The Beast 030 (CD32)

[Lunda]

Some information about my CPU board project.


- SRAM: Initial plan was to have 2MB SRAM for map ROM. Then I went all in and added support for 32MB SRAM (16 x 2MB chips, top/bottom double stacked). "only" 24MB on it now.

- SDRAM: 256MB, 4 chips, two top side, two bottom side.

1 cycle wrap around burst on both memory types. SRAM is set as first memory region, so it will be used first. I use a great program called MemPri to change priority between the two regions.


- Clock Port: 16bit clock port. Tested with 8bit standard RTC module.

- IDE: 2 buffered IDE channels, 3 connectors. Can connect 4 IDE devices. one interface tuned for mSATA adapters (tested 2 different). mSATA write 9MB/s, read 8.5MB/s with default scsi.device. Around 13MB/s with one of the fast devices(not stable). 17fps agablaster hires demo, using default device.

- Epson VGA controller: Chip with internal SDRAM on a 70MHz, 16bit bus. I haven't done much with this yet. Max 1024 x 768 256 colors from 4096. 800 x 600 16bit from 16bit. I had an empty area on the board, so why not. I don't expect much from this.

- CPU: Some RAM heatsinks from my old PC and a small fan for cooling. I never had problems with the CPU at 70MHz. The problem you get when running this fast is controlling the buses and control signals. That was the real challenge.

- FPU: I really wanted this to run at 70MHz, but no luck there. Maybe the PGA variant can go higher. It's the 40MHz PLCC variant.

The board can run off a separate 5V supply. It's getting 4.9V now, and the CD32 4.7V.

The board in the photo is a bit messy. There will be one new final PCB revision, but I will probably not build it. This board is good enough for me.

[Karlos]

70MHz 68030? That's some overclock!

[Roki$]

And can I ask for some results from test programs like Sysinfo 4.4, Sysspeed 2.6, maybe AIBB
Very interesting and cool project Keep it up

[Lunda]

Originally Posted by Roki$

And can I ask for some results from test programs like Sysinfo 4.4, Sysspeed 2.6, maybe AIBB
Very interesting and cool project Keep it up

Sure!

AIBB and SysSpeed modules attached.

[Roki$]

Originally Posted by Lunda

Sure!

AIBB and SysSpeed modules attached.

Thanks, good man

[jotd]

that's a nice project! just keeping it for yourself then ?

[Lunda]

Originally Posted by jotd

that's a nice project! just keeping it for yourself then ?

I don't think many people are interested in something crazy like the Beast. But sure, it's always possible to build more.

[abu_the_monkey]

from the technical aspect, very interested

as for owning one, its for the cd32? If so, I don't have one in my collection

[DisasterIncarna]

impressive doesnt quite cover how awesome that looks, keep up with any updates, my cd32 got stolen long ago but this still looks like a good read and news piece.

[seb132]

This is an impressive project.
Congratulations for the achievement!
Do you intend to share it so other people could build it or at least some technical data and schematics so the board layout can be taken to a next step?

[fgh]

24MB SRAM! 70mHz 030 overclock! And a VGA chip!
Crazy project indeed

The VGA is interesting. Do you think you can make a P96 driver for it? Which chip is it? S1D13513?

We have lots of cool new cpu cards, but a distinct lack of graphics cards.
If someone could make a cheap VGA chip work, I’m sure it would show up in other CPU cards as well.

800x600x16M or 1024x768x256 is less than the best of the old cards, but way better than AGA for workbench.

No scan doubler/flicker fixer is less of a concern today with cheap rgb-hdmi adapters, and CRT’s are popular again, so having an LCD for WB + a CRT TV for games is cool again

[Lunda]

Originally Posted by fgh

24MB SRAM! 70mHz 030 overclock! And a VGA chip!
Crazy project indeed

The VGA is interesting. Do you think you can make a P96 driver for it? Which chip is it? S1D13513?

Why have a L2 cache controller and a small cache when you can have 32MB of SRAM.


The S1D13513 looks cool, but it's the S1D13806. There is no space for external RAM on the PCB. It is possible to make the board bigger, but then you will have to open the CD32 to install it.

I'll try to make a P96 driver for it. I have the linux source which is helpful. Biggest problem is I have never programmed any software for the Amiga.

[fgh]

Originally Posted by Lunda

Why have a L2 cache controller and a small cache when you can have 32MB of SRAM.

The S1D13513 looks cool, but it's the S1D13806. There is no space for external RAM on the PCB. It is possible to make the board bigger, but then you will have to open the CD32 to install it.

I'll try to make a P96 driver for it. I have the linux source which is helpful. Biggest problem is I have never programmed any software for the Amiga.

Ok. I see the 13806 even has 68030 timing in its manual, not bad

Thomas Richter is the man to ask for help with P96 driver development.
I see he’s put up this that should be helpful:
http://wiki.icomp.de/wiki/P96_Driver_Development
(You probably found that already..)

Good luck!

[Lunda]

Originally Posted by seb132

This is an impressive project.
Congratulations for the achievement!
Do you intend to share it so other people could build it or at least some technical data and schematics so the board layout can be taken to a next step?

I might supply kits if I'm able to source components. 16 MB SRAM sourced from Farell would cost over 200 EUR I think.

I'll make a final PCB revision, so please let me know if you have some ideas for the layout.

[seb132]

Great to hear!
No, I don’t have any layout issue or ideas, I probably misread your comment about making PCB changes…
Would love to see more photos.

[fgh]

I’m sure you’ll get rid of lots of kits if you make them available.

An option to reduce the expensive SRAM amont to 4MB would make sense

Originally Posted by Lunda

I'll make a final PCB revision, so please let me know if you have some ideas for the layout.

I see the VGA chip has a Mediaplug camera interface, if you wire it up, perhaps it can be used as an AGA video passthrough or even scandoubler later on? (like on pistorm)

[Lunda]

Originally Posted by fgh

I’m sure you’ll get rid of lots of kits if you make them available.

An option to reduce the expensive SRAM amont to 4MB would make sense



I see the VGA chip has a Mediaplug camera interface, if you wire it up, perhaps it can be used as an AGA video passthrough or even scandoubler later on? (like on pistorm)

I think 8MB SRAM, 128MB SDRAM, 65MHz CPU/FPU will be the default config if I make kits or finished boards. I found a 030 board with 128MB RAM for the CD32 at amigastore.eu for 220EUR. I think this could be the target price for the default config.

Yes, the Mediaplug interface... never really found any information about successfully implemented solutions. The pins can be used as GPIO pins as well I think. I might put a header for this interface on the next board if I can fit it.

It's also possible to make some kind of digital video interface, but I only put an analog interface on it. It's configured for VGA and PAL/NTSC now.

[fryguy]

Cool project! RTG on the CD32 would be really nice

[paraj]

Excellent job! What were your motivation/goals for the project? Like, did you have a CD32 and a spare 030 lying around and wondered what would happen if you combined them, or did you set out to make the ultimate beast? I imagine it was a lot of work, but probably very rewarding when you saw the figures

[alenppc]

As somebody who has hand-built over 800 CD32 accelerators, I have to ask: where did you find WHITE MCU connectors for the kipper riser? I've only ever seen them in brown