Interest check: An updated MiniITX-MiniMig ( Pics!!! )

[jj]

To paraphrase, Henry Ford said you can have any color you want only if it is black.

OMG, I cant believe people actually still think he said this.  He never did say it.  There is no evidence to support he did and in fact you couldnt even get the model T in black for quite a few years into production.

[TheDaddy]

@Illuwatar

Hi,

Email me, I think I can help. I have also got a case nearly ready for your board.

Thank you.:-)

[Illuwatar]

skurk wrote:

freqmax wrote:
Maybe you could utilise already used backplates on existing PCs ..?

Agreed. I thought that was part of the point with the ITX Minimig.

That was a long time ago this was possible. Every PC motherboard manufacturer do their own back panel layout today. Even swapping between different models of VIA Mini-ITX boards requires black plate change. So, making my own connector layout does not break any rules (if the Big Ones can do it, so can I).

TheDaddy - Thank You for the offer. I will keep it in my mind. But first, I must see if this board works...

[trekiej]

I would not mind getting together with others and sending some money to Illuwatar to add a 86 pin connector.

[Illuwatar]

I assume You would like that connector to bring out more FPGA pins? I had actually an idea to add this, but I'm unsure how it could affect the performance of the board. Currently, I'm using a rather tight routing to keep the track length to a minimum between CPU, FPGA and memory. Going through a set of headers will make the traces longer and add pads to them. I left that out to be on the safe side.

But a small part of that has actually been added - all pins used for the VGA generation and the four spares are available at a 40-pin header (half of the pins are GND and a few carries power).

[trekiej]

That is a good idea. Sorry, I meant so that an A500 memory board could be added.
To make a dream come true, it would be nice if Mini-Mig had an 86 pin cpu slot and a video slot for a Toaster Board.

I guess this is good for retro only.
 :-)

[Illuwatar]

Now I got what you was looking for. I don't think that is so simple by just bringing out more pins from the FPGA. It will require additional electronics to make it compatible (the MiniMig runs at 3.3 V internally for example) and to make it robust (you don't want to blow the FPGA by bad hardware or stupid usage). Also, it will not make the MiniMig mini anymore, taking away the original intention of the design.

My idea with pin headers was more to make it possible to create add-on modules for custom applications, not only for Amiga usage. But, as I said before - in this design, I have put reliability and performance as top priority without bringing the costs too high.

[Illuwatar]

Put the power section of the board together today and did the first power-up test. No "bang" or smoke did appear and all voltages measured correct. So, next step is to put that FPGA in place...

[tonyyeb]

Good luck!

[freqmax]

Check other I/Os?, esp short circuits. Or driven lines.

[Illuwatar]

The first prototype board is (almost) completed. All parts needed to run it is in place and it is ready for testing. Power-up test has been done and all voltages looks fine (and nothing went kaboom). A full run test with all firmware in place will be done within a few days - stay tuned...

Some teaser pic's:

[Crom00]

Nice work, Great JOB!
Thanks for the continued effort.

[trekiej]

@ Illuwatar:
Excellent work.
I understand what you mean by the 3.3v and 5v differences.
Maybe it can be something I could look into doing.
To leave you alone about this subject, I am working on my own stuff. :-D
This is the Mini-Mig I would prefer.
It would be perfect if the next has 16MB of Fast Ram.
 :-D

[darksun9210]

Awesome work! :-o beautiful looking board :-)

[boing4000]

@Illuwatar
great job, the PCB and soldering look very well! I'll cross my fingers that your MiniTX board is working as it should.

@trekiej
I would be interested how you will make 16MB Fastram work on an 68000 system :-)

[Darrin]

Great looking pictures.  Good luck with the project.  I hope that when you finish it that someone like ACube consider a production run.  A batch of cheap second-hand Minimig v1.1 assembled boards on eBay combined with this new board would help to swell the number of users.

I'd certainly be interested in a populated board and then hand my v1.1 to the kids.