Commander X16

... Of course, that means dealing with DRAM refresh, but using an FPGA makes that a bit easier, as the FPGA can perform that task. Exactly. While SRAM makes the interfacing easier, I see 32Mx8 143MHz DRAM in a TSOP package for $2.60 when bought by the 100s at Mouser, which is cheaper then 4Mbit (51...

Sorry if this was answered already, but there's been confirmation that the GS will have all 2MB of banked RAM available, right? I remember the original plan was that Gen 1 would be expandable up to 2MB but Gen 2 was going to be 512KB only. The point of that was cost reduction. However, with the pro...

... Ok, so this *ISN'T* like how the memory expanders on say the C64 worked? ... No. During the first phase of the memory clock cycle, the 65816 puts the high 8 bits of a 24bit address on the data lines. In the Gen1 if a 65816 was installed, those bits would basically be ignored, so a 65816 in the ...

... With the 65C816's memory model, you get a series of 64K banks, with separate code and data banks. Not only that, but the most common data transfer and flow control opcodes have 24-bit address modes, which allow you to simply read from a far bank without needing trampolines or other complicated ...

Yes, if no DIP daughter-board with a surface mount 65816 and 16MB of RAM is developed, that becomes an issue with the Dev board. But if I understand the FAQ correctly, that sounds doable. Indeed, once the GS board designed is finalized, I'd recommend hammering that kind of DIP daughter-board out an...

I mean, really, who here who has and develops for the X16 ISN'T going to ALSO get a Gen 2 when available??? Obviously true. I think the thing people are annoyed about is that they can't actually use the Dev system for developing and testing 16-bit code. Once you switch to the flat memory model and ...

... All valid and good answers to my worries. The 65C816 still only accesses data eight bits at a time. In that respect, it's still an 8-bit processor, as much as the Z80 is (since it also has some 16-bit internals). If it is the same CPU as in the SNES, then it will be difficult to say it is an 8-...

I agree with every rant post above (and probably any rant posts below as well). My own rant is that my entire project relied on the system being 8-bit . Now, I can just say it is 8-bit but sneak in some 16-bit code... Who would ever know? It is not like I am lying to my followers. It is not like th...

The design of the port does allow for port expanders to be added, so while the X16 console would be oriented toward playing games from either the SD card or a cartridge, it wouldn't be locked down. If you wanted to use the port as an expansion port rather than as a cartridge port, you might want to...

Will modifications to Gen-1 boards be offered to have flat address space and more than 2MB RAM? We don't know, yet. It's possible to create a CPU carrier board that has a 32MB memory module on board, but it's also almost certain that this board's function will differ slightly from the GS. Also, wit...