I got all my new SMD components yesterday and these puppies arrived a few minutes ago. I also got the SMD soldering paste and new desoldering braid for fixing mistakes.
Nice one Christopher, I have had to start from scratch and buy new solder station, microscope, programmer.. it's cost a fortune without any parts but it's going to be so much fun :)
ADR-Richard Yeah, I've pretty much committed now too based on what I've had to get. Luckily I had much of the things necessary already.
Unfortunately the one thing I don't have is an Amiga 500. All of my Amiga's and accessories were stolen and I haven't had the heart or cash to replace them. Anyway, now the hunt is on for an A500 NTSC that I can afford or barter for.
I'm having to wait as 99% of my parts is coming from China.. Did you order the 68000 socket that's in the BOM ? I assume this is just used as a riser for the board.
ADR-Richard no, I didn't. I sourced a better socket elsewhere, but I don't intend to use a socket for the part that plugs into the A500 motherboard. I've got some proper pin headers for that. I'm going to test two types, round and square. My biggest wait of course is the PCB's, luckily I got notice that they shipped already and I also used DHL (before TF warned about that) but I don't care because i'm not in the EU so I'm not subject to some ridiculous huge VAT or other duties on those. Hopefully they'll arrive this week and I'll be able to start assembling boards even before the rest of the parts arrive. I already do have all the SMD parts, the CPU sockets, the CPU's and the SRAM. It's the FPU, FPU sockets, and CPLD's I'm waiting on. The FPU doesn't really matter it can wait. But the CPLD's are a showstopper.
I think he removed it last week when he got upset and hasn't re-uploaded it. I certainly did see it on Github before but not on Dirtypcb's..
Loving the green socket for the IDE.. I'm going El'cheapo on mine and using pin strips :) gotta save some money somewhere, it's cost a fortune so far lol :) ..btw, what colour board did you choose ? (I went Yellow)
ADR-Richard at US $2.99 for 5 of those IDE headers, I splurged. ;') Besides, one of the first 5 boards will be mine so I'm going all out on the first few.
As for my colour choices, you'll have to wait for my final reveal. ;')
See what I mean about the '030's and the sockets? Yes, the plastic PGA '030 fits in the Ceramic '030 socket, but clearly the inverse won't be true.
Anyway, on the good news front, I'm now flush with 24MHz oscillators. Can't wait for the PCB's so I can get started. https://plus.google.com/photos/...
I thought my PCB's were here today but turned out to be my solder paste :( .. I see why you bought those green IDE headers now, that's the only color lol.. I wanted yellow :D
It's just a waiting game now, not looking forward to the soldering of the memory and xilinx chips though, never done anything like that before.
ADR-Richard Heh, I buy from alice.... all the time. They're my go to, low price, slow boat from China e-bay parts supplier. However, I ordered my recent ones from Amazon for speed reasons.
Not on EAB because I got too frustrated with the attitude on the vintage forums before I got to that one. Remember how one of these videos turned into a discussion of how angry and bitter so many vintage computer users seemingly are? That was what turned me off. Every time anyone tried to do something like Stephen is doing, they all jump in and start shouting about how it's a stupid idea, it won't work, blah blah blah already does it better etc. That's the very reason I started this community and regulate entry, so I can keep that sh!t out of here and promote a positive, encouraging, cooperative environment instead. But again, the vintage community is so stuck in their ways and opposed to change and new ideas, I can't hardly get people to even come here. Even TF won't join and he clearly already has a Google account. He even has a G+ account. .
I don't care. I intend to make this the best one stop resource for the TF530 period. I'll also do the same with any other projects I can get on board with working with me on it. In this case, TF is mildly cooperative and fortunately he's open sourced the whole thing so I don't actually need his participation to make this happen.
ADR-Richard cool, thanks for finding the re-locator!
Heh, me too. That's OK, I'm actually not interested in the TF540 until at least rev 2 which is when he said he'd consider putting IDE on it. I think without a drive interface an accelerator is much less attractive for most people these days. He's smart and careful about his design process though. Rev 1's focus will be getting the 040 up and running smoothly before complicating the design with other features. Anyway, that design process will give us a little time to hone our TF530 building skills. Oh well, the good news is by the time the TF540 rev 2 is ready for public consumption, we'll be old pros. ;')
SO today's mail haul brought in my IDE sockets and my FPU sockets. My PCB's are still tracking for early next week. Getting excited to get them now that I have most of the stuff to put on them.
