FPGAArcade case

[TheDaddy]

Hi everyone,

I have received a few emails from people asking me to design a case for the FPGAArcade.

Anyone interested?

It would more or less follow the lines of my previous work:

http://www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Scelta.htm

Possible colours, black, white or beige.

Let me know what you'd want to see apart from the fact that you want something sturdy to protect it.

Which ports would you want to be able to access?
How much space would you want inside? Etc...

Your ideas here please.

Thank you.

[Everblue]

First in list! Interested =)

Ok here are a few ideas:

1. Has to be small as possible
2. White!
3. Has to have the option to fit the daughterboard in case this is bought later.
4. Ideally comes with a PSU (if possible).

TheDaddy I really like your work, but I dont like the Minimig logo, especially with the huge dot on the 'I'.

Also what is the proper name Arcade FPGA? FPGA Arcade? Replay? I like Replay best, so maybe on the box it should say something like Amiga Replay or something like that

[TheDaddy]

Ok...

>>First in list! Interested =)

amigarulez@hotmail.com

>>1. Has to be small as possible

Can be done, it all depends on the size of it and future upgrades, including daughter board.

>>2. White!

OK

>>4. Ideally comes with a PSU (if possible).

Mike?

>>TheDaddy I really like your work, but I dont like the Minimig logo, especially with the huge dot on the 'I'.

That is the old one. It was expensive to make and difficult to apply. But something else could be used of course. It doesn't have to be that font.

>>Also what is the proper name Arcade FPGA? FPGA Arcade? Replay? I like Replay best, so maybe on the box it should say something like Amiga Replay or something like that

Replay sounds good to me, what do the others think?
Re-Play maybe?

[Everblue]

Well theoretically it can run other stuff not just Amiga. So I like RePlay.

[Darrin]

I'd like something along those lines, but with space inside for mounting some hardware (say a 5.25" bay for a USB DVD+RW or a 3.5" bay for a real hard drive.

[Everblue]

I'd like something along those lines, but with space inside for mounting some hardware (say a 5.25" bay for a USB DVD+RW or a 3.5" bay for a real hard drive.

Hi Darrin,

Why have a real hard drive? Not to say that it would make the case much bigger? Might as well buy a mini ITX case at that point =)

[Darrin]

Another question is whether people want to place a PSU inside or outside the case.  Personally, I use a small PSU (designed for one of those IDE/SATA to USB multi-purpose adapters) and would prefer to keep it external.

Here's a quick pic of the FPFA with an early expansion card fitted to give you an idea of how small the actually cards are:

http://www.minimig.net/yaqube/images/RPX060PCB4.JPG

[Darrin]

Hi Darrin,

Why have a real hard drive? Not to say that it would make the case much bigger? Might as well buy a mini ITX case at that point =)

LOL.  Just an option I'd like to have, but isn't essential as I could easily use a USB hard drive connected to an external USB port.  I just fancy some space inside the case for any future expansion.

Personal preference.  My laptop has an 18.1" screen, full keboard, 2 internal hard drives and weighs a ton.  I'm not the sort of guy who goes for tiny gadgets that could fall through a hole in my pocket.  

[Everblue]

Just wondering... how far can the Arcade FPGA be expanded? In a practical way though

Am I correct to assume that with the expansion card it can do the following through re-implementation (avoiding the word emulation here):

1. Real 060 processor
2. Amount of RAM???
3. Picasso card in FPGA
4. Real network card

What else? Do we really want to add PCI slots to this thing

Maybe we can have one inside an Amiga 600 case =) .... joking.

@Darrin

To power the Arcade FPGA do you use a simlar PSU for the minimig? Or you have to use an ATX Supply or a PICOPSU?

[Tension]

Just wondering... how far can the Arcade FPGA be expanded? In a practical way though

Am I correct to assume that with the expansion card it can do the following through re-implementation (avoiding the word emulation here):

1. Real 060 processor
2. Amount of RAM???
3. Picasso card in FPGA
4. Real network card

What else? Do we really want to add PCI slots to this thing

Maybe we can have one inside an Amiga 600 case =) .... joking.

Zorro, PCI, and USB would be a dream come true.

[Everblue]

Why? Can't we have those through FPGA?

[Darrin]

Just wondering... how far can the Arcade FPGA be expanded? In a practical way though

Am I correct to assume that with the expansion card it can do the following through re-implementation (avoiding the word emulation here):

1. Real 060 processor
2. Amount of RAM???
3. Picasso card in FPGA
4. Real network card

What else? Do we really want to add PCI slots to this thing

Maybe we can have one inside an Amiga 600 case =) .... joking.

Well from my experience with my Deneb card in my A4000, once you get past RTG, just about everything else you want can be added via the USB ports.  Plus, as you say, if there is room left over in teh FPGA then "hardware" can be added there too.

As an early Minimig user it has been fancinating to see how the core has developed over the years as individuals continue to push the boundaries.  When I first got my Minimig I had 1.5MB RAM, OCS, 1 x Read Only floppy, no hard drive.  It really was a stock A500 (with a scan doubler and a dodgy floppy).  Then we got ECS, ARM Hard Drive (file) controller, read/write floppy support, then 4 x floppies, 2MB of extra RAM, hard file without ARM controller.....  the list goes on...

We can expect to see the same evolution of the core with the FPGA Arcade until we end up with a "Super Amiga A6000+" and beyond.  Not to mention the other computer cores and arcade machines.

This is going to be one hell of a machine.

[Darrin]

Zorro, PCI, and USB would be a dream come true.

USB we'll have via the expansion board.  In theory there is no reason why Zorro and PCI couldn't be added to a future expansion board.  In the future there is no reason why we should see a range of alternative expansion boards not just for the Amiga side, but for any other cores than run on the board.  I can see AtariST fans wanting a board with a MIDI port, C64 users might want a real cartridge slot or floppy/printer/tape connectors, etc.

[Darrin]

Why? Can't we have those through FPGA?

We'll still need connectors or else we'll also have to fit the entire expansion cards in the FPGA too.  

[Everblue]

It is going to be one hell of a ride

But the good thing is that we start with something really really good from the start, so with every 'addon' it just gets more awesome.