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DIY Cartridge

Started by Bryce, 21:18, 30 November 10

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Bryce

#25
I just made a layout for a Multi-Cartridge (an idea that DevilMarkus came up with a while back). The cartridge can only take a 512K EPROM or Flash (I put a jumper on to select which pin configuration for EPROM / Flash) and the 512K are divided up into 4x 128K sectors. Using two DIP switches, you can decide which EPROM the CPC sees, so you can have four games on one cartridge. I'll make one later this week and confirm that it works. It still fits in a standard original case and the DIP switches can be changed without removing it. Obviously the CPC should be turned off, but is saves you having to constantly remove it (and the contacts will live longer).

Bryce.

redbox

Quote from: TFM/FS on 19:13, 06 December 10
I would if I could  ::)

Well that's what I paid for all of my cartridges.

eBay and patience are your friends!

TFM

Yes, patience is a virtue. And if I order that stuff from ebay UK, then I pay 9 bucks for the cart and 18 for shipping... at ebay.de you can wait until you become black (means roughly three years after death... ??? ). So I have to get some new carts made...
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

Bryce

Try the french one, there's two there at the moment for 4.99 each.

Bryce.

redbox

Quote from: Bryce on 22:12, 06 December 10
Try the french one, there's two there at the moment for 4.99 each.

Isn't it weird that eBay France is so different to all the other ones[nb]and I won't make the joke that this is just like the French, I promise[/nb]...?

But yes, the French have a lot of Plus stuff available and postage to Germany must surely be reasonable?

Bryce

It depends on the seller. I've bought quite a few things there. Some sent me the things for the same price as french buyers would have paid, but I had one idiot who wanted 40€ to send a small package, needless to say I didn't buy the item. I always ask first, then bid. Also, most of the sellers state that they will only send to France, but if you ask, most will agree to send to Germany too (and possibly elsewhere) :)

Bryce.

arnoldemu

Quote from: redbox on 22:16, 06 December 10
Isn't it weird that eBay France is so different to all the other ones[nb]and I won't make the joke that this is just like the French, I promise[/nb]...?

But yes, the French have a lot of Plus stuff available and postage to Germany must surely be reasonable?
I remember when it was ibazar.fr
My games. My Games
My website with coding examples: Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource

redbox

And here it is, plugged into my 6128 Plus  :)

It's an awesome design and testament to Bryce's skills.

Can't wait to start developing with it!

redbox

And I can confirm that my custom Plus System Cartridge works in real life too.

I am one happy man  :)

Gryzor

* Gryzor is a jealous man.

jbaudrand

rebox: ebay france is so different because ebay doesn't meet success, we prefer "le bon coin" (mean good place) http://www.leboncoin.fr/

there's a lot of cpc stuff in there.

Bryce

Pas mauvais, that's a serious amount of CPC hardware on offer, but will they ship abroad? It seems to be a french site for french people, but impressive. I might send a few E-mails out and see if they are willing to ship to Germany.

Bryce.

MacDeath

#37
Reminds me there is a 6128PLUS to sell just near my town... but 50€uros seems a bit lot...

The machines doesn't seems to have Cartridges (appart from the Brunin'Rubber+Basic) and perhaps no disks...

I will still get a word to the guy.

But this would be my 3rd monitor...erf... I have no more room for those...

Would anyone be interested ?


Also if a new generation of cartridge is to be, a Barbarian compilation could be sweet...

Just imagine Barbarian 1 and 2 on the same cartridge, actually sharing bits of engine and graphics ?
this could unlock a super duel mode with Axe armed sprite or Hottie sprite...

Or extra Adventure modes...
Or even to chose exotic warriors (Goblins, orks and so on...)...


Would need a new engine from scratch though.


BTW I need to get my hand on some sockets and spare Flash ROMs one of theses days...

