CPC2013 prototype (previously CPCFPGA)

[ralferoo]

The only use I see for it to fit in a CPC case is to connect it to a modern display while using original materials. But this would mean connecting the CPC keyboard to it as well...

I always planned to fit one of these inside my broken 464 which was so badly butchered when I got it that I don't think it'll ever live again. But, it's got a nice keyboard and a tape deck that  should be able to be hooked up directly to the board...

What FPGA are you using?

Xilinx XC3S400. It's a bit old now, but has a lot of logic slices... The current CPC emulation uses less than 3/4 of the chip, so there's still quite a bit of growing room!

[Gryzor]

Don't know much about FPGA development, but I think that 3/4 of the XC3S400, judging from the datasheet, is pretty ok! How much memory?

[ralferoo]

512KB of RAM.
512KB-4MB of flash ROM (64-256 ROM slots, with 4 used for UPPER, LOWER, AMSDOS, FPGA utility ROM).

If I make any boards for people, I'll use the bigger flash ROMs, I just had a load of smaller ones so that's what I used for testing originally.

The RAM is currently 64KB + 448KB expansion pack. I might use some of that memory for debug support or floppy implementation (I don't need it currently, but thinking of redoing the floppy emulation completely), so I'd probably make it 64KB+256KB+64KB for the final configuration and allow the 256KB to be either a 256KB RAM pack or 256KB silicon disc.

[Gryzor]

Oh! I expected the 512KB of RAM, but the huge ROM memory is gooood!!!And yes, I think you'll want to make some for others


By the way, will it have an OSD for settings/operation?

[TotO]

By the way, will it have an OSD for settings/operation?

You are a GrEEK ! 

[Gryzor]

Oh, come on, what year is it, 1984?

[TotO]

The CPC... Yes.

[Gryzor]

The FPGA... no!

[Bryce]

Calling it CPC2013 was a bit premature and puts you under pressure to finish it (maybe your reason for the name?). Personally I would have waited before giving it a name with the year included Otherwise you end up looking like Microsoft

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

Heh... deadline missed! Where are the goods?


Of course we may argue that the "13" stands because the project started in 2013...

[Bryce]

Of course we may argue that the "13" stands because the project started in 2013...

Except it didn't, it started long before that.

Bryce.

[ralferoo]

The current revision was started in 2013 and that was supposed to be the codename for the first releasable board except that I didn't release it on time! I chose that name as it was almost an Amstrad like model number...

The project as a whole was started in 2012 and that's when I registered the more sensible cpcfpga.com domain!

BTW, I have got cpc2014.com registered, but there's nothing there yet!

[Gryzor]

Smoooth plug for the site


But it only points to CPC FPGA. Booh!