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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: hppacito on December 22, 2005, 01:18:34 PM
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Hallo everyone,
This post is to inform you of the status of the project.
The though part was to get the components, being Flash chips and SRAMs the most difficult.
SRAMs should arrive in few days, and Flash should arrive the first week of January.
With these components, I can now complete the design of the board, because the packagings you know, are varied.
I even got, a couple of weeks ago, the ethernet chip RTL8019AS, that is available for end unsers in Germany.
Technically, an hybrid accelerator A500/A600 is possible in the same board, with the same circuit. Maybe is not physically possible, but that is something else.
I got enough components for a small run of 10 boards, including 2 protos. I will build the protos, and I hope someone (besides me) will like to test them also.
That testing time, will be used to write drivers for the IDE controllers (2) and for the rtl8019AS (gladly, there is open source drivers available).
Both IDE and Eth will have interrupt capability.
Memory will use autoconfig, and will be separated in two areas, a 4MB area (@ 0x20 0000), and a 1.5MB area (@ 0xC0 0000).
In the case of an A500, the 1.5MB area should be remapped to 0x60 0000 to have a 6MB continuous block, it is actually a 2MB block.
The original kick rom, should be copied to flash, by means of a small utility. This same flash, can hold more than one kickstart.
ps: If anyone know how to program a driver, that can be copied in ROM and is initializated by the kickstart, let me know. That is going to be useful for the IDE controller.
(ps: anyone with good soft knowledge may be wants to help with all this ?, send me a message)
ps2: As I said earlier, the price should be around 90 Euro, without shipping. No shipping if you show up at my door, may be even with a free beer ;-)
Well, as soon as I have more info, I'll post it here.
Greetings
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wow! you got my attention! What a project. It would be soo nice to see this accelerator in my A600 :crazy:
There seem to be a lot interesting projects lately. Neat!
Any idea what the accelerator will gonna cost? (sorry, i'm Dutch)
Good luck!
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Cool!!!! So the project keeps going, it's amazing!!!!
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mendark wrote:
wow! you got my attention! What a project. It would be soo nice to see this accelerator in my A600
From what I read I understand he went for the A500.
The question is; is there a PLCC socket for A600 clip over or are the A600 users required to wirewrap the lot?
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@ Doppie1200:
A PLCC68 socket will be provided to plug over the 68k, don't worry, but both sockets will not fit at the same time, though.
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In that case I'd be happy to buy one from you. Ofcourse it has to fit in the case.
Keep up the good work!
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Can I get some more info on this? How will it fit on the A600's CPU like the other types? Will it have the same issues of getting poor contact? How will this work with the A500 as well? I am very interested! I would like to buy maybe 3 cards! 2 for A600 and 1 for A500! :)
I have a nice A500 here with 1MB Chip and 3.1 ROMs just itching for an upgrade like this!
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i wont ask to manny questions i will just wait. main thing is that A600 version i will buy 2 as well. Not near interested in the A500 as i have binned them all.
Thanx for keeping us updated
Adonay :-D
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I'm still interested in an A600 version.
Seems most here are saying A600, shame they made it hard to upgrade the thing. I can see why you would make it fit the A500 and be compatible with the A600 though.
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I'd love one of these. My A600 would definitely benefit from it and maybe I'd pick up another A500 for one as well.
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@hppacito
Just concentrate on a A600 version...There are
enough A500 accelerators to choose from...
:-)
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if it plugs into the 68000 socket, will it work in an A2000 also? besides clearance issues with the drive cage or whatever?
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I would want one for my two A500+´ses !! Then this would give me a good reason to buy an 1 Mb Chip Ram expansion :-) 2 Mb Chip is a good start to buy a turboboard like yours :lol:
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Any updates on the prototype?
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DamageX wrote:
if it plugs into the 68000 socket, will it work in an A2000 also? besides clearance issues with the drive cage or whatever?
As far as I know, the A2000 uses the older (huge!) DIP-style 68000 chip, whereas the A600 is surface-mount...
- Ali
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How fast were you going to clock the 68020?
I would be interested in 1 (or more!) of these for the A600!
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I can also buy one of those cards for my lovely 600 according to the price and shipping possibility.
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This could work with the A2000 series flagship computers as it also has the same CPU as the A500. (Just ask George Campbell) LOL
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Man, someone accused me of being obsessed with Doomy a couple of years ago, I think you've taken my mantle TJ!;-):-)
Nice work by the way!
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Having a nicer upgrade solution for the A600 would be wonderful. I would certainly consider buying a modern option for a more transportable A600 machine.
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Hallo,
The plan is to clock it at 16 MHz. Higher clocks can be achieved, but I don't know how much those 68EC020 can be pushed. They are -16 parts, means were meant for 16.67 MHz, a couple more MHz can be squizzed, but another limiting factor will be the flash rom. 70 ns flash should work even at 20MHz... but all that should be tested.
Remember that memory will be accessed in 3 cycles (except chip of course), so that should achieve maximum throughput... and so performance.
I'm a bit late with this due to my phd demanding some work from my part ;-) but hope to get again on track very soon.
The A500 version uses the DIP connector, so should be pluggable in an A2000, but I don't have one to test... (any volunteers ;-))
regards, and thanks all for the great support !, I hope I can deliver something soon
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What's the PhD in?
Lemme guess - its gonna be Physics, Computer Science or Electronics right?
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Until I was arount 18, I was sure I'll study Electronics. But that very year I changed for chemistry. I think gives more of "how the things work" than EE.... time will tell ;-)
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Please include me on the list of buyers when they are ready!
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hi! exist any new from the project?
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Ja,
I'm still working on it to fit all components in such small board !, and down to 2 layers.
Thanks for the support !
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hi! again you still working on this?
thanks
:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :lol: :lol:
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A500/A600 Accelerator a dead project???
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Hello there! Glad to see that someone's still thinking about old non-AGA Amigas. I really like your posts, down to earth facts and to the point progress reporting. They inspire confidence. I would cerainly part with my hard earned cash to upgrade my little A600! With the ACK for the A1200 and your accelerator for the A500/A600, retro Amiga owners are in for exciting times!
Good Luck with your exams, and of course with the accelerator!
Jethro Tull
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yeah what's up with the project???
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Hi hppacito,
have you been working on this project lately? It's been a while, so just a little :bump: