Search found 93 matches

by Sugarplum
14 Jul 2023, 06:00
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: SMD Version?
Replies: 9
Views: 3155

Re: SMD Version?

Thx. Interesting. But one would still need a licensed eagle version, because of the board size. I would not change the board dimensions and would keep exactly the same position of connectors and Rom/Ram socket. Just change 74 DIL to SMD parts, as well as all Rs and Cs and diodes. Only because then ...
by Sugarplum
27 Jun 2023, 19:40
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: Having a hard time to get started
Replies: 2
Views: 526

Re: Having a hard time to get started

Hey! I will try to answer some of the questions. The assembly part is done on a PC and is burned into a ROM. The ROM in this case, while it is used for storage for a few user applications, is not what is exposed to the user. The machine is a Harvard-based machine as opposed to the more common Von Ne...
by Sugarplum
01 Jun 2023, 00:54
Forum: Kit assembly gallery
Topic: Another Gigatron TTL in Finland
Replies: 15
Views: 10287

Re: Another Gigatron TTL in Finland

I had to try to make a DIY kit from budgetronics. Lack of skills probably didn't get it all working so ended up using it as spare. I ordered second one "Fully Assembled Gigatron TTL" from ebay and got it at reasonable price. When it arrived it was missing U39 serial input IC and another m...
by Sugarplum
22 Apr 2023, 20:00
Forum: Escape Meta Alt Control Shift
Topic: Beyond the Gigatron
Replies: 7
Views: 2929

Re: Beyond the Gigatron

Something else to consider would be if one wants to move beyond the Gigatron and still have compatibility with the Gigatron are alternatives to the GT1 format with new extensions. For instance, if one wants to use word RAM and move to a true 16-bit machine, one could use mostly the same format as th...
by Sugarplum
05 Jan 2023, 01:10
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: 10MHz, 12.5MHz and Beyond!
Replies: 45
Views: 53875

Re: 10MHz, 12.5MHz and Beyond!

I think I know mods to do to a near-stock Gigatron. The more I've thought about it, what would happen if we could get rid of the control unit and also combine that with the carry-skip adder, and all the performance mods that have already been done? The control unit outputs 19 signals. Now, what if y...
by Sugarplum
14 Dec 2022, 17:06
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: ROMv6!
Replies: 22
Views: 4321

Re: ROMv6!

I wish this project can continue. It sounds like an awesome ROM.
by Sugarplum
14 Dec 2022, 10:59
Forum: Escape Meta Alt Control Shift
Topic: Transferring GitHub repo ownership
Replies: 1
Views: 2030

Re: Transferring GitHub repo ownership

If worse comes to worst, clone it.
by Sugarplum
30 Nov 2022, 21:10
Forum: Escape Meta Alt Control Shift
Topic: Beyond the Gigatron
Replies: 7
Views: 2929

Beyond the Gigatron

I've thought of other ways to mod the Gigatron. For instance, with an I/O expander board, why not connect the ports to it and let it provide the keyboard, video, and sound? The ports could be repurposed in the ROM to send/receive commands to the expander/controller. So you can even emulate interrupt...
by Sugarplum
01 Oct 2022, 23:47
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: vCPU Questions and Necessary Details
Replies: 5
Views: 2852

Re: vCPU Questions and Necessary Details

Thank you Quertyface, this is helpful. I may still go ahead. I thank you for your honesty. The challenge is to provide all the functionality of the Gigatron without the native code and take advantage of an 8-cog P2. I honestly think it is possible. And if I pull that off, that would open the door to...
by Sugarplum
29 Sep 2022, 22:52
Forum: Hardware and software hacking
Topic: vCPU Questions and Necessary Details
Replies: 5
Views: 2852

vCPU Questions and Necessary Details

I don't know if I will make anything, but even if I don't, the information added here could help anyone who does. I've been considering making a machine that uses vCPU without the Gigatron. Using something such as the Propeller 2 microcontroller might be good since one has enough bandwidth and cores...