XCORES.ORG http://xcores.org/blog Open-Source Cores For XMOS MultiCore Processors Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:11:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 New XMOS Forum http://xcores.org/blog/2009/12/15/new-xmos-forum/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/12/15/new-xmos-forum/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:11:31 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=107 Just wanted to let everyone know about a great new forum started by Jason from XMOS. Have a look XCORE EXCHANGE and sign up!

Who knows, you might win a free devkit! w00t!

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/12/15/new-xmos-forum/feed/ 0 SparkFun releases XMOS prototype board http://xcores.org/blog/2009/11/06/sparkfun-releases-xmos-prototype-board/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/11/06/sparkfun-releases-xmos-prototype-board/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:06:10 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=95 Wow.. Has it really been a month already? Life’s been getting in the way it seems. On a more positive note though, lots of things happening. For one, SparkFun has released their own version of XMOS’ devboard. Here’s a pic and a link:

SparkFun Board

SparkFun XMOS Board

Meanwhile, Tony has been beavering away on the XMOS version of Manic Miner using my VDP core. Awesome stuff…

manic-miner-lvl-1

Hope to have some more news myself in the next couple of days. Just got back from a business trip and seem to have caught some sort of nasty flu.. Oink?

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/11/06/sparkfun-releases-xmos-prototype-board/feed/ 0 Back from the dead.. http://xcores.org/blog/2009/10/08/back-from-the-dead/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/10/08/back-from-the-dead/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:04:47 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=92 Or at least, that’s what it feels like after 9 flights in 6 days…

At least I’m back and should be able to get back to work in the next couple of days. Keep an eye out for new and exciting stuff coming down the pike soon! First things first, creating a VGA adapter for Martin :-)

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/10/08/back-from-the-dead/feed/ 0 VDP-NTSC http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/27/vdp-ntsc/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/27/vdp-ntsc/#comments Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:56:45 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=87 Been busy with work but I figured before I dash off I’d post the VDP-N core. Remind me to add some comments and stuff when I’m back :-)

VDP1-N

P.S. It needs an external 28.636mhz clock and an 8-bit (4-bit will actually do) R2R ladder.

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/27/vdp-ntsc/feed/ 1 Mario Redux http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/21/mario-redux/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/21/mario-redux/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:18:40 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=81 XMOS mario demo running in NTSC.

mario_ntsc

The aspect ratio is somewhat off because of the slightly higher frequency and the colors are 3 bits per component instead of 5. All in all though, kinda nifty to be able to generate NTSC video in software :-)

Lights out…

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/21/mario-redux/feed/ 1 PCB’s arrived! http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/17/pcbs-arrived/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/17/pcbs-arrived/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:56:32 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=74 First peek at my VGA adapter board..

vga adapter

Some serious doubts whether or not it was the right thing to go with SMT, but hey.. at least it’s compact, right? If anyone’s interested, drop me a line… On a sidenote, my NTSC core is close to being done! Only thing remaining is the vertical timing and integrating it with VDP1-N ( for NTSC ).

Now where was I…

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/17/pcbs-arrived/feed/ 0 Colorbars?! http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/13/colorbars/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/13/colorbars/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:33:43 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=68 colorbars

Colors are still somewhat saturated, but it looks like it’s all in working order! No vertical timing yet which is why my iPhone picked up some of the diagonal interference..

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/13/colorbars/feed/ 0 Timing is everything.. http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/12/timing-is-everything/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/12/timing-is-everything/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:11:36 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=64 Actually, that’s only half the story..

Been a while since I posted so I figured I’d give y’all a bit of an update. While I’m still waiting for my PCB’s and SMT parts I’ve been beavering away on an NTSC composite color core. I’ve got some color-bars showing up but still need to find the proper voltage levels, which seems to throw off some of the colors ( like yellow ). Maybe it’s because I’m using 5% tolerance resistors.. Meh, we’ll see… Ordered some 1% just in case though..

Anyway, if/when I get it to work it should be able to display 512 colors on-screen ( 3:3:3 ) which isn’t all that great, but if it was enough for Sega, it’s enough for me :-)

The nice thing though, is that all the encoding is done in software and saves you a chip! With my new goal being to create an NTSC game console on a single XS1-L, this should bring that one step closer to reality…

w00t!

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/12/timing-is-everything/feed/ 2 VDP1 Update http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/06/vdp1-update/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/06/vdp1-update/#comments Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:28:48 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=60 Quick update on VDP1:

- Replaced ‘mkmsk’ with ‘zext’ where possible
- Added VDP_CONTROL register to enable / disabled things
- Added HSRAM support for BG0/1, allowing you to scroll each background on a per line basis.
- Redefined some registers to be more consistent ( SPRITE / TILE )

The updated core is available here:

VDP1

Time permitting, I’ll see if I can knock-up a ‘proper’ sine-wave demo :-)

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/06/vdp1-update/feed/ 0 PCB’s ordered.. http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/05/pcbs-ordered/ http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/05/pcbs-ordered/#comments Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:26:05 +0000 Administrator http://xcores.org/blog/?p=48 Here’s a first look at the ‘VGA’ PCB for XC-2/5 boards. They’re rather tiny, measuring 1.9 inches across and should (famous last words) fit right onto port-1 or 3A/B. Each component has a 5-bit R2R ladder and the adapter can therefore display 32768 colors on-screen simultaneously! 1K/510ohm resistors give a bright enough display without exceeding the current capabilities of the XS1.

vga

Should get everything in the next week or so but realistically probably more something like 10 days. Stay tuned!

]]> http://xcores.org/blog/2009/09/05/pcbs-ordered/feed/ 4