X16 in FPGA

Ffin72 · Post by **Ffin72** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:32 pm

I live in a fairly small flat (apartment) and already own a killer gaming rig with dual displays, plus 4 retro systems, I'd really like a X16 but another box and keyboard will be difficult to accommodate. I do own an FPGA platform though (Turbo Chamelon 64 V2), and as I also own a couple of C64s I already have a couple of PETSCII keyboards, so I was wondering if there was any possibility of an FPGA core being developed. VERA is already in FPGA, and there are open source implementations of the 6502, so part of the work is potentially already done. A package of X16 keyboard and a flash drive with the core and roms may also appeal to owners of the MiSter or ZX Spectrum Next.

I wouldn't expect this for free, I would certainly be willing to pay for such a thing, say £20-30!

Thoughts?

rje · Post by **rje** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:13 pm

An FPGA solution would be far down the road, from what I read in the FAQ and see in the vids.

Until then, there is the emulator.

Ffin72 · Post by **Ffin72** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:57 pm

Yes, I'm aware that the final version of the X16 could be FPGA based, if an ASIC isn't feasible, but as far as I know it would be on it's own hardware, with it's own keyboard, power supply etc. One possible advantage of supporting other FPGA platforms would be more coders joining the community now, not to mention that a FPGA core is much easier to distribute than a physical product. Maybe it's just a pipedream, but I've often been told that if you don't ask, you don't get ?

StephenHorn · Post by **StephenHorn** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 3:08 am

The team has previously said that, for now, the goal is to create a machine built with the actual hardware components. So while I can't recall them saying "no, never" to an FPGA core (and can't be arsed to search at the moment), I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for one, because it's not presently anywhere in their plans.

Cyber · Post by **Cyber** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 5:56 am

Though it is too early to discuss this topic, there is high hopes, if we read FAQ and rules.

Quote

Will the X16 become open source?

At some point, most likely yes.

Quote

The unreleased X16 is not open source, yet.

So I'm eager to do stress on these "most likely" and "yet". )

Cyber · Post by **Cyber** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 6:17 am

But also I wish to add another quote on this topic. )

On 8/26/2020 at 7:59 AM, Perifractic said:

Discussing what is theoretically possible is of course fine, up to a point ?

Lorin Millsap · Post by **Lorin Millsap** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:12 pm

This topic is already in the FAQ.

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Besser · Post by **Besser** » Wed Mar 10, 2021 2:44 am

I live in a small apartment too and having an X16 running on my Multicore 2+ (FPGA hardware made by Victor Trucco, the same guy behind the ZX Spectrum Next) would be awesome!

Perifractic · Post by **Perifractic** » Wed Mar 10, 2021 5:18 am

We definitely appreciate your enthusiasm but as per the FAQ and the rules, we cannot encourage clone machines at this time. It would therefore seem prudent to minimise discussion about them to avoid inadvertent rule breaks. Another moderator has already locked this thread but we can pick the discussion up in the future when phase 1 and 2 have been released. In the meantime please read the FAQ and follow the announcements forum for updates.