Difference between revisions of "CPC TREX"

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[[Image:trex2.jpg|thumb|CPC TREX in action]]
 
[[Image:trex2.jpg|thumb|CPC TREX in action]]
  
The '''CPC TREX''' consists of the TOBIFLEX Amstrad CPC turbo core and the reconfigurable T-REX C1 board by TerasIC, which is based on the Cyclone FPGA by Altera. This is not one more CPC software emulator but something like a real hardware CPC rebuilded with FPGA technology, which also includes some new features and possibilities. The TREX C1 board is very small, an industrial production and it contains connectors to all the standard PC periphery like VGA monitors, PS/2 input devices and CF cards.
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The '''CPC TREX''' is a real hardware CPC rebuilt with FPGA technology which also includes some new features and possibilities.
  
The Amstrad CPC turbo core of the CPC TREX is based on Tobiflex [[C-One]] turbo core, which has been developed for the C-One board. It contains two Z80 cpus implemented in the FPGA, which are running at the same time. The first CPU runs a special version of [[SymbOS]] to control the rom and disc configuration of the Amstrad CPC. The CPC itself is running on the second CPU.
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The '''CPC TREX''' consists of the Amstrad CPC turbo core written by [[TobiFlex]] and the reconfigurable T-REX C1 board by TerasIC, which is based on the Cyclone FPGA by Altera. The TREX C1 board is very small, an industrial production and it contains connectors to all the standard PC periphery like VGA monitors, PS/2 input devices and CF cards.
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The Amstrad CPC turbo core of the CPC TREX is based on [[TobiFlex]]s' [[C-ONE]] turbo core, which has been developed for the C-One board. It contains two Z80 cpus implemented in the FPGA, which are running at the same time. The first CPU runs a special version of [[SymbOS]] to control the rom and disc configuration of the Amstrad CPC. The CPC itself is running on the second CPU.
  
 
== Features ==
 
== Features ==
  
 
* complete Amstrad CPC 6128 standard hardware
 
* complete Amstrad CPC 6128 standard hardware
* Z80 CPU with 4MHz (normal) or 24MHz (turbo mode)
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* [[Z80]] CPU with 4MHz (normal) or 24MHz (turbo mode)
 
* nearly 100% compatibility
 
* nearly 100% compatibility
 
* 576KB RAM (dk'tronics compatible)
 
* 576KB RAM (dk'tronics compatible)
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* VGA connector (for CRT or TFT displays, needs to support 50Hz)
 
* VGA connector (for CRT or TFT displays, needs to support 50Hz)
 
* PS/2 keyboard connector
 
* PS/2 keyboard connector
* PS/2 mouse connector (SYMBiFACE II compatible; requires a PS/2 Y-cable, so that mouse and keyboard can be used at the same time)
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* PS/2 mouse connector ([[SYMBiFACE II]] compatible; requires a PS/2 Y-cable, so that mouse and keyboard can be used at the same time)
* CF card slot: The CF card will be used as DSK storage and SYMBiFACE IDE mass storage device (standard 128MB or 256MB SanDisc without highspeed are recommended)
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* CF card slot: The CF card will be used as DSK storage and SYMBiFACE IDE mass storage device
 
* Audio stereo output
 
* Audio stereo output
 
* FDC disc drive emulation; DSK files will be loaded from the CF card
 
* FDC disc drive emulation; DSK files will be loaded from the CF card
 
* serial RS232 connector
 
* serial RS232 connector
 
* USB connector (used for FPGA and flash memory updates)
 
* USB connector (used for FPGA and flash memory updates)
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== CPC TREX starter ==
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[[Image:trexstarter.gif|thumb|320px|CPC TREX start menu]]
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The CPC TREX starter written by [[Prodatron]] is needed for booting the CPC TREX machine. Automatically after switching on the TREX it is started together with a special [[SymbOS]] version, which has been adapted for the native mode of the CPC TREX. It allows the selection of the favourite CPC type, ROM configuration and DSK files. The starter menu will load the files into the memory and switches to the Clone CPC (4MHz) or Turbo CPC (24MHz). To change a disc again, it is possible to go back to the menu and choose other DSK or even ROM files.
  
 
== Web links ==
 
== Web links ==
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* [http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?Language=English&CategoryNo=39&No=14&Revision=018&PartNo=1 Terasic TREX C1 board]
 
* [http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?Language=English&CategoryNo=39&No=14&Revision=018&PartNo=1 Terasic TREX C1 board]
 
* [http://c64upgra.de/c-one/ C-One Reconfigurable Computer]
 
* [http://c64upgra.de/c-one/ C-One Reconfigurable Computer]
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[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Emulator]]
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[[Category:SymbOS]][[Category:Non CPC Computers]][[Category:Clones]]

Latest revision as of 05:42, 30 October 2012

CPC TREX board
CPC TREX in action

The CPC TREX is a real hardware CPC rebuilt with FPGA technology which also includes some new features and possibilities.

The CPC TREX consists of the Amstrad CPC turbo core written by TobiFlex and the reconfigurable T-REX C1 board by TerasIC, which is based on the Cyclone FPGA by Altera. The TREX C1 board is very small, an industrial production and it contains connectors to all the standard PC periphery like VGA monitors, PS/2 input devices and CF cards.

The Amstrad CPC turbo core of the CPC TREX is based on TobiFlexs' C-ONE turbo core, which has been developed for the C-One board. It contains two Z80 cpus implemented in the FPGA, which are running at the same time. The first CPU runs a special version of SymbOS to control the rom and disc configuration of the Amstrad CPC. The CPC itself is running on the second CPU.

Features

  • complete Amstrad CPC 6128 standard hardware
  • Z80 CPU with 4MHz (normal) or 24MHz (turbo mode)
  • nearly 100% compatibility
  • 576KB RAM (dk'tronics compatible)
  • 256KB ROM (16x16KB, freely useable)
  • VGA connector (for CRT or TFT displays, needs to support 50Hz)
  • PS/2 keyboard connector
  • PS/2 mouse connector (SYMBiFACE II compatible; requires a PS/2 Y-cable, so that mouse and keyboard can be used at the same time)
  • CF card slot: The CF card will be used as DSK storage and SYMBiFACE IDE mass storage device
  • Audio stereo output
  • FDC disc drive emulation; DSK files will be loaded from the CF card
  • serial RS232 connector
  • USB connector (used for FPGA and flash memory updates)

CPC TREX starter

CPC TREX start menu

The CPC TREX starter written by Prodatron is needed for booting the CPC TREX machine. Automatically after switching on the TREX it is started together with a special SymbOS version, which has been adapted for the native mode of the CPC TREX. It allows the selection of the favourite CPC type, ROM configuration and DSK files. The starter menu will load the files into the memory and switches to the Clone CPC (4MHz) or Turbo CPC (24MHz). To change a disc again, it is possible to go back to the menu and choose other DSK or even ROM files.

Web links