Software and hardware update for the C-One
Date 22-Nov-2008 3:33:29
Topic: Hardware News
| The C-One is unique with it's architecture until today: The central components can re-configure each other while the machine is running. If you wanted to do this with a traditional computer, you'd have to exchange PCI cards or even the processor while it's turned on. The process took a few seconds, reminding the user of the speed of computers of the 80's. Although the C-One always aimed at resembling computers of that decade, that kind of speed is not acceptable for a current machine. FPGA developer Tobias Gubener has re-written the startup-procedure of the C-One (comparable to the BIOS of a normal PC) from scratch to overcome this.
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The new software is called "Newboot" and it's free to every C-One owner. It is not necessary to work on the C-One's hardware, as it's just a flash upgrade. Still, the performance of the new startup is stunning. Instead of the elderly 80's design, the C-One now welcomes you with a graphical menu and almost triple speed. While browsing through the menus, the FPGAs on the board are re-configured a number of times without the user even noticing. With Newboot, the C-One has made the final step to everyday-usability after a development time of five years.
With the FPGA Extender card that's available since yesterday, the C-One even overcomes the limitation of emulating only 8-bit systems. Tobias Gubener has ported Dennis van Weeren's Minimig as a first demonstration of the new capabilities: In addition to VIC-20, C64 and Amstrad CPC, the C-One can now run 32-bit systems like the Amiga. The FPGA capacity of the C-One is increased almost by a factor of five with the extender board! The technical data in short:
* Cyclone 3 FPGA in 65 nanometer technology
* 16 MByte Ram with up to 333 MByte per second data rate
* stereo delta-sigma audio converter
* two crystals for exact PAL and NTSC clocks
* high-bandwidth interface to the C-One
* simple Installation without soldering
* price: 99,- EUR (*)
New C-One boards are sold with the extender-card pre-installed for 333,- EUR (*). You can find more pictures and information on the website of the C-One.
(*) recommended retail price including German sales tax of 19%. Prices at our retail partners may vary. For mail ordering, shipping may be added.
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