Macintosh LC: VRAM Memory Map Correction



The memory map in the "Macintosh LC Computer Developer Note" shows the
VRAM space as $FC 0000-$FF FFFF. This gives 256K of memory. How does the
512K VRAM SIMM map into this smaller area?

The "Macintosh LC Computer Developer Note" is wrong.

The memory spaced used by VRAM is in the following ranges:

24-bit mode 32-bit mode
------------------------------------------------------------------
$F4 0000 to $FB FFFF $50F4 0000 to $50FB FFFF

With the 512K VRAM SIMM installed, the entire range from $F4 0000 to $FB
FFFF (24-bit mode) or $50F4 0000 to $50FB FFFF (32-bit mode) is used. ($FB
FFFF minus $F4 0000 is $07 FFFF, which equals 512K.)

With the 256K VRAM SIMM installed, the range from $F4 0000 to $F7 FFFF
(24-bit mode) or $50F4 0000 to $50F7 FFFF (32-bit mode) is used; $FB FFFF
minus $F7 0000 is $03 FFFF, which equals 128K.

Note: The range from $F8 0000 to $FB FFFF (24-bit mode) or $50F8 0000 to
$50FB FFFF (32-bit mode) maps to the range from $F4 0000 to $F7 FFFF
(24-bit mode) or $50F4 0000 to $50F7 FFFF (32-bit mode). In other words,
if a change is made to $F8 0000, the same change will be made to $F4 0000.
The reverse holds true as well: a change to $F4 0000 will reflect in $F8
0000.


Published Date: Feb 18, 2012