CPCWiki forum

So at other topics I mentionned this.


Mostly a FPGA developpment board a board with :

--A FPGA (or equivalent technology) Chip.
--Connectors.
--Connectors to programm it with a PC/computer...sometime needing an additionnal converter (USB per exemple)

Depending of the model (a lot exist) you may also have :
--Memory.
--Some voltage converter.
--additionnal features.


One of the probable issue : finding a 5V compatible system.
Most of those are recent 3,3V.

From what I saw, it may work only half without system.

The FPGA 3,3 signal is compatible with the CPC.

But the CPC 5V signals are not compatible with the 3,3V FPGA.

So this is an issue as I can't figure any extension were the CPC's CPU would not give orders...

Of course such issues have solutions, as most builders give the right answers to how to do it.




A generic Extension ?

From what I understand (not a lot...) stuff like Symbiface is largely FPGA based.

2 FPGA on those beasts... or stuff looking like FPGAs...(lol)

Also FPGA or equivalents are often used as a one-chip solution to (more or less) accurately emulate full computers.
But this need expensive development boards...


The idea is to focus on what can actually be achieved with a "not so big" mini FPGA generic development board ?


Main additionnal and usefull stuffs :

--Memory upgrade : the FPGA/board must include some pseudo RAM so we can programm a bit of the chip to émulate/recreate/act as a normal RAM extension.
Our beloved Amstrad needing only a ridiculous +512K to be fully effective, this mustn't be that an issue.
Also if enough memory exist, the FPGA would then have it's own memory for its own use...or ROM "emulation".
It may actually even feature Flash Memory (virtual HDD, silicondisk, ROM or whatever).

--Sound upgrade :
Such stuff would need a more complicated setting.
Just adding a basic AY is perhaps not that difficult, but getting it to work without using to much of the Z80 from Amstrad can get a lot trickier as we would have to also programm some CPU features inside the FPGA.
Also it would need the proper Soundplugs/Jacks and perhaps some amplification/mixing system...
Yet the simpler solution is to connect it to a mini PC speacker...

(http://www.mjelectronics.com/images/1325.jpg)like those ?
While the normal CPC sound output is also connected to some speakers (Plus Monitor...)
Then mix it manually.

But can a FPGA board be conected directly to this ? or would it need some additionnal stuff ?


--Blitter :
Perhaps the sweet stuff would be to get the FPGA doing some Blittering.
Shit would be so Cash.
What kind of component is a Blitter ?
Have some ever been designed for a CPC ?


--Networking :
From what I saw, many modern cards (Symbiface ? or whatever) offer some Networking solution.
But it seems the actual Network CPC applications/usefull stuff is close to zero...unused.
What could be achieved then ?

--Arithmetic : multiply and divide made easier... but perhaps some kind of 3D accelerator too ?

--What else ?



All those would need the correct amount of plugs and adaptators.
Mostly to connect the board to the extension port...

But any fairly sized FPGA (or stuff like this) developpment board with the minimum requirements (5+ compatibility, Memory, enough programmable area/gates) may work.

Yet the main problem is to focus on optimised solutions, able to work on the maximum models.
And to define the minimum requirements.

For exemple :
http://www.easyfpga.com/ (http://www.easyfpga.com/)
http://www.easyfpga.com/ez2susb_config.htm (http://www.easyfpga.com/ez2susb_config.htm)
Would it be enough/accurate ?
Well it is a bit too much overpriced...

http://colibri.acmesystems.it/ (http://colibri.acmesystems.it/)
65€uros...mmmh perhaps still to much.

http://shop.ebay.fr/i.html?_nkw=fpga+board&_sacat=0&defsort=2&LH_AvailTo=71&_dmpt=FR_SK_Jeuxvideo_Games_VideoGames&_odkw=fpga+kit&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&LH_ClassifyToggle=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313 (http://shop.ebay.fr/i.html?_nkw=fpga+board&_sacat=0&defsort=2&LH_AvailTo=71&_dmpt=FR_SK_Jeuxvideo_Games_VideoGames&_odkw=fpga+kit&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&LH_ClassifyToggle=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313)
(hope the links would work)

Some starting prices at 25euros...yet shipping fee are quite huge too.
But can those boards do what we need ?

