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[[Rodrik Studio ]] announced its PicoCPC expansion card, which was is created with the help of [[FreddyV ]] (the author of the [https://github.com/FreddyVRetro/ISA-PicoMEM PicoMEM ISA card for IBM PC]).

[[File:PicoCPC proto2proto.jpegjpg|600px]] [[File:Modular PicoCPC.jpg|600px]]

<br> == Architecture == The PicoCPC use a Pico2, connected via multiplexor. This let enough pin to add an I2S DAC, MicroSD and some more control signals. The Final PicoCPC board will be really different, with soldered RP2350BDirectly soldered. No 5V pin go to the pico. We use some 1 buffer, 1 level shifter, 3 multiplexers. We write to the CPC with 3.3V, we use 5V to the CPC only to drive some signal like A15 for C3 memory mode and IOReq to disable intern floppy. We prefer to have somerthing between the Pico and the CPC, as even if 5V work now, there is no guarantee that the boards will work after some years of intensive usage.It is really better to be carefull.

Advantage of this model is on The PicoCPC does NOT use of a CH376 for USB : USB in FAT32&extfschip, everything is done with the Pico itself. PicoCPC handles FAT12, 16, 32, ExtFS. CH376 will be emulated on the board, with nothing to do at the CPC side.

There is no external ROM, so the microntroller access the emulated RAM/ROM and USB/MicroUSB MicroSD at the same time: Direct write from the uSD to the CPC emulated RAM at 3MB/s (For example).

The PicoCPC is clocked at 375Mhz [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/picocpc/msg248409/#msg248409 Source]366Mhz. So it is not as powerful as the [[RSF3]] clocked at 480Mhz. But it is more powerful than the [[M4 Board]] clocked at 168Mhz. [https://www.spinpoint.org/2015/10/23/cortex-m4-board/ Source] <br> === Multiplexers === The "Secret" of the PicoMEM/PicoCPC is its multiplexers. [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/picocpc/msg249997/#msg249997 Source]It allow to limint the number of I/O needed and act as a Voltage converter at the same time. The Pi Pico allow to have multiple PIO core, plus the main core working together in parallel,so the PIO manage the Multiplexer, reconstruct the Address, while CPU core detect and manage the Control signals, Read in advance the High part of the address to jupt to the correct code.(IO MEM Read or Write, Bank number)So, when the Main core is in the correct code section, it can read directly the full Address from the PIO. The PicoCPC use only 12 I/O to manage all the address, Data and Control signals. We can add 2 pin only to control the multiplexer.Then, the CPC bus is "manipulated" Via ROMDIS, RAMDIS, RD, A15, IOREQ (Pico Output) With this way to do, it is possible to be almost as fast with multiplexing that without.

C3 mode to arrive in the next hardware release(update 09/04/2025: C3 mode works perfectly fine). And much more for the final hardware release: vocal synthesizer, cpr cartridges, usbmouse, wifi, nfc, ...

" It’s still far from being finished, but it’s progressing well." What’s still missing: *Loading and unloading ROMs from BASIC *Copying files between SD and floppy disk *Saving files to SD (for now, the Pico can only read and launch) *Formatting floppy disks *Displays on the I2C screen during the Wizard *All the sound part *All the Wi-Fi part *All the NFC part Prototype 2 will require a major change on the I/O side but should normally open up more possibilities, like the C3 memory mode on 464/664, switching to 512KB of extended memory, and sound. At the moment, I’m aiming for June as a tentative date. Even if the code isn’t finished, the hardware should be.

"What’s still missingIn the comments of that video, Rodrik said:"

