FPGA based A500 accelerator

[Lemaru]

Originally Posted by kipper2k

Nice,
i do have an Atari that i removed the soldered 68k and socketed it ready to some some testing once we get going. The size of this is so snall that i cant think of any comp that it will not fit inside without causing issues with the case closing etc. even when used with the a600 adapter which i was able to design with 2 securing screws that can allow you to swing it around your head if you want to lol

I made my A600 adaptor to fit the TF536 in the case and be able still close it. Little tight for space, and have to have the socket mounted at a slight angle, but then it's a bigger card by far. I got some other ideas, but like you I can lift the Amiga and swing it up by the card. Actually if using a decent PLCC (Augat or Amp) and modifying it a bit, you can lift it without even needing the screws.

Interested to know what method you used to disable the onboard 68k?

[DJBase]

Set Pin 13 on 68000 to LOW and on Adaptor to HIGH

[Lemaru]

Originally Posted by DJBase

Set Pin 13 on 68000 to LOW and on Adaptor to HIGH

That's the method I'm already using for my adaptors (though you also need to pull VPA high on the DIP).

That's why I was asking Kipper what method he is using.

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by Lemaru

That's the method I'm already using for my adaptors (though you also need to pull VPA high on the DIP).

That's why I was asking Kipper what method he is using.

I am using a slide switch that will set one cpu to gnd while enabling the other to VCC. When the adapter is selected it will also set VPA to high via a pullup.

[Lemaru]

Originally Posted by kipper2k

I am using a slide switch that will set one cpu to gnd while enabling the other to VCC. When the adapter is selected it will also set VPA to high via a pullup.

Nice. Same method then really. Nice touch on the switch idea

[manmax]

Hi. Do you think that it will be possible to use 1mb or more kickstart rom with this accelerator ? I ask this question because I had troubles with a600 furia not booting with custom 3.9 but other accelerators runs well.

So I think there is something in firmware in conflicts with 1mb kickstart address.

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by manmax

Hi. Do you think that it will be possible to use 1mb or more kickstart rom with this accelerator ? I ask this question because I had troubles with a600 furia not booting with custom 3.9 but other accelerators runs well.

So I think there is something in firmware in conflicts with 1mb kickstart address.

I'll refer that question to Mike.

I have sent my a600 cpu apadter away to PCBWAY for fabrication, once i verity it is good i will tell them to make the pcb available for sharing so everyone who wants one can get them made for themselves

[mkstr]

Originally Posted by manmax

Hi. Do you think that it will be possible to use 1mb or more kickstart rom with this accelerator ? I ask this question because I had troubles with a600 furia not booting with custom 3.9 but other accelerators runs well.

So I think there is something in firmware in conflicts with 1mb kickstart address.

Don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. The accelerator doesn't alter the memory map except where it's providing emulation (so Gayle, if enabled, and the fastmem at the moment).

[alexh]

I think it will be down to how it implements MAPROM if at all.

[manmax]

Hi. Is there some good news ? Santa said i was a very good boy this year, and he will try to bring me a brand New accelerator !

[mkstr]

Originally Posted by manmax

Hi. Is there some good news ? Santa said i was a very good boy this year, and he will try to bring me a brand New accelerator !

So, as I think I mentioned, the A500 board has ended up being 8 layer. The layout is finished and I just need to press the button on a manufacturing run, but I have been maxed out on day-job work so that hasn't happened yet. I have also been considering how I can prove the design without risking what turns out to be a significant upfront cost of an 8 layer board.

The way I have decided to do this is to knock up an A1200 version first, which I know a few people have asked for anyway. Being much larger, this won't be anywhere near as dense and so will be much cheaper to do a small test run. The main thing I need to prove is the memory design, which will be common between the two versions, so although this does add delay in getting the 16-bit one out, it does mean it's far more likely to work first time, and also means there will be a 32-bit version as well.

Mike

[Higgy]

Wow, A1200 version basically out the gate at the same time!
2020 is picking up after all
Fingers crossed the board is good. If you need an A1200 tester

[AJCopland]

That's great news!

[nikosidis]

Great you do A1200 version now

[d4rk3lf]

So, have you decided yet about the name for this accelerator?
Since they will be soon out (for A1200 at least), I wanna be able to easy google people videos where they trying apps.

It would be a little hard to search "Some new fpga based accelerator released recently"

[eXeler0]

Originally Posted by d4rk3lf

so, have you decided yet about the name for this accelerator?
Since they will be soon out (for a1200 at least), i wanna be able to easy google people videos where they trying apps.

It would be a little hard to search "some new fpga based accelerator released recently"

ml1268? :-)

[torsti76]

@mkstr Can you place an A1200 romulator on the board, too? *duck & cover*

[skan]

Originally Posted by d4rk3lf

So, have you decided yet about the name for this accelerator?
Since they will be soon out (for A1200 at least), I wanna be able to easy google people videos where they trying apps.

It would be a little hard to search "Some new fpga based accelerator released recently"

Oh, so it wasn't "Buffy"?

[NovaCoder]

Yep a beautiful design, well done

I've been hoping to see an (affordable) FPGA accelerator for years now...

[utri007]

Is this materializing to users? When I can buy one?