Could we find the perfect existing cheap model or would we have to custom design it ourselves ?

Basically, such card would be a cost down Symbiface, because :
--Far less connectors (parhaps not that far less).
--Far less dedicated Components (no real time clock or HDD stuff...only one FPGA, not 2...)

(http://www.symbos.de/gfx/sf2/symbiface2.jpg)
Well, minus the IDE connectors, the PS2 Mouse connector and controller, the realtimeclock, and perhaps only one FPGA (PLD).
And less sockets too... this shouldn't be as expensive, or is it ?

The power supply per exemple may be then given by the extension port from the Amstrad, as fare less chips needing power suplly.
But of course this would need other parts as to enable to reprogramm the FPGA....
Perhaps a USB controller to connect to PC then.

Also this would need some sort of library of programs for any wanted/usable/usefull/realistic extensions... or only the basic ones, and peoples to include those in their softwares. ???
Yet memory, additionnal soundchip or blitter can certainly find potentials.


Have anyone of you some knowledge on the matter that would correct me realistically, as you all know I suck at technicals... :-[ :'(

CPCs (or pretty much any 8-bit era home computer for that matter) and extra hardware can be recreated entirely in FPGAs http://www.c64upgra.de/c-one/ even on very cheap hardware http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C64_Direct-to-TV as Her Ellsworthy Highness has so aptly demonstrated. :)

Thx for the links...

(http://www.siliconsonic.de/c-one/cpuram2.jpg)

This looks Guuuuuwd... :P
They call it the CPU/RAM card...What it the price of this ?


A cracked ACID cratridge for a PLUS would certainly be like this...

But a FPGA based universal extension too, with a bit more connectic perhaps, as it won't have to be as complex as a fully equipped computer...

The one chip C64 joystick seems to use a proper ASIC.

A universal extension would perhaps need a very basic and low spec FPGA... The problem is that I can't evaluate what would be the minimum requirement and what kind of prices we are talking about...


(http://www.cling.gu.se/%7Ecl3polof/chicago2000/images/10.jpg)
OMG...we are doomed !
::) ??? :'(

Hi MacDeath!!!  ;)

I suggest that you take a look at the V6Z80P project (http://www.retroleum.co.uk/electronics-articles/v6z80p/), it's the equivalent at an Amiga 500 (enhance with tilemaps modes, between other things) with a Z80 at 16 MHz, all the special hardware is in the FPGA that the board includes. It has a zx mode, maybe could be possible to add a cpc mode too  :P

You can get all the sources and schematics in its wiki (http://wiki.retroleum.co.uk/wiki/), don't forget to read the documentation of that wiki to understand how  works.

And in the project homepage (http://www.retroleum.co.uk/) you can see the V6 in Action!!!  8)

Can I haz one with a PCI interface to stuff into my PC, running a CPC core and with access to local media?

Quote from: SyX on 09:34, 21 July 10
I suggest that you take a look at the V6Z80P project (http://www.retroleum.co.uk/electronics-articles/v6z80p/), it's the equivalent at an Amiga 500 (enhance with tilemaps modes, between other things) with a Z80 at 16 MHz, all the special hardware is in the FPGA that the board includes. It has a zx mode, maybe could be possible to add a cpc mode too  :P

Impressive. To paraphrase Gates, "55 sprites per scanline ought to be enough for everybody." ;) And all that's missing is indeed a reincarnation of the CPC (preferably plus) for this platform (that one of you still has to write) - comparatively affordable at GBP 90 whereas the C-ONE commands a whopping EUR 333 (@MacDeath: Jeri optional and priceless). :)

Well, getting to "clone" or recreate a complete CPC or other is not what I intended...
Cards with big FPGA enabling such thing are somewhat not that cheap...

And, well, i actually have a real CPC collection...but no extensions.

