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The VIC 20 had only 3.5kb memory available to the
user. This could be increased by adding memory cartridges.
These came in 3kb, 8kb and 16kb versions. There
were also switchable cartridges that avoided the
need to remove them when only the lowest memory
was needed. A problem arose because adding memory
forced the computer to move its own memory so that
a program written without expansion might not run
with additional memory installed. Memory could be
reconfigured within software. An alternative was
to use a motherboard, a piece of hardware which
could hold several cartridges. By moving the switches
on the motherboard, different memory configurations
could be selected. |
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| No expansion
- 3583 bytes free |
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| 3k expansion
- 6655 bytes free |
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| 8k expansion
- 11775 bytes free |
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| 16k expansion
- 19967 bytes free |
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| A large amount
of software was also available on cartridge. This
automatically configured the necessary memory. |
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| Stack
four slot switchable motherboard for VIC 20. |
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