Project of Megachip for Amiga
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Tuxbar81
Well-known member
Hello everyboby!
Before everything, I hope that you had good time for the Christmas time!
I wish you also an happy new year 2019.
I know that some of you are waiting since a very long time for news about my Megachip. So, it's time for some news!
2018 was a special year for me with a new position at my job which has been a really big evolution... and a significant workload. We have also bought an appartment for our son who has begun is studies in game design in an another town. We had a big renovation work to make this apartment a cosy little home! These are the reasons of my long absence here.
And now, news about the Megachips!
All Megachips of the last lot seemed to be defective. This lot has been assembled with the new pcb design and new cpld. Among the issues, there was a probleme of contacts between the pins soldered onto the Megachip and the connector soldered at the place of the plcc socket onto the A500 motherboard. I changed this connector, but, due to its poor quality, I had to changed it again for something different.
I have used the IDC connector like the one which is used onto an another megachip which is also for sale here.
With this perfect connexion, the lot of Megachips were always defective. I have changed the cpld... no evolution, always a green boot screen. :-(
I have suspected also the motherboard. So, I changed the mods of the jumpers and I have made an adaptator to use the original AGNUS with the IDC connector. As the Amiga has shown me its beautiful Kickstart screen, the problem was elsewhere.
The only difference was the new pcb design. After a check onto Kicad, I have found a short circuit between a via and a track.
After having cutted this connexion, the test was successful! It's strange that Kicad didn't detect this error in the routage by itself. I had to force the detection with its debug tool.
So, I have installed the very first Megachip I made onto an another A500 Rev6a. I soldered it directly onto the motherboard. I soldered also my Automatic Kickstart Switcher onto the motherboard, and finally, I have modified the CPU relocator designed by my friend Gseb for installing a CSA Mega Midget Racer accelerator. With this modification, the accelerator is now located to the back of the case, but onto the left and not onto the right. This nice configuration is running with the external A590 HD.
The next step is to install WB3.1 onto an another partition of the HD and to make an automatic selection between WB1.3 & WB3.1 by detecting the Kickstart version.
This is a good demonstration of the goal of this Megachip. In fact, my first idea was to allow the use of other expansions directly into the A500 case. And without any modification of the case.
Next step? Since I have determined the issue, the sending of the Megachips will be finally able to start! Let the New Year's night pass, and then, I'll send PM for the assembled Megachips.
I'm also going to prepare kits for members who want to assemble the Megachip by themselves.
Below, some pictures of my Megachip installed onto an A500 with the Kickstart Switcher, the CSA accelerator board and the A590 HD:
I have a lot for PM to read, and also posts into this thread. I'll try to answer to everyone.
Voilà!
I wish you all a very happy New Year's Eve!
Franck.
Before everything, I hope that you had good time for the Christmas time!
I wish you also an happy new year 2019.
I know that some of you are waiting since a very long time for news about my Megachip. So, it's time for some news!
2018 was a special year for me with a new position at my job which has been a really big evolution... and a significant workload. We have also bought an appartment for our son who has begun is studies in game design in an another town. We had a big renovation work to make this apartment a cosy little home! These are the reasons of my long absence here.
And now, news about the Megachips!
All Megachips of the last lot seemed to be defective. This lot has been assembled with the new pcb design and new cpld. Among the issues, there was a probleme of contacts between the pins soldered onto the Megachip and the connector soldered at the place of the plcc socket onto the A500 motherboard. I changed this connector, but, due to its poor quality, I had to changed it again for something different.
I have used the IDC connector like the one which is used onto an another megachip which is also for sale here.
With this perfect connexion, the lot of Megachips were always defective. I have changed the cpld... no evolution, always a green boot screen. :-(
I have suspected also the motherboard. So, I changed the mods of the jumpers and I have made an adaptator to use the original AGNUS with the IDC connector. As the Amiga has shown me its beautiful Kickstart screen, the problem was elsewhere.
The only difference was the new pcb design. After a check onto Kicad, I have found a short circuit between a via and a track.
After having cutted this connexion, the test was successful! It's strange that Kicad didn't detect this error in the routage by itself. I had to force the detection with its debug tool.
So, I have installed the very first Megachip I made onto an another A500 Rev6a. I soldered it directly onto the motherboard. I soldered also my Automatic Kickstart Switcher onto the motherboard, and finally, I have modified the CPU relocator designed by my friend Gseb for installing a CSA Mega Midget Racer accelerator. With this modification, the accelerator is now located to the back of the case, but onto the left and not onto the right. This nice configuration is running with the external A590 HD.
The next step is to install WB3.1 onto an another partition of the HD and to make an automatic selection between WB1.3 & WB3.1 by detecting the Kickstart version.
This is a good demonstration of the goal of this Megachip. In fact, my first idea was to allow the use of other expansions directly into the A500 case. And without any modification of the case.
Next step? Since I have determined the issue, the sending of the Megachips will be finally able to start! Let the New Year's night pass, and then, I'll send PM for the assembled Megachips.
I'm also going to prepare kits for members who want to assemble the Megachip by themselves.
Below, some pictures of my Megachip installed onto an A500 with the Kickstart Switcher, the CSA accelerator board and the A590 HD:
I have a lot for PM to read, and also posts into this thread. I'll try to answer to everyone.
Voilà!
I wish you all a very happy New Year's Eve!
Franck.
Last edited:
a500guy
New member
Hi Tuxbar I declared interest back in Feb 2018 and sent a PM but will need an 8375 Agnus..I can't find one anywhere. I know it was a busy year just wanted to make sure my PM was not deleted by accident.
Thank you
Last edited:
Tuxbar81
Well-known member
Megachip for dallyis posted today morning.
PM sent with tracking informations.
Received top class product as always, positive feedback left
Glad to hear that you've received your Megachip!
Thanks a lot for your kind feedback!
Positive feedback also left.
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Hi a500guy, I didn't deleted any new PM since I was absent here. I have to read all of them, and also answer! Big job!
So, don't be worry, yours is always in the PM box!
Best regards,
Franck
Tuxbar81
Well-known member
Hi ramparts,
Actually, if I don't make mistake, you're not into the table of the first post.
I look at my PMs and I contact you in the week-end. I'm sorry, I have a lot of PMs to read... and to answer!
Best regards,
Franck
Tuxbar81
Well-known member
As I'm trying to update the table, I'd like to know if you are still interested. ;-)
- - - Updated - - -
Table updated. If you have declared your interest and I have forgotten you, please PM me with the number of the post where you declared your interest. Thanks a lot.
- - - Updated - - -
Hi José,
Okay, sorry for my mistake. I have added you into the table !
Best regards,
Franck
- - - Updated - - -
PM sent to Miru (1 unit), Juzz (1 unit) & heldma1n (4 units).
a500guy
New member
Hello Tuxbar I sent you a PM about my order I would like to include the Agnus with my order. It is impossible for me to find 2MB Agnus
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