thoughts on SUNRISE CompactFlash ATA-IDE cartridge

Prophet (2123)

10-09-2010, 15:25

just anounced a few weeks back that they have a new batch again, so it is available again. http://www.msx.org/Sunrise-update.newspost5493.html

About how the device works, I dont know since I dont have one. From its describtion on http://www.faq.msxnet.org/hardware.html#Sunrise I would think it works as if you connect a ide harddrive on it but instead its a CF card. To confirm this you have to wait untill someone who actually owns the device posts here :D

By OeiOeiVogeltje

Paragon (1433)

10-09-2010, 16:06

you put a cf in the interface and it will act like a kind of hard drive

its that simple
you can put anything you want on it

first partition has to be fat12

rest of the partitions CAN be fat16 (which will be compatible with windows)

if you have a cf interface for your pc you can put stuff from PC on ther card and then use the card in your msx

its that simple

By RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

10-09-2010, 16:22

It's a general purpose storage device, for use on a general purpose computer.

IMO the most difficult is building a 'mental map' of what tools/tricks you need to get software to run. Once you figure out how to run a piece of software from the CF, you can run [any software that comes in same format & works the same way] just as easily. Figure this out for a few important categories of software, and the 'black areas' in your software collection (stuff you can't/don't know how to run) quickly disappear. Normal use is very similar to working with old versions (2.xx / 3.xx) of MS-DOS.

FWIW: I prefer Erikie's MMC/SD interface, simply because it's compact cartridge & small flash cards. But difference with Sunrise CF interface isn't big in practice, difference between either and [messing with floppies] is huge.

By Jipe

Paragon (1614)

10-09-2010, 16:49

you can loading roms but not running it with the CF only
running roms required loadrom or Megamu (only on Turbo-R) or a Mega-Sram or a MegaFlashRom
same way for the DSK Files required Runit or Hddemu ( only on Turbo-R )
the CF is just a very big Floppy with partition

By laurentdz

Master (170)

10-09-2010, 21:53

you put a cf in the interface and it will act like a kind of hard drive

its that simple
you can put anything you want on it

first partition has to be fat12

rest of the partitions CAN be fat16 (which will be compatible with windows)

if you have a cf interface for your pc you can put stuff from PC on ther card and then use the card in your msx

its that simple

cf interface for pc?
a simple cf cart reader ?

By laurentdz

Master (170)

10-09-2010, 21:55

It's a general purpose storage device, for use on a general purpose computer.

IMO the most difficult is building a 'mental map' of what tools/tricks you need to get software to run. Once you figure out how to run a piece of software from the CF, you can run [any software that comes in same format & works the same way] just as easily. Figure this out for a few important categories of software, and the 'black areas' in your software collection (stuff you can't/don't know how to run) quickly disappear. Normal use is very similar to working with old versions (2.xx / 3.xx) of MS-DOS.

FWIW: I prefer Erikie's MMC/SD interface, simply because it's compact cartridge & small flash cards. But difference with Sunrise CF interface isn't big in practice, difference between either and [messing with floppies] is huge.

erikie's mmc/sd interface?
still available?
any link?

By OeiOeiVogeltje

Paragon (1433)

10-09-2010, 22:55

yeah
a simple cf card reader for PC

By sunrise

Paragon (1091)

11-09-2010, 12:09

The erikie interface is no longer available. Ours is year after year available, but yeah takes time and money. The suggestion if the erikie interface has standard a case is not true.
We invested in large and small cases but in the case of the cf is became the big one. Besides that via an adaptor one can always go from cf tp sd/mmc/xd/sdhc (yes it works).
But you cannot use an xd adaptor in your sd interface

By RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

11-09-2010, 14:42

erikie's mmc/sd interface?
still available?
any link?
See this thread (and this older one) for more info & links. MMC/SD interface design is publicly available, so in principle you can build your own... not so easy though. Erikie made a CPLD-based version, built a small batch & promised to publish his CPLD design once he recovered his costs by selling the batch. He sold the batch quickly, but so far didn't publish any internals other than a CPLD pinout. ;(

There's nothing stopping anyone from doing the same, all that's needed is solving practical problems: parts, PCB layout & having PCB's made, empty cartridge boxes, assembly, shipping, pricing & money investment to enable it all. Unfortunately the small market makes these practical issues rather difficult.