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eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:13 pm
by PeterJ
Post updated on 06/05/21 by PeterJ at request of
@SamC
Hello,
Jan Kucera has let me know (via
@SamC) about a new Computer / Motherboard replacement which is in development.
The website is here:
https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/home
and the first draft of the manual is here:
https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/docs
The following links provide some more detail (translated)
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... %23p120592
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... %23p120622
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... %23p120666
Juan is now a member so I'm sure he would be happy to answer any questions
From the website:
eLeMeNt ZX is a powerful ZX Spectrum hardware clone, a new motherboard that in all-in-one solution brings the functionality of a large number of hardware, system add-ons and higher CPU speeds. This device is designed to fit into ZX Spectrum +2 and +2A models' case and this way use also their excellent keyboards. The eLeMeNt ZX is based on a combination of a modern and fast FPGA and the real Z80 CPU to achieve the best compatibility with all ZX Spectrum's software and as well as hardware add-ons and interfaces. Moreover, in order to get some additional new features and a CPU speeds higher than 20MHz, the real Z80 CPU can be switched off and replaced by a FPGA version. The eLeMeNt ZX is my personal and hobby project with the aim of exploring, discovering and testing possibilities of old and renewed ZX Spectrum home computers with a hardware originally based on 8bit technology - therefore it is not intended for commercial purposes. The development is still in progress.
Pricing
Now are the boards available only in the official e-shop
https://retrocomp.cz/produkt?id=62
Since this is a hobby project without a standard warranty, I cannot provide a full guarantee on the FPGA board. For this reason, I recommend that you buy the Alchitry Au Artix-7 FPGA Board directly from official retailers. Here are some of them: Digi-Key Electronics - Mouser Electronics
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 6:38 pm
by SamC
Just a few notes:
The eLeMeNt ZX is unique in that it can faithfully, at 100 percent, display timings of various Spectrum models (including Pentagon) via a digital video.
It does not compete with the SpecNext, does not have a sprites-based gaming video subsystem... but... e.g. it has fixed a development gap and ads attributes to plain HiRes (512*192).
It can combine a world of east-european TRD-based software with the esxDOS. Pentagon on esxDOS
It is aimed on active Spectrum users, very open for future projects, incl. SPI, I2C, GPIO devices (pin rows are already on the board).
It should fit also into shortened cases:
We are looking for a manufacturer of spare cases and keyboards...
At least one case replacement is available:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2923184
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:01 pm
by lister_of_smeg
[mention]TomD[/mention] Is this your design?
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement in development
Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:06 pm
by PeterJ
[mention]SamC[/mention], is there anyway this could be produced with just a PS/2 Keyboard socket like the N-Go and just a clear plastic case option. The +2 is not a housing that appeals to me.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:16 pm
by TomD
Yeah
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:13 pm
by SamC
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 5:59 am
by SamC
New videos demonstrating exact, precise timings, graphics effects and sounds, recorded through the eLeMeNt's digital video output.
Hires border of Pentagon>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fBJvOcZPgw
TurboSound music>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82b9ZQLmFAw
Multicolor (timings) and border effect>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKfAYiYtSA
"SID positive" tune>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKfAYiYtSA&t=239s
Turbosound FM playing S98 tunes>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83XF3gmrVOM
Multicolor and Z80-DMA effects>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jK-_xqcxk
The last video also uses the gigascreen mode. The eLeMeNt ZX provides three hardware gigascreen modes (mixed video RAMs, mixed video frames and autodetection mode). These can be switched by users on the fly as well as speeds of the Z80CPU or machines' timings.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 9:48 am
by Pegaz
This S98 music is really great, I didn’t know Spectrum could play this format.
Can you provide a disc image with s98 music from the video you posted ?
btw, is the Pentagon 1024 mandatory or can it work on other models with less memory?
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 10:41 am
by SamC
Pegaz wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 9:48 am
Can you provide a disc image with s98 music from the video you posted ?
I know only versions of SID and S98 players the author prepared for the LMN's hardware.
These are in downloadable SD-archives on
http://128land.com/
The original threads might be found on the zx-pk.ru forums...
