Hemi-Disk II: a drop-in Disk II controller card
Hemi-Disk II is a replacement for Apple’s Disk II controller card. It works exactly like the original: same drives, same disks, same commands. Put it in slot 6, connect your 5.25" dIsk][ drives, and boot.
Why
The original Disk II card relies on two small PROMs that are now more than 40 years old, and some of them are failing. Swapping in an EEPROM with an adapter doesn’t always work, because the part may not be fast enough. Hemi-Disk II moves the Disk II logic into a CPLD, so there are no old PROMs left to worry about.
The CPLD logic started from Wing Yeung’s (MFA2 WorkShop) Disk II implementation for his mini Apple II Plus clone. We finished the card together.
Features
Drive 1 and Drive 2 connectors, the same as the original card. Copy disks with two drives, or play games that use both.
One horizontal and one vertical header. Plug in from the top the classic way, or run the ribbon cable out the back.
A slide switch sets which connector is Drive 1 and which is Drive 2.
One LED per drive, so you can see which drive is active.
Robust CPLD and EPROM components are used. There are Disk II clone cards that use EEPROM, but this one is far more robust.
Power consumption is kept low.
Pair it with a Grappler Minus to get SmartPort as well.
How to use it
Put Hemi-Disk II in slot 6.
Connect your Disk II drive (or a drive emulator such as SPIISD V2) to Drive 1.
Power on. It boots exactly like a Disk II card.
For SmartPort, add a Grappler Minus in slot 5 and type PR#5.
Works with
Apple IIe, IIe Platinum, IIe Euro Platinum
Apple II Plus, II Europlus, II J-plus
What’s included
Fully assembled and tested card. Drive cable not included.
Price: $36 USD