I only wanted to get a "smaller" FPGA based card as an extension for an existing CPC... and if you have some knoledge of affordable such cards that would be big enough to create a good amount of extension...


For exemple, the Symbiface is to specialised and with too much stuff IMO.

Just getting only the memory and FPGA would be enough to get interesting stuff, if you can freely reprogramm the FPGA.

Hi MacDeath,
        is there a reason that it must be an FPGA? Wouldn't it make more sense to use a low cost µP from Atmel or Microchip? That way you can easily reprogram the logic for many different utilities or addons and it also has a certain amount of "intelligence" and RAM to allow a wider range of hardware to be created?

Bryce.

I said FPGA-like chips, but a lot of programable chip families do exist, I know.

I'm not racist, any would fit, as long as it is cheap and powerfull enough, and easy to reprogram/design/whatever.

It just that my brother is into those FPGA at the moment, but the main stuff would be price and easysupply... and "easy" reprogramming.

Quote from: MacDeath on 13:51, 22 July 10
I'm not racist,

Epic...  :laugh:

QuoteEpic...

Good to see you understand french humour. ;)


Yeah, FPGA is Xilinc technology Amirite ?
PIC perhaps would be good enough ? (I didn't say spics... :laugh: )


What are the basic different reprogramable chip families ?

With Atmel or Microchip, they offer a whole range of chips of varying specifications. Starting from 8 pin really basic 4Mhz devices right up to major µPs >100Mhz. Depending on what you intend to build, you can choose first what family of device you want, such as 8-Bit /  16-Bit, then choose the amount of RAM / Program ROM the device should have and then what additional features it should have. The features range from basic A/D conversion, Serial / SPI ports right up to embedded USB controllers. It's up to you to choose what you want, you'll usually find a device to fullfil your requirements. As far as programming is concerned, if you can program z80 assembler, you'll have no problem writing stuff for a µP. Getting the program into the µP is also quite simple, you can build your own programmer for very little <2€

Microchip have an online product selector here: http://www.microchip.com/productselector/MCUProductSelector.html (http://www.microchip.com/productselector/MCUProductSelector.html)  that you can mess about with and see what's available.

Bryce.

The choice of FPGA was simmply that is was powerfull enough to allow a "universal" stuff...
I mean, it's fast...
So we can homebrew anything with the same component...

In fact it was one of the first topics I have read about CPC on FPGA. And as it was macdeath that invite me by there... I glue here.



I'm not really a famous chip welder, it's why I use directly standard FPGA starter kit, that can be buy on my country. Using starter-kit I think that it is encouraging the open source development way.


I started implementing an Amstrad CPC 6128 on "NEXYS2 500k-gates" FPGA starter-kit from digilent (the one who made wire used in order to program FPGA...)
It take actually about 99.9% percent of the FPGA chip... but it exists some about 1200k-gates.
They are about 20 games actually running.


This is at step of prototype (staying some bugs and some tests not done already), in fact it was written in VHDL language, so it's not CPC TREX (I think that CPC TREX is in verilog, C-ONE also is in verilog)


It was written in 5 month, with one different target task by month (having something on screen, having screen moving, having sdcard...)
So it was developed in order to run quickly (before I'll return at work in fact ^^)


Great thing discovered is that Amstrad can boot with a FAKE-IO component (returning zeros on data while Z80 IO access), and an static ROM correctly dispatched on Z80 MEM READ access, and a RAM on Z80 WRITE access. Then RAM has correct reaction on display area &C000-&FFFF. So second step was made some VGA-module and alternate between RAM written by Z80 and read by VGA module.


Sound chip was already written on fpgaarcade, and VHDL PPI CPCWiki work fine.


I'll came back to write about other strategic I used

Hi Freemac, and welcome aboard.

Just to remind all the achievment unlocked :



http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fpga+amstrad+CPC&aq=f (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fpga+amstrad+CPC&aq=f)
You did a lot of videos...


