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Author Topic: M-Slot (MSX cartridge adapter) (Read 26042 times)

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #15 on: 2018.March.20. 19:50:36 »
The practice will give us the answer. If the MSX cartridges continue communicating at 8MHz, probably they will do the same at 10MHz.

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #16 on: 2018.April.02. 11:34:13 »
Today I have received the PCBs for the Bus Expander. I have almost all the parts to solder, so I am a step ahead.

There is a small challenge here, as I have never soldered SMD components. But they are big enough to manage them with my fat fingers and wearing magnifying glasses...

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #17 on: 2018.April.03. 12:11:05 »
The first almost complete:

Offline Zozosoft

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #18 on: 2018.April.03. 12:26:33 »
Where you find right size edge connectors?

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #19 on: 2018.April.03. 13:38:26 »
All are oversize, 72 and 100 pins, carefully hand tailored by me....

I cut one pair of contacts more of the 66 or the 74 needed, then I extract the two spare pins and block the hole with a piece of board and glue.

Also, on the other extreme of the connector I glue a little stick on the end of the groove, because the Enterprise cards are only 1mm longer than the last contact pad.

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #20 on: 2018.April.10. 10:53:30 »
But a new batch of 68 pin edge connectors have arrived from China at a very competitive price. They don't need to be trimmed, because the Enterprise expansion connector has extra space near the 33A/B pins.

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Offline Zozosoft

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #21 on: 2018.April.10. 10:58:05 »
Probably good idea solder the A34/B34 pins, then will no problem if you try to use with uncased motherboard.
(I also do it when using cutted connectors)

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #22 on: 2018.April.10. 11:04:42 »
Yes, thanks, I planed to do it, but was eager to show....


Offline Keith56

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #23 on: 2018.April.15. 23:55:16 »
It's great to hear of the possibility of the V9990 coming to the Enterprise!

I've been doing some V9990 development on the MSX for the V9990 version of my game, it's one heck of a GPU, and really turns an 8 bit system into one with  '16-bit' performance!

That said, I understand the questions about whether a "EP128+V9990 is still an EP"... the V9990 is very similar to the internal VPU of the MSX2, so it's a logical evolution on that system... other systems, it's kind of like turning them into a hybrid MSX

One problem I'm having on the CPC, none of the CPC Emulators currently support the V9990, which is a major limiting factor for me writing CPC+V9990 games.
Chibi Akuma(s) Comedy-Horror 8-bit Bullet Hell shooter for CPC - http://www.chibiakumas.com
Beginners guide to Mulltiplatform Z80 Assembly Programming...http://www.chibiakumas.com/z80

Offline pear

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #24 on: 2018.April.16. 06:52:12 »
It looks very promising :cool:
I am terribly sorry that I have only two hands.
While I'm working on the Dream Turbo Card, you can come up what the interface baseboard (how to call it ?) should look like for connecting extensions.
I have some idea in my head for a PCB in a standard format that matches to the ready, easily accessible casings (mini ITX ?).

For example, such a housing. I just bought for 10 EUR (included with the 300W power supply). Shock :shock:
« Last Edit: 2018.April.16. 08:12:58 by pear »

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #25 on: 2018.April.16. 11:41:12 »
Hello Pear!

I was not talking bad about you.... You are the only active(enthusiast) developer of specific Enterprise Hardware. You are making jewels, not only devices, for our loved machine....

I will continue with my 100x100mm bus expander prototype. It will give very cheap modular expansion, allowing chain connection of two or three bus expander cards, probably being one of them a two MSX slots card...

This is the new fixed main PCB design, ready to check and order:

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About a box, it is very soon for me to think about it, but those boxes are a very good option if they fit. The main problem are classic expansions measures.
 





Offline pear

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #26 on: 2018.April.16. 12:13:23 »
I see the main problem in that we do not have any standard (I mean dimensions of the cards).
The factory solution allowed to connect just one expansion card.
As far as I know, the bus for more cards was not factory solution.

Now, appeared possibility of use the cards available for CPC and MSX.
Question: Should we adapt to devices prepared for other platforms that are not quite compatible with EP (not only dimensionally), or create our own standard of cards ? (witch matching physical dimensions to currently available casings)

At the same time, we should consider how many cards we want to connect at the same time, so not to bring the situation as, for example, in the ZX Spectrum, where a tiny computer trail a long train of cards.

Currently, we have more technological possibilities than past and, in my opinion, building new devices according to the old formats and sizes of cards that hang behind the computer without housing, is at least inelegant.

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #27 on: 2018.April.16. 12:42:41 »
Enterprise Computers already made a bus expansion design, you can find it on Zozo's web page, Schematics section.

But I am following the Hungarian design because it is proven to work and because there are a number of expansion cards created for it.

The Hungarian project has 5 slots, I don't know if it works properly populated at full, Zozo can answer this.

On the other side, the original project had more protection to the computer bus, even adding terminators on the sixth slot of the chain.

I project to add at least a second three slots card, or a two MSX slots card. I can easily add terminators to the last slot if they are needed.

Offline gflorez

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #28 on: 2018.April.16. 12:46:41 »
Of course I prefer specific Enterprise expansion cards. With this knowledge now It is very easy for us to convert to Enterprise a MSX project.
« Last Edit: 2018.April.16. 12:53:58 by gflorez »

Offline pear

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Re: MSX slot
« Reply #29 on: 2018.April.16. 12:54:47 »
Yes, I know about it, but was it made at the factory or exists only a diagrams ? (someone has a manufactured bus ?)

Well OK. I will look for something else, maybe I will find some ready housing, which will match the existing cards a bit.
I just really don't like mechanical modifications and conceiving housings :oops: