Re: Theorizing: cloning CBM electronics with modern technology.

From: Claudio Sánchez - Tokafondo <tokafondo_at_gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2022 21:01:53 +0000
Message-ID: <1c5c6844-2e10-c5cb-0ea4-286baa018ffd_at_gmail.com>
> Am Dienstag, 22. März 2022, 18:13:04 CET schrieb Gerrit Heitsch:
>> On 3/22/22 17:47, ruud_at_Baltissen.org wrote:
>>> Hallo Claudio,
>>>
>>>> Recently, clones of the 1581 electronics have surfaced, and I wondered
>>>> about how much of the electronics can be put on FPGA/CPLD and what not.
>>>
>>> Just have a look at the Ultimate1541 and you have your answer: the
>>> sky is the limit.
>>> Personally I prefer projects without PLDs and/or FPGAs for various
>>> reasons:
>>> - most of the times it means SMD soldering and pins very very close
>>> to eachother
>>> - not everybody can program them and most probably the need socket
>>> converters
>>> - most of the newer CPLDs/FPGAs are non 5 Volt meaning voltage
>>> shifters are needed, thus extra parts, etc., etc., etc.
>>>
>>>> Can the standard PCB of a 1541 be replaced by a newer, designed from
>>>> scratch one, while maintaining hardware compatibility, when managing the
>>>> drive mechanism?
>>>
>>> Just two words: why not? Have a look what is needed to turn a 1541
>>>
>>> into a much better machine:
>>>      http://vic-20.de/x1541/hardware/petram.html
>>>
>>> What about adding 1 MB of SRAM and a SD interface? Load the RAM with
>>> the content of a floppy and loading a 200 block from RAM is a matter
>>> of seconds. (Sorry, I forgot the board that did that already in the
>>> '80s)
>>> Board size? when using a 1541, thus not the 1541-II, you have room
>>> enough for the extra goodies.
>>
>> And if you want to build the 1541 without any custom chips, take a look
>> at the old 1541 with the longboard or the Oceanic OC-168. That gets you
>> the basics, then just add whatever you need.
> 
> There is a big WHY? though - since it is the drive mechs and the heads in
> particular that are dying and which cant be replaced.
> 

Well... I'm working in the 1581BE: A case for the 1581 with the form factor of the breadbin. The original electronics can't be fitted inside but newer ones would be.

There is also this idea of the C64AE: A C64 with the form factor of an Amiga 500.

Just for fun
Received on 2022-03-22 22:05:05

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