Another cool stuff :
CPC TREX :



FPGA Atari ST :

http://stlabs.free.fr/ (http://stlabs.free.fr/)
"ST in a box"

Fun stuff :
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/SID-emulator (http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/SID-emulator)

Perhaps i can have a proper SID on my 6128PLUS then...

http://tolaemon.com/hplayer/ (http://tolaemon.com/hplayer/)
an AY player, hence the plAYer.
but this one seem to use real chip.

I suggested a CPC SID interface (for a real CPC) a while back and the feedback was negative, so I dropped the idea.

@Freemac: Nice work.

Bryce.

If you want an extension board to a real CPC, then I would suggest the first thing would be to give it all the PLUS features, DMA can also speed up disk transfers, 16 AY sound channels fed by DMA, It could have 8MB dynamic ram- 4MB as RAM and 4MB as ROMs loaded from disk, SD or CF slots x 2 to allow easy card copying and perhaps an Ethernet port.

If you want you CPC to grow up and be really special then you can add a blitter, 3d core and a 32 bit Z380 compatible CPU softcore, or 4 QUADCORE!

Or just buy a PC with all that and install an emulator? :D

Bryce.

I really don't like PC's, as soon as I can access the net on my CPC, my PC will go out the window.

Z80 FOREVER!

P.S  Have you been reading about how none of the emulators are perfect?

I do not want to be a passive PC user, I want the challenge of enhancing the hardware and software of a CPC/PLUS to do the things that a PC can do, granted it won't be as fast as a PC, but it may be fast enough.

Quote from: Bryce on 12:36, 05 July 11
I suggested a CPC SID interface (for a real CPC) a while back and the feedback was negative, so I dropped the idea.

@Freemac: Nice work.

Bryce.

Oh the shame and the stigma!  :-[ :o




....only kidding!  :laugh:

@shredder11 :D Yeah, that was the reaction when I suggested it last time.

@Steve: That's why I only use real hardware. They're not perfect either, but the flaws are retro too :)

Bryce.

Quote from: Bryce on 12:36, 05 July 11
I suggested a CPC SID interface (for a real CPC) a while back

I recall there actually was a DIY SID interface, stereo even, IIRC in the early 1990s.
It could be that it wasn't just advertised for the CPC but rather sitting on a standard parallel printer port and also geared towards the Amiga/Atari/PC (maybe in Elektuur/Elektor rather than one of the CPC mags?).

QuoteIf you want an extension board to a real CPC, then I would suggest the first thing would be to give it all the PLUS features, DMA can also speed up disk transfers, 16 AY sound channels fed by DMA, It could have 8MB dynamic ram- 4MB as RAM and 4MB as ROMs loaded from disk, SD or CF slots x 2 to allow easy card copying and perhaps an Ethernet port.

If you want you CPC to grow up and be really special then you can add a blitter, 3d core and a 32 bit Z380 compatible CPU softcore, or 4 QUADCORE!

sorry guy but this looks too much.

To me a proper Amstrad CPC's successor should be like :

=able to produce ZX speccy, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PLUS and PCW full compatibility.

=able to cumulate all those computers advantages into one...
So :
=Plus palette (4096 would be enough)
=CPC's bit per pixels modes... also the Mode3 and a 1bpp 320x200 mode, with use of attributes possible in all modes...
=overclocked bpp modes... so a 160x200x256/320x200x16/640x200x4... also with possibility of attributes (except perhaps for the 256colours mode...)

=more sprites (perhaps 32...64?) and faster to upload/refresh into "ASIC"...
Also sprites in 16x16 in 256colours, or 32x16 in 16 colours...

=still possibility for "overscan (as on CPC or PCW...


Scrollings...
Also some bits of blitters, even a math coprocessor (would be usefull for 3D...)


VGA plug so the vertical resolution could also be doubled, but also divided by 3 (like 160x100 square big pixels...)

Interrupts to mix vertically the various modes...
Attributes can be used to define modes (in the same bpp range...per scanline) so be used as some sort of vertical rasters...



Can you imagine a mode2 in 4 colours and attributes of 4x8 per exemple ?
or even a 640x400x4 + 8x8 attributes...


