[Coco] CoCo 3 FPGA?

[Joel Ewy]

Leonard wrote:
> Wow....now that's cool stuff!  A 50 Mhz coco!  The possibilities are endless
> it seems.
>
>   
Remember, I just pulled that number out of thin air, though I don't
think it's wildly unrealistic that an FPGA CoCo could someday run that
fast.  According to Gary's web site, he has it running at 6.25 MHz
which, while far from 50, is still a heck of a lot faster than any
"real" CoCo 3.

JCE

> Thanks for the info and I can't wait till the website is up so I can check
> this thing out.
>
> Leonard
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On
> Behalf Of Joel Ewy
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 9:16 PM
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCo 3 FPGA?
>
> Leonard wrote:
>   
>> Ok...I'll admit my ignorance, but I can over come it with questions?
>>     
> What's
>   
>> an FPGA and what will that mean for the hobbyist?  I think an FPGA is a
>>     
> CoCo
>   
>> on a chip?  Does that mean its more of an emulation then actual hardware?
>>   
>>     
> Leonard, this is sort of like emulation, but it is emulation implemented
> in programmable hardware, rather than emulation implemented in software
> running on a general purpose CPU.  So if the FPGA can be clocked at 50
> MHz (to pull a number out of the air) the processor can run at 50 MHz. 
> For all intents and purposes, this is real hardware.  But it is hardware
> that is programmable, and in some FPGAs, dynamically re-programmable
> while running.  So not only could it contain all the functionality of a
> CoCo 3, it could also be expanded to have Next-Generation CoCo
> features.  One could even leave a section of the logic free and
> implement all kinds of specialized algorithms in it, like
> encoding/decoding JPEG images in hardware, color quantization, floating
> point coprocessor, or whatever.
>   
>> Would this mean a CoCo that can run SVGA?  
>>
>>   
>>     
> It very well could.  Just depends on what Gary has put in there.
>   
>> Would this chip be for sale?
>>
>>   
>>     
> That all depends on Gary, of course!  :)  The chip itself is probably an
> off-the-shelf FPGA -- likely on an FPGA development board.  Those can be
> had for $100 - $???.  The development board would have everything you
> need to hook it up to a PC and program the logic array on the FPGA. 
> Some even have goodies like VGA and keyboard ports built in.  One might
> need to cook up a little custom hardware to attach CoCo peripherals. 
> The main issue is whether and on what terms Gary is willing to share his
> FPGA code.
>
> It's unlikely that anybody's going to sell a packaged FPGA CoCo system
> as a consumer product, though I'd love it if somebody proved me wrong
> here.  But as a do-it-yourself project where somebody supplies the FPGA
> code, and maybe an interface board or two, and you buy your own FPGA
> development board -- that is eminently possible.  And we may be closer
> to it than ever before...
>
> JCE
>   
>> Leonard
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com]
>>     
> On
>   
>> Behalf Of Shain Klammer
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:38 PM
>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>> Subject: Re: [Coco] A semi-real CoCo topic
>>
>> Hate, being a "me too" : )   but, I look forward to learning more
>> about this, especially what further plans you have (if any) - such as
>> adding other hardware and/or extensions...
>>
>> sk
>>
>> On 25/07/07, Rogelio Perea <os9dude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> Now you're talking!
>>>
>>> Second here in line for the website visit :-)
>>>
>>>
>>> -=[ Rogelio ]=-
>>>
>>>
>>> On 7/25/07, Jim Cox <jimcox at miba51.com> wrote:
>>>     
>>>       
>>>> Gary!
>>>>
>>>> Way cool.  I am looking forward to visiting you site.
>>>>
>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:26:32 -0500
>>>>   "Becker, Gary" <Gary.Becker at amd.com> wrote:
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>> FYI
>>>>>
>>>>> I have almost finished the COCO3 in a FPGA. I have run
>>>>> several of the
>>>>> demo programs on Sock Master's web site. Of course, I am
>>>>> having issues
>>>>> with Boink. But I have successfully booted into
>>>>> NitrOS-9.
>>>>>
>>>>> I will be setting up a web site soon with pictures and
>>>>> details.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gary
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
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