[Coco] CoCo 3 FPGA?

jdaggett at gate.net jdaggett at gate.net
Thu Jul 26 14:05:44 EDT 2007 

Leonard

What one? There are not too many that have exactly what we would need. 
Even to design one amd layout one will still be expensive. The major cost is 
the FPGA cost itself.   

Should be able to get around 25MHz if the HDL code is written for speed. 
Sacrifice area for speed. 

james

On 26 Jul 2007 at 13:27, Leonard wrote:

> I smell a development board in my future!  Even if it only does 12Mhz,
> that's still a lot faster then we now have.  I hate to bring this up,
> but does this have the markings of a coco4?  Guess if you're a purist
> it doesn't, but it seems like good fun anyway:)!
> 
> Leonard
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com
> [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On Behalf Of Joel Ewy Sent:
> Thursday, July 26, 2007 9:50 AM To: CoCoList for Color Computer
> Enthusiasts Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo 3 FPGA?
> 
> Leonard wrote:
> > Wow....now that's cool stuff!  A 50 Mhz coco!  The possibilities are
> endless
> > it seems.
> >
> >   
> Remember, I just pulled that number out of thin air, though I don't
> think it's wildly unrealistic that an FPGA CoCo could someday run that
> fast.  According to Gary's web site, he has it running at 6.25 MHz
> which, while far from 50, is still a heck of a lot faster than any
> "real" CoCo 3.
> 
> JCE
> 
> > Thanks for the info and I can't wait till the website is up so I can
> > check this thing out.
> >
> > Leonard
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com
> > [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com]
> On
> > Behalf Of Joel Ewy
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 9:16 PM
> > To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> > Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo 3 FPGA?
> >
> > Leonard wrote:
> >   
> >> Ok...I'll admit my ignorance, but I can over come it with
> >> questions?
> >>     
> > What's
> >   
> >> an FPGA and what will that mean for the hobbyist?  I think an FPGA
> >> is a
> >>     
> > CoCo
> >   
> >> on a chip?  Does that mean its more of an emulation then actual
> >> hardware?
> >>   
> >>     
> > Leonard, this is sort of like emulation, but it is emulation
> > implemented in programmable hardware, rather than emulation
> > implemented in software running on a general purpose CPU.  So if the
> > FPGA can be clocked at 50 MHz (to pull a number out of the air) the
> > processor can run at 50 MHz. For all intents and purposes, this is
> > real hardware.  But it is hardware that is programmable, and in some
> > FPGAs, dynamically re-programmable while running.  So not only could
> > it contain all the functionality of a CoCo 3, it could also be
> > expanded to have Next-Generation CoCo features.  One could even
> > leave a section of the logic free and implement all kinds of
> > specialized algorithms in it, like encoding/decoding JPEG images in
> > hardware, color quantization, floating point coprocessor, or
> > whatever.
> >   
> >> Would this mean a CoCo that can run SVGA?  
> >>
> >>   
> >>     
> > It very well could.  Just depends on what Gary has put in there.
> >   
> >> Would this chip be for sale?
> >>
> >>   
> >>     
> > That all depends on Gary, of course!  :)  The chip itself is
> > probably an off-the-shelf FPGA -- likely on an FPGA development
> > board.  Those can be had for $100 - $???.  The development board
> > would have everything you need to hook it up to a PC and program the
> > logic array on the FPGA. Some even have goodies like VGA and
> > keyboard ports built in.  One might need to cook up a little custom
> > hardware to attach CoCo peripherals. The main issue is whether and
> > on what terms Gary is willing to share his FPGA code.
> >
> > It's unlikely that anybody's going to sell a packaged FPGA CoCo
> > system as a consumer product, though I'd love it if somebody proved
> > me wrong here.  But as a do-it-yourself project where somebody
> > supplies the FPGA code, and maybe an interface board or two, and you
> > buy your own FPGA development board -- that is eminently possible. 
> > And we may be closer to it than ever before...
> >
> > JCE
> >   
> >> Leonard
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com
> >> [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com]
> >>     
> > On
> >   
> >> Behalf Of Shain Klammer
> >> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:38 PM
> >> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> >> Subject: Re: [Coco] A semi-real CoCo topic
> >>
> >> Hate, being a "me too" : )   but, I look forward to learning more
> >> about this, especially what further plans you have (if any) - such
> >> as adding other hardware and/or extensions...
> >>
> >> sk
> >>
> >> On 25/07/07, Rogelio Perea <os9dude at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>   
> >>     
> >>> Now you're talking!
> >>>
> >>> Second here in line for the website visit :-)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -=[ Rogelio ]=-
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On 7/25/07, Jim Cox <jimcox at miba51.com> wrote:
> >>>     
> >>>       
> >>>> Gary!
> >>>>
> >>>> Way cool.  I am looking forward to visiting you site.
> >>>>
> >>>> Jim
> >>>>
> >>>> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:26:32 -0500
> >>>>   "Becker, Gary" <Gary.Becker at amd.com> wrote:
> >>>>       
> >>>>         
> >>>>> FYI
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I have almost finished the COCO3 in a FPGA. I have run
> >>>>> several of the
> >>>>> demo programs on Sock Master's web site. Of course, I am
> >>>>> having issues
> >>>>> with Boink. But I have successfully booted into
> >>>>> NitrOS-9.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I will be setting up a web site soon with pictures and
> >>>>> details.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Gary
> >>>>>         
> >>>>>           
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