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

[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.

[trip6]

Illuwatar's Mini-ITX version of Mini-mig is the one I would prefer... If someone could fabricate a metal back plane cutout then you could use any standard mini-itx case... Standardization is the key to populating this device to the masses...

Just my 2 cents...

[Amiduffer]

Wow. Great looking PCB. Be sure to put rulers alongside when you take photos so we can get the scale.

[bloodline]

Amiduffer wrote:
Wow. Great looking PCB. Be sure to put rulers alongside when you take photos so we can get the scale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-ITX

;-)

[Tron2k2]

Yeah, Henry Ford did say this.  Have you ever seen a Model T?  A stock one that is, which wasn't black?

All Ford Model T cars were black from the factory.  I have an old car history book upstairs, if you want me to go find it ;-)

End of OT post segment :-)

The new Minimig looks great.  I could put it on the wall next to my GBA 1000..

Actually just getting up the gumption and spare parts collection to get it together, I'm thinking I'll just butcher my poor 16MHz A3000's mother board-lots of chips, sockets, etc. that I could use.  And the fast RAM deprived, slow 16MHz A3000 isn't doing me any good as it is :-(

[trekiej]

@ Tron2k2:
Thanks for backing me up. I just did not feel like arguing about it like the other times.
 :-)

[TheDaddy]

I have emailed Illuwatar and I can easily adapt the Minimig I created

www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

to the new mini-ITX Minimig.

I just need a board.

In doing so there is no need to use a backplate.

Let me know what you think.

:-)

[TheDaddy]

What kind of power supply is required for the mini-ITX Minimig? :-)

[Illuwatar]

The first sign of life has been seen from the MiniMig - I have managed to boot it up with the Jakub modified core and PIC firmware. I got fooled by the firmware first, thinking that the board or the crystal parts for the PIC was busted in some way as it did not start up at all. But it seems like the firmware was compiled to operate from a bootloader - loaded the TinyBoot into the PIC and everything just started to work.

There is a strange issue with the RGB->S-Video converter that must be solved - when this is done, a new series of boards could be made (with all corrections implemented).

[Darrin]

Illuwatar wrote:
The first sign of life has been seen from the MiniMig - I have managed to boot it up with the Jakub modified core and PIC firmware. I got fooled by the firmware first, thinking that the board or the crystal parts for the PIC was busted in some way as it did not start up at all. But it seems like the firmware was compiled to operate from a bootloader - loaded the TinyBoot into the PIC and everything just started to work.

There is a strange issue with the RGB->S-Video converter that must be solved - when this is done, a new series of boards could be made (with all corrections implemented).

Great news.  keep us posted.  :-)

[trip6]

The cases that you made so far are great designs and if you made one for this version it would probably be appreciated by those who purchase the board...

However, my opinion is that if a standard back plane is created then you can use any standard mini-itx case. So this allows flexibility for a lot of casing options to fit every budget and allow some customization to the look and feel of one's mini-mig by case choice.

Just my 2 cents...

TheDaddy wrote:
I have emailed Illuwatar and I can easily adapt the Minimig I created

www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

to the new mini-ITX Minimig.

I just need a board.

In doing so there is no need to use a backplate.

Let me know what you think.

:-)

[Illuwatar]

The video converter issue is solved: it was an software issue. The hardware runs just fine (would be strange as it is a straight copy of the 1.0 MiniMig). It seems like the Jakub core version outputs a slightly different PAL signal compared with the original Dennis core (27-04-2008 core/firmware used) that causes the AD724 (using 4.433619 MHz crystal) chip to disable the S-Video output (and give a slow scrolling composite picture). The VGA/RGB output is fine though and my TV does not have any problems on SCART. And I really like the Jakub implementation with the on-sceen diagnostics, joystick control of menu and the added setting. So, I'm little bit disappointed by this. Hope Jakub reads this and takes a look at his code...

The NTSC core by Jakub have not been tested (yet) as I have no NTSC crystals for the AD724.

[yaqube]

Ok, I had a look at my sources and found that in not scan doubled mode Dennis' core outputs a static one on vsync output and my core outputs vsync signal. Both cores outputs csync on hsync output. The AD724's vsync and hsync inputs are XNOR'ed so in this case it may lead to missing vsync (is the screen slowly scrolling verticaly?)

If you have connected the AD724's vsync input to the FPGA's vsync output with a resistor please remove it and apply  high logic level to the vsync input of the AD724. Please tell me if it works so I will make a modified version.

[skipp604]

Illuwatar, did you get my PM?

[trip6]

Ahh... I love the smell of retro project collaboration in the morning....

[Illuwatar]

I did the test You wanted me to do. By hardwire vsync to VCC (5V) of the AD724, I got a stable picture. But instead, all colors went wrong (black background with hardly noticeable contours of the floppy hand) and the pictures are skewed. Restoring vsync to be controlled by the FPGA, I got back the smooth vertical scroll, otherwise a clear and sharp (as sharp it can be at composite) picture with correct colors.

yaqube wrote:
Ok, I had a look at my sources and found that in not scan doubled mode Dennis' core outputs a static one on vsync output and my core outputs vsync signal. Both cores outputs csync on hsync output. The AD724's vsync and hsync inputs are XNOR'ed so in this case it may lead to missing vsync (is the screen slowly scrolling verticaly?)

If you have connected the AD724's vsync input to the FPGA's vsync output with a resistor please remove it and apply  high logic level to the vsync input of the AD724. Please tell me if it works so I will make a modified version.

To all that have mailed and PM'ed me regarding buying boards: You have not been forgotten. I just don't want to give out any unclear information and I must be sure that the board works to 100%. I have to put together a complete BOM with Digikey numbers and prices to be able to get a cost figure for the parts. The board layout must be corrected and finally, the total numbers of boards have to be counted for order. For those who wants complete, working boards, be aware that I have to put them together by hand, one by one.