Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: SamOS39 on February 11, 2008, 10:08:51 PM

Title: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: SamOS39 on February 11, 2008, 10:08:51 PM
As part of my A500T project im starting work on schematics for building an expansion board with zorro2 slots... etc .. yadayada..

This may sound quite silly, i think i already know the answer  but just to be sure ..

Is it possible to have PCI slots and if so what chips do i need etc ..?
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: mrmkl on February 11, 2008, 10:13:28 PM
IIRC, some of the PCI interfacing chips from PLX (http://www.plxtech.com/) would work for a 16-bit local bus master.
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: SamOS39 on February 11, 2008, 10:18:04 PM
cheers.
does that mean that only various PCI cards would work..?

i mean arent PCI slots 32bit?

sorry im a complete noob :roll:
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: JimS on February 11, 2008, 10:46:57 PM
I think a better way to go would be to build a clockport adapter for the 500. Consider what kind of devices you'd want to use, and whether clockport devices already exist. If you roll your own, that means writing drivers as well as building hardware. With the exception of graphics cards, I can't think of any I/O cards that really need the speed of a PCI slot.

There are a lot of little modules made for embedded system designers that would be great for classic Amigas. Stuff like network cards with their own tcp/ip stack, usb hosts with their stack, mp3 players and more.
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: Matt_H on February 11, 2008, 11:14:04 PM
No PCI solution for any Amiga other than 1200/3000/4000 has ever been developed, so you're in completely uncharted waters for this one. If you do get the hardware functioning, there's still the software side to be dealt with.
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: Piru on February 11, 2008, 11:26:10 PM
Quote
im starting work on schematics for building an expansion board with zorro2 slots

Good luck with that. Zorro2 should be possible (the A500 expansion port has most of the required signals, rest can be wired from the mobo directly). You still need to know what you're doing, though.

Quote
Is it possible to have PCI slots

It is not possible in any sensible way. You'd also be responsible for writing all the controlling software and drivers.

Quote
sorry im a complete noob

That combined with the "im starting work on schematics for building an expansion board" is recipe for trouble, I'm afraid.
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: Krusher on February 11, 2008, 11:34:22 PM
On a note, You want to put an Amiga in a tower, assemble the questions you have in one thread. There are a lot of people here who can tell you what you can do and what not and are willing to tell you, but it's annoying to have several new threads about your subject.
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: SamOS39 on February 12, 2008, 08:51:17 AM
@Piru

Ive learnt alot on looking at schematics etc on aminet.
and no i dont want to have to deal with software ..

I was planning on using PCI graphics and sound, so PCI is a no go i guess ..

@JimS

I might consider building a clockport adapter, or can you buy them anywhere at the moment?
IIRC amigakit were selling them at one point?

Can you get a sound card for clockport and is it possible to have more than one clockport device?

@Krusher

Sorry you are right, i guess i just wanted to do this bit by bit.
I have a few more questions to ask but i will post them in one thread  ;-)

oh yes and its already in the tower

cheers
Samm. :-)
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: Tension on February 12, 2008, 08:49:57 PM
Just wondering... Why did you put your A500 in a tower, rather than using an A1200 mobo?  Just seems like a lot of work even getting it up to A1200 standard. (2MB, IDE 68020 etc)
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: SamOS39 on February 12, 2008, 09:10:31 PM
A1200T? already had one! and its so boring and over rated!

A500T is more of a challenge  :lol:
Title: Re: A500 ... PCI ..?
Post by: Tension on February 12, 2008, 09:45:34 PM
Quote

SamOS39 wrote:
A1200T? already had one! and its so boring and over rated!

A500T is more of a challenge  :lol:


Fair enough!!  :-D