Search found 7 matches

by GigaMike
17 Jun 2020, 02:47
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: New form factor Gigatron.
Replies: 9
Views: 9753

Re: New form factor Gigatron.

While I don't do PCB layout for a living, I have created a number of densely packed boards when I creating breakout boards for Atmel microcontrollers. The smallest component was 0603 for hand-soldering. And I know exactly what you mean about moving traces 1 or 2 mil just to fit in another trace for ...
by GigaMike
14 Jun 2020, 19:38
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: New form factor Gigatron.
Replies: 9
Views: 9753

Re: New form factor Gigatron.

I started the PCB layout in Eagle. It is quite challenge to get everything to fit into 100mm x 100mm even with 4 layer PCB and components end up on both sides. This size is important because several companies have specials at this price for low volume. However I have not made further progress and th...
by GigaMike
11 Feb 2020, 17:21
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: Modified Gigatron Design Ideas
Replies: 57
Views: 53794

Re: dual core Gigatron CPU

I agree with the separation of the ideas because they probably will have different solutions. But why not continue to use this forum instead of yet another place?
by GigaMike
26 Jan 2020, 06:47
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: Modified Gigatron Design Ideas
Replies: 57
Views: 53794

Re: Opcode mods

For experimentation you can use a PLD such as the ATF22V10C which can get down to 10 or even 5ns. Then once you are satisfied you can convert to TTL and diode logic. You will need two of these chips as Gigatron has so many output control signals. The inputs to both chips can be commoned as you only ...
by GigaMike
23 Jan 2020, 21:52
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: Gigatron optimisation for a lite version?
Replies: 11
Views: 11101

Re: Gigatron optimisation for a lite version?

I am fairly new to Gigatron. But what strikes me the most about this project is that the design has ended up with something that is actually useful and performant within its constraints of being a 8-bit computer based on TTL chips. The real question is what are you trying to achieve without an ALU? ...
by GigaMike
22 Jan 2020, 05:00
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: Pluggable control unit
Replies: 1
Views: 3344

Pluggable control unit

What I love about the Gigatron is the software tools. The ability to write real code (basic or whatever) and see it run. This is so much better than the labor intensive method of entering machine instructions into RAM or ROM. But this all assumes the fixed instruction set of today. Has anyone though...
by GigaMike
22 Jan 2020, 04:34
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: New form factor Gigatron.
Replies: 9
Views: 9753

Re: New form factor Gigatron.

I am new to Gigatron. This is an interesting thread. I am appended to it because I am looking at monsonite's Eagle CAD files. I am very familiar with Eagle. First I had to fix a number of problems and issues on the Gig_14 version. It would be helpful if Monsonite can verify that he did the same thin...