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Hardware News   Hardware News : Amy design update Part 2
   posted by Troika on 13-Sep-2006 13:52:04 (27812 reads)
Amy05 update part 2

This is the final update on the Amy05 design prior to BB4 this weekend. Please attend the show and meet with us.

Read more...(mod note)


One of the biggest changes to the Amy05 design from our first released specification is the addition of the .AMD Geode™CS5536 companion device. For Project Prometheus/Amy'05 this becomes Amy’s Southbridge. This is the low cost Southbridge device from AMD that been in many of the newspapers. It’s used in the $100 'One Laptop per child' system, and in many AMD Geode™ embedded designs. It’s a well proven design and AMD continues to refine all the little details to get the most out of the design. Its extremely well supported, and its great to have a working relationship with the AMD people, we take much pride in this.





What’s the Geode™ Southbridge mean to the Amiga community? Software wise the opening of many new doors, and features. For example, one feature built in is the “USB keyboard”, making USB keyboards easy to install and use.


Hardware wise this device provides the following features to Amy05:
AC97 Codec interface,
A single channel IDE port,
An additional 16C550 UART,
Real time Clock and CMOS RAM
Additional USB 2.0 ports,
PC 82XX legacy timers.

There are additional features to this device but we have only highlighted the features utilized by Amy05.

This is the other component of the Kryptos sound system. It is a low cost high performance solution that will in the future, allow for a lower cost design by fully utilizing the USB and ATA interfaces of this device. Also in future Troika designs, will be able to incorporate, many more hardware features not as yet implemented, into future Amy designs.


The CS5536 interfaces to the TSI107 via the 66 MHz PCI bus interface for maximum performance. The 66 MHz PCI bus connects to the 33 MHz PCI bus using a PLX technology PCI 6150 bridge device. The PCI 6150 makes it easier to connect riser cards to the system without violating PCI bus loading rules, an improvement over previous designs.

A side effect of increasing the system bus to 66 MHz was the need for some glue logic, normally quite boring but it did provide potential for a 'Geekport interface' to be easily added. Now referred to as the Amy Geekport.

The aim of this interface was to put some of the fun back into home computing. For too long now if you wanted to add a custom device to your computer, it was too complicated. By providing a simple 8 bit wide interface that connects directly to the PPC local bus it is once again possible to create homebrew devices and connect them to your computer, just like in the good old 8-bit days.

The interface is memory mapped, provides a basic I/O port, can generate interrupts and provides user defined I/O. Application notes and sample designs will be available at product launch.


As a final note, the planned board for display at the show will be a 'developer' prototype. She’s rough around the edges, and we have had “issues” with making our logos look great like we wished. This is the first release which will be made in a limited quantity for hardware testing/OS4 development. There will be bugs to iron out and some improvements will be made, when this process is complete, the necessary changes will be added into the consumer version, which will then be released.

This is the reason we ask for some feedback on the design, there are limited opportunities for changes to the final design. Rest-assured, we will not be making any drastic changes to the system.


*AMD Geode™ CS5536 is a registered trademark of AMD
    

STORYID: 3297
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PosterThread
ChrisH 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 12:09:09
#81 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 30-Jan-2005
Posts: 6679
From: Unknown

@olegil
Troika/etc would surely at least START a discussion about licensing, before spending a ton of money developing their hardware. I sure as hell would want to have some idea of what requirements Amiga Inc would have if I were doing a board. I hope that they haven't just been speaking to Hyperion, as their legal dispute with Amiga Inc may have distorted what they said Amiga Inc would say...

Last edited by ChrisH on 14-Sep-2006 at 12:09 PM.


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Troika 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 13:15:20
#82 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 30-Jul-2005
Posts: 114
From: Unknown

@ChrisH

Quote:
Troika/etc would surely at least START a discussion about licensing, before spending a ton of money developing their hardware. I sure as hell would want to have some idea of what requirements Amiga Inc would have if I were doing a board.


Aug. 2005


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Troika NG progress reports & news releases will be released as such, from my office.
ttp://www.troikang.com/ Amy, A NEW HOPE
============================================
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Bodie 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 13:42:44
#83 ]
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Joined: 9-Jan-2003
Posts: 1439
From: Azjol-Nerub

@Troika

Aug. 2005?

