PAST V2 BOOSTER PROTOTYPES

Older & forgotten hardware and software.
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exxos
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PAST V2 BOOSTER PROTOTYPES

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v22.jpg
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The final V2 booster design as listed above had a great many prototypes before it reached a working versions which I was happy with (as shown above). I thought I would just post 2 of the early prototypes as I found them in my drawer, while looking for something else.

boost1.jpg
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PCB designed by Rodolphe. It's not very hard to see whats going on above. Classic 68000 CPU there. Plus 2 1MB ROM's. This board suffered badly from various faults and grounding issues and moved to a new design later.

boost2.jpg
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The next version moved to a PLCC ROM and PLCC 68000 CPU. Though sadly this board ended up being produced twice due to a broken 0v polygon :(

In fact while the bottom of the CPU was actually connected to 0v, the broken polygon caused a bad 0v path and caused a spike between 0v pins on the CPU.. (This actually is one problem with DMA issues on the STE with the CPU)

n1.png
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This was causing signals on the GAL to reach 7volts! Things went horribly wrong with that layout :( So another batch of PCBs was junked.

It was at that point I decided to move to 4 layer boards. mostly 2 layers for signals, and a dedicated layer for 5V and 0V. Going by each PCB designed had some issue relaying to spikes in 0V paths etc I think it was time to forget 2 layer boards and just move onto something rock solid.

In the end the V2 booster ended up on a 6 layer board, and the development costs, and indeed production costs went though the roof on the V2 booster :(

At the time of typing there is only a couple V2 booster left and it is unlikely there will be produced again. There never seems to be a high demand for boosters, and I can't do them any cheaper without doing larger batches, which I doubt would sell.

While this booster has TOS104 and TOS206 onboard, it also has a 16MHz boost with 16MHz access to ROM. This gave the booster a good kick in speed in desktop apps which used TOS a lot.

Its very similar to the V1.5 booster for the STFM. Similar idea, just without TOS206 built on. I did think as the V2 was large, it only fitted one style of motherboard. Aside from the MEGA ST. It was one reason I produced the V1.5 booster. Though sadly, that seemed less popular than the V2 :( The V1.5 booster could be fitted to probably any machine as well.

I have been working on 32MHz boosters for the STFM. Though I think that work will be suspended, maybe indefinitely as most people seem to want boosters for the STE lately.

If there is interest, I may sell a couple of motherboards fitted out with the V1.5 booster. I know there need a lot of soldering, so possible that is the main reason people are put off buying such things as they do need a lot of soldering. Though it is unavoidable unfortunately.


My past booster work can be found here.
http://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/last/16mhz/index.htm

V2 booster webpage
http://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/last/V ... /index.htm

V1.5 booster webpage
http://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/last/v ... /index.htm

Web Store
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/

..wrap..
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
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Re: PAST V2 BOOSTER PROTOTYPES

Post by exxos »

Found another hacked image of the V2 booster...
v2h.jpg
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https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
User avatar
exxos
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Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:19 pm
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Re: PAST V2 BOOSTER PROTOTYPES

Post by exxos »

more mashups found...

IMG_4000.JPG
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IMG_4001.JPG
IMG_4001.JPG (300.79 KiB) Viewed 3654 times

One of the original TOS adapter boards I made.

IMG_4003.JPG
IMG_4003.JPG (254.2 KiB) Viewed 3654 times


Having a tidy up in my draws, need to get rid of all this old crap :)
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
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