Sounds ?
2 AY should be enough : one in CPC setting and the other in speccy config, full DMA of course (not buggy this time)
Add to this one buzzer/beeper too, perhaps stereo (2 Beeper channels then ? 3 ?)

Z80 ? 4mhz (to emulate properly other systems) 8mhz, 16mhz... perhaps even 32mhz ?

Remember the 16mhz PCW's Z80 ?


::)   

Off course this machine should be able to emulate NEC PC 6xxx too... so perhaps had also some synthspeech and so on. ;D

@OCT: I subscribe to (abonniere) Elektor since 1984 and have the entire collection on DVD. I'll see if I can find that, would be interesting for the Wiki.

Bryce.

Well, then, you guys aren't actually talking about extending the CPC, but rather making a new, standalone, CPC successor. That idea I find much more atractive than plugging new cards etc on an old CPC :D


Maybe you should start with the name to get inspiration. How about "CPC++"? Or maybe "CPC HD" - the later sounds much more trendy  8)


Seriously, I love the idea of a new CPC!


rb

I would like a 32bit CPC with Ethernet port and able to access the internet, but what is it that people love about the CPC?

Is it that the machine is an 8-bit machine?

Is it the "API", so a 32 bit machine would be acceptable because it would still run the old programs and you know how to program it?

Is it the challenge of pushing the original "factory spec" machine to new heights?

Is it pure nostalgia and that no new machine could replace it?

Is it a piece of history that you don't really use much?

A few years ago, i "hacked" the caprice sources to add a SID chip and converted the Simon Owen's Sam Coupe sidplayer (http://simonowen.com/sam/sidplay/). The idea was that DaDman would make a card for the CPC with a Swinsid (http://www.swinkels.tvtom.pl/swinsid/)... but we began with more interesting projects :P

You can "enjoy" this franken-horror of caprice here (http://webs.ono.com/maurice/caprice.zip)  :-\ , in sidplay.dsk is a conversion of a c64 basic program to locomotive basic (only had to change the pokes to outs  ;D ) and in playsid.dsk one of first version (i haven't found any later version) of my "port" of Simon Owen's sidplayer "playing" (va a ser que no  :laugh: ) the AcesHigh.sid by Lasse Öörni  ;)

Amstrum CPCWX6000...

As in Amstrad, spectrum, pcW... the "X" is for it is better than "+"... and 6000 because it should be more like a 6128 than a 464...
Oh and NEC PC6001/6601 compatibility of course...

But "AMSTRUM" would be great as such machine should really include full Speccy emulation too.
So perhaps an AMSTRUM CPCW6XXX or Amstrum X


Anyway.
Concernng SID... would it be quite different than on a C64... provided it would be ran by a Z80... and perhaps not that directly pluged (extension port or printer port ?)


a device such as my Arduino could really be a universal Soundchip addon if some wiring is designed to get the Audio mix (mix with the existing CPC/PLUS audio jack) as was done with some Digiblaster cards...


An additionnal AY device for CPC was actually designed and detailed  in a book (I talked about it already... I think)


But I would have a question : can you put/use DMAs on/with an external extension port "cards" ?


But the problem is that a CPC to actually run well with 2xAY  or/and a "stereo Digiblaster" (Atari STE style then ?) and its "well known for being heavy" Video system... would really need to get theZ80 at 6mhz or even 8mhz IMO, and a boosted RAM of 256k minimum to really be optimal.

QuoteI would like a 32bit CPC with Ethernet port and able to access the internet, but what is it that people love about the CPC?

Is it that the machine is an 8-bit machine?

Is it the "API", so a 32 bit machine would be acceptable because it would still run the old programs and you know how to program it?

Is it the challenge of pushing the original "factory spec" machine to new heights?

Is it pure nostalgia and that no new machine could replace it?

Is it a piece of history that you don't really use much?

The good point keeping to the Z80 (be it overclocked) is that this machine then remains what it was already at the time : something "simple enough" to actually learn computering...
8 bit = simpler and still human sized... you can still code close to the core and machine language...(sort of).

