Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

Progress on our FPGA cores.
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Icky
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

Post by Icky »

I have tested it now in 5 motherboards and the results are below. As far as I am aware with my boards the new V2 shifter adaptor is working well and I have not seen any resets. I have one more board left to test but I need to resurrect it first before I can test.

For me with the V2 shifter adaptor its a working product have been using it in anger playing games and other desktop app stuff.

Using V1 Shifter Board:

ST ModelRevisionResettingShimmering without capShimmering with 22pFComments
520 STMC070243 REV. EYesNoNoRock solid display can be seen if you can get it past resetting and playing a game. Setting PSU to 4.3V and the ST boots and doesn't reset but there isn't enough power to supply floppy but I could get Gigafile to operate
520 STFMC070789-001 REV. CNoYesNoShimmering even present playing a game. Adding 22pF cap stops the shimmering
1024 STFMC070789-001 REV. CNoYesNoShimmering even present playing a game. Adding 22pF cap stops the shimmering
520 STFMC103253 REV. 3 (C103088 REV. 5)NoYesNoShimmering even present playing a game. Adding 22pF cap stops the shimmering. Quite often starts with colours out of phase
STF RemakeC070789-001 REV. FYesNoNoRevision is from the donor STFM that gave the remake most of its parts. Seems to exhibit same behaviour as 520ST including dropping the voltage.

Using V2 Shifter Board:

ST ModelRevisionResettingShimmeringComments
520 STMC070243 REV. ENoNoPerfect no resets or shimmers
520 STFMC070789-001 REV. CNoNoPerfect no resets or shimmers
1024 STFMC070789-001 REV. CNoNoPerfect no resets or shimmers
520 STFMC103253 REV. 3 (C103088 REV. 5)NoNoPerfect no resets or shimmers
STF RemakeC070789-001 REV. FNoNoPerfect no resets or shimmers
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Smonson
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

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Thanks for all the testing Icky. You're knee-deep in STs!

Seeing five machines successfully tested in the second table gives me a lot of reassurance that further beta testing is worthwhile :)
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

Post by Smonson »

"A couple of days" turned out a bit longer than expected, but I've got two fully tested now. The third board is still in progress.

The FPGA dev boards I'm working with came from AliExpress, and they seemed to be producing confusing errors in testing. However, it turns out the header pins were just covered in solder resin and not making good contact. I think they "cleaned" these boards after manufacture by dipping them in a solvent bath that hadn't been changed in a very long time, so they came out all sticky. :roll:

I'll privately contact those people who have expressed an interest in these soon. Apologies for the extra delays.
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

Post by Smonson »

Requested feature: scanlines enabled by 3rd jumper (easier to see in real life)
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Icky
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

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Smonson wrote: Thu Feb 28, 2019 10:09 am Requested feature: scanlines enabled by 3rd jumper (easier to see in real life)
Cool - great work Smonson.

Do you have the latest firmware I can patch onto the board to add this feature?
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

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Icky wrote: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:15 pm Cool - great work Smonson.

Do you have the latest firmware I can patch onto the board to add this feature?
I will soon - I just want to re-test all the video modes tomorrow, especially mono, and make sure nothing broke.
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Icky
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

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Smonson wrote: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:20 pm
Icky wrote: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:15 pm Cool - great work Smonson.

Do you have the latest firmware I can patch onto the board to add this feature?
I will soon - I just want to re-test all the video modes tomorrow, especially mono, and make sure nothing broke.
Totally understand - testing is key. These things take time and we need to make sure they are stable.
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

Post by Smonson »

...I haven't actually tested the video modes yet (doing that next), but I put new ROMs up anyway. They're in the usual place. The new versions are v4.1 for V4 boards and V5.1 for V5 boards. Be sure to use the right one, or it won't boot ;)
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Mine has just arrived, so hoping to fire it up this week/weekend :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Icky
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Re: Project: HDMI/DVI out for STFM

Post by Icky »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2019 1:07 pm Mine has just arrived, so hoping to fire it up this week/weekend :)
Once you go HDMI/DVI you will never go back :)
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