harshbarj
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Posts posted by harshbarj
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I'm still working on building a computer based off the z80. I'm now to the point were I want to get a video card. I have decided I want to use a second z80 CPU on the video card to take some of the burden off the main CPU. The question is how do I have the two cpu's talk to eachother? I was thinking of setting aside a few k of ram for video memory but if I do that how the heck will the z80 on the video card be able to read that memory (as reading that memory is all it will need to do, while the main CPU will need to read/write to the same memory). Would it be best to have ram on the videocard and find a way of writing to that? (if that can even be done)
Sadly the memory is the last stumbling block. With only 64k I can't do much (I really want to find a mmu for it to solve that problem, but no luck yet). I figure 4k ROM and 2k for video should leave me with ~58k depending on how I have to split the memory (not sure if I can set memory up like that yet). Once I get the memory figured out I'm ready to build the first prototype :-D
I already have the ps/2 keyboard / mouse all figured out(will use a microcontroller for those to keep the CPU free for other tasks). I have a good idea on the sound card (going with a Yamaha chip from an old sound blaster). The hard drive will be simple to do(thinking of using an old 32MB cf card, or I do have an old 8-bit ide 80mb hdd in the garage) as will the floppy drive.
I think version 2 will use a z180 as it can use 1mb of ram :shock: and is still being sold on jameco.
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I just found my problem and it was my own doing.
I had updated and re-compiled LastFmLookup to use their 1.2 protocol last night, not realizing the CF7 release zip *does not* include the CF7 source... it has the original 7.4.0 source still. So my re-compiled version was back to using the bugged getStationName function among other things which had since been fixed, which was causing it not to work any longer.
Whoever packaged the CF7 full zip should update the source in it as well. :P
glad to hear it. Sadly this pandora thing is not a simple "install and run" anymore. setting up a second system now
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Works for me. After nearly a week of trying :oops: .
just because you can't get it to work dose not mean others can't.
Follow the instructions below and it will work
http://www.hak5.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6014[/code]
However I do agree another jar file is needed (shame I don't know java :cry: )
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I use the tried and true combo of cain + ethereal. Not the best tools but simple to use and they do get the job done. Just don't stick around long.
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Still alive and working.
What’s done
Power control circuit (was harder than it sounds)
Bus (could still get a few changes but I feel it's done)
What I'm working on now
ps/2 keyboard (sounds simple)
ps/2 mouse (even simpler I think :? )
What has yet to be though about
video card
sound card
any programming
I am going to build this as an atx board(the first prototype will be just a collection of boards). It will use a standard atx case and power supply. The main board will have the processor and the ps/2 ports plus any serial / parallel ports I decide to include(might just stick with the atx standard of 2 serial and 1 parallel).
I'd like the full 64k of ram but I'm not sure how to do this. I know I'm going to need some rom and that will eat into the 64k(thinking 8k rom will be enough). Also what about video memory? can a card have it's own dedicated ram and have no effect on system ram (really thinking of a z80 based video card).
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I have nearly the same system. I have a thermaltake 470w and it's not enough. It ran ok for 2 years but now when I fire up bf2 or simcity 4 I can hear high pitched noises coming from the psu. I have monitored the rails with a multimeter and have seen the 5v rail move by as much as 8% (the 12v seem solid at only ~3% movement). I have also had it bluescreen a few times in 3d games (looking to build a new system in ~30 days so I don't care if it cooks).
Either my system needs more than 470w or coopers idea of "weight = quality" is wrong .
System
Athlon 64 3500+
msi motherboard
ATI x1900gt pci-e
1x raptor 74gb
1x wd 120gb 7200rpm 8mb cache ide
16x dvd-rw
1.5gb ddr
thermaltake atx psu (only 1 12v rail :cry: )
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Pictures?
Of what? So far I only have a huge pile of parts and a small book full of notes. Once I have a prototype I'll post pictures (remember prototypes are rarely pretty).
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I'm almost to the point of the first prototype but have hit a snag at the video card. I really want a true card with it's own ram and such but whats the best way to do this? I'm thinking about making the video card a z80 based device on it's own (to do 320X200x16 or even full 480i/p at 256).
For now I may just use a 40x4 lcd as they are simple to program and can run off a serial port. Once I finish the schematic I'll post it (perhaps another week, still finding errors).
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Thanks. I'll look these over tonight.
I'm hoping for a system like the one linked to below.
http://www.retroleum.co.uk/z80-v3project.html
And here is the video of the final output he got (simply amazing for a home built system with only 64k of ram. looks on par with the c64)
Video demo
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/p.ruston/2MBboing_with_sound.avi
Version 1 of my system will be basic.
#1. No sound
#2. Simple text only output (likely to be on a 40x4 lcd)
#3. simple keypad (or a ps/2 keyboard if i can get the parts)
It will be built in a way that adding sound and better video will be as simple as dropping in a new card and re-flashing the rom. Figure I can get my hands on 8-bit isa sockets cheap so I'll use that for a bus (why re-invent the wheel) but it will not be pin compatible to the pc isa bus.
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Perhaps a third option should have been added for "I don't own an ipod".
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I'm in the process of building a z80 based computer and just wondered if anyone here knows of a good source for z80 asm tutorials or any other online help? I already program in several versions of basic and have been programming in c++ for about 2 years.
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ps3 all the way. I't the only true next-gen system that's going to be out. The 360 has most of the hardware but is still running on dvd while the ps3 will run blu-ray (a next gen disc format) while the wii's only real advance is the controller(wow :? ). As I want a hd player as well it's the best choice.
System Specs
in Questions
Posted
get ready for a long post
Primary rig
Intel core 2 duo e6300
gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6
2gb ddr2 800mhz (1gb * 2)
ati x1900gt 256mb
raptor 74gb
wd 7200rpm , 8mb cache 120gb hdd (ide)
16x dvd-rw dl (ide)
Second rig
AMD athlon 64 3500+
unknown mb (I can't recall)
1gb pc 3200 ram (512mb * 2)
x850xt 256mb
20gb 4200rpm 2mb cache (ide)
asus 52x cd-rom (ide)
8x dvd-rw (ide)
Third rig
AMD Athlon XP 2000+
abit an7
1gb pc 3200 ram (512mb * 2)
ati radeon 9800 128mb
8gb wd 4200rpm (ide)
32x cd-rom (ide)
Fourth rig
AMD Sempron 2600+
(unknown mb)
nvidia fx5200 64mb
512mb pc 2100 ram (256*2)
6gb wd 4200rpm (ide)
unknow cd-rom (ide)
unknown dvd (ide)
fifth rig
Dell dimension l400c
Intel Celeron 533
128mb pc 100 ram
6gb hdd
integrated everything
used for dos games (those that don't run in dosbox)
Laptops
IBM Thinkpad a31
pentium 4m 1.6ghz
512mb ddr 266mhz
radeon 7500 16mb vram
20gb hdd
floppy
dvd-rom
HP l2000 (lance armstrong edition)
amd turion 64 ml-32
1gb ddr ram
80gb hdd
ati xpress 200m graphics
HP Pavilion ZV6000
athlon 64 3000+ (desktop version)
512mb ddr ram
100gb hdd
ati xpress 200m graphics
Old systems
commodore 64
commodore128
trs-80 model 4
Have more I could add but I don't use those computers anymore.