FPGAARCADE minimig compatible board, comments?

[Retro_71]

Put me down for one.. the wife is really going to kill me but who cares....
just a quick question after the first release how quick will the extra items appear and in what order?
Now just hope it not to expensive. how easy would it be to change cores (what i am trying to say will one be enough to have a amiga, Atari, VIC 20 machine?)

[mikej]

Most of the cores already exist and need only minor tweaking to get running. All the work at the moment is on the Replay boot system.

At startup the ARM boots from a directory \replay\loader.bin. This gives you the on screen menu etc.

You can then choose a directory on the Sd card, you might have
\amiga_ocs\  
\amiga_ocs_dvi\
\amiga_aaa\
\vic20\
\c64\
etc.

In this directory sits any ROM images you might need as well as the FPGA image. A control text file loads these files into internal/external ram. It also configures the clock generators for the platform and you can set up any options such as disk images. Then it reboots the FPGA into the system you've chosen.

You could also make it boot directly to a specific system.

All the cores will be available for download, so you just stick them on the SD card when they are available. As they will not contain any ROM images I should be able to provide pre-compiled FPGA images (.bin) as well as the sources.


/Mike

[wizard66]

Nice to see the first Replay screen on your monitor Mikej.

http://www.fpgaarcade.com/

It's alive, ALIVE ;-)

[Retro_71]

WOW cool Mike didn't know it was so easy. when will the mass product run be?
Can't wait for it now.

[wizard66]

@ mikej
Your a loooong week in Asia ;-)
Must be on a hollyday or something like that
Any updates for us about the replay?
Can't wait for the release of the board, so any update is good :-)
Cheers

[mikej]

Just back, I was away for a bit longer than expected, got flu and then went to IBC in Amsterdam - so I am a bit broken.

I have a huge amount of components, I'll post some pics. There is a slight tweak to the PCB I need to finish, but I promise you will like it

Best,
Mike.

[wizard66]

Just back, I was away for a bit longer than expected, got flu and then went to IBC in Amsterdam - so I am a bit broken.

I have a huge amount of components, I'll post some pics. There is a slight tweak to the PCB I need to finish, but I promise you will like it

Best,
Mike.

Nice to hear from you again ;-)
Getting the flu is no fun at all with all the recent viruses flying around.
Do you have the 50 pcb's made in asia like you say on your webside?
And what's this about the slight tweak? you make us curious Mike.
Cheers

[mikej]

For the last batch the PCBs were made in China and then assembled in Sweden. The plan was to get 50 boards assembled in China, but due to cunning plan I didn't finish the layout work in time - so I have carried all the bits back home.

I found some stacking svhs/composite and stacking 9 pin Ds which means I can put all the IO on one side of the board and the power connectors on the other, meaning most people won't need the expansion board.
/Mike

[wizard66]

For the last batch the PCBs were made in China and then assembled in Sweden. The plan was to get 50 boards assembled in China, but due to cunning plan I didn't finish the layout work in time - so I have carried all the bits back home.

I found some stacking svhs/composite and stacking 9 pin Ds which means I can put all the IO on one side of the board and the power connectors on the other, meaning most people won't need the expansion board.
/Mike

After looking @ you new pictures from you webside it looks like a good decision to me getting all connectors on one side of the board.
This will also reduce the cost of a extra daughterboard.
So you have to rework the replay pcb AGAIN !!! ;-)
Your board is going to be a top design with all options.
Looking realy forworth to my board (when it's finished)
Keep on the good work Mikej I'm realy impressed by your design.

Keep us posted Cheers

[mikej]

well, it's only one PCB change. I had always expected to have to make some minor changes, it is unusual to get everything completely right on the first go. The ReplayA board could have shipped with one wire on it, but the Chrontel power problem really needed to be fixed. If you are going to make any changes it costs the same no matter what you do, so it seemed a good time to add the new connectors. It takes a bit of time but I think the end result is better - and it means I can scrap the mini expansion board.
/Mike

[burgertron75]

@MikeJ

This project of yours looks really exciting.  Look forward to the news when you've got the next PCB rev done...

Having read this thread end-to-end with interest, I reckon I'd be in the market for one of these when there is AGA/AAA support

Keep up the good work!

[Greg.0]

Hi mikej, Hi all ;-)

It seems there have a lot of progress on your FPGA Arcade board...
Pending the final quote, could you explain the way in which will be  distributed this great project?

Thank you !