Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 10, 2007, 06:29:18 PM
Post by: krfkeith on September 10, 2007, 06:29:18 PM
Hi
Alright let me just if this is succesful it will be the biggest thing to happen to this community in a long time, (i.e. since the creation of the NeXT itself!) Anway, the NewCube Projects goal is to recreate a NeXTcube using an FPGA. I have the details on this page: http://krfkeith.googlepages.com/mywebpage. I don't know any of the programming languages that you can use to program an FPGA but I do know you can use C to do it. Now before you say I am an idiot and that this will never happen, I will say that I already have on programmer. He is a member of this site and his username is Rhapsody Guru. The only snag that I know of is whether or not documentation exists for the custom chips inside of the NeXTcube. I said on the said about doing the dimension, but right now I am more worried about getting this to work. I based my iDeas (bad pun) off the MiniMig project (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimig). Just saying, a guy named Dennis did something similar with the Amiga in about a year by himself.
Thanks
Kevin
Alright let me just if this is succesful it will be the biggest thing to happen to this community in a long time, (i.e. since the creation of the NeXT itself!) Anway, the NewCube Projects goal is to recreate a NeXTcube using an FPGA. I have the details on this page: http://krfkeith.googlepages.com/mywebpage. I don't know any of the programming languages that you can use to program an FPGA but I do know you can use C to do it. Now before you say I am an idiot and that this will never happen, I will say that I already have on programmer. He is a member of this site and his username is Rhapsody Guru. The only snag that I know of is whether or not documentation exists for the custom chips inside of the NeXTcube. I said on the said about doing the dimension, but right now I am more worried about getting this to work. I based my iDeas (bad pun) off the MiniMig project (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimig). Just saying, a guy named Dennis did something similar with the Amiga in about a year by himself.
Thanks
Kevin
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: nextchef on September 10, 2007, 07:26:42 PM
Post by: nextchef on September 10, 2007, 07:26:42 PM
Is the mockup pic mentioned on the site not up yet, as I can not see it.
This seems like quite an undertaking, and I wish you luck with it.
Chef
This seems like quite an undertaking, and I wish you luck with it.
Chef
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 10, 2007, 08:06:15 PM
Post by: krfkeith on September 10, 2007, 08:06:15 PM
Thanks, I'm glad atleast one person supports me! Anyway anyone who knows C should email at krfkeith AT gmail DOT com for more info
Thanks
Kevin
Thanks
Kevin
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: korneluk on September 11, 2007, 02:51:28 AM
Post by: korneluk on September 11, 2007, 02:51:28 AM
I would like to see the proposed block diagram. I may be able to help with parts of the design.
-- josé k.
-- josé k.
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: cuby on September 11, 2007, 04:27:00 AM
Post by: cuby on September 11, 2007, 04:27:00 AM
You can actually describe, simulate and synthesize the hardware design in SystemC, which is a C++ compiler with specific header files/libraries for hardware design. However, designing hardware that can be synthesized (i.e., compiled into a VHDL or Verilog description that can then be loaded onto a FPGA) is quite a bit different than writing a standard C/C++ program.
Using a Coldfire as CPU is definitely easier than re-implementing the 68040 in an FPGA - I think the latest Coldfires from Motorola are quite close to the 68040/68060. One other interesting thing would be to use a Transmeta Crusoe and build a code morphing engine for 68040 code, but I suppose that's a yet bigger task...
Since one wants to run original NS/OS on the machine and probably use all NeXT peripherals, one of the hardest parts will be reverse engineering all the undocumented NeXT stuff (keyboard protocol if ADB isn't used, details of the DMA controller engine etc.). But this will also benefit a possible NeXT software emulator, so I really look forward to the project's progress...
-- cuby
Using a Coldfire as CPU is definitely easier than re-implementing the 68040 in an FPGA - I think the latest Coldfires from Motorola are quite close to the 68040/68060. One other interesting thing would be to use a Transmeta Crusoe and build a code morphing engine for 68040 code, but I suppose that's a yet bigger task...
