Is their a 'Low Cost' version of the GR8BIT ??

Resident (45)

24-01-2015, 11:37

Hi.

I was looking into getting a GR8BIT selfbuild MSX system ...but must confess the $500 price tag put me off. Is their a cheaper version , perhaps a Single board MSX ??

Для того, чтобы оставить комментарий, необходимо регистрация или !login

By syn

Prophet (2135)

24-01-2015, 12:30

http://optotech.net.br/fzanoto/m5x.htm this maybe?

The creator also posts on MRC :) http://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/hardware/new-second-versio...

im interested in this one, I may pick one up when it becomes available.

1MB RAM, V9958 (msx2+), OPLL, 10MHZ z80

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

24-01-2015, 12:36

Just get an altera de0 or de1, they are really cheap new, or used on ebay or there is even a massive student discount.

By syn

Prophet (2135)

24-01-2015, 12:44

nah.. real parts for the win

On a serious note, a de0 or de1 is also something that I was looking at. Probably end up with one of those as well (Although I am concerned about how to wire the ports... especially cartridge port.. so in this regard the m5x wins imho )

st1mpy can you point me to a place where you can buy cheap de1/de0? They were still in the 100-150 range last time I looked

By MSX King

Supporter (8)

24-01-2015, 13:21

What's needed is a cheaper version of the GR8BIT .. based on DIP ICs no surface mount stuff on a single PCB ! And ideally for less than $200 ! coming as pre-built or as a Kit ?

The Altera DEO Boad just emulates an MSX using FPGA Hardware... it isn't really the same thing !

By megatron

Resident (41)

24-01-2015, 13:41

A low cost SBC (Single Board Computer) using DIP ICs would be great , ideally for less than $200.. coming as a kit or prebuilt ?

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

24-01-2015, 14:01

I guess you should aim for below 100 euros inc postage for the altera boards.
It'll be good if someone ports the code to those cheapo 50 euro boards on ebay.

By megatron

Resident (41)

24-01-2015, 14:08

Using an FPGA Board ... almost the same as using an emulator ?? As the hardware is just emulating the MSX system !

I think a cut down , low cost GR8BIT type system would be cool to build and test yourself and learn about Z80 / MSX hardware. Then once built you can program it yourself ! Or just play MSX games !

By megatron

Resident (41)

25-01-2015, 00:11

Shame Eugene isn't desgning a cost reduced version of his GR8BIT ?

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

25-01-2015, 12:07

I can't see how he can do it as you want discrete components (rather than fpgas), the rest is just economics...

also why does it matter if a real z80 is used or a fpga one?

By st1mpy

Paladin (947)

25-01-2015, 12:30

m5x looks good, does it say its about 100 euros? (300 Real)

it does have a cpld though, so you could start with An altera board and replace each component written in vhdl with a real chip and you end up with a glue logic in fpga just like the m5x.