Chess Wizard and Perfect Chess

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spacious_mind
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Post by spacious_mind »

Here are possibly 3 more Novag to find:

* Super Emerald de Luxe (I am not sure if it was ever sold. It shows up in a Novag brochure)
* Novag Mentor Junior
* Solo Deluxe Z

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Nick
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spacious_mind
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Post by spacious_mind »

A question on Super Expert A. At Schachcomputer.Info it is listed as 5 MHz. I think this is not exactly correct as I have two Super Expert A's one with original 96K Box that has an orange label on it that says:

NEW: with increased 6 MHz speed.

I also have a second one that also seems to be a 6 MHz, this one came in a brown Novag outer box. So I think they must have originally been sold as 5 MHz but also upgraded to 6 MHz therefore Super Expert A was sold as both 5 MHz and 6 MHz.

So if this is the case instead of searching for a Super Expert B, I would really just need to search for the ROM and install it into one of these two Super Expert A's to upgrade it to a Super Expert B?

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Nick
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Berger
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Post by Berger »

Hi,
spacious_mind wrote:So if this is the case instead of searching for a Super Expert B, I would really just need to search for the ROM and install it into one of these two Super Expert A's to upgrade it to a Super Expert B?
Yes, you can do this without problems. In fact, on your A version, you can install A, B or C indistinctly. Apart from the differences in the program, which you can consult in the manuals, you should know that only the C version is capable of using the serial communications port.

Novag made a good design on this chess computer, because the system clock frequency (5 or 6 MHz) is independent of the frequency that controls the real time clock (the time control for levels): It has separate quartz crystals. Therefore a change in the program does not generate problems of this type.

If you have problems getting the ROM, feel free to contact me. :wink:

Regards,
Berger
BillT
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Post by BillT »

Hi

As a point of interest ...does this apply to the Super Forte too???? I have a SF A version
It would be good to upgrade to "C" version

regards
Bill
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Post by spacious_mind »

BillT wrote:Hi

As a point of interest ...does this apply to the Super Forte too???? I have a SF A version
It would be good to upgrade to "C" version

regards
Bill
Hi Bill

Yes that would be the case.

regards
Nick
Nick
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spacious_mind
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Post by spacious_mind »

Berger wrote:Hi,
spacious_mind wrote:So if this is the case instead of searching for a Super Expert B, I would really just need to search for the ROM and install it into one of these two Super Expert A's to upgrade it to a Super Expert B?
Yes, you can do this without problems. In fact, on your A version, you can install A, B or C indistinctly. Apart from the differences in the program, which you can consult in the manuals, you should know that only the C version is capable of using the serial communications port.

Novag made a good design on this chess computer, because the system clock frequency (5 or 6 MHz) is independent of the frequency that controls the real time clock (the time control for levels): It has separate quartz crystals. Therefore a change in the program does not generate problems of this type.

If you have problems getting the ROM, feel free to contact me. :wink:

Regards,
Berger
Hi Berger,

Thanks I appreciate the offer I will send you a pm.

Best regards
Nick
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spacious_mind
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Post by spacious_mind »

In the link below I had previously shown Novag Athenas:

http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic. ... 77&start=0

A Novag Athenas 2 however also exists. Here it is:

Novag Athenas II - 2005

Image

It has 128 Levels, 8 MHz, 16 KB ROM and 768 Bytes RAM so it seems to be pretty much the same program as the Novag Quartz:

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/quartz.html

The manual has a Perfect Chess copyright of 2005. The Athenas II seems to be an exclusive Spanish import.

Here is another Chess Wizard:

Chess Wizard IQ III - 1996

Image

The Box says Mitco Industries, Hong Kong 1996. Manual also states 1996.

The Key layout is different to any other Novag that I have seen which makes it unique.

It has 8 Mhz, 4 KB ROM and 256 Byte RAM which seems to make it the same program as Novag Condor, Coral, Crystal and Pearl.

Here is another Chess Wizard

Chess Wizard - IQ IV - ?

Image

Same design as Novag Pearl, therefore same program.

Well I have IQ II, III, IV and V. I have not seen an IQ I and I am not sure if anything existed after IQ V.

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Nick
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spacious_mind
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Post by spacious_mind »

I AM ALEXANDRA YOUR COMPUTER OPPONENT....

Novag Voice Chess - 2005 - Ron Nelson

Image

This one is a bit of a rarity too. It's Alexandra sold by Novag Perfect Chess copyright 2005.

It is unique as besides English, it can speak Spanish and Russian. The above photo shows Russian.

