FPGAArcade case

[Darrin]

I'd like something along those lines, but with space inside for mounting some hardware (say a 5.25" bay for a USB DVD+RW or a 3.5" bay for a real hard drive.

[Darrin]

Another question is whether people want to place a PSU inside or outside the case.  Personally, I use a small PSU (designed for one of those IDE/SATA to USB multi-purpose adapters) and would prefer to keep it external.

Here's a quick pic of the FPFA with an early expansion card fitted to give you an idea of how small the actually cards are:

http://www.minimig.net/yaqube/images/RPX060PCB4.JPG

[Darrin]

Hi Darrin,

Why have a real hard drive? Not to say that it would make the case much bigger? Might as well buy a mini ITX case at that point =)

LOL.  Just an option I'd like to have, but isn't essential as I could easily use a USB hard drive connected to an external USB port.  I just fancy some space inside the case for any future expansion.

Personal preference.  My laptop has an 18.1" screen, full keboard, 2 internal hard drives and weighs a ton.  I'm not the sort of guy who goes for tiny gadgets that could fall through a hole in my pocket.  

[Darrin]

Just wondering... how far can the Arcade FPGA be expanded? In a practical way though

Am I correct to assume that with the expansion card it can do the following through re-implementation (avoiding the word emulation here):

1. Real 060 processor
2. Amount of RAM???
3. Picasso card in FPGA
4. Real network card

What else? Do we really want to add PCI slots to this thing

Maybe we can have one inside an Amiga 600 case =) .... joking.

Well from my experience with my Deneb card in my A4000, once you get past RTG, just about everything else you want can be added via the USB ports.  Plus, as you say, if there is room left over in teh FPGA then "hardware" can be added there too.

As an early Minimig user it has been fancinating to see how the core has developed over the years as individuals continue to push the boundaries.  When I first got my Minimig I had 1.5MB RAM, OCS, 1 x Read Only floppy, no hard drive.  It really was a stock A500 (with a scan doubler and a dodgy floppy).  Then we got ECS, ARM Hard Drive (file) controller, read/write floppy support, then 4 x floppies, 2MB of extra RAM, hard file without ARM controller.....  the list goes on...

We can expect to see the same evolution of the core with the FPGA Arcade until we end up with a "Super Amiga A6000+" and beyond.  Not to mention the other computer cores and arcade machines.

This is going to be one hell of a machine.

[Darrin]

Zorro, PCI, and USB would be a dream come true.

USB we'll have via the expansion board.  In theory there is no reason why Zorro and PCI couldn't be added to a future expansion board.  In the future there is no reason why we should see a range of alternative expansion boards not just for the Amiga side, but for any other cores than run on the board.  I can see AtariST fans wanting a board with a MIDI port, C64 users might want a real cartridge slot or floppy/printer/tape connectors, etc.

[Darrin]

Why? Can't we have those through FPGA?

We'll still need connectors or else we'll also have to fit the entire expansion cards in the FPGA too.  

[Darrin]

What I mean is that, for example, a Picasso would be in FPGA format... or any other board, you dont have to buy Zorro cards and that ancient stuff any more.

True, but someone still has to make the effort to work out how every pice of that hardware works and then recreate it in the FPGA.  An expansion board with a Zorro connector or a PCI slot could open up the world to existing cards (drivers permitting) immediately.

Imagine if Elbox saw a market to make a PCI expansion board for the FPGA Arcade.  They already have existing drivers for a number of cards.  We could even add a real Radeon card and have 32bit 1920x1080 displays!

The potential is there to make the FPGA Arcade as expandable as a "real" big-box Amiga.  Doing this via expansion boards keeps the cost down and means that people who want a games machine don't need to pay for a work-horse.  

[Darrin]

I agree 100%

Can I make an Elbox joke?

LOL, not if you want to see a "FPGA Arcade Mediator 5000".  

[Darrin]

But is it ok if I buy the SharkPPC first (well after the Dragonfire)?

LOL.  Cruel.  

[Darrin]

@Darrin

Not sure you saw this:

To power the Arcade FPGA do you use a similar PSU for the minimig? Or you have to use an ATX Supply or a PICOPSU?

I've powered mine in 2 ways.  I used the original PSU for my Minimig v1.1 initially, but then I switched to a MOLEX connector from a IDE/SATA-to-USB adapter kit.

[Darrin]

My laptop is 18.4

I got you beat....

LOL.  I'm going to have to hunt down a tap measure now.  I've got a HP Pavilion dv8...

[Darrin]

Well Darrin said that he used the Minimig PSU with it. I wonder if he had any problems with it?

Let us know Darrin =)

None at all.  The only reason I stopped using it was that I needed it again to run my Minimig v1.1 along-side the FPGA Arcade for testing software.

For the record, I use this PSU on my Minimig:

NEXXTECH "Universal AC/DC Adaptor"
Model:  MAC500MA
Input:  120 60Hz 12W
Output:  3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 & 12v DC
Current:  500mA Max

It also has a polarity switch (make sure it is positive on the tip).  It works with the Minimig on the 4.5v or 6v setting (there is no 5v setting), but I have been advised by Mike that the FPGA Arcade should only be used on a 5v setting or the 4.5v setting using this adapter.

[Darrin]

toshiba qosimo

not real portable. like 16 lbs with the huge power brick:-)

Same sort of thing here.

I travel a lot on business so I'm more interested in a "portable desktop" than a light laptop (and netbooks can go to hell).  

[Darrin]

I did have a picture of the qosimo in one of those airport screening bins. It actually perfectly goes into one of those, and you can't get your fingers in beside it when you go to remove it which is really frustrating when you have no belt or shoos.

I know that feeling too.  Those damn plastic bins are crap, but Houston airport has special flat laptop bins which makes life easier.

[Darrin]

So you have USB to SATA adapter?
I see...so basically a floppy drive should be easy or even a card reader?

Interesting...

Correct.  Just the same as plugging devices into a Subway or Deneb on a real Amiga.  The principle is the same.