Assembly on a 32bit system would certainly not be as trivial...but I may be wrong.
   

Also a good "VGA/MCGA" 320x200x256/65millions mode would not be 8bit flavoured...
but on the other hand a 160x200x256/4096 ("mode0x") would retains the good old CPC flavour and enable sweet stuffs...

I think we could at least try for 640 x 200 x 16 from 4096 colours, 832 x 312 x 16 overscan.

Well, a 4 coloured mode2 with attribute is quite well enough...
Or else this means we may get some 320x200x256... which is then...VGA PC sort of... and too much for a decent 8bit.

if such machine is to have 256 colours Mode0 and 256colours sprites... then this means the ASIC would get 2 banks of 256inks.

An attribute system may enable to get those 16x16 (=256) being choice of palettes (as in some consoles...PC Engine ?) for most non directly 256coloured mode...
So :
Mode0 : 160x200x16/16x16 ink sets
Mode1 : 320x200x4 /16x4 ink sets
Mode2 : 640x200x2 /16x2 ink sets
Mode 3 : 160x200x4 /16x4 ink sets... (should make it weughting twice less VRAM of course)
Mode 4 : 320x200x2 /16x2 ink sets (Speccy style actually...)
and modes X...

Mode0X : 160x200x256 (no attributes... but rasters)
Mode1X : 320x200x16 /16x16 ink sets (gets heavy)
Mode2X : 640x200x4 /16x4 ink sets

Mode3X would be actuall mode0 and mode 5X would be actual Mode1...

Also I liked the way the AppleIIgs had some raster colour change list (line attributes, sort of)...
But with 256colours already settable, not sure this wouldn't be too much
Faster process to rapidly change the full 256 inks (or partial 16inks slots) between each scanline would be usefull... perhaps DMA vbased with poiinter in lists in RAM of something like it.


the Mode0 x256colours could perhaps swap between sprite palette and "normal palette", not sure...
But this would then be better to simply disable the Attributes to save memory... 256 is enough...

Anyway this is getting complicated but funny whishlist.


The Sort of upgrade NEC put on their NEC PC6601 SR (PC-6001 MK2 SR & PC-6601 SR...)

I also love to think that the Atari ST actually lacked a wide pixeled "Mode0" in 256colours...


Concerning some 400 vertical resolution (X2...) (if connected to a VGA monitor ?) well...not sure about the possibility...
would eat too much VRAM in X modes...

Anyway a 640x400x2 + attributes would be quite good anyway and not heavier than a 640x200x4 mode.
and the Attributed Mode1 with Y=400 (or 512 ?), provided you also overscan it... may be like a giant mode0 of a sort...

but the funny part would be that the HardSprites could then get a proper magnification range of X1/X2/X4/X8 from a square pixel (the 640x400 shaped ones...)

Good way would be to put some Hardware vertical magnification for the normal screen... X2 (square mode0), X1 (normal CPC) x1/2 (VGA like...) as an option (needing then proportionnal VRAM).

Anyway, the VRAM must be able to be elsewhere than in CPU main RAM...
So a good RAM management is needed instead of the good old "Wait state" for the CPU.

The upgrade would be limited by the pallette, so a CPC ULA will only allow 16 colours from 27, and a plus ASIC will only allow 16 colours from 4096 plus another 16 colours for sprites so 256 colours is not possible without designing a complete new computer, which we are not.

The number of colours is also limited by the Firmware which is written to handle 16 colours at most, we may be able to twist these routines to handle 16 colours in higher resolutions, the overscan resolution is only 312 lines not 400 so it might work on an original amstrad monitor.

If it were possible to design and build a new CPC compatible then I would use 1280 x 1024 x 256 colours using 128 KB ram per screen, but that's not what I am doing.

It should be possible, using 4 banks of memory, to get a 640x200x16 colour screen on an unmodified CPC 6128.