Since one wants to run original NS/OS on the machine and probably use all NeXT peripherals, one of the hardest parts will be reverse engineering all the undocumented NeXT stuff (keyboard protocol if ADB isn't used, details of the DMA controller engine etc.). But this will also benefit a possible NeXT software emulator, so I really look forward to the project's progress...
-- cuby
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 11, 2007, 04:02:20 PM
Post by: krfkeith on September 11, 2007, 04:02:20 PM
Shoot!
So there's undocumented chips! How many?
So there's undocumented chips! How many?
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: korneluk on September 12, 2007, 04:30:13 PM
Post by: korneluk on September 12, 2007, 04:30:13 PM
Quote from: "krfkeith"Shoot!
So there's undocumented chips! How many?
Two ASICS. They were first manufactured by Fujitsu. The numbers are:
MB610313
9102 Y13
62.AC
MB600310
9102 Q72
63.AB
The Turbo machines have a later chipset manufactured by Motorola SPS (Semiconductor Products Sector) which is now Freescale Semiconductor.
The Motorola ASIC numbers are:
3580.00
SC38TG011CN04
UUAE9245
3582.00
SC38SG009CN01
UUJH9244
Does anybody have any contacts/friends in Freescale that can help them track down the specs for these ASICS?
-- jose k.
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 12, 2007, 04:34:59 PM
Post by: krfkeith on September 12, 2007, 04:34:59 PM
Thanks Korneluk, So where can I find a list of chips in it and their documentation?
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: korneluk on September 12, 2007, 06:45:32 PM
Post by: korneluk on September 12, 2007, 06:45:32 PM
Quote from: "krfkeith"Thanks Korneluk, So where can I find a list of chips in it and their documentation?
Look at the picture of the non-turbo 68030 cube motherboard. If someone can provide/find the specs for custom ASICS 3 and 4 then the custom NeXT FPGA project can proceed.
-- josé k.
Edit by Admin: Hosted image locally
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: nextchef on September 12, 2007, 07:12:44 PM
Post by: nextchef on September 12, 2007, 07:12:44 PM
Will the NRW documentation that someone here showed scans from be of any help in this? I understand that it is a different architecture, but is is possible that some of the info may be applicable to this. Does it have any info like, the old way we did it is this, but the new way is X.
Just thinking out loud
Chef
Just thinking out loud
Chef
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 12, 2007, 08:56:52 PM
Post by: krfkeith on September 12, 2007, 08:56:52 PM
I sent an email to freescale asking them for help. I gave them the chip numbers
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 14, 2007, 10:21:10 PM
Post by: krfkeith on September 14, 2007, 10:21:10 PM
The Ultimate NeXT:
Ariel QuintDSP Board
NeXTdimension with all upgrade
030 Cube Motherboard with Freescale 50 Mhz 68030
040 Turbo Cube with Fastest Freescale Coldfire with emulator
Slot Load DVD/CD-RW Drive
Perhaps the project will try to create that best :D
Ariel QuintDSP Board
NeXTdimension with all upgrade
030 Cube Motherboard with Freescale 50 Mhz 68030
040 Turbo Cube with Fastest Freescale Coldfire with emulator
Slot Load DVD/CD-RW Drive
Perhaps the project will try to create that best :D
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: emond on September 15, 2007, 08:02:52 PM
Post by: emond on September 15, 2007, 08:02:52 PM
Do you have some information about Ariel QuintDSP Board ???
Doc, Picture, other ?
JB
Doc, Picture, other ?
JB
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 15, 2007, 08:12:06 PM
Post by: krfkeith on September 15, 2007, 08:12:06 PM
Nope sorry, I just think they're cool! But anyway does anyone know where Verilog Programmers hang out?
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: korneluk on September 15, 2007, 09:23:48 PM
Post by: korneluk on September 15, 2007, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: "krfkeith"But anyway does anyone know where Verilog Programmers hang out?
I was a Verilog guy in a former life. Why do you ask?
-- josé k.
Title: NewCube Project
Post by: krfkeith on September 16, 2007, 11:29:07 AM
Post by: krfkeith on September 16, 2007, 11:29:07 AM
Well because you program FPGAs with Verilog or you can atleast since its an HDL (Hardware Description Language).