Zeus68k – Accelerator/IDE/RAM for the A500/2000/CDTV and others

[Mrs Beanbag]

The EC version would suit me fine...

but has anyone ever thought of using a CPU32 such as 68360? They are fully compatible with 68000 and with most of the 68020 instruction set, plus a number of extra special features, I don't know if they could be made use of or not.

Also the Coldfire seems to implement more and more of the 68k instruction set with every version, maybe in a few years they will become a viable option. And at 266MHz, that would be quite exciting.

[deicidal]

ooo I think i will be asking santa for one of these for christmas

[BvdW]

So I just ordered the Indi ECS.. can't wait to pop in my order for the Zeus68k as well!

By the way. There was talk here earlier of a PDF cutout to test the A1000. I found an A1000 owner who would really like to know if the Zeus68k will fit, so the PDF would be most welcome.

[klx300r]

please please tell me this beauty will work & fit in my A1000

[CUF]

If it works in the a500, i can't see why it shouldn't work in an a1000. The only problem is, does it fit? Because I would definitely be putting this beauty inside of my a1000.

[Akiko]

When is this available, how much?

[mr.vince]

It's done when it's done. It's all of the above in one, and we want to make it good. No quick rush to make money. This is a fan project to build _the_ accelerator we weren't able to buy.

It won't be cheap. As said before it's so much devices in one and production will for sure cost EUR 100+. Unless we have at least 500 backers, which would make this much cheaper. We'll see if we set up some Kickstarter or similar.

EDIT: Attached PDF with outline and CPU adapter pins marked. Pin1 of the CPU would be on the lower, right hand side. It does not directly fit into an A1000 but would need an adapter PCB to move it by about 2cm. This would also elevate it enough to make it float above the piggyback.



zeus68k.pdf

[cosmicfrog]

Just 2 more weeks then

[Smakar]

YAY - way to go!
I can't wait to order one (as long as the "68k" doesn't refer to the price )

[Jawd]

This definitely looks interesting, i would buy one for sure.

[groundplayer]

When it's done that thing will be inside my plus !

[CUF]

Ok so... Can this board be used like an A1000 kickstart rom adapter and boot from the kick file you choose to flash in it? Or do we still need a rom equipped Amiga?

[XDelusion]

Utterly And Totally Interested!

[mr.vince]

Originally Posted by CUF

Ok so... Can this board be used like an A1000 kickstart rom adapter and boot from the kick file you choose to flash in it? Or do we still need a rom equipped Amiga?

The board will completely take over the system; everything the CPU does goes through the board. This means the board can make whatever information is needed appear at any address where it is needed. E.g. substituting a ROM (Kickstart, Action Replay) or memory (fast mem, swap mem after boot to keep it for inspection) etc. etc.

I think you could rip out your Kickstart ROM and the system won't notice as it's using the Kickstart from flash. You can actually force it to use your real ROM but... hey... that's so slow...

[BvdW]

Am I correct in assuming that it would still be impossible to provide additional Chip RAM through this board since it's only plugged into the CPU socket?

[amigoun]

Really interested for one piece of this awesome board.

[CUF]

Originally Posted by mr.vince

The board will completely take over the system; everything the CPU does goes through the board. This means the board can make whatever information is needed appear at any address where it is needed. E.g. substituting a ROM (Kickstart, Action Replay) or memory (fast mem, swap mem after boot to keep it for inspection) etc. etc.

I think you could rip out your Kickstart ROM and the system won't notice as it's using the Kickstart from flash. You can actually force it to use your real ROM but... hey... that's so slow...

Thanks for the quick answer. Definitely be buying one now that i know that i can boot any kickstart with this baby.

[kipper2k]

So is ipf support booted from an onboard SD card planned

[Jope]

Originally Posted by BvdW

Am I correct in assuming that it would still be impossible to provide additional Chip RAM through this board since it's only plugged into the CPU socket?

That is correct.

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by kipper2k

So is ipf support booted from an onboard SD card planned

Ooo, there's a thought - I wonder how much room is left in the FPGA for useful goodies like this?

If I understand correctly there are no spare lines for yet more hardware. But, room allowing, such extras could make an already fantasic project even more desireable...
...at the risk of getting thoroughly over excited the potental for further encoder/decoder/dsp-alike goodies is almost endless.