mpattonm wrote:Lets say... fixed motherboard with a few essential updates.
Are you planning to sell a kit or pcb or make your mods available?
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mpattonm wrote:Lets say... fixed motherboard with a few essential updates.
mpattonm wrote:C217 (CAS3 signal) has track distance over 95mm from memory chip. That would probably get 1st place in dumb-ass design awards.
wongck wrote:Back in the 80s probably all routing is done manually. So it's probably not so bad.
joska wrote:I think you're a bit unfair here. Remember that the Falcon030 really wasn't a finished product, but a prototype that someone deemed "good enough" to manufacture while there still was a market for it.
PeterS wrote:For instance use a 1GB card even if it can't address all of it or use SATA instead of IDE.
mpattonm wrote:PeterS wrote:For instance use a 1GB card even if it can't address all of it or use SATA instead of IDE.
I do not want to dissapoint you, but SATA is most likely not going to happen. By the way what do you feel as limitation of Falcon PATA implementation? To me, this seems like one of the least problematic chapters.
EvilFranky wrote:Might be completely out of scope for this project but would it be a serious amount of work to remove the proprietary memory interface and replace with SIMM sockets?
joska wrote:IDE is an integral part of the Falcon custom chipset, so replacing it does not make sense.
mpattonm wrote:As you all are well aware I guess, Falcon video connectivity is based on D-sub 19F/M connectors and these are nowhere to find already. So I am thinking to replace it with something more viable.
I am currently considering these options:
a) 20 pin miniD connector: https://www.tme.eu/cz/Document/caf2d678 ... %20THT.pdf Pluses: Guarantied availability. It is about 2/3 of DB19 width and about the same height, so mechanical compatibility with current chassis is guarantied. Enough pins to keep full Falcon video interface intact and yet add one ground connection. Minuses: higher price, would require all new VGA, SCART... adaptors to be made, these would be pricey too.
b) dual row D-sub 15F: https://www.tme.eu/cz/Document/afe87211 ... 634585.pdf Pluses: Guarantied availability. Consistent look with rest of Falcon ports. Supercheap. Minuses: Would require to ditch some of GND pins, but they are mostly redundant - for example R,G,B grounds are all connected to common GND inside Falcon anyway. There is 6 GND pins in DB19 interface, 2 would have to do - and would do. Again, all new adaptors would be required, but cheaper this time.
c) D-sub HD 15F, the ordinary VGA connector Pluses: Available, cheap, consistent look, woud allow you connect VGA displays directly. As VGA conn is much narrower then DB19, there could aso be some smaller connector, such as mini-DIN, placed right next to it. Such a conn could provide signalling missing on VGA conn. If I calculate correctly, there could also be enough space for 2 miniDIP switches to allow use to toggle video output between VGA, RGB and mono.
Opinions, anyone?
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