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2021 2:50 pm
by SamC
Especially for those who do not have free ZX+3/+2A keyboards, a PC keyboard support is added.
More details and the layout of mapped keys are given in the ProgRef manual:
https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/docs
Another news is that the eLeMeNt ZX begins to share some ZXi ports with ZX-Uno.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2021 3:12 pm
by PeterJ
Great news @SamC
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:08 pm
by SamC
eLeMent ZX core continues to merge the two worlds of western and eastern ZX-hardware.
Now it came to a SD-slot of the
Z-Controller.
IMHO the best programs with a ZC support are
Wild Player and
Wild Copier.
Software no longer needs to be patched for the divmmc.
Both SD slots are available in esxDOS, at the same time you can assign a ZC card slot to one of them.
You can load TRD software with the esxDOS, these programs access the Z-Controller SD card directly.
Thanks in advance for the tips on more interesting software or hardware!
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 10:42 am
by SamC
eLeMeNt ZX has just got the Overclock
- from the real 20 MHz up to (real) 30 MHz
- ROM system can be speeded up to 28 MHz
- switchable on-the-run through the Extra button and number keys in the Spectrum Mode (or with an external keyboard attached)
5 - OverClock mode 22MHz
6 - OverClock mode 28MHz - 1T-state delayed in ROM area
7 - OverClock mode 28MHz - for RAM only software
8 - OverClock mode 30MHz - for RAM only software
If turned on also in SetUps´s Diagnostics settings, the big (outer frame of) border will be colored according to the set speed.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:45 pm
by SamC
The fabulous
SID was added to the FPGA core. Currently one SID is supported.
ZXi ports available for all SID registers and new, OLD6581/NEW8580/PAL/NTSC settings.
https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/home
This brought not only a more convenient PSID-files emulation, but it is also an important step towards a native Z-80 player for SID tunes.
Download demonstration software (NSID player) from
https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/download and
https://zxfiles.samcoupe.cz/zxmb03.php
Code: Select all
ZXi assigned ports
27707 h6C3B select SID Control Register
27963 h6D3B read/write selected SID Control Register
SID registers
h00-h1C = original SID registers
h1F = SID type and frequency
h20 = more SIDs
SID parameters
The eLeMeNt ZX and MB03+ use FPGA implementation of SID that can switch type with related filters.
h1F = select SID parameters
bit 0 = SID type: 0-6581; 1-8580
bit 1 = frequency: 0-PAL 1-NTSC (985248Hz for PAL C64, 1022730Hz for NTSC C64)
bits 2-7 = always 0
More SIDs
h20 = (optional) selects up to 256 SIDs
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:09 am
by SamC
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:03 am
by SamC
SAA1099 soundchip has been added.
On both old and new ZXi ports (FFh and 1FFh and 6E3Bh, 6F3Bh).
The eLeMeNt/MB system is currently the only ZX Spectrum hardware that implements all soundchips (AY/YM, TS, TSFM, SID, SAA) and D/A music devices - Specdrum, (stereo) Covox, Soundrive, Monsterblaster (plus the General Sound card available on the MB03+).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybwidaKHonw
No Spectrum-based trackers have been completed yet.
The most ZX Spectrum SAA demos use musics composed on the SAM Coupé, with its original player routine.
These SAA trackers for PCs are available:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/mif85tracker/
https://saa1099tracker.borik.net/
https://github.com/mborik/SAA1099Tracker
https://www.ilnx.cz/lnxtr/
SAM Coupé trackers:
https://www.worldofsam.org/search/node?keys=etracker
https://www.worldofsam.org/search/node?keys=protracker
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:45 am
by PeterJ
Thanks
@SamC,
It's a fantastic project, but I would still be nice to have a self contained version, rather than spending 300 Euros and having to use a Spectrum +2 Case. Something like the ZXDOS+ from
@antoniovillena is a thing of real beauty:
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 4:41 pm
by SamC
PeterJ wrote: ↑Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:45 am
would still be nice to have a self contained version
This solution has not been ruled out yet.