What happened in Aug. 2005?

Oh well... all I know is that Big Bash is going to be one of the most interesting shows in years .

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Deniil715 
Re:Amy update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 14:25:48
#84 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 14-May-2003
Posts: 4236
From: Sweden

Cool!

I like the Geekport. Finally I can build a lot of stuff I have been wanting to build but never wanted to bother with an RS232 interface.

But 8 bits?? Just because it's a Geekport and many of you used to play with 8-bit computer doesn't justify a '2006 Geekport to have only 8 bits. I would have voted for 32 bits. The bits are there, why cripple them into just 8???


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ssolie 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 14:31:31
#85 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 10-Mar-2003
Posts: 2755
From: Alberta, Canada

@olegil
Quote:
Not surprising they don't have a license, since Amiga Inc wants the hardware to be finished before discussing a license, which means that Troika aren't at the right position to begin discussing license yet.

Careful olegil, you might accidently start an intelligent discussion around here regarding AInc licensing.


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number6 
Re:Amy update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 15:09:07
#86 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 25-Mar-2005
Posts: 11540
From: In the village

@Deniil715

Quote:
I like the Geekport. Finally I can build a lot of stuff I have been wanting to build but never wanted to bother with an RS232 interface.

But 8 bits?? Just because it's a Geekport and many of you used to play with 8-bit computer doesn't justify a '2006 Geekport to have only 8 bits. I would have voted for 32 bits. The bits are there, why cripple them into just 8???

Already answered by Ian Stedman in this thread (post #47):
Quote:
The geekport is only 8 bits wide as I ran out of pins on the XC9572XL device that implements it! As well as providing the decode logic, it also converts from the 2.5V PPC bus to a 3.3V/5V compatible user bus, for your homebrew devices. Doing this takes many of the 66 I/O pins on the chip.
For ease of use, the geekport is brought out on 0.1" (2.54 mm) pitch pins to allow easy connections.

#6


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AP 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 15:33:46
#87 ]
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Joined: 31-Jul-2003
Posts: 617
From: Vienna/Austria

Simple question to Troika: Do you have an AOS4.0-licence or not?


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hatschi 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 15:41:53
#88 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 1-Dec-2005
Posts: 2328
From: Good old Europe.

@AP

Quote:
McEwen "Currently today there is only one company with a contract that can ship AmigaOS 4 with their hardware, and that is Eyetech."

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ChrisH 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 16:26:57
#89 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 30-Jan-2005
Posts: 6679
From: Unknown

@hatschi
Good answer. I was going to give that myself.

@troika
OK, I am willing to believe that you started discussions with Amiga Inc in Aug 2005, but then how are we to interpret this from Bill McEwan:
Quote:
We are in current discussions with three companies... We are striving to get these deals complete... I will say that Troika is not one of them, contrary to what is rumbling out there.

This would seem to mean that your Aug 2005 discussions with Amiga Inc must have fallen through, or perhaps "only" stalled from your POV

Last edited by ChrisH on 14-Sep-2006 at 04:28 PM.


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dan.hutch 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 16:55:32
#90 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 30-Dec-2004
Posts: 529
From: United Kingdom

I think Bill McEwan's answered that one for us in his Q&A.

Troika has all the hallmarks of vapourware, many have simply burried their heads in the sand on this one.

Some are so desperate now for an Amiga renaissance that they will believe anything, the saying "clutching at straws" springs to mind.

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Samwel 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 19:09:55
#91 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 7-Apr-2004
Posts: 3404
From: Sweden

@dan.hutch

So where have you burried your head? A horse comes to mind...

If Hyperion & GuruMeditation stands behind this project it sure as hell ain't no vapour!!!

This does however not mean they will ever release something for OS4. That's probably
up to Amiga Inc.
It seems Amiga Inc. wants OS4 now. If they want it really bad they could actually stop
any project from getting a licence until Hyperion gives in and sells them OS4 back.


