CD32 internal hard drive controller idea...

[alexh]

Of course it is possible. Someone made the SX-1 & SX32 didn't they? The question is stupid! [Edit: In that it doesn't make sense.]

All the signals you need are on the 182-pin MCA connector. No need to screw around with the main board at all. Forget all this kickstart socket stuff.

It is NOT practical to use an AGA Gayle chip, you'd never find a source of them. You will have to design your own (maybe copy the AGA Gayles registers) and implement it in an CPLD/FPGA.

The SX-1 and SX-32 do NOT use a real AGA Gayle as their IDE controller. They have their own design implemented in one or two CPLDs.

Yes you 100% need a real AGA Gayle chip to use a FAST ATA controller. If you knew how it worked you might be able to incorporate the enhancements into your own design. You would almost certainly have to swap out the CD32 KS-ROM though so I do not think it is a good idea.

Does the CD32 kickstart have AGA Gayle IDE drivers within it? Good question, one I do not know the answer to. I am slowly shifting towards a yes. If not any board with a hard drive would have to have a ROM to be able to autoboot and I do not see one on the SX-1 or SX32. It is possible there is a ROM on the SX-1 is under the chip marked "MM-001-U20" but I dunno for sure, possibly a PAL/GAL chip instead. Cannot see a ROM at all on SX-32 MK1 PCB. This hints towards the SX-1 and SX-32 using the drivers in the CD32's kickstart ROM. Toni Wilen of WinUAE might know. Or perhaps Doobrie?

I've already done a RAM expansion. It's is very easy, you can read about the logic required to convert between 68k bus cycles and DRAM cycles in any good 68k hardware book and IMHO a RAM expansion is the only upgrade worth doing for CD32. It has a CD drive after all!

The main stumbling block is the 182-pin MCA edge connectors you can get them at Digikey $4.30 each but you need to buy 1000 of them :-(

I found them at Adam Tech, same MOQ of 1000 but a slightly cheaper price.

Ian Steadman found a cheaper source but when I tried to order from them I got a "sorry we do not actually have any" reply.

Realistically you're gonna struggle to make what you want. It would probably be easier to try and buy a CD32fWSI and create a HD addon for that to replace the RTC module.

It takes care of the initial problem (edge connectors) and they seem to be in a reasonable supply for £45.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180294789914

[alexh]

AndrewBell wrote:
No such thing as a stupid question.

Surely a question to which you (logically) already know the answer is not a question? And so its stupid? Don't you think? [Edit: Invalid perhaps rather than stupid]

AndrewBell wrote:
Not everyone is an electronics geek who specialises in old computers and hangs around fan boards to lord it over others.

They don't need to. They just have to have a modicum of common sense and the ability to structure a logical premiss.

The question was structured as "Is it possible to build something that has already built by someone else before?" the answer to which is always going to be... YES!

voyager wrote:
Can’t we use a CPU clip on memory expansion? Or is there no room between the CPU and the case?

I suspect that a CPU clip would cost just as much as the 182-pin connector, have the same MOQ problems and be less reliable.

[alexh]

Sounds like someone should get banned. Any moderators around?

[alexh]

weirdami wrote:
Unless the something has not yet ever been built by someone else.  :-P

Erm, then it would not have been "already built by someone else before" huh? ;-)

[alexh]

AndrewBell wrote:
you were the first one to start throwing insults around.

Eh, I said something was a stupid question. That is not an insult!? It's a statement! If I had said "You're stupid" that would have been an insult. [edit: But I didn't and wouldn't!] English not your first language?

This is a forum. A place where like minded people exchange ideas and opinions. These ideas and opinions are often not the same. That's the whole point of a forum. You take what people are saying, stick to your guns or perhaps form a different opinion or idea. It would be a boring world if we all agreed with each other all the time don't you think?

[alexh]

AndrewBell wrote:
given your questionable use of punctuation.

Way to go man... you've got me on the ropes with that one :-)