The specification is not shown therefore I would take the same specifications that Ron Nelson provided:

SUNPLUS 65C02 SPLB32A - 8 Bit CMOS Single Chip - 5 Mhz - 512 KB ROM - 1216 Byte SRAM.

Excalibur Alexandra's specs can be seen here:

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/alexa ... great.html

This is another Ron Nelson:

Novag Touch Chess - 2001 = Ron Nelson

Image

You can read more about the Novag Touch here:

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/touch.html

It is the same program as Excalibur Touch Chess which you can see here:

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/touch_chess.html

The box also confirms that it was programmed in the United States (Ron Nelson).

Image

So there were at least 3 Ron Nelson computers sold under the Novag Brand:

Novag Portal ( http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic. ... 77&start=0 )
Novag Voice Chess
Novag Touch Chess

Прощай

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Nick
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Bryan Whitby
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Post by Bryan Whitby »

Hi Nick

Here's another Chess Wizard from Excalibur from your own web site.

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/chess_wizard.html

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Bryan
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Post by spacious_mind »

Chessmaster Ireland wrote:Hi Nick

Here's another Chess Wizard from Excalibur from your own web site.

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/chess_wizard.html

Regards
Bryan
Hi Bryan,

Yes except I am not sure if that one belongs to the Chess Wizard IQ computers :)

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Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

Here is another hard to find Novag.

Novag Aquamarine 16 MHz - 1993 - David Kittinger

Image

Unlike the Aquamarine Premiere, Premier Plus and Star Aquamarine, this one would be quite strong as it seems to have a 6301Y processor with 16 MHz 16 KB ROM and 2 KB RAM, making it about the same as Novag Beluga.

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/beluga.html

It also has the same 44 levels and 3000 move opening book. Both programs are just a faster version of Novag Primo with a slightly larger opening book and running twice as fast a Novag Primo.

The Aquamarine 16 MHz is quite rare. This is the only one that I had ever seen.

Another rare Aquamarine is the following one:

Novag Aquamarine Risc 20 MHz - 1995 - David Kittinger

Image

The Novag Aquamarine Risc 20 Mhz has the same specifications as Novag Zircon and the manufacturer however rates it at 2100 ELO whereas the Zircon was rated at 2050 ELO. But that seems to be the only difference in the specifications.

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/zircon.html

This Novag Aquamarine Risc 20 MHz also seems to be very rare. This is also the only one that I have ever seen.

The next Aquamarine is the flagship of the Aquamarine range.

Novag Siglo XXI Aquamarine Risc II 26.6 MHz - 1999 - David Kittinger

Image

This one is the same as Novag Zircon II.

http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/zircon_ii.html

They have the same specifications and both are rated at ELO 2241 by the Manufacturer.

This one is also quite hard to find, but a lot easier then the 16 MHz and 20 MHz.

You can also get the Aquamarine Risc II 26.6 MHz without the words "Siglo XXI", so you have two versions of this computer. I have it stashed away somewhere. When I find, I will take a picture of it.

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Nick
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Post by Bryan Whitby »

Hi Nick

There is a Aquamarine RISC II 26.6 MHz on the Spanish eBay at the moment.
http://www.ebay.es/itm/272667445446?rmv ... noapp=true

I use to own the Siglo XXI a few years ago and remember playing a twenty game match against the Citrine at 10 sec per move which the Siglo won by 15-5 if I remember correctly?

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Bryan
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Post by spacious_mind »

Chessmaster Ireland wrote:Hi Nick

There is a Aquamarine RISC II 26.6 MHz on the Spanish eBay at the moment.
http://www.ebay.es/itm/272667445446?rmv ... noapp=true

I use to own the Siglo XXI a few years ago and remember playing a twenty game match against the Citrine at 10 sec per move which the Siglo won by 15-5 if I remember correctly?

Regards
Bryan
Hi Bryan,

Yes score would sound about right. That one is tempting as my other Risc II is missing its box..

Best regards
Nick
Hillis
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Post by Hillis »

Nice little collection you have there.

It would be fun to test these computers and make them play against each other to see which one is the best.
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spacious_mind
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Post by spacious_mind »

Hillis wrote:Nice little collection you have there.

It would be fun to test these computers and make them play against each other to see which one is the best.
Thanks, actually if your question of who is best is centered around the respective computers with photos posted in these 3 pages it would be quite easy to rank the best ones. It would be something as follows for the top 6:

=1) Chess Wizard IQ 5 (same programs)
=1) Aquamarine Siglo XXI Risc II 26.6 MHz (same Programs)
3) Aquamarine Risc 20 MHz
4) Aquamarine 16 MHz
5) Supremo
6) Voice Chess (Alexandra)

The rest would have to be tested for sure.

Best regards
Nick
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