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Comi 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 21:04:31
#92 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 30-Jun-2003
Posts: 660
From: Zlatibor, Serbia

Quote:
Simple question to Troika: Do you have an AOS4.0-licence or not?


They have not.

Eyetech have ...are they alive? Coder?
And other two will have, but they are not Troika..


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Coder 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 21:15:55
#93 ]
Team Member
Joined: 15-May-2003
Posts: 4523
From: The Netherlands

@Comi

I think it is safe to say that Eyetech is out of the picture. Or they are working on something secret that no one knows about. But looking at the history I think they are not doing anything anymore regarding OS4 hardware.

Coder


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Hammer 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 22:42:26
#94 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 9-Mar-2003
Posts: 5246
From: Australia

Quote:
Troika has all the hallmarks of vapourware, many have simply burried their heads in the sand on this one.

Troika has to first finish it's reference board. Recall, the A1 SE was based from MAI’s existing reference motherboard.


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Samwel 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 14-Sep-2006 22:47:57
#95 ]
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Joined: 7-Apr-2004
Posts: 3404
From: Sweden

@Hammer

That's what they will be showing at BB4 I believe..


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Seehund 
Re:Amy update Part 2
Posted on 15-Sep-2006 7:50:10
#96 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 12-Jan-2006
Posts: 416
From: Dar al-Harb

@GuruMeditation:
Quote:
A news item where I, personally, have quite a bit invested.


Please accept my heartfelt condolences.


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Seehund 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 15-Sep-2006 8:18:08
#97 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 12-Jan-2006
Posts: 416
From: Dar al-Harb

@olegil:
Quote:
Not surprising they don't have a license, since Amiga Inc wants the hardware to be finished before discussing a license, which means that Troika aren't at the right position to begin discussing license yet.


That would make some sense if logic applied. Logic does not apply in the "new Amiga hardware" world. Eyetech had neither working hardware, control over development of 3rd party hardware, a sound business plan or remotely acceptable user support (I don't know about the funny "$500,000 annual revenue" bit), and they got the only existing licence. Not only that, but de facto they got a carte-blanche licence to sell whatever they can find to sell, currently existing or not, and they also got a say on what competitors, if any, that are supposed to get a licence. Despite that not a single one of the publicly presented prerequisites for getting a licence has been fulfilled, the Eyetech contract still stands, apparently.

Anyway, applying some logic now... ;) Disregarding that it doesn't make any business sense to enter the "new Amiga hardware market" at all, it makes even less sense to try to enter it and "develop" (or resell, whatever) any hardware unless one is absolutely certain that one will even be allowed to enter said "market"!

I'm afraid that the best, and probably only, chance for Troika or any other meaningless "Amiga hardware" outfit to sell anything to AmigaOS users is if they let Eyetech sell it.

Quote:
I'm fairly confident that once Troika proves this as a viable hardware solution, Bill ain't going to pass on a bit of money.


I don't see any reason for that confidence. The existence of the retarded licensing scheme per se means passing on more money than could be made if it instead were possible to actually sell AmigaOS, pointless "hardware partnerships" be damned. Even with the licensing scheme in place, AInc have passed on such money on several occasions, from vendors with actual existing and proven hardware instead of ever-changing pipe-dreams, bull$hit and expectations from bedroom consortia.


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Hammer 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 15-Sep-2006 10:12:39
#98 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 9-Mar-2003
Posts: 5246
From: Australia

Quote:
That's what they will be showing at BB4 I believe..

Define "showing at BB4" i.e. is reference board a functional prototype or non-functional prototype?

Last edited by Hammer on 15-Sep-2006 at 10:17 AM.


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Bodie_CI5 
Re:Amy update Part 2
Posted on 15-Sep-2006 10:49:58
#99 ]
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Joined: 29-Jul-2003
Posts: 6739
From: Unknown

Seehund, was that necessary? (re Gurumeditation's situation)


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AP 
Re: Amy design update Part 2
Posted on 15-Sep-2006 11:07:34
#100 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 31-Jul-2003
Posts: 617
From: Vienna/Austria

@hatschi: I know the interview. But I really want to hear, how Troika explains statements like "This is the first release which will be made in a limited quantity for (...) OS4 development. "


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