FPGAArcade case

[TheDaddy]

Hi everyone,

I have received a few emails from people asking me to design a case for the FPGAArcade.

Anyone interested?

It would more or less follow the lines of my previous work:

http://www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Scelta.htm

Possible colours, black, white or beige.

Let me know what you'd want to see apart from the fact that you want something sturdy to protect it.

Which ports would you want to be able to access?
How much space would you want inside? Etc...

Your ideas here please.

Thank you.

[TheDaddy]

Ok...

>>First in list! Interested =)

amigarulez@hotmail.com

>>1. Has to be small as possible

Can be done, it all depends on the size of it and future upgrades, including daughter board.

>>2. White!

OK

>>4. Ideally comes with a PSU (if possible).

Mike?

>>TheDaddy I really like your work, but I dont like the Minimig logo, especially with the huge dot on the 'I'.

That is the old one. It was expensive to make and difficult to apply. But something else could be used of course. It doesn't have to be that font.

>>Also what is the proper name Arcade FPGA? FPGA Arcade? Replay? I like Replay best, so maybe on the box it should say something like Amiga Replay or something like that

Replay sounds good to me, what do the others think?
Re-Play maybe?

[TheDaddy]

Looking again at the board there is a 5v input. I assume I can use a laptop type PSU?

Nevermind, I see you already did that =)

I am just guessing but a 80-90-120-150 or 160W picoPSU with external brick should work, we really need Mike to answer this...

[TheDaddy]

In that case, for simplicity (back on topic), the case should just have a hole on the back to connect the 5v pin. Then it is just a matter of getting a 5V brick as TheDaddy says.

Something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-VOLT-5A-DC-POWER-ADAPTER-SUPPLY-CCTV-SECURITY-UK-SAMSUNG-Q170B-V170-/250926915681?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item3a6c68e061

But with more amps?

Exactly, we need to know the exact power/voltages needed by the fpga.

[TheDaddy]

This any good to power the Re-play up?

http://linitx.com/product/12383

[TheDaddy]

TheDaddy why bother with those? They are too expensive and you still need an external PSU. If you just use a normal PSU using the 5V pin, it is way cheaper.

I suppose you are right as long as people can find one.

I think the hole is the same as the one for the Minimig so  that is covered

[TheDaddy]

For the base board 5V 1A is fine (5W).

Measurements on the prototype daughterboard show total current of about 2.1A not
including USB power to peripherals.

So, say 3-4A to be safe at 5V. Thats 15-20W.
/MikeJ

Perfect. So are you going to leave it to the user to provide power or maybe include the power with the fpgaarcade? What does everyone think?

Is there a power adapter (like the ones for the Minimig) which satisfies those power requirements? Ebay?

[TheDaddy]

The PSU looks ok, note the connector is a 2.1mm jack on the board but a 2.5mm will fit but may be slightly lose.

Please make sure you use 5V regulated supply, the 5V rail has some protection for overvoltage but it is not regulated on board.

The USB in the base board is used for re-flashing the ARM, it is not designed for connecting stuff to.
/MikeJ

Do you mean the onboard USB pins or the port on the side? Which one can't be used?

[TheDaddy]

Is there a way to connect a DVD-RW and floppy disk drive or 3.5" HD to the fpgaarcade?

[TheDaddy]

I see...

What about a SATA or IDE DVD drive?

Floppy disk and SATA/IDE HD?

I am talking internally not external devices via USB.

It's to decide if we need space for such things.

[TheDaddy]

Also...when will the daughter board be available? Do the connectors on the daughter board fit within the space of the I/O panel or are they outside this space?

[TheDaddy]

I'll put a hi-res photo of the main board on my website when I remember.
The connectors on the daughterboard for USB and Ethernet will sit in the IO area above the SD and DVI connectors.
/MikeJ

So that means that you'd have to do the I/O panel again?

[TheDaddy]

I recall Mike saying he will do a rerun of the I/O panels with daughterboard holes.

Great so I can go ahead and design it...

I might need the replay board and the daughter board though just to make sure.

So you are saying in white? No black or beige?

And the pins for the power switch and LEDs will be present I believe.

The RS232 (serial port?) is this going to be used?

I/O for external controllers...what are they for?

[TheDaddy]

I wonder if having a DVD-RW and a HD when you can have a 32GB SD Card isn't just a waste of time...maybe it's better to keep it compact? Or would you like a floppy/DVD-RW?

[TheDaddy]

I think a CD/DVD player is not needed (CD ISO will work I think).
However A HD is welcom to store all your data for all your .iso files :-) and other stuff.
I have build-in a 1TB 2.5 HDD and sits under the replay PCB (see my pictures in the link above A590 build).
It's not working yet but with the release of the daughterboard it will.
There is also a MicroSD slot on the daughterboard so you can use a other sd cart there.

How would you connect the internal HD to the board?