Expansion board for the CD32

[Slayer]

Nope, I think Kipper2k will make me that two way adapter

Right Kipper2k?

[alexh]

Nope he wont. It would be ugly and impractical considering there are so few FMV cartridge owners and even less official content.

[Slayer]

But you can use the hardware outside the content and I recall him saying earlier in the thread that it shouldn't be too hard to make - if he's changed his mind so be it but don't rule something out just because you don't want to look at it under the TV set in the lounge

anyway, that's my last word

[eXeler0]

Well the Pro module has an FMV passthrough... but lets do the math here. The cd32 in itself is a fairly rare console. The FMV module is practically non-existent. It would only make sense if it didnt complicate the current design or increase the price much of the production units.

That being said, it would be interesting to explore the way the FMV module communicated with the cd32. Would it be possible to include a modern video decoder to play, say h264? :-)
(Something like Texas Instruments TMS320DM369, should be dirt cheap by now)

[Slayer]

That's the thing, it could be something discussed outside the general design and have no impact on what the majority are trying to accomplish here. No Worries.

[eXeler0]

Wouldn't it be cool if someone (with the right skills) could explore how to hack/use a Raspberry Pi2 as a hardware decoder for CD32 video playback ;-)

[PJM]

Originally Posted by eXeler0

Wouldn't it be cool if someone (with the right skills) could explore how to hack/use a Raspberry Pi2 as a hardware decoder for CD32 video playback ;-)

What's the point? Just do it in an fpga.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by eXeler0

Wouldn't it be cool if someone (with the right skills) could explore how to hack/use a Raspberry Pi2 as a hardware decoder for CD32 video playback ;-)

Unless the CD32 MPEG interface is the serial type (and I doubt it is) then the number of pins required would almost certainly exceed those available on Raspberry Pi GPIO (not to mention voltage differences etc.). Not practical unfortunately.

Originally Posted by PJM

What's the point? Just do it in an fpga.

You would need a license and pay royalties plus an MPEG decoder is not a trivial block to design.

[eXeler0]

Originally Posted by PJM

What's the point? Just do it in an fpga.

The point is that the RaspbPi is somehting you can buy today for €25, while the FPGA you're describing doesn't exist and still need its own board (unless someone like Individual Computer would decide to create some magic, but I doubt it)

[eXeler0]

Originally Posted by alexh

Unless the CD32 MPEG interface is the serial type (and I doubt it is) then the number of pins required would almost certainly exceed those available on Raspberry Pi GPIO (not to mention voltage differences etc.). Not practical unfortunately.

You're probably right, then again, people have done some crazy hacks in the past. Still, "Not practical" is probably the key-word here ;-)

[PJM]

Originally Posted by alexh

Unless the CD32 MPEG interface is the serial type (and I doubt it is) then the number of pins required would almost certainly exceed those available on Raspberry Pi GPIO (not to mention voltage differences etc.). Not practical unfortunately.


You would need a license and pay royalties plus an MPEG decoder is not a trivial block to design.

MPEG decoder blocks already exist.

[PJM]

Originally Posted by eXeler0

The point is that the RaspbPi is somehting you can buy today for €25, while the FPGA you're describing doesn't exist and still need its own board (unless someone like Individual Computer would decide to create some magic, but I doubt it)

The rate majsta and team are moving its probably just a matter of time.

[eXeler0]

Right now, the Vampire board uses an FPGA that is too small to fit even the entire Apollo core (it has been scaled down to fit).
In future versions, using a more advanced FPGA ut would be doable I guess, but I wouldnt hold my breath.

[eXeler0]

Then again, the team seems to have some grand plans a lot like the old Natami project. Meaning they probably want to improve the AGA chipset next (Im speculating here) but an additional video decoder core sounds as a tempting addition. I dont have any idea how exactly the fmv module existed alongside AGA in the CD32 but Im guessing they barely crossed paths. (Someone is going to correct me now) :-)

[eXeler0]

Originally Posted by TreacleWench

Yeah I forgot about that!

They actually released games that used both the Mega CD and 32X under the banner of 'Mega CD 32X' as well!



So maybe scrap that one.

Hopefully Stedy's upgrade will look more attractive than this particular 32X setup.

Ah yes, by far the ugliest console combo in history of mankind. Interestingly, by the time this came out the Saturn was released too... (which contained basically the same hardware + 1 CPU but most of it was very similar)
Kind of have to wonder what the heck the execs were thinking when they approved this monstrosity ;-)

Anyhoo, as for the naming discussion, how about we give the fellas behind the tech some cred by calling i the SK32 (Stedy-Kipper)
/eX

[SKOLMAN_MWS]

Is there a chance that the project Hermes join forces with Vampire FPGA?

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by SKOLMAN_MWS

Is there a chance that the project Hermes join forces with Vampire FPGA?

Why and what for? I don't understand.

[kipper2k]

it will never happen, only thing that could happen is a standalone accelerator similar to the one currently being developed for the A500 with IDE could come out. It would take advantage of myyy adapter for internal fitting

[Deaths_Head]

excellent thought this project had stalled

[eXeler0]

Kipper2k I understand that you dont necessarily know how Stedman is doing, but could you give us a little update of the status for project Hermes? Slow progress is ok, zero progress is worrying and total silence is scary ;-)