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Author Topic: Some food for thought  (Read 7485 times)

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Offline GulliverTopic starter

Some food for thought
« on: September 08, 2007, 01:42:35 AM »
On the Amiga platform we have managed to replace nearly every subsystem, update them andenhance them:

Processor -> we made accelerators
ram -> we made ram expansions
graphics chipset -> we made GFX cards
paula audio -> we made sound cards
serial, parallel, keyboard, joystick and mouse expansions -> we made USB adapters & IO xtenders
kickstart ->we made autobooting flash kickstarts
zorro expansion -> we made busboard adapters
IDE/SCSI -> we made faster compatible ide and scsi devices

So what do we need to accomplish the dump of our stock Amigas at this point?
It seems at this stage our amigas are like a very old dongle!
I wish it was possible to create a minimal cost, lets say, a semi-dumb, i guess zorro II busboard, in which we could just plug in all those subsystem cards and run workbench without a real Amiga. Of course we wont have AGA/ECS/OCS, but we could rely on Retargetable systems much like the Macrosystem´s Draco, once did.
In the end, is it too complicated to build such board? I mean what would be the minimum requirements be?
I think we will probably need to patch kickstart code to do it, but then it doesnt sound like a pipe dream.
 

Offline GulliverTopic starter

Re: Some food for thought
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2007, 02:04:12 AM »
The point is:

-Relying on an old motherboard, more than 14 years old to hold expensive expansions
-Shortage of some Amiga models
-Difficulty to get a decent repair service on old motherboards
-Having fun!
 

Offline GulliverTopic starter

Re: Some food for thought
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2007, 02:11:36 AM »
I am keeping an eye on that, but then, no release date yet, and still a closed platform!
 

Offline GulliverTopic starter

Re: Some food for thought
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2007, 02:21:26 AM »
Yes they are! But when you realize that for example your system doesnt respond, and you cant locate a proper replacement for that part, then it is not that fun i want. Or even worst, having a guy selling you that chip for a huge $$$ is no fun either.
Anyway, i meant fun, as in the process of recreating an amiga clone!
 

Offline GulliverTopic starter

Re: Some food for thought
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2007, 02:55:33 AM »
Well okay then, but could someone please answe my question from a technical point of view, Could it be easy to make?
 

Offline GulliverTopic starter

Re: Some food for thought
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2007, 03:53:54 AM »
Thank you @Doobrey!

So the CIAs, what else could you suggest?
Anyway, it could be better if someone could tell me, what chips does an Amiga requires to boot.
 

Offline GulliverTopic starter

Re: Some food for thought
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2007, 04:41:48 AM »
Thanks again!