FDD+IDE controller and Universal Flash ROM cartridge projects + future Multi-soundcard cartridge

Supporter (3)

09-11-2015, 10:39

Alexey wrote:

GOOD NEWS: we now got the stable firmware version. All CF cards that we were testing on several MSX machines worked without a problem. Moreover the cartridge works properly with CF-to-SD card adapters, so you can use SD cards with this cartridge too. Here's the picture of the new boards that have just arrived:
For those who buy this board I will provide the list of components, the ROM image and the latest Altera's firmware. The project is not public yet, but is already in pretty good shape. Please contact me if you are interested to buy the board. The boards costs 4 euros, shipment within EU is from 2 to 4 euros depending on the number of boards you need. At the moment 5 boards are available. Please note that I will not sell anything else than these boards.

I would like to have one of these. I'll send you an email to see if there are still available. Thanks!

Por enribar

Paragon (1214)

09-11-2015, 15:14

Sorry me, but I'm arriving into this thread a bit late, maybe...
I'm very interested in owning this cartridge, some points to cofirm to me (for the last time, I promise :-) )

1) Alexey you claim: "The PC floppies will work with the controller, but will support only 720kb capacity."
This is very useful to me because I have to convert in DSK about 1000 old MSX floppy disks!
So you confirm I can attach a PC floppy disk and read/dump MSX floppies to DSK? (DSK will be created inside the Flash Card).
2) Do you confirm I can attach a CD-ROM drive buying a generic converter CF slot --> IDE cable slot?
3) I really can't and know how to build such great piece of hardware by myself, I'm not skilled.
Can you build it for me paying some more?
What's the final price with shippings (to Italy)?
How can I pay you? (or we... when can we find these informations).

Thankyou in advance.

Por Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3608)

09-11-2015, 17:07

enribar wrote:

1) Alexey you claim: "The PC floppies will work with the controller, but will support only 720kb capacity."
This is very useful to me because I have to convert in DSK about 1000 old MSX floppy disks!
So you confirm I can attach a PC floppy disk and read/dump MSX floppies to DSK? (DSK will be created inside the Flash Card).
2) Do you confirm I can attach a CD-ROM drive buying a generic converter CF slot --> IDE cable slot?
3) I really can't and know how to build such great piece of hardware by myself, I'm not skilled.
Can you build it for me paying some more?
What's the final price with shippings (to Italy)?
How can I pay you? (or we... when can we find these informations).
Thankyou in advance.

1. Confirmed. Just an ordinary PC floppy with an ordinary PC floppy cable (with a twist) work fine with the controller
2. I can't confirm that. If Sunrise or Nexus can work correctly with CD-ROMs, then it might work. But we didn't test that yet. Where can I buy such a converter (CF->IDE)?
3. As said before, I can only sell the board (I can also include CF slot with it) and I will provide the firmware and the instructions on how to build the device. I am not manufacturing those devices because Chinese post keeps loosing my packages with components.

Por Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3608)

11-11-2015, 18:26

We added the functionality to use the multi-ROMs that are composed from several small game ROMs: 8x8kb, 4x16kb, 2x32kb. Also 49kb and 64kb games will be supported with the special configuration settings.

Por Robby

Master (217)

16-11-2015, 16:33

Hi,
Are there any updates on the ide/cf board with integrated ram expansion?

RJ.

Por Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3608)

16-11-2015, 21:00

Robby wrote:

Are there any updates on the ide/cf board with integrated ram expansion?

The Altera MAX on the controller board is used to the maximum, so we can't add any RAM and mapper there. However we are planning to add RAM and mapper to the multiFlashROM cartridge if we still have some space left in Altera Flex. Most likely there will be either FMPAC or RAM on that board. The multi music cartridge will probably have Cyclone, so there we can put whatever we like.

Por Robby

Master (217)

16-11-2015, 22:23

That's a pity. I was looking forward to the ide/cf combination together with 512kb or 1024kb of ram.

Well, maybe in the future

Por st1mpy

Paladin (938)

16-11-2015, 22:37

tecnobytes ide mapper is exactly that.

Por Robby

Master (217)

17-11-2015, 12:26

Yes, i know, but thank you. Unfortunately that site is not multilanguage
The technobytes cartridge itself has only one ide connection, i suppose? (instead of CF and IDE).
Futhermore, i see that the price is 300 brazilian real, that 73 euro. With shipping, tax, customs etc. this one will be approx. 110/120 euro i suppose.
The solution in this topic is much more attractive, also from financial perspective, i think

RJ.

Por Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3608)

17-01-2016, 23:55

As already mentioned, the FDD+IDE controller is ready and working properly. The work with Carnivore MultiFlash SCC cartridge is in the final stage. Recently we updated the FlashROM manager utility with mapper autodetect, verbose mode, auto-flash mode (no user interaction), editing of registers for all cartridge's directory entries. The boot block and the FlashROM Manager are being tested on different MSX machines now. The pics of the boot block's directory and help screen can be seen below.