Still the waiting game for me, I only have resistor network and ram so far. My PCB's were dispatched on the 13th, no sign of them yet. I'm impressed with the delivery speed of my IDE adapter, I ordered it last Sunday from China, it arrived yesterday. wish everything was that quick!. Those resistor networks are so tiny!. everything looked bigger in the YouTube videos :D
ADR-Richard no kidding about the size of the SMD parts! If you think those resistor networks are small, wait until the resistors and capacitors arrive.
For most of my parts I paid a little bit extra to get faster shipping (or in the case of the PCB's, a good bit extra). But didn't want to hold this process up for too long and have everyone lose interest. I am however going to break out shipping costs and tag any express prices so that people can compare based on parts prices, not shipping. For most people it will make more sense to just use regular/economy shipping and save the money since the whole point of this project is to make a low cost accelerator.
My Amiga ROM adapter came in today. This will allow me to program up a DiagROM when the time comes. I haven't taken an inventory yet, but I think I'm only waiting on the CPLD's now. Of course those are a bit of a showstopper. In better news, I got a really good deal on an A500. Mostly because it's going to need a lot of cleaning and possibly other work, but it was very reasonable so I can't complain. No mouse or PSU, but I'm going to use an ATX PSU anyway to eliminate power issues so no big deal there. Mouse I don't need to testing TF530's so that can wait. I should be rolling on these in a week or two. Plus I'll be able to get going on the spreadsheet this week so others can start analyzing it and deciding for themselves if it's worth building.
FINALLY! I got my CPLD's in the mail so now I can start building. Though at this point I'm considering building one board, testing it, and selling it and getting an order of R3 boards before I build any more. It depends how badly people want R2's. The only real downside to the R2 is the jumper wire and frankly I don't think that's a huge deal. We'll see.
Nice one Christopher, I have had to start from scratch and buy new solder station, microscope, programmer.. it's cost a fortune without any parts but it's going to be so much fun :)
ReplyDeleteADR-Richard Yeah, I've pretty much committed now too based on what I've had to get. Luckily I had much of the things necessary already.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the one thing I don't have is an Amiga 500. All of my Amiga's and accessories were stolen and I haven't had the heart or cash to replace them.
Anyway, now the hunt is on for an A500 NTSC that I can afford or barter for.
Today's mail brought in SRAM chips and '030 sockets. Big wheels keep on rollin'!
ReplyDeleteI'm having to wait as 99% of my parts is coming from China.. Did you order the 68000 socket that's in the BOM ? I assume this is just used as a riser for the board.
ReplyDeleteADR-Richard no, I didn't. I sourced a better socket elsewhere, but I don't intend to use a socket for the part that plugs into the A500 motherboard. I've got some proper pin headers for that. I'm going to test two types, round and square.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest wait of course is the PCB's, luckily I got notice that they shipped already and I also used DHL (before TF warned about that) but I don't care because i'm not in the EU so I'm not subject to some ridiculous huge VAT or other duties on those. Hopefully they'll arrive this week and I'll be able to start assembling boards even before the rest of the parts arrive. I already do have all the SMD parts, the CPU sockets, the CPU's and the SRAM. It's the FPU, FPU sockets, and CPLD's I'm waiting on. The FPU doesn't really matter it can wait. But the CPLD's are a showstopper.
With regards to the IDE (That's EYE-DEE-EEE!! ;') connectors I went a different route as well.
ReplyDeleteebay.ca - Details about 5Pcs Green 3.5" IDE Hard Drive 39 Pin Male Shrouded Header Connector For Desktop
When complete my boards will be identifiably unique for several reasons. I won't spoil it until the reveal of the first complete one.
ReplyDeleteADR-Richard hey, where did the 68000 socket re-locator boards go? I can't find the link anywhere anymore.
ReplyDeleteI think he removed it last week when he got upset and hasn't re-uploaded it. I certainly did see it on Github before but not on Dirtypcb's..
ReplyDeleteLoving the green socket for the IDE.. I'm going El'cheapo on mine and using pin strips :) gotta save some money somewhere, it's cost a fortune so far lol :) ..btw, what colour board did you choose ? (I went Yellow)
ADR-Richard at US $2.99 for 5 of those IDE headers, I splurged. ;') Besides, one of the first 5 boards will be mine so I'm going all out on the first few.
ReplyDeleteAs for my colour choices, you'll have to wait for my final reveal. ;')
See what I mean about the '030's and the sockets? Yes, the plastic PGA '030 fits in the Ceramic '030 socket, but clearly the inverse won't be true.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, on the good news front, I'm now flush with 24MHz oscillators.
