ReA4091: SCSI2 on Zorro III for everyone!

reinauer · 22 November 2021, 03:08

Hi and welcome to the latest and greatest project by Chris Hooper and me: ReA4091.

All in all there were only two ZorroIII capable SCSI controllers ever made: The A4091/DKB4091 and the Phase5 Fastlane Z3. The Fastlane, by being a closed source fortress, is completely useless. It can not be repaired, or improved. But all GAL logic source code for the A4091 has been made available by Dave Haynie.

So on my first visit to Germany since the pandemic started, I was finally able to pick up a DKB4091 that I "won" on eBay. Back home in sunny California, a new project was born:

November 2021:
At the moment the project is in its Proto0 phase. Schematics and PCBs have been drawn and verified, and we had OK2FAB last week. Now waiting eagerly for the PCB delivery so that we can jump right into our board bringup late November / early December.

Of course there are countless ideas already:

Move the GALs and other logic chips into a CPLD
Use the additional space to add some RAM
Since the NCR53C720/725 can also cope with the 68030 bus, they could be a potential upgrade path
The card could be shortened to save cost
Integrate SCSI2SD

Ideas, ideas, ideas, a dime a dozen. But for now the goal is to produce a working board that is as close as possible to the original (plus easter eggs of course)

January 2022:
The board is fully working.

February 2022:
Time to order the first small batch with a few minor cosmetic changes. Lunar New Year put a serious delay on us, as expected.

March 2022:
Building boards, making boxes, manuals, and got amazing brackets from Szymon Gosk

April 2022:
Interested in getting a board? Let us know about Pre-Order Interest so we can plan. There will also be a release of schematics / gerbers / BOM, but don't hesitate to fill out the form if that's what is interesting for you.

--
amiga.technology blog
Amiga Hardware Pics (Instagram)
Stefan's GitHub (Romy, 68060 adapter, etc)
Stefan's Twitter <-- follow for updates

shaf · 02 December 2021, 20:03

This looks like an interesting project, I might get one to replace my Phase 5 Fastlane Z3 card.

reinauer · 02 December 2021, 20:27

Small update

btp · 02 December 2021, 20:53

I'm always amazed at what dedicated and knowledgeable Amiga fans can achieve!

For the future extra features it would be nice if the re-created controller could easily utilize the RaSCSCI solution.

jasonsbeer · 02 December 2021, 22:15

Nice project. Do you intend to open source it?

jbenam · 02 December 2021, 23:39

I have wanted an A4091 for a very long time, great stuff!

Do you intend on selling pre-assembled cards, or PCBs? If the latter, I am up for one PCB

reinauer · 03 December 2021, 06:14

Still figuring the details of distribution out. First the card needs to be working. The hope is to open the design up, of course. Life is too short to waste it on closed source stuff.

brett71 · 03 December 2021, 15:23

Following!

Matt_H · 03 December 2021, 16:37

Great to see this project! I don’t have a particular need for a 4091 right now, but I might in the future. If so, I’d be interested in a fully assembled card - I’m not skilled enough to assemble from parts.

shaf · 03 December 2021, 17:26

I could assemble some card for others.

Shaf

tom79 · 04 December 2021, 16:39

Awesome work!

nogginthenog · 04 December 2021, 17:09

Nice. That is a huge zorro card!

LucasBox · 04 December 2021, 21:32

Really great project, i am excited which way it will continue

Quote:

Originally Posted by btp

For the future extra features it would be nice if the re-created controller could easily utilize the RaSCSCI solution.

Unfortunately is RaSCSI way to slow for this card.

dalek · 05 December 2021, 00:47

I need this in my life <3

dalek · 05 December 2021, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucasBox

Unfortunately is RaSCSI way to slow for this card.

True, but as one device of many it could be useful to include PI mounting holes in the area on the PCB where the HDD goes.

LucasBox · 05 December 2021, 11:53

That's right, mounting holes for:Raspberry 2-4, Zero and SCS2SD 5 + 6 would be nice.

jostberg · 05 December 2021, 12:40

Really nice!!

reinauer · 05 December 2021, 19:24

Looking good:

Damion · 05 December 2021, 19:34

Wow, outstanding work!

NorthWay · 06 December 2021, 01:22

That looks like a lot of logic - can't those be consolidated?
Cool stuff!