There is, among hardcore Speccy fans, a demand for a powerful motherboard to replace an older one.
The board is still produced in small series, as well as the internal expansion AA-SRAM 2048-8,
https://retrocomp.cz/
There are 3D printed replacement cases and high-quality keyboards will be available soon.
As the pandemic hysteria has shaken economics, prices cannot be expected to fall and the new equipment will not be cheaper...
The question of some next model is also not relevant while the eLeMeNt´s core is in development.
Not only peripherals, but also a core circuit logic is constantly being improved, e.g. the eLeMeNt ZX now features the
Pentagon-4096.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 5:01 pm
by PeterJ
Indeed @SamC, the price of some devices has doubled, and I don't see it changing anytime soon.
Peter
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:20 pm
by rogerjowett
24bit try colour palette?
How many colours in 512x384 interlaced modes please
?
Stnccc demo at 3.5mhz how is this possible? Sam coupé version is running full 6mhz it's a lot slower how come?
Can Fpga emulate more than z80 and DNA what about super fx chip?
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2022 7:49 pm
by SamC
Hi,
here is a brief overview of improvements and changes over the past several months:
- new version of the
User Manual
- support of
external PC keyboards improved, new shortcuts added
-
Tiny case, simple, 3D printable case, STL files are available - eLeMeNt ZX can be
a standalone computer unit now
-
HGFX system intensively tested and expanded to take full advantage of its design, this enables LowRes, HiRes, HAM, FILL and SuperHiRes modes (512*384, planar, NO interlace!) with 3.5 MHz CPUs
- many small improvements: speed issues, improved SID emulation, new warm reset (divSD/CF memory "machine" preservation after reset), a software reset of the 6th bit of the divSD Control register
The eLeMeNt ZX also supports the larger
Alchitry AU+ FPGA board, which can accommodate e.g. big interfaces like the General Sound. Cores for this board you will find in the Archive part of
FPGA Core Downloads
eLeMeNt ZX software is available at a renewed site:
https://zxfiles.net/zxmb03.php
https://zxfiles.net/download/mb03/
I especially recommend trying the demo
HGFX NICCC, press keys 1 and 2 to reveal the FILL mode in the 3D part.
Regards
SamC.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2022 8:41 pm
by PeterJ
Thanks @SamC,
I was pleased to be able to contribute to the list of supported keyboards with one easily available in the UK.
I'm really looking forward to when the WiFi module becomes available.
Peter
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 6:44 pm
by Chris23235
Thanks for keeping us updated @SamC
Can you give a rough estimation when the eLeMeNt ZX with FPGA and Z80 will be in stock again at retrocomp.cz. I am looking foward to order one. I looked up the FPGA board and saw it is not in stock anywhere so I guess this is the culprit, but maybe you have more inside when it will be available again.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:13 pm
by Sparky
I'm very interested in it as well. It would have been a nice Christmas gift to myself
Please update us of availability.
Re: eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2022 11:51 am
by SamC
Hi,
@Chris23235 and
@Sparky
I have sent you a PM about availability of eLeMeNt+FPGA sets in the e-shop.
Obtaining basic
AU boards today is difficult and irregular, a new batch is expected next spring.
However, there are still
bigger FPGA AU+ boards for sale:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/17514
These AU+ boards offer sufficient capacity for the future, provide enough space to add other zx-expansions. Unfortunately, the current price is very unfavorable...
Let us see an
Artix 7 product list:
https://www.xilinx.com/products/silicon ... oductTable
The eLeMeNt ZX is now running on the AU board with the Xilinx Artix
7 XC7A35T.
This is the main unit, for which are eLeMeNt´s cores regularly updated and which offers all the parameters, functions and devices described in the User Manual.
AU+ boards need their own cores for a Xilinx Artix 7
XC7A100T. Although it can be still, as an expensive rarity, named "experimental", such a board will greatly extend the life of our eLeMeNt ZX, it has a lot of space for future expansions, I use the AU+ in my eLeMeNt only.
Plus, compared to modern FPGA retro-devices, it is no exception, the Mega65 uses a Xilinx Artix-7
XC7A200T!