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Post by mirkosoft on Apr 22, 2016 17:18:50 GMT
Hi boys! I found one man who wants create for C64 80 column card by scheme from Bil Herd. Why and how and who? I added to forum market Q if is possible to buy 80 Col. card... He was asking me if I have scheme, yes, Bil Herd published at C128.com two drawings. He wanted to look at I sent it him and he wants to create it and if it will be succesfull can produce them... He's from Czech Republic and now I can be at development. My dream: have 3rd desktop for C128 or 2 desktops for C64 - yes 3rd desktop - card has own video controller and output - output is RGBI -more about desktop: c128.com/commodore-c64-80-column-adapterOnly few things I need: On board photo is of controller VDC 8563, but in scheme is MC6545 - I found few links which redisrects me to MC 6845. Q is what will be available: Is MC 6545 (or 6845) socket compatible? Or even pinout compatible or it needs redesign? Thank you for understanding. Maybe this post looks stupid or so, but I'm hardware antitalent, Czech friend is hardware master... so maybe I have pink glasses, but why don't to try? Miro 89 112 |
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Post by mirkosoft on Apr 24, 2016 1:05:05 GMT
Looks like will be used other controller.
Update when will be sure which.
Miro
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Post by Pyrofer on Apr 25, 2016 15:19:06 GMT
It's super easy to make a VDC based plugin card for the C64/128. In fact I have now seen a photo of a prototype of the C64 card so I know it's as simple as I thought.
You just need the VDC, a clock source, DRAM and a couple logic chips, done.
Also, I am toying with the idea of making an FPGA VDC replacement that outputs at VGA frequency. I have a dev board on order and will start playing with getting it to work the same way the VDC does. The hope is I could make a drop in replacement like the SwinSID that turns it into a VGA frequency output (maybe have a connector on the plugin board to avoid modding the C128 mobo to allow the analogue signals out).
If I did this the chip could be used on your plugin card to avoid requiring lots of 30 year old VDC chips which are hard to get now. VGA would also be more useful as an output.
Any interest in such a thing?
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Post by mirkosoft on Apr 25, 2016 15:33:58 GMT
Hi!
Interesant, what a type of FPGA want you to use? I own Nexys4DDR, if you will make project it will be great to use with. I'm using with Nexys4DDR Mega 65 and Apple II.
Project status update:
As controller will be used HD63484 which is much more than VDC and much more than 80 column card.
Size of VideoRAM with this controller is up to 1MB.
Used interface will need to connect to HP-IB or CAN bus.
Also for DMA access will have own processor, currently not selected yet.
Currently we are talking about CBM2ISA - Commodore Expansion Port to ISA bus - this makes more possibilities than to single videocard.
Miro
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Post by Pyrofer on Apr 25, 2016 16:13:28 GMT
That chip is interesting. However, what do you intend to actually use to render the image?
Interestingly that chip looks like it might work in conjunction with the VDC. It seems it might be possible to use that to manipulate the VRAM and then have the VDC render it to screen.
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Post by mirkosoft on Apr 25, 2016 17:02:28 GMT
I mean it opens new graphics capabilities and it will be controlled with external processor, so at moment can 8502 work with other tasks. It removes for all known attribute clash, only simple limit there is:
Up to 1MB VideoRAM is not so easy to fill with data - CBM FS can work with 16MB file size, but if C128 has unexpanded 128K RAM - it must to load and store to VRAM, then next byte...
No all has SCPU with for this 1MB RAM, but really can be used mode with less requirements in data size.
For example our 8563 was used in Commodore 900 prototype first and had reserved 128K VDC-RAM, this allowed to display 1024x800 graphic mode.
In description of this controller is written possibility to work with 1600x1200 graphics, color graphics lower, but not for impossible display it, reason is memory costs - with so high resolution are memory costs higher.
In discussion is able to use this card also for other platforms - req'd is only interface, processor is in card...
Problem always stay in memory filling. But like VDC-RAM sometimes used as RAMdisk 64K or 48K, this VRAM can be RAMdisk 1MB large...
Miro
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Post by VDC 8x2 on Apr 25, 2016 21:43:45 GMT
[quote}For example our 8563 was used in Commodore 900 prototype first and had reserved 128K VDC-RAM, this allowed to display 1024x800 graphic mode.[/quote]
How is that possible when the address regs in the vdc are high/low 8 bit aka 64k max reference.
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Post by mirkosoft on Apr 26, 2016 1:40:33 GMT
This is for me unknown - in all 8563 was designed before was Commodore 128 released, Commodore 900 was computer developed in 1984 and cancelled, then was 8563 imported to C128...
Really I never saw working C900 - why? Only 2 working prototypes exists.
Miro
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Post by mirkosoft on May 18, 2016 15:51:32 GMT
Finally: NEWS about Commodore Videocard
Commodore 128 and 64 will have available VDC videocard with all possibilities same which VDC in C128 has.
For C128 users: New 3rd desktop or second VDC desktop
For C64 users: New in C64 area named 80 Column Card - will have all what is possible to do with VDC on C128 - so more than 80 Column Card
Features: (*not final)
Controller: MOS 8563 or MOS 8568 but in this stage will be 8563 chosen
VideoRAM: 64K
Output: RGBI-digital, composite monochrome/greyscale video*, maybe incl. converter to VGA
Interface: Expansion Port
Access: same as C28's VDC, other addresses
Target: Commodore 128, Commodore 64, maybe more platforms*
Production: current plan 12 cards
Future: is will be in demand, requires manufacturer and seller
For Qs send PM.
Miro
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Post by nonefornow on May 19, 2016 14:35:50 GMT
The schematics are date July 1983. So predating the release of the C128. As such it looks as if they were meant for the C64 and maybe adapted for the C128.?
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