the reminder. I've merged the two topics.

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PostPosted: April 27th, 2018, 2:26 am 
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Joined: April 8th, 2018, 8:48 am
Posts: 3
I have 104mb ram on my FM Towns. Probably too much. Marty's ram expansion hard to find?


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PostPosted: April 27th, 2018, 10:54 am 
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Joined: January 9th, 2007, 9:57 pm
Posts: 529
Location: Russia
I saw only two times in five years. At the Japanese auction of Yahoo.


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