It's good that the serious Hardwarers you are are starting to play with the cartridge potential... ::)

@Gryzor :
QuoteSalivating over a peace of PCB=greekness.
oh you... :laugh:

Bryce

Up to a few weeks ago I didn't own a Plus, nor had I ever seen a Plus or cartridge in real life. But now that I have them, it's got me interested. Unfortunately it's distracted me from other projects (sorry TFM), but I'll get back to them full-time again soon.

I made the multi-cartridge this week and will test it at the weekend (and release some photos too) :)

Bryce.

TFM

... sounds quite interresting. Wish you that everything works out perfect  :)
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

MacDeath

Perhaps next step : a PCB designed to have an emulated ACID with a programable chip... ::)

Bryce

That's already on my "list of projects". I had started investigating this and then I thought Nocash was going to do this, so I stopped working on it (no point in two people doing the same thing), but I've no idea whether he's still doing anything on this or has left it also? There were also others (at one of the meetings, can't remember who) that have already successfully emulated the ACID with a CPLD, but it was one of the larger ones. I don't know if it's possible to manage this with something like a GAL16V8, but that would be the ideal situation, because it would still fit in a standard cartridge housing and it's cheap and easily sourced. Maybe I'll make it my first project for 2011?

Bryce.

TFM

Get in contact with Octoate and Nilquader, they did the ACID emulation (on the X-ZentriX meeting 2010). Guess a GAL is far away from being "enough" to emulate the ACID.
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

Bryce

That's the one I was thinking of, maybe they're working on further solutions. The reason I suggested a small GAL is because there are still thru-pin versions available with 20pin packages, which would keep things non-SMD, small enough for the original cartridge case and hobbiest friendly.

Bryce.

MacDeath

#44
Quote(no point in two people doing the same thing)
But a good point if they do it together... :-\


A CPLD/PIC/whatever emulated ACID solution would certainly need to be removable-ROM based...


To put the Acid on socket is a clever move because it reduces the risk to destroy it while soldering it... Those Buggers tends to be valuable and rare Items...


would you sell complete  kits (minus the ACID of course) for your 512k Cart ?
I mean, I have no Electronic hobby shop near my home and getting those components by mail may be quite ridiculously high on shipping-fee...

Also what about using Flash ROM instead of EEPROM ?
May this be easier to put softwares in thoses ?


QuoteGuess a GAL is far away from being "enough" to emulate the ACID.
ACID emulation may need a good amount of "clocking"...
but what about using 2 cheaper components instead of only one ? well perhaps not a good idea...
Quotea small GAL is because there are still thru-pin versions available with 20pin packages
I agree, a socket for surface mounted chip is quite expensive.

Bryce

I doubt any reasonably priced PIC would ever manage to emulate an ACID. The reason for this is that the ACID is a pure logic device that doesn't have a clock frequency, ie: much like a simple AND gate immediately reacts to the given inputs, the ACID does the same. A PIC is clock based, so it reads the inputs makes some decisions on what it should do and then sets the outputs, so even if the PIC was running at 100Mhz (which would also require a crystal and other components on the cartridge) it would still reply way too late for the CPC which expects an answer on the next clock cycle.

A GAL is much the same as an ACID: A collection of logical building blocks, which when put in the right order will immediately answer the CPCs request. The only question is how many building blocks are required to achieve the functionality of an ACID and is there a reasonably priced, small, non-SMD GAL with enough building blocks?

As far as Flash is concerned, the DIY Cartridge can take a 29F010 (128K Flash) or a 29F020 (256k Flash) instead of EPROM, but not the 29F040 (512k Flash) because the pinout is different. On the multi-Cartridge I added a jumper to get around this problem, but I haven't added this to the standard DIY Cartridge (yet).

As far as selling blank cartridges is concerned, I don't personally intend building any more cartridges or selling them, but there are plans to have a large batch of cartridges built professionally and sold (with ACID as far as I know) to the community. I will add the Flash jumper to this version. More on this to come later...

Bryce.

MacDeath

Quotebut there are plans to have a large batch of cartridges built   professionally and sold (with ACID as far as I know) to the community.
Good, I'll wait for those then.

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