Is the 3R1C Custom Computer a Commander X16 Killer? - Ultima IV Update
Ойындар
In this episode, I share with you the latest progress of my hobby engineering project: building a custom computer that can run Ultima IV, one of the classic games for the Apple II. I will show you how I designed and implemented the logic circuits that emulate the Apple II’s features, such as soft switches, ROM banking, color graphics, and Mockingboard, using various tools and techniques. I will also demonstrate how I adapted the game to run on my computer, using a custom DOS and some clever hacks. Along the way, I will share with you some of the challenges and solutions I encountered during the debugging process, using an oscilloscope, a multimeter, a logic analyzer, and a lot of patience. Finally, I will tell you about my future plans for the project, such as building a custom video chip, designing the PCB, and porting the game to a smaller version of the computer that uses a Raspberry Pi Pico. How will this affect the performance and compatibility of the game? Will this make my computer a Commander X16 killer? Watch the video to find out!
U4RemasteredA2
Main Github Repo: github.com/sean-gugler/u4rema...
My fork: github.com/ebadger/u4remaster...
All changes are in the branch "fixed"
6502 SD, FAT AND DOS
github: github.com/gfoot/sdcard6502
This is George's original github repo
LiamInventions has added in this fork: github.com/liaminventions/sdc...
My changes are part of a fork of the MS Basic at this github: github.com/ebadger/msbasic
My fork also includes: My DOS, support for PS/2 decoding using 2 pins on a VIA, and more.
@rumblethumps5786 PICO Computer: / @rumbledethumps - Was great seeing you at the PRGE!
@TroySchrapel has built a PICO version of his HBC-65 computer: / @uch3dwtmi83yvaoirtqyr-gg - Looking forward to checking out your AY-3-8910 emulation.
@Fifty1Ford Check out the videos - / @fifty1ford - I think you must be making the most of the Worst VGA card in the Ben Eater demo scene
@rehsd / @rehsd - You've got to be the closest to running DOOM
@BenEater video series are an excellent and accessible resource for learning:
Eater 6502 kit:
eater.net
r/beneater Reddit community:
/ beneater
Follow me on X: / ebad73
Пікірлер: 27
So awesome! To get those breadboards right must have been a labor of love. Great work!!!
Wow! That breadboard is a piece of art. Encase it all in a block of epoxy to preserve it!
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
Han Solo comes to mind :)
What. a breadboard! Looking forward to seeing Colossal Cave. Many fun problems to solve along the way.
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
I've been going by the handle Xyzzy for years now - it really just has to be done
You're doing some awesome work Eric! I'm excited to see you get this to PCB.
I just found your channel. So cool what you have made. I grew up on these 8 bit machines so they will hold a place in my heart forever. Also built a lot of custom hardware back then. One thing was a display. I designed one that was pretty neat. It had two frame buffers and a simple switch to flip between. No need for dual port RAM. Well anyway, your stuff is much better. Anyway, very cool. Respect 👍🎉
@thecodesorcerer
3 ай бұрын
Thanks! I’m not using dual port RAM either. Too expensive. Instead using Woz technique of time division multiplexing. By far the most complex and tricky part of the design. I’m curious about your design, are you able to read back from video RAM with the switching design?
@jumpstar9000
3 ай бұрын
@@thecodesorcerer Woz was definitely full of tricks. I don't know if you have looked at his disk controller lol. It was back in the 80s so not current, but you could read/write the off-screen buffer, but not when it was being displayed. 6845 was doing the video on the back. This was for an Ohio Scientific Superboard II that I had at the time.
That is really awesome! Great work.
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
Thank you! Makes me wonder if there is some Z-80 equivalent of bringing up a chunk of the Apple II software library on an original homebrew SBC design.
Love it!
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
Thank you. I see you have DOS running - very cool! So much x86 software out there!
Super cool!
Freaking Wizard! Well Done Sir, this is a Crazy Life Achievement if you ask me. I would implement the NES controller IC, Piggyback for the SNES, that way if you further Expand the system you will already have a controller setup that can handle future possibilities..
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
Thank you, you are very kind. As an 80's kid and a software engineer by trade, It's been very rewarding. I'm really looking forward to building an ASIC now. How cool will it be to design a custom chip?
@MotownBatman
4 ай бұрын
@@thecodesorcerer Poor 80's kid over here,. I had an uncle in Tennessee who was only about 12 years older than I, so when his TSR-80s, 286,386 PCs all were Upgraded over the years, I got the Old stuff to figure out. I was always a Hardware kid, I couldn't get my ADHD brain to wrap around Programming, My extent was QBasic Menus for my Games. My Pinnacle was IT Admin & CAD/CAM Engineer in Tennessee 2k3-2k7. That was a fun challenge trying to learn. Now my kiddos & I turn Discarded PCs into Retro Game Boxes
Awesome work! If you are going to support joysticks, please consider support for more than one fire button.
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
Hmm, thanks for the suggestion. I know the SNES controller is a popular one to support. Sega Genesis controller is very close to the Atari joystick (of which I'm most familiar)
Nice video! Was torn on even watching it due to the Clicky title tho
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
yeah, still experimenting with communication
so... and where can I bay this X16 killer?
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
right now, only in my dreams
X16 is way beyond this. Maybe buy one first & try it before titling it that way.
@thecodesorcerer
4 ай бұрын
Watch the video if you want my take.
@richfiles
3 ай бұрын
The X16 is far advanced of a typical 8-bit machine. The FPGA based Vera is probably closer to a 16-bit system's capabilities, and really does kinda break the spirit of being an 8-bit retro system. Yes, it's technically 8-bit, but it feels very cheaty in it's implementation, like tacking a 6502 onto a 16 bit board to call it 8-bit... I know that's not an accurate way to put it, but what It really feels like, is the 8-bit guy wanted to make an 8-bit machine, but really didn't wanna let go of the capabilities of a 16-bit machine, and created something that doesn't feel like it commits to either. I still bought one... But now that my money is already spent, I feel like I'd rather have grabbed a Foenix instead.
@colinstu
3 ай бұрын
@@richfiles yeah I do see what you're saying.