MiniMig + PowerPC = OS4 Hardware for all

[nBit7]

The Virtex4 FX chips have one (or more) embedded PPC blocks which could theoretically be employed to run OS4,

The Virtex4 uses PowerPC 405 core.
Piru pointed out that you need 603/604 compatible CPU.
At a guess the 405 would not be compatible enough.
As far as I know OS4 has never been targeted to 405.

[nBit7]

...Obviously the Minimig would need to be revised with the addition of AGA...

Why would it need AGA to run OS4?
OS4 is best run on non-AGA graphics hardware.  I think it would be better to implement RTG.  Or use a PPC SoC with integrated graphics.  I couldn't see OS4 relying on AGA before the RTG graphics drivers kicked in.

[nBit7]

1: Is it possible to create a PPC-based version of the Minimig?

Yes.  Not hard at all.  Making it behave like a Blizzard PPC or CSPPC; not so easy but possible.

If Hyperion end up winning the lawsuit.  Then I think they would be amenable to the idea of supporting a PPC minimig.

2: How long would it take to redesign the 1.1 minimig to be PPC?

Depends on the implementation.  If the implementation didn't need to imitate a classic PPC solution then hardware wise a few months.  Otherwise maybe a year.

3: Is anyone willing to do it?

I am if it doesn't require imitating a classic solution like Blizzard. Also no AGA, instead modern graphics, USB, Ethernet.

[nBit7]

downix wrote:

3: Is anyone willing to do it?

I am if it doesn't require imitating a classic solution like Blizzard. Also no AGA, instead modern graphics, USB, Ethernet.

Then how is it a MiniMig?  Would it not be better to make a custom PowerPC motherboard... oh wait, almost forgot, no source of Northbridges.[/quote]

It would be a OS4 machine with native support for classic.

[nBit7]

You'd still need a northbridge better than anything ever seen in an AmigaONE or Pegasos to get modern graphics.

Could use a PowerPC SoC with embeded graphics.
OR
More powerful FPGA.  I think it is safe to assume that northbrides are prototyped in FPGA.  OK you wouldn't be able to achieve the same clock speeds as a custom ASIC for the same design.  But with a good design optimized for the FPGA you get  transfer rates well above any commercially available ASIC.

[nBit7]

With regards to the Amiga Inc classic hardware legal issue.

I thought that Amiga Inc never acquired the rights to classic Amiga 'hardware' from gateway.

If this is the case than Amiga Inc can't go after anyone making classic clones of the hardware.  So long as the name AMIGA that they do have rights to is not used.  And also the ROM code.

[nBit7]

Actually some people have started to use bread toasters instead of pizza ovens to rewflow solder. And Minimig fits..
So it might just be doable, but you have no way of verifying solders without x-ray.

toaster.  I haven't head of that one.  I guess it would work.  But you would need a good temp control.  You would probably be better just using a regular ovenand getting a temp sensor.

Don't really need a x-ray.  If you get the solder paste correct you only need to see the outside few rows of balls.  You can get cameras that look down the small gap.  Thats how its done by the smaller outfits.

[nBit7]

No way to do a 2 layer board, but i think that using a embedded chip like the MPC5200 could allow to use less layers. Four or six, maybe. It is something to analyze.

4,6,8 layers really is not an issue.  The minimig PCBs , can't generally be produced at home.  More layers don't add that much cost these days.  In fact it is often cheaper (at least in higher volumes) because you can make the board smaller.

If you start looking at DDR, then it is near impossible to do in less that 4layers.