Mini-Mig Mini-ITX Form Factor Interest Thread

[trip6]

My best friend is an electrical design engineer in Massachusetts, and I have been planting a bug in his ear to help me redesign the Mini-Mig Board so that all connectors will be on the backplane so that it can fit on a standard mini-itx form factor mainboard and in any standard mini-itx case with a custom backplane cutout to match the connectors or just a blank backplane that could be cut manually to match the connectors depending on cost...

Don't know if I can make this happen but would anybody be interested in this kind of implementation of Mini-Mig, if I can get him to re-engineer it based on dennis's source files for the 1.1 implementation to a mini-itx form factor? I would also probably include sockets for the chips and crytals in the design to make it easily repairable and allow for future modification\upgrade...

Also wondering if an EPLD implementation of the current FPGA wouldn't be better, this way the pic component could be eliminated, and to upgrade just put in a new revision EPLD in the socket... Rather than having the re-programmability of the FPGA... Would have to find out what the cost difference would be and if its worth sticking with the reprogrammable FPGA...

Just some thoughts, let me know what you think... Has anyone else thought of attempting this re-design to mini-itx?

[downix]

Yes, but also adding such things as IDE and an expantion bus.  If you do go with the PLD then you'd also allow for such things as an amiga-style video slot to drive a toaster, as PLD timings are far more accurate than FPGA.

[FireflyST]

downix wrote:
Yes, but also adding such things as IDE and an expantion bus.  If you do go with the PLD then you'd also allow for such things as an amiga-style video slot to drive a toaster, as PLD timings are far more accurate than FPGA.

I disagree with using IDE.  We need to stop using IDE.  Now.  It's dying, and we should be using SATA for everything since that's the latest common interface and is only growing in popularity, and IDE devices will be harder to get very soon.

[trip6]

I disagree with using IDE.  We need to stop using IDE.  Now.  It's dying, and we should be using SATA for everything since that's the latest common interface and is only growing in popularity, and IDE devices will be harder to get very soon.

So your voluntering then to spend your time writing a SATA driver for amiga systems?

[skurk]

trip6 wrote:
So your voluntering then to spend your time writing a SATA driver for amiga systems?

Agreed.  Plus, IDE-to-SATA adapters are dirt cheap, too. ($1-$5 a pop on eBay ATM).

How about implementing the A500 Zorro expansion port instead?  That way we can use Action Replay's, homebrew IDE adapters, GVP SCSI controllers, etc.  Would probably offer better compability, too.

[trip6]

OK... looks like no one or very few are interested in a MINI-ITX implementation... Question answered...

[Belial6]

I suspect most people just want to get any MiniMig, so form factor is the least of their worries.  Once there are a few dozen MiniMigs out there, you will probably see more response.

[skurk]

trip6 wrote:
OK... looks like no one or very few are interested in a MINI-ITX implementation... Question answered...

Ooh, ooh, mememememe!

Sorry, I didn't catch it as a "sign up" thread.

[Jiffy]

I would be highly interested in _any_ Minimigboard in _any_ standard formfactor, whether it be Mini-ITX or EATX...

So yes, I am interested in Mini-ITX. As many others, I don't have the necessaru soldering skills, so I need a fully populated, fully functional board.

[asian1]

If someone can mass produced EASIC or Structured ASIC of Minimig + 68K core, with support for Wireless USB (1 Gbps), perhaps there will be no need for most connectors (keyboard, mouse, serial, parallel, storage etc). Perhaps minimig can use Displaylink's virtual graphic card (VGC), instead of VGA and use graphics chipset inside Samsung 940UX monitor.

Perhaps the board format will be Pico-ITX/smaller.

http://www.usb.org/wusb/

From via.com.tw:
"Tiny 10cm x 7.2cm complete PC platform fits into palm of hand, more than 75% smaller than the Mini-ITX"

http://www.displaylink.com

[Plaz]

Are you being a little hasty making your decision after only a 9 hour old post?

I think it's a good idea. Could we reserve your offer for a bit later once folks have had a chance to build, test and maybe make advancements on the current design?

Plaz

[downix]

skurk wrote:

trip6 wrote:
So your voluntering then to spend your time writing a SATA driver for amiga systems?

Agreed.  Plus, IDE-to-SATA adapters are dirt cheap, too. ($1-$5 a pop on eBay ATM).

How about implementing the A500 Zorro expansion port instead?  That way we can use Action Replay's, homebrew IDE adapters, GVP SCSI controllers, etc.  Would probably offer better compability, too.

Actually I have that pretty much done, with some ceveat; the slot I have is a 3.3v and formed differently.  But, that was intentional.  I also have an "adaptor" from my slot to the classic A500's slot which is nothing more than a voltage adaptor.

I have a Bodega Bay I want to utilize here.  

[Hattig]

with support for Wireless USB (1 Gbps)

It gets madder! A 68k would barely manage USB1 at 12mbps ... never mind the fact that if you want an Amiga++ then MiniMig isn't the design to modify.

The only wireless that I would approve of is Bluetooth, with some hardware frippery to map Bluetooth keyboard and mice into native Amiga ports pretty much like PS2 is mapped on the current MiniMig. Of course we'd need a full Bluetooth stack for that.

[madsjm]

I am interested in a MiniMig in any shape or form, with or without all the whistles and bells people seem to be requesting.
I just want "someone" to produce it, and I will definitely buy it.

[freqmax]

FireflyST wrote:
I disagree with using IDE.  We need to stop using IDE.  Now.  It's dying, and we should be using SATA for everything since that's the latest common interface and is only growing in popularity, and IDE devices will be harder to get very soon.

If you find a reasonable priced S-ATA PHY maybe it will possible. Until then S-ATA is off the table.

@downix:
PLD may have more exact timing, but have way less gate logics available. And skew problems can be fixed with external latches if needed.