Geneve 9640

The Geneve 9640 is an enhanced TI-99/4A clone. It was sold by the company Myarc as a card to fit into the Texas Instruments TI Peripheral Expansion System. Released in 1987, it is in many ways similar to the earlier TI-99/8, which was in prototype form in early 1983. The Geneve 9640 was designed by Paul Charlton[1], and the graphical swan on the boot up screen was designed by Mi-Kyung Kim.[2]

TypeHome computer
Release date1987 (1987)
Operating systemMDOS
CPUTI TMS9995 @ 12 MHz
Memory640K RAM
Graphics512×212, 512×424, 256-color

Hardware

The Geneve 9640 features a 16-bit TMS9995 processor clocked at 12 MHz. A Yamaha V9938 video display processor (the same one used in the MSX2 family of home computers) provides 256 color graphics at a 256 x 424 resolution, 16 color graphics at a 512 x 424 resolution, and an 80 column text mode. Audio is produced via an SN76496 programmable sound generator, capable of producing three simultaneous square waves at sixteen different volume levels, as well as an additional noise channel that could produce either periodic or white noise in three different frequencies and at sixteen different volumes. An IBM PC XT compatible detached keyboard and a mouse are used for input. The Geneve 9640 is compatible with nearly all software written for the TI-99/4A. An adapter was made by a company named Rave to allow the sidecar-only Speech Synthesizer to be installed inside the Peripheral Expansion System.

Software

The following software is bundled with the Geneve.

  • Cartridge Saver, allowing most cartridges to be saved to and run from disk
  • GPL, a program used to set up a 99/4a environment to run software saved by Cartridge Saver or most other 99/4a-specific software
  • Advanced BASIC, supporting 80 columns and compatible with TI BASIC and TI Extended BASIC
  • Pascal Runtime (not officially released by Myarc)
  • TI-Writer Word Processor, upgraded to 80 columns and increased speed
  • Microsoft Multiplan, upgrade to 80 columns, increased memory, and increased speed
  • MDOS, the Myarc Disk Operating System

References
  1. "The TI-99 Home Computer Encyclopedia: Timeline 99 - 1987". Archived from the original on February 8, 2006. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  2. "John Birdwell Memorial Award". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
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