Can't wait for the PCB's so I can get started.
https://plus.google.com/photos/...
I'm pretty sure the missing pins are just part of the MMU, so no worry with that. That's the sockets I purchased.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if you are on EAB but Stephen also suggested using these as sockets ebay.com - Details about 3PCS Strip Tin PCB Female IC Breakable 40pin Single Row Round Header Socket
I thought my PCB's were here today but turned out to be my solder paste :( .. I see why you bought those green IDE headers now, that's the only color lol.. I wanted yellow :D
It's just a waiting game now, not looking forward to the soldering of the memory and xilinx chips though, never done anything like that before.
ADR-Richard Heh, I buy from alice.... all the time. They're my go to, low price, slow boat from China e-bay parts supplier. However, I ordered my recent ones from Amazon for speed reasons.
ReplyDeleteNot on EAB because I got too frustrated with the attitude on the vintage forums before I got to that one. Remember how one of these videos turned into a discussion of how angry and bitter so many vintage computer users seemingly are? That was what turned me off. Every time anyone tried to do something like Stephen is doing, they all jump in and start shouting about how it's a stupid idea, it won't work, blah blah blah already does it better etc.
That's the very reason I started this community and regulate entry, so I can keep that sh!t out of here and promote a positive, encouraging, cooperative environment instead. But again, the vintage community is so stuck in their ways and opposed to change and new ideas, I can't hardly get people to even come here. Even TF won't join and he clearly already has a Google account. He even has a G+ account. .
I don't care. I intend to make this the best one stop resource for the TF530 period. I'll also do the same with any other projects I can get on board with working with me on it. In this case, TF is mildly cooperative and fortunately he's open sourced the whole thing so I don't actually need his participation to make this happen.
I have found the re-locator board on Github, but it's not on dirtypcb's yet. github.com - breakout
ReplyDeleteI hope I get my 530 built before the release of the 540 lol..
ADR-Richard cool, thanks for finding the re-locator!
ReplyDeleteHeh, me too. That's OK, I'm actually not interested in the TF540 until at least rev 2 which is when he said he'd consider putting IDE on it. I think without a drive interface an accelerator is much less attractive for most people these days. He's smart and careful about his design process though. Rev 1's focus will be getting the 040 up and running smoothly before complicating the design with other features.
Anyway, that design process will give us a little time to hone our TF530 building skills.
Oh well, the good news is by the time the TF540 rev 2 is ready for public consumption, we'll be old pros. ;')
SO today's mail haul brought in my IDE sockets and my FPU sockets. My PCB's are still tracking for early next week. Getting excited to get them now that I have most of the stuff to put on them.
ReplyDeleteStill the waiting game for me, I only have resistor network and ram so far. My PCB's were dispatched on the 13th, no sign of them yet. I'm impressed with the delivery speed of my IDE adapter, I ordered it last Sunday from China, it arrived yesterday. wish everything was that quick!. Those resistor networks are so tiny!. everything looked bigger in the YouTube videos :D
ReplyDeleteADR-Richard no kidding about the size of the SMD parts! If you think those resistor networks are small, wait until the resistors and capacitors arrive.
ReplyDeleteFor most of my parts I paid a little bit extra to get faster shipping (or in the case of the PCB's, a good bit extra). But didn't want to hold this process up for too long and have everyone lose interest. I am however going to break out shipping costs and tag any express prices so that people can compare based on parts prices, not shipping. For most people it will make more sense to just use regular/economy shipping and save the money since the whole point of this project is to make a low cost accelerator.
My Amiga ROM adapter came in today. This will allow me to program up a DiagROM when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteI haven't taken an inventory yet, but I think I'm only waiting on the CPLD's now. Of course those are a bit of a showstopper.
In better news, I got a really good deal on an A500. Mostly because it's going to need a lot of cleaning and possibly other work, but it was very reasonable so I can't complain. No mouse or PSU, but I'm going to use an ATX PSU anyway to eliminate power issues so no big deal there. Mouse I don't need to testing TF530's so that can wait.
I should be rolling on these in a week or two. Plus I'll be able to get going on the spreadsheet this week so others can start analyzing it and deciding for themselves if it's worth building.
FINALLY!
ReplyDeleteI got my CPLD's in the mail so now I can start building.
Though at this point I'm considering building one board, testing it, and selling it and getting an order of R3 boards before I build any more. It depends how badly people want R2's. The only real downside to the R2 is the jumper wire and frankly I don't think that's a huge deal. We'll see.