If anyone ever actually produces something (we could even start a fund here at the wiki) I'd love to see some leds going on and off with activity like in the first vid that MacDeath posted :D

What would be nice is if an ASIC (or equivalent) were able to use its own internal memory to hold the colours for each scan line and then we might be able to get more colours through palette switching in the ASIC rather than from some external memory holding the colours in main memory.

rpalmer

Amstrad CPC 6128 - FPGA VHDL workshop  :)

Thank you very much for this, will you be putting the full VHDL code and other details on the CPC-WIKI so that others can replicate what you have done?

I would like to build one myself, but I don't know enough to do it without help.

http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/FPGAmstrad (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/FPGAmstrad)
:)

French accent + incredible English mistakes = cumbersome video ahah!  :laugh:    (nah I'm kidding, congrats for the video)

I just remind that my mac can speak  8)
But I think that writing is more serious.




But anyway, something more important i have to choose a name for my project, I made a french vote, for the moment I result :
- 3 votes for "FPGAmstrad"
- 5 votes for "CPCroxx"
- 1 vote for "T6128"


CPCWiki votes :
- 0 votes for "FPGAmstrad"
- 0 votes for "CPCroxx"
- 1 vote for "T6128"
- 0 vote for "FPG4cpc"
- 0 vote for "FPGArnold"



So if you want to suggest project name, or just vote... spam my PM  :D
I'll reedit then this post

Quote from: freemac on 23:13, 19 July 11I made a french vote, for the moment I result :
- 3 votes for "FPGAmstrad"
- 5 votes for "CPCroxx"

Only French (no other place had that pervasive Croco campaign)...

Quote- 1 vote for "T6128"

...and Austrians (like Arnie ;) - BTW the CPC itself is of course known as "Arnold" too) will get the allusions I'm afraid. :)

Well, I kinda like T6128... :)

Quote from: OCT on 06:02, 20 July 11
Only French (no other place had that pervasive Croco campaign)......

You got it, in france if you say croco speaking on TV, they remember all what was Amstrad :)
So french vote is corrupted xD


Arnold is Amstrad classic 6128 using a bigger ASIC chip... FPGA is ASIC reprogrammable...
But it's also actually a name really attached to Arnold emulator :)


Arnold4FPGA FPGArnold


BFG9000, GX4000 and K2000 => FPG4000 o_o

FPG4CPC

Quote from: freemac on 09:38, 20 July 11
Arnold is Amstrad classic 6128 using a bigger ASIC chip... FPGA is ASIC reprogrammable...
But it's also actually a name really attached to Arnold emulator :)

Yes, Arnold is:
* the name of the prototype CPC
* the name of a game character in Amsoft games
* the code name for the CPC development (ARN5 is the plus)
* the name of my emulator (named because of the name of the prototype)  ;D

Quote from: arnoldemu on 10:57, 20 July 11
Yes, Arnold is:
* the name of a game character in Amsoft games

Wasn't that rather Roland (Arnold's alter ego and anagram ;)) ?

Quote from: OCT on 23:15, 20 July 11
Wasn't that rather Roland (Arnold's alter ego and anagram ;) ) ?

yes you are correct. I was wrong there.

Official FPGAmstrad workshop  8)

.

If you altered the firmware to display a hardcoded manufacturer's name, you could then use the three port pins used by the links, for some other purpose.

Quote from: phi2x on 19:50, 28 August 11
By the way, as you're french, do you know you can replace the manufacturer (Schneider :P ) that is displayed at the boot with "Amstrad :-* "?

Better British, than German? Damn racist! :P ;D

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Quote from: phi2x on 07:30, 29 August 11
What? You mad :o

Amstrad France for the win :D

Hahaha! I stick with Orion! That's fair enough for all of us 8)

In fact I choosen "Schneider" cause it looks like "Shredder", and I'm a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fanatic  ;)

Quote from: freemac on 19:26, 29 August 11
In fact I choosen "Schneider" cause it looks like "Shredder", and I'm a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fanatic  ;)

And Schneider means Cutter, a word with a similar meaning as Shredder

this sounds like a good project, now since FPGAs are so common, why not resurrect it?  How cool would an FPGA on an mx4 card be? with a way to load cores into it from CPC and various I/O ports.