ABOUT NOVAG JASPER SPECIAL I MODEL 38711 ELECTRONIC TRAVEL CHESS COMPUTER
NOVAG JASPER SPECIAL I Electronic Travel Chess Computer - picture taken from computer
MAIN NOVAG JASPER SPECIAL I MODEL 38711 GAME CHARACTERISTICS
CHESS RULES: Knows castling, en passant and pawn promotion and under-promotion.
LEVEL KEY: Total of 679 level settings to choose from. These 679 level settings are divided into 2 groups of 56 levels including 5 built-in Teach Mode levels and 7 Solve Mate levels (2 x 56 + (2 x 56 x 5) +7 = 679).
TRAINING KEY: This training function is to help novice players.
HINT KEY: The computer can suggest moves if you are not sure how to continue your game, which is a great tutoring feature.
TAKE BACK MOVE KEY: You may take back the last 32 half moves, this enables you to rectify an earlier mistake or to play a different strategy.
VERIFY A POSITION KEY: To verify that your board position is correct.
SETTING UP A POSITION KEY: This mode allows you to create board positions for experimentation or practice.
MEMORY: The NOVAG JASPER SPECIAL has a long term memory and will retain the last board position.
PLAYING STYLES: If you choose skill level GROUP 1 your NOVAG JASPER SPECIAL chess computer will follow a more balanced playing role. Its game will be position bound and the computer will not make risky moves. In other words the computer always searches to its maximum ability to find the best move, whereas in GROUP 2 level setting your NOVAG JASPER SPECIAL chess computer will follow a more random or human like playing style and tends to make strategical mistakes. Its play will be more aggressive and the computer deliberately makes alternative moves which are not the absolute best of its search. This playing style offers interesting game variations and will challenge your chess skills.
Excerpts taken from the NOVAG JASPER SPECIAL user manual and box.
WHAT IS THE PROCESSOR INSIDE THIS COMPUTER?
As a result of some reported Ron Nelson comments with regards to having to switch to lower cost yet more efficient semiconductors in the 1990’s resulting in a new range of Excalibur Electronics computers launched around that time using Intel 80C50 manufactured by Asian semiconductor companies. The same transformation most likely took place with all the other manufacturers of electronic chess computers, beginning in the late 1980’s.
Novag never advertised the processor used inside many of their computers which made it more of a guessing game of what they actually used. However by indicating in their sales literature the speed, ROM and RAM size, it does allow you to narrow your best estimate down to what kind of processor it may be.
None of the electronic chess computer manufacturers produced volumes that allowed them to specify custom microchips and therefore had to rely on what was easily available for purchase in Hong Kong and China.
Novag in some previous models had used Intel MCS-48 based 80C49 processors so it stands to reason that at the time of Novag Jasper Special with its dual LCD display, they were probably using the next generation Intel MCS-51 based processor 80C51 manufactured by Asian semiconductor companies.
As it happens while researching data sheets an 80C51 Dual LCD semiconductor existed, and still exists today, manufactured by Philips Semiconductors (nowadays operating as NXP Semixonductors), who at that time was one of the top 10 world manufacturers of semiconductors with production locations in China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand.
This 80C51 Dual LCD semiconductor matches exactly in configurable specifications what Novag had advertised as 8 MHz 8 Bit 16 KB ROM and 256 Byte RAM used in some Novag chess computers as well as 8 KB ROM and 768 Byte RAM which was used in many other Novag chess computers from around 1996 onwards.
To encourage discussion and further research a ? is shown behind the Processor OEM name and Processor in the table descriptions below. Perhaps someone has a broken computer and is willing to open it up and take it apart to check this further. In the meantime please enjoy the information below as a best estimate. The truth probably lies somewhere between 80C49 and 80C51.
Technical Specification
Novag Jasper Special I (1998)
Back of Jasper
Computer Label
User Manual
Spacious Mind
Schachcomputer.Info
Active 2017
Tourn. 2015
1314
-
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
Final
-
-
-
-
-
-
MANUFACTURER
PROGRAMMER
Novag Industries Ltd.
David Kittinger
1750 USCF
1998
$129.00
Not Known
Year:
MFR ELO:
Original Price:
Wiki ELO:
Model #:
38711
My Serial #:
411144
Processor OEM
Philips Semicon?
Processor:
80C51?
Speed:
Type:
8 Bit
8 MHz
ROM:
4 KB
RAM:
768 Byte
Battery Type:
4 x AAA
Power Adapter:
Not Available
Display:
LCD 4 Pos 7Seg
Board Type:
Ext Non-Sensory
Overall Size:
Board Size:
External Board
2.1/4x3.7/8x3/4 in
Options Select:
Button Select
Play Levels:
679
Opening Book:
Not Available
Take Back:
32 Half Moves
Position Setup:
Available
Position Verify:
Available
Move Analysis:
Display Info:
Not Available
Not Available
Solve Mate:
Mate in 7
Save Game:
Available
Ponder:
Not Available
Search Depth:
6 Ply Max
Provide Hint:
Available
Teach Mode:
Available
Change Sides:
Available
Active Level:
TM Level:
L1D2/L2D2
Infinite Level:
L1F8/L2F8
L1C5/L2C5
Hardware Specification
Game Features
Matchplay & Test ELO Ratings
Computer Game Rating
Rating Test
Other Computer Chess Ratings
USCF
USCF
Spacious Mind
Human Rating
USCF
CCR
CCNS
Ply
FIDE
USCF
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-
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1496
1400
Class C Level Electronic Travel Chess Computer!
