Super CPC

dodogildo · 18:05, 14 February 16

I know most of us think CPC is a near perfect hardware passed the test of time. BTW I can't help myself to dream having a 'super' CPC mainboard with on board x-mem, HDMI out, mother x4 slots, reset switch, ps2 mouse and keyboard support etc.

What do you think. Is that a good idea? Or not feasible at all?

SRS · 18:09, 14 February 16

I have one. It's called PC with emulator

I like to play with my old HW sometimes, if I ever get my HcX to work with my 464 and 5 1/2" second drive thats all I need (512k extra RAM I have since late 80s)

But I see that would be somehow nice - maybe a little black box that uses the CPC's keyboard and all the rest is inside the box.

||C|-|E|| · 18:16, 14 February 16

It would be nice, but i think that it would be more a new "Amstrad compatible" 8 bit computer than a true CPC or Plus. I say plus because if you do something like that it would be a bit of a waste not to implement Plus features and even a cartridge slot on it :-). About doing it, I guess that it is very feasible with a fpga setup in a custom motherboard. This would be more flexible than a classical hardware implementation and would offer room for debugging and improvements in the future.

On the other hand, as far as I know we still do not have perfect Amstrad CPC or Plus emulation, something that really works like the real machine but in a virtual way. That would be probably the first step for the fpga approach. It has been achieved with some consoles, like the Snes, but it was quite a big effort and, of course, the requiments of the emu are much higher that usual.

dodogildo · 19:04, 14 February 16

No no not an Amstrad compatible. Something more like "just cpc" (but a working one, lol) but with all the modern expansions and HDMI etc embedded...

ZbyniuR · 19:47, 14 February 16

I am disappointed that nobody did overclocked CPC as in Russia do overclocked ZX Spectrum. With a graphics like in Atari ST displayed straight from ramdisk. But even if today there is such a thing I do not think I would have wanted to pay for it as much as would have cost.

I think a more realistic idea (because cheaper), is put Raspberry Pi0 into case of my favorite 6128 and have CPC+ emulator together with modern browser and player of movies.

Anyway, others company like Atari, Commodore, Sinclair, etc. has no 16bit compatible with own 8bit computers, or no successor at all. So in my opinion best successor of CPC was Schneider EuroPC.

Munchausen · 19:52, 14 February 16

You can overclock the CPC, but it isn't that useful: 6 MHz CPC - CPCWiki

The ACE emulator is supposedly pretty much perfect (but is only available for morphos, is being ported to haiku). I have high hopes for the new arnold.

This topic is mentioned fairly regularly. I think the most recent was here: Recreate the CPC?

dodogildo · 21:26, 14 February 16

I hate "raspberry pi in an original 8 bit case" projects

TotO · 11:10, 15 February 16

I always have a 6128 "reloaded" mainboard in mind since years.
If fact, the MotherX4 and MX4 expansions was first made to allow me to prototyping features for this new board.
(but the succes was unexpected and the time limited for me to acheive the original goal)

TFM · 17:57, 15 February 16

Quote from: TotO on 11:10, 15 February 16
I always have a 6128 "reloaded" mainboard in mind since years.
If fact, the MotherX4 and MX4 expansions was first made to allow me to prototyping features for this new board.
(but the succes was unexpected and the time limited for me to acheive the original goal)

Your idea is the by far most promising idea for a CPC new generation. We had lot's of teams before, but at the end there was no success. IMHO that even includes also the CPC core for the C-One and TRex1, because the are simply Z80 emulators and no emulation is perfect. I really hope you will have the time and power for your new CPC II. I will support you where I can.

dodogildo · 20:34, 15 February 16

Yes, please a CPC reloaded board with all basic modern expansions embedded. HDMI. Plus mx4 ports.

TFM · 21:05, 15 February 16

Quote from: dodogildo on 20:34, 15 February 16
Yes, please a CPC reloaded board with all basic modern expansions embedded. HDMI. Plus mx4 ports.

TotO's idea is far superior, you get it all on the main board, expansion RAM, ROM and PlayCity superpower.

||C|-|E|| · 21:38, 15 February 16

I would, for sure, buy and support the development of one of those machines...

dodogildo · 22:01, 15 February 16

Quote from: ||C|-|E|| on 21:38, 15 February 16
I would, for sure, buy and support the development of one of those machines...

Same here!

steve · 00:13, 17 February 16

Me too, would it be designed to fit a 464 case (fairly common)?

TFM · 00:26, 17 February 16

Quote from: steve on 00:13, 17 February 16
Me too, would it be designed to fit a 464 case (fairly common)?

Are they? One would need to cannibalize an original machine. IMHO it's better to take a casing which fits the needs of the PCB. Also, regarding storage media, a bit bigger casing would be handsome.

In addition a keyboard without keyboard clash would be advantageous too. Maybe a plug for PC keyboards, so they can be replaced without any trouble.

||C|-|E|| · 00:34, 17 February 16

Well, regarding the case, I would love something small but with classic feeling. Something like the mini PCs, with accessible ports. Of course, it would be amazing if it had a real floppy disc drive.

PulkoMandy · 07:07, 17 February 16

Here is something I did with a PCW motherboard and an old 5.25" SCSI drive enclosure, for inspiration.

ukmarkh · 14:26, 17 February 16

You know, you can hire tools that will drill a beautiful smooth round hole in that plastic. The cost, pittance...

Lazy Dude · 16:07, 17 February 16

even cheaper, an old plumbers trick is to use a blow torch to heat a piece of copper pipe and use the pipe to melt a hole.

dodogildo · 16:14, 17 February 16

Quote from: steve on 00:13, 17 February 16
Me too, would it be designed to fit a 464 case (fairly common)?

I think the Super CPC board should be around a standard PC mainboard's size so we could fit it in any case of our choice.

ukmarkh · 16:21, 17 February 16

Why can't it be designed to replace the old innards of a CPC? I'd travel to every retro event showing off my new CPC looking nitro computer.

dodogildo · 16:31, 17 February 16

Quote from: ukmarkh on 16:21, 17 February 16
Why can't it be designed to replace the old innards of a CPC? I'd travel to every retro event showing off my new CPC looking nitro computer.

Because all the expansions and new improvements won't fit into one?
And wouldn't it be super cool to plug in our favorite keyboard and mouse or other equipments etc?

Bryce · 16:35, 17 February 16

Quote from: dodogildo on 16:14, 17 February 16

I think the Super CPC board should be around a standard PC mainboard's size so we could fit it in any case of our choice.

A standard PC Mainboard??? That's massive! If you're going to be creating a CPC with a few expansions the biggest size factor will be the ports. The PCB could easily be a quarter of the size of a PC Mainboard. Almost all the logic for the expansions can be in a single CPLD, the rest of the logic and passives can be SMD.

Bryce.

ukmarkh · 16:41, 17 February 16

But if someone could find a way, it would not only look amazing to have a CPC, but with all this extra power! Imagine taking it to a show, and then running it from a CPC! Surely something could be put together that takes into account, the holes already in the back of the CPC?

TotO · 16:54, 17 February 16

My point of view is more to keep an integrated keyboard. I love the look and feel, not only the content.

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