*Loading "When it works on all CPCs, including the Plus models, and unloading ROMs from BASICthe hardware is more or less final, I’m aiming for June."*Copying files between SD "The features will evolve; I wrote that in the description. The next big thing will be sound—voice synthesizer—but also a second AY chip and floppy diskmaybe some other quirky stuff like Adlib. Then Wi-Fi and NFC."*Saving files "I plan to add Wi-Fi later if possible, and also USB, which is simpler than micro SD (for now, the Pico transferring things."*"I can only read and launch)even say it’s very likely that Plus cartridges will be emulated soon."*Formatting floppy disks"Wi-Fi is planned for the longer term; the separate Wi-Fi module for Pico2 isn’t available yet."*Displays on "There are too many boards, often too expensive, hard to find, and with different features. The idea is that the I2C screen during PicoCPC should cost half the Wizardprice of a DDI5."*All "I didn't check the sound partprice of DDI-5, but this one will be around 70€."*All "I will have a distributor in UK, so no problem."*"When the Wiboard is ready, I will open-Fi partsource both ROMs, the PicoCPC and the Wizard."*All "It’s coming along, but it’ll take a few more months. The final board will be pretty high-tech with 4 layers, etc., and some surprises like connectivity features."*"There will be a case around it to make it look like a peripheral from back in the NFC day."*"The HDD partisn’t great; binaries that load other binaries won’t work. In the end, I could only put a few games on it."

"Prototype 2 will require a major change on the IOn 12/O side but should normally open up more possibilities04/2025, like the C3 memory mode Rodrik posted on 464/664, switching to 512KB of extended memory, and sound."CPCwiki forum:

"At I wanted to clarify few things, there is no interest list, nowhere to register to. When the momentcard is ready enough, I’m aiming for June as a tentative dateit will be made available via resellers in France, UK and maybe US. Even if I still don't know when this will happen, the code isn’t finishedcard did progress of lot since the start in December last year, this means 4 months ago. But I think 3 more months at least are required to make it work properly on all CPC flavors. The card is currently limited by the hardware should RB2350, I do not have enough gpio, so I either use an oled screen, either I2S DAC, either use the pins to drive some signals on the bus. So it requires a new revision with e 2350B soldered on board. Feature list is unknown yet, but it will grow over time. The card will beavailable with lot of hardware, but only future firmware revision may make use of it."

In the comments of that videoOn 04/05/2025, Rodrik saidposted on its facebook page:* "Quand elle fonctionnera sur tous les CPC y compris les Plus et que je hardware est plus ou moins final. Je table vers Juin."* "les fonctions vont évoluer, je l'ai écrit en description. Le prochain gros truc sera le son, synthétiseur vocal, mais aussi un second AY et peut-être d'autres choses tordues comme Adlib. Puis le wifi et le nfc."* "Je compte mettre le wifi si possible plus tard et aussi L’USB, plus simple que la micro SD pour transférer des choses"* "je peux même dire qu'il est fort possible que les cartouches plus soit émulée bientôt."* "Le wifi est prévu à plus long terme, le module wifi séparé pour pico2 n'étant pas encore disponible."* "Il y a trop de cartes, souvent trop cher, introuvables et avec des fonctions différentes. Dans l'idée la picocpc devrait coûter la moitié du prix d'un ddi5."* "Il y aura une boite autour, pour en faire un périphérique ressemblant à ceux d'époque."* "La partie HDD est pas top, les binaires chargeant des binaires ne fonctionneront pashttps://www. Je n'ai pu mettre que peu de jeux dessus au finalfacebook."com/100050156822393/posts/1220749709606912/

It's been a while since I posted here, so I'm here to give you some news about the future of PicoCPC.4 days of work to get it routed after quite a few hours getting everything set up.* USB-A port for a USB key initially on the HDD or for loading floppy disk images, cartridges, or ROMs, and more from the SD cards.* USB-C port for flashing the PicoCPC.* Micro DVI port, future if I can get there 😉* Integrated DAC, we'll see what I can get out of it.* Buttons for controlling floppy disk images without the CPC.* 1MB of SRAM, for large cartridges or lots of memory/ROM.* 16MB of flash, not usable by the CPC, too slow, but I could store things on it as ROM.Daughter board* Audio output* Buttons* NFCThe Pimoroni hardware white square on the daughter board is also being evaluatedthe location of the OLED display.This version, which could be v1.0, will be manufactured in late May.

[[<gallery>File:Pimoroni Picocpc.jpg]]|v0.2 assemblyFile:PicoCPC RSX info.jpg|v0.2 pluggedFile:PicoCPC RTC.jpg|v0.2 RTCFile:PicoCPC v0.9.jpg|v0.9 DesignFile:PicoCPC v0.9 render top.jpg|v0.9 Render topFile:PicoCPC v0.9 render back.jpg|v0.9 Render backFile:PicoCPC v0.9 daughterboard.png|v0.9 Daughter board (white square is screen)</gallery>