FPGA Replay Board

[freqmax]

Infact PCI-express might be worthwhile if the Spartan-6 rocketports can handle it nativly. The reason is that this could be done with very few signals or I/O slots. Which reduces cost.
These rocketports can also handle S-ATA nativly asfair.

Maybe I should say that the original Zorro comment was a little bit a joke. Ie the only thing missing .. (tm)

The only hardware that may need physical connection are the ones that interface with outside world in areas that the built-in functions won't cover.

[trekiej]

@MikeJ
Can your computer take larger FPGAs if upgrading ever becomes an issue?
Will it solder on the same pads?

[vidarh]

A Zorro bus would be a complete waste.  Nobody is producing any Zorro hardware and why would you want to connect a 20 yr old Zorro device to this system when you have several other interfaces that are modern and more efficient?

You do realize what community you're part of, right? "Modern" and "efficient" are practically swearwords for a lot of people here :lol:

[freqmax]

@trekiej, If you mean an FPGA with capacitity for more gates etc.. the answer is that it will require a new board spin as the BGA-solder balls underneath are really tightly packed and an adapter would be a real pain.

I know that Xilinx has a scheme where models with "more stuff" can be selected for the same package and pinout but the XC3S1600 is maxed out in this respect. The chip datasheet will give the answer in that aspect. A quick overview gives the same answer.

There's also the issue how huge FPGA you can have without having to pay 20 000 USD/year for the software that takes the HDL sources and makes a binary. This may have the price that a significant number of developers won't be able to contribute.

[trekiej]

It sounds like more gates equals new package.
I was curios if a package with more gates could be soldered in place of the existing at manufacture.

[Iggy]

It sounds like more gates equals new package.
I was curios if a package with more gates could be soldered in place of the existing at manufacture.

You might want to research BGA packaging before you repeat this again.
This component is soldered to the board.

[trekiej]

I give up :-D

[Fats]

Spartan6 is very interesting but is quite a bit more expensive at the moment.

Now you mention spartan6. I stumbled on the Atlys dev board for that FPGA. Probably not all the features you want for all retro needs but I think still interesting.
I am thinking about buying one.

greets,
Staf.

[freqmax]

"Only" 349 USD Weird they didn't exploit the S-ATA capability of the chip..

[alexh]

@MikeJ
Can your computer take larger FPGAs if upgrading ever becomes an issue?
Will it solder on the same pads?

Unlikely. It would have to be the same model FPGA but a different variant. If mikeJ didn't use the biggest, fastest part (which he probably did) then maybe.

[Iggy]

Does Mike's board have enough gates to emulate a Sharp X68000?
And what about the '060 daughter board. Would that only work under Amiga emulation or could that be used for X68000 emulation as well?

[digiflip]

I think it would just need to modify a minimig core to do this since thats use the 68000 cpu

[alexh]

Does Mike's board have enough gates to emulate a Sharp X68000?

Easily but someone would have to reverse engineer the hardware and write the HDL. I don't think that has been done for that system (yet).

And what about the '060 daughter board. Would that only work under Amiga emulation or could that be used for X68000 emulation as well?

Yes, but it depends if the X68000 ever had an 060? If the answer is no then there will be no compatible software libraries.

[digiflip]

wikipedia say last system was released in 1993 with a 68030 cpu

[alexh]

That's probably a no then. I doubt you will be able to use the 68060.

But as there is no X68000 FPGA HDL code for the hardware. The point is a little mute.

[digiflip]

I hope fpgaarcade version 2 does have pci express then the Natami people who hate people mention anything that might be competion to them, will cry lol