Expanded, Unexpanded
- Gunther Strube
- Vic Gerhardi
Adding at least 128K of extra RAM to the Cambridge Z88 will change it from being an 'unexpanded' machine, to an expanded machine, the preferred configuration.
An expanded machine will allow the use of a large BASIC work space and a larger map size in PipeDream.
As the OZ 4.5 ROM needs to be in Slot 1, the rules on what happens with different size RAM cards are slightly different than the standard machine.
To solve all the problems with RAM, please use either the 512K/512K Flash/RAM or the 1M/1M Flash/RAM combination.
| Slot 0 RAM | Slot 1 | Slot 2 RAM | Used by Z88 | Left for files | Free Space |
| Unexpanded Z88 | |||||
| 32K | 1M Flash | Empty | 19.2K | 0K | 12.8K |
| 32K | 1M Flash | 32K | 8K | 24K | 12.8K |
| Expanded Z88 | |||||
| 32K | 1M Flash | 128K | 40K | 88K | |
| 32K | 1M Flash | 512K | 40K | 472K | |
| 32K | 1M Flash | 1024K | 40K | 984K | |
| 32K | 512K / 512K Flash/RAM | Empty | 40K | 472K | |
The Z88 uses some of the extra RAM for itself internally for Applications and BBC BASIC. You will quickly discover that you need more RAM than you think.
The following example assumes using a 20K document in Pipedream with a 128K RAM Pack.
| Size of RAM | 128K | |
| Amount used by Z88 (expanded machine) | 40K | |
| Amount left | 88K | |
| Additional amount used by Pipedream | 20K | |
| Amount required to store the file in :RAM.1 | 20K | |
| Amount left | 48K | |
Remember If you have not got enough space to save the file to RAM, you will not be able to save it to the Flash or EPROM Pack..
To find out what version of operating system is fitted, press the 
key and then 
INFO for the System Information page. The Cambridge Z88 will display the Operating System version number and other details. Press the 
key to return to the Index.