One off source for Minimig FPGA

[wolfchild]

Around 8 months ago, as soon as Minimig PCBs were made available on Ebay, I made a big order from Digikey and bought the parts to assemble my own.

It took all of a week's lunch-breaks to assemble the unit's SMD parts, except for one thing - the FPGA.  In a fit of 'I know better' stupidity I ordered the wrong FPGA, and the project has been shelved for the last 8 months.

Does anyone know of a supplier for one-off XC3S400E-PQ208 FPGA's and without M.O.Q. restrictions?  Preferably in Europe as I don't want to pay some EUR30 in import taxes again.

I also have similar problems with the SD-card socket.  Farnell have an M.O.Q. policy that makes buying the socked a ridiculously expensive affair.

Thanks in advance!
Edwin

[skurk]

I have all the parts except the FPGA myself.  It's about 80% done, laying in the drawer at work.

The SD card socket was indeed tricky to obtain.  I finally got one from another DIY electronics kit (ebay link).  This kit also contains a couple of other parts (pushbuttons, serial port, etc) which come in handy.

I'm interested in building more than just one Minimig, so if you come across any good offers, let me know.

[wolfchild]

Thanks for the info!  We seem to be exactly in the same situation with project progress...

I looked closely at the SD card socket supplied with the kit, but in the photo is looks different from what Dennis used for Minimig.  The original part for the Minimig has the solder connections hidden somewhere in the middle of the socket, whereas the one from your link has the connections at the back.  Did it fit OK for you?

[Hojo Norem]

I'm building a Minimig too (Im waiting for IC8 on back order from DIgiKey and D2-D6 because they sent the wrong parts).  I got my SD card connector from CPC here in the UK.  They got a few different types in, even those spring loaded ones.

EDIT:
Their site is like a maze when you want to find anything so heres a search link: Might not work for long

[DBAlex]

Why build a minimig when you can buy one from AmigaKit & other places?

Is it cheaper, or is it just for fun?  :-?

[Hojo Norem]

In the long run it works out a little more cost wise but you can spread that cost over a longer period as you buy the parts.  There is a fun aspect to it also but the biggest reason for me is that I had bought a PCB of eBay before Christmas.  Plus building it yourself opens up more customisation options when it comes to the finishing touches ;-)

[wolfchild]

Why build a minimig when you can buy one from AmigaKit & other places?

Because if I had bought the right FPGA, I would have been amongst the very first to have a completed minimig!

Is it cheaper, or is it just for fun?

Cheaper it surely is not!  I've already paid too much import taxes and shipping and processing fees, but it's kind of cool having a 100% DIY Amiga :-)

[Everblue]

Wolfchild: Jekk tlestih nista naqbeż qabża s'għandek ħa nara dan il-minimig jaħdem?



(If you finish it can I pay you a visit to see the minimig working?)

[amazing]

buying the sd sockets from farnell was easy as peeing behind a tree

i will look for the number tonight so u can order it

[HenryCase]

I don't know if they sell individual chips, but this place is worth a look:
http://www.ashlea.co.uk/scripts/availability.pl?partID=XC3S400-4PQG208C

The last time I enquired about Xilinx XC3S400-4PQG208C FPGAs I was asking for the bulk price, which for 20-100 chips was £13.40 GBP each. I didn't ask for the price for single chips.

Even if they do sell individual chips, it looks like you've got enough interested parties, i.e. people who have posted here, for at least 5 FPGAs. Something to think about.

If you would like to e-mail Ashlea Components their e-mail address is: sales@ashlea.co.uk .

[skurk]

DBAlex wrote:
Why build a minimig when you can buy one from AmigaKit & other places?

Is it cheaper, or is it just for fun?  :-?

It's definitely not cheaper, but it's very educational.  I wish every hardware component was available as a DIY package.

[skurk]

wolfchild wrote:
I looked closely at the SD card socket supplied with the kit, but in the photo is looks different from what Dennis used for Minimig.  The original part for the Minimig has the solder connections hidden somewhere in the middle of the socket, whereas the one from your link has the connections at the back.  Did it fit OK for you?

Actually - I haven't soldered it yet.  The connectors are at home, and the Minimig's at work.  Since I'm lacking the FPGA, it's all been "on hold" lately... so I haven't really thought much about it.

I'll take a look at it this weekend and double-check.

[skurk]

HenryCase wrote:
The last time I enquired about Xilinx XC3S400-4PQG208C FPGAs I was asking for the bulk price, which for 20-100 chips was £13.40 GBP each. I didn't ask for the price for single chips.

That's a really great price.  Maybe someone in the UK are willing to stock up?  I'd love to, but I'm in Norway and we have a +25% tax on imports worth more than £20.

If someone in the UK did, they could send the FPGA's abroad as "gifts"

Hey, I'll have two.  Maybe three.

[HenryCase]

skurk wrote:
I'd love to, but I'm in Norway and we have a +25% tax on imports worth more than £20.

There's a solution to the import tax issue: get the person sending the parcel to say the goods are worth less than £20! :-D I know someone who bought something on eBay recently and successfully used this trick.

skurk wrote:
If someone in the UK did, they could send the FPGA's abroad as "gifts"

That'd work too. :-D

[alexh]

See if you can blag some from your local distributor as samples... with a bit of fast talking you can easily get 1-2 chips