Mystery of Star Diamond

[IvenGO]

Hi all, so yesterday I asked LWSteve about a technical data of this device described in a manual of his unit, and he wrote me the following:

RAM = 256kb / 118 for HT
ROM = 1mb (!!!)
Opening book = > 200k (!!!)
CPU = SH7020 on 20 Mhz (!!!)

Specially the last point means that its a 32-bit model and not 16-bit (?)

But then I found another manual in the web that absolutely fits the data published in Wiki !!! So do we have 2 different Novag SDs ?

[LWSteve]

Hi all, so yesterday I asked LWSteve about a technical data of this device described in a manual of his unit, and he wrote me the following:

RAM = 256kb / 118 for HT
ROM = 1mb (!!!)
Opening book = > 200k (!!!)
CPU = SH7020 on 20 Mhz (!!!)

Specially the last point means that its a 32-bit model and not 16-bit (?)

But then I found another manual in the web that absolutely fits the data published in Wiki !!! So do we have 2 different Novag SDs ?

Hi Iven,

When the Star Diamond was originally released it had an opening library glitch (error) with the French defense.

Novag immediately fixed this glitch in Star Diamond's library and released version #2. (I don't think they messed with anything else but its library)

In my manual it does not say whether Star Diamond is 16-bit or 32-bit.

You are telling us that the SH7020 RISC Processor is a 32-bit processor!
OK that's fine with me!

Its opening library is > (greater than) 200,000 half moves. (Wiki is way off)

Its ROM is 1M Byte!!!! (again Wiki is way off)

Mate announcement - up to mate in 10

It can resign on its own.

Lets see what everybody else has to say...

Why did they stop making Novag Diamonds?

LW

[IvenGO]

Hi again , and what is state about the mate-finding function?

In manual I found in web there is following written:

Solves mate-in 8
Mate announcement - 14
Depth of search - 28

Btw, there's nothing about actual CPU's model name, simply written = RISC processor

[Reinfeld]

My Star Diamond manual says the opening book is 123,000 half-moves. Thoughts?

- R.

[IvenGO]

I have email-ed to an owner of SD here in Moscow and he confirms LWSteve's information!

[Alain]

French manual says:
ROM = 512 KB (same as Wiki)
RAM = 256 KB (program) + 118 KB (hash tables)
Clock = 25 MHz

Alain

[Steve B]

I have email-ed to an owner of SD here in Moscow and he confirms LWSteve's information!

i can also confirm LWSteve's information
my manual contains the same exact information as his does
the processor is a Risc Processor
my SD is the second version 1.04
you can see the version number on the underside of the unit
it will say 1004
Reinfeld and Alain ...check your version number
Starry Eyed Regards
Steve

[IA]

CPU Novag Star Diamond= Hitachi 16-Bit Single-Chip H8/2312= 25 MHz Power 14.3 MIPS (equivalent power of a CPU Intel 486 DX +16 Mhz)

Regards.

[Steve B]

Hi again , and what is state about the mate-finding function?

In manual I found in web there is following written:

Solves mate-in 8
Mate announcement - 14
Depth of search - 28

Btw, there's nothing about actual CPU's model name, simply written = RISC processor

that information matches my Diamond ll Manual
not the Star Diamond manual
the 123k book reference is also for the DII not the SD

Internet Typos Regards
Steve
P.S. if there is still some confusition as the the Book size of the SD
Sir Dave is available to count up the number of moves in each computers book charging his customery billing rates

[LWSteve]

Wow this is incredible!

We apparently have 2 versions of Star Diamond going around now.

One type with 1 meg of ROM. (the later version)

and one type with only 1/2 of a meg of ROM (the 1st version)

512KB = 1/2 of a meg

I own two Star Diamonds and the manuals are both the same.
They are both version #2 (1004) - Both contain 1 meg of ROM.
No wonder my Star Diamonds do so well against other computers!
Recently in my 21 computer tournament, Star Diamond destroyed The Senator in two straight games!
See I kept telling you guys that Star Diamond was at least a 2200 rated computer! Now do you guys believe me?
In their tests Wiki uses the Star Diamond that has only half
of a meg of ROM. And they rate it at 2180/2156 elo.

If you guys remember Novag did something similar to this with Diamond,
when they raised its clock speed from 20 MHz to 26.6 MHz. (Wiki caught this change however)

This is amazing news!

If we see a bunch of Star Diamonds for sale on EBAY tomorrow then we will know why.

Half-Meg sale, Regards

LW

[Steve B]

Heres some more wood for the fire

the Sapphire series is the portable equivalent of the Diamond Series
Saps are portables and Diamonds are tabletops
in all other respects they are supposed to be the same
with same exact hardware specs

i just checked my Sap II and Star Sap manuals and compared them to my Diamond ll and Star Diamond manuals

the Sap II-Diamond II manuals all check out exactly the same

but guess what
Star Diamond manual has the specs i posted above but my Star Sap manual has the same specs as Alains Star Diamond
Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

We apparently have 2 versions of Star Diamond going around now.

This is amazing news!

Well a new Magellan and possibly some new info on your beloved Diamonds
all in the same day
just dosent get better then that LW
if i were you id buy a few lottery tickets today
ill go half with you on 2 tickets

Hey Ya Never Know Regards
Steve

[Larry]

the Sapphire series is the portable equivalent of the Diamond Series
Saps are portables and Diamonds are tabletops
in all other respects they are supposed to be the same
with same exact hardware specs

i just checked my Sap II and Star Sap manuals and compared them to my Diamond ll and Star Diamond manuals

the Sap II-Diamond II manuals all check out exactly the same

but guess what
Star Diamond manual has the specs i posted above but my Star Sap manual has the same specs as Alains Star Diamond
Regards
Steve

Great minds think alike!... I just finished checking my Star Sapphire too.
It seems that Star Sapphire = early production Star Diamond,
Star Sapphire is Article#1003 and shows
25mhz clock speed
>123,000 half move book
512kb rom.

My Star Diamond also show Article#1004 on the box, the game and even
on the back of the owner's manual.
SD #1004 owner's manual shows:
20mhz clock speed (note that is slower than Star Sapphire)
>>200,00 half move book
1mg rom

Summing up, we have stumbled upon an interesting discovery. It
seems Fidelity are not the only ones into changing specs during a
production run. In the fine print, it's usual to see written a note that
the company reserves the right to make changes whenever in the
interest of progress.
L

[LWSteve]

Here is what we have... (but could be wrong, may need updated)

Star Diamond version #1 (16 bit processor) with 1/2 meg of ROM elo 2156 - 2180

Star Diamond version #2 (32 bit processor) with 1 meg of ROM elo (my est. 2225 - 2260)

LW

[Steve B]

Summing up, we have stumbled upon an interesting discovery. It
seems Fidelity are not the only ones into changing specs during a
production run. In the fine print, it's usual to see written a note that
the company reserves the right to make changes whenever in the
interest of progress.
L

i dont own a Diamond I but I just compared the Diamond I Manual(on Alains site)
with my Sap I manual
no differences there thank goodness

Trying to handle the truth Regards
Steve