Search found 11 matches

by cde
11 Feb 2021, 10:38
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: New vCPU instructions 2.0
Replies: 95
Views: 48142

Re: New vCPU instructions 2.0

Impressive work! Congratulations @at67 :)
by cde
03 Feb 2021, 16:22
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: Double your RAM:
Replies: 20
Views: 19145

Re: Double your RAM:

Thank you for the pointers at67, I have been able to modify my gigatron very easily; the modification is rather discreet.
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by cde
18 Nov 2020, 19:55
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: List of possible Gigatron mods
Replies: 14
Views: 10149

Re: List of possible Gigatron mods

Wow! That's a very comprehensive list. Thanks for taking the time to write it :-) I don't have much to add, all these seem like interesting ideas!
by cde
22 Sep 2020, 18:38
Forum: Kit assembly gallery
Topic: My Gigatron build
Replies: 10
Views: 10074

Re: My Gigatron build

... I found a 10-pin R2R 10K network on eBay which I believe will work by cutting off the extra 4 pins (7-10). I suspect that won't work since the last 2 pins are wired differently from the rest of the SIP. I also built one a while back out of discrete SMT resistors because I couldn't think of a be...
by cde
17 Sep 2020, 17:23
Forum: Kit assembly gallery
Topic: My Gigatron build
Replies: 10
Views: 10074

Re: My Gigatron build

Thanks, you're probably right. Anyway I have contacted Budgetronics and they have found a temporary solution for other Gigatron purchasers: they will provide a ladder based on discrete resistors (in a more compact fashion than mine), until the needed component gets back in stock.
by cde
16 Sep 2020, 17:24
Forum: Kit assembly gallery
Topic: My Gigatron build
Replies: 10
Views: 10074

Re: My Gigatron build

As I suspected it was indeed the DAC at fault. I desoldered the invalid part and replaced it with a resistor ladder I made based on the schematics and now the Tetronis music sounds as it should. For reference, music with invalid DAC part: https://imgur.com/a/T3ilK2p Gigatron with proper resistor-lad...
by cde
16 Sep 2020, 13:23
Forum: Kit assembly gallery
Topic: My Gigatron build
Replies: 10
Views: 10074

Re: My Gigatron build

Right, well anyway Budgetronics messed up and they provided an incorrect part for the DAC. They have provided a 6X-1-103LF, which is a simple resistor network whereas the correct part is the 4606X-R2R-103LF. Interestingly the 4606X-R2R-103LF is pretty rare and out of stock until at least december. I...
by cde
15 Sep 2020, 21:54
Forum: Kit assembly gallery
Topic: My Gigatron build
Replies: 10
Views: 10074

Re: My Gigatron build

Thanks Walter! By the way I just tested the Tetronis demo and the music seems really strange, much too high pitched. Then I tried Tetronis in the emulator, and heard the music as it should be. I had a look at the audio DAC with a multimeter and measures 10 KOhm for pins 2 3 4 5 but 5 KOhm for pin 6....
by cde
15 Sep 2020, 20:14
Forum: Kit assembly gallery
Topic: My Gigatron build
Replies: 10
Views: 10074

My Gigatron build

This build is based on the kit from BudgeTronics with the addition of: - low-profile DIL turned pin sockets for easier replacement of chips and attachment of logic probes (I noticed afterwards that two chips are 14-pin and not 16-pin. So I had to cut off the legs of two 16-pin sockets to make it wor...
by cde
14 Sep 2020, 12:16
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: Budgetronics through holes pins for a ZIF socket are too narrow
Replies: 4
Views: 3680

Re: Budgetronics through holes pins for a ZIF socket are too narrow

Thanks Walter, alastair. I had the idea of using a dremel to make the pins less wide. However something better came up: I found this ZIF socket https://cpc.farnell.com/aries/40-6554-10/40-pin-zif-socket/dp/SC06493 (ARIES 40-6554-10) which unlike the TEXTOOL has small pins that fit perfectly in the P...