22 November 2021, 03:08	#1
reinauer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Mountain View, California Posts: 56	ReA4091: SCSI2 on Zorro III for everyone! Hi and welcome to the latest and greatest project by Chris Hooper and me: ReA4091. All in all there were only two ZorroIII capable SCSI controllers ever made: The A4091/DKB4091 and the Phase5 Fastlane Z3. The Fastlane, by being a closed source fortress, is completely useless. It can not be repaired, or improved. But all GAL logic source code for the A4091 has been made available by Dave Haynie. So on my first visit to Germany since the pandemic started, I was finally able to pick up a DKB4091 that I "won" on eBay. Back home in sunny California, a new project was born: November 2021: At the moment the project is in its Proto0 phase. Schematics and PCBs have been drawn and verified, and we had OK2FAB last week. Now waiting eagerly for the PCB delivery so that we can jump right into our board bringup late November / early December. Of course there are countless ideas already: Move the GALs and other logic chips into a CPLD Use the additional space to add some RAM Since the NCR53C720/725 can also cope with the 68030 bus, they could be a potential upgrade path The card could be shortened to save cost Integrate SCSI2SD Ideas, ideas, ideas, a dime a dozen. But for now the goal is to produce a working board that is as close as possible to the original (plus easter eggs of course) January 2022: The board is fully working. February 2022: Time to order the first small batch with a few minor cosmetic changes. Lunar New Year put a serious delay on us, as expected. March 2022: Building boards, making boxes, manuals, and got amazing brackets from Szymon Gosk April 2022: Interested in getting a board? Let us know about Pre-Order Interest so we can plan. There will also be a release of schematics / gerbers / BOM, but don't hesitate to fill out the form if that's what is interesting for you. -- amiga.technology blog Amiga Hardware Pics (Instagram) Stefan's GitHub (Romy, 68060 adapter, etc) Stefan's Twitter <-- follow for updates Attached Thumbnails Last edited by reinauer; 12 April 2022 at 08:33.

02 December 2021, 20:27	#3
reinauer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Mountain View, California Posts: 56	Small update Attached Thumbnails

05 December 2021, 19:24	#18
reinauer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Mountain View, California Posts: 56	Looking good: Attached Thumbnails Last edited by reinauer; 06 December 2021 at 01:27.

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02 December 2021, 20:03	#2
shaf Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Toronto / Canada Posts: 231	This looks like an interesting project, I might get one to replace my Phase 5 Fastlane Z3 card.

02 December 2021, 20:53	#4
btp Registered User Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Greece Posts: 134	I'm always amazed at what dedicated and knowledgeable Amiga fans can achieve! For the future extra features it would be nice if the re-created controller could easily utilize the RaSCSCI solution.

02 December 2021, 22:15	#5
jasonsbeer Registered User Join Date: May 2020 Location: Iowa, USA Posts: 150	Nice project. Do you intend to open source it?

02 December 2021, 23:39	#6
jbenam Italian Amiga Zealot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Italy Age: 36 Posts: 1,910	I have wanted an A4091 for a very long time, great stuff! Do you intend on selling pre-assembled cards, or PCBs? If the latter, I am up for one PCB

03 December 2021, 06:14	#7
reinauer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Mountain View, California Posts: 56	Still figuring the details of distribution out. First the card needs to be working. The hope is to open the design up, of course. Life is too short to waste it on closed source stuff.

03 December 2021, 15:23	#8
brett71 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ames, IA, USA Posts: 521	Following!

03 December 2021, 16:37	#9
Matt_H Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 943	Great to see this project! I don’t have a particular need for a 4091 right now, but I might in the future. If so, I’d be interested in a fully assembled card - I’m not skilled enough to assemble from parts.

03 December 2021, 17:26	#10
shaf Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Toronto / Canada Posts: 231	I could assemble some card for others. Shaf

04 December 2021, 16:39	#11
tom79 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Mansfield Britain Posts: 5	Awesome work!

04 December 2021, 17:09	#12
nogginthenog Amigan Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London Posts: 1,309	Nice. That is a huge zorro card!

05 December 2021, 00:47	#14
dalek Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: NSW/Australia Posts: 462	I need this in my life <3

05 December 2021, 11:53	#16
LucasBox Registered User Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Ger Posts: 35	That's right, mounting holes for:Raspberry 2-4, Zero and SCS2SD 5 + 6 would be nice.

05 December 2021, 12:40	#17
jostberg Registered User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Posts: 23	Really nice!!

05 December 2021, 19:34	#19
Damion Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: US Posts: 315	Wow, outstanding work!

06 December 2021, 01:22	#20
NorthWay Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Grimstad / Norway Posts: 839	That looks like a lot of logic - can't those be consolidated? Cool stuff!

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