ZX Time #06 09 января 2002

Железо

Perspective - "Sprinter 2000. And the prospect of whether it is for the Spectrum?".

Perspective?


          (C) Peters +,

              all rights reserved

          (R) found on the Internet KilleRam

          (R) translation from English -

              Golden Max


  Editor's Note: As you can see, the name
section is in the nature of the following question: "Sprinter. 
And the prospect of whether it is for Spectrum? ". We provide 
you with some technical information on this computer 
(incidentally, these materials were also found in other 
publications), which was pumped from the site of Peters + 
KilleRam'om. The quality of the translation, please do not 
judge strictly, as the three of us nobody in the gland does not 
understand:). And in general - who needed - will understand 
:))). 


                 - - -


                Sprinter



             Representation


  Computer motherboard Sprinter
- Mainboard Sp2000, which was
developed in late 2000 specifically to
support future computer models.
It has some features that
described below.


  Computer model is determined
configurations in ROM. This definition
features and opportunities for
user.


  Computer configuration - position
logical components in the PDL.


  Configuration mode - change
characteristics of the computer
current configuration.


  Fast memory - RAM, where the processor can
operate at high frequencies.


  Physical block of memory - blocks
16K. Used the number for this -
# 00 .. # FF


  Logical unit of memory - 16KB block
Spectrum memory circuits. Used
Decimal number - 0 .. 15


  A brief description of the computer Sprinter.

CPU Z84C15 (21MHz/3.5MHz)
4MB (64MB)
Quick 64KB RAM
256K ROM
256KB (512KB Video RAM)
FDD Controller WD1793
Support FDD: 3,5 "disk (1.44Mb/720Kb)

               5.25 "disk (720KB)
Real-Time Clock, CMOS
HDD Controller IDE / AT
Keyboard controler 101key/AT
Controller Mouse MS-Mouse
Slot ISA-8
Audio AY-3-8910 (PLD),
8-bit stereo (16 bit);
TELEVISION Video, CGA-analog
monitor, RGB Graphics Mode
320x256x256, 640x256x16, screen standard
Spectrum text mode is 80x32x16.


              Implementation.


  CPU Z84C15 and ALTERA PLD EP1K30QC208-3
- The core of a sprint. Other ingredients:
ROM; slot SIMM; video RAM 64KB
Fast RAM; FDD controller (WD1793);
buffer for the joystick, ribbon, printer
keyboard, FDD, HDD and mouse; ISA 8 bit;
ALTERA PLD EPM7064SLC100-10. This PLD is not
changes. This configuration is
standard. At mainboard'e Sprinter
there is a place for real-time clock
(CMOS).


  For the periphery, and the buffer chips are
decoder inputs are connected
with the CPU through the PLD. This makes it easy
address the replaced devices, without
changing lanes mainboard.


  When you turn on your computer and after it
reboot PLD loads data from
Rom. This allows you to change the data in
PLD.


  The computer has a flexible architecture.
For example, a specific port addresses
periphery, can be changed
reprogramming the PLD. However,
real addresses can be used
only real configuration,
For example, in the configuration of the Spectrum.


         Loading configurations.


  After switching, all data in the PLD
cleaned and PLD awaits loading data
ROM or faster RAM included in place
memory addresses. In the page of ROM available
configuration information PLD. Program
configuration loads flag Fast
RAM, and if it happens - are loaded
data from the Fast RAM in the PLD. If the flag
can not be found - loads data from a ROM.
This - the basis of a reconfiguration of a sprint.


         Description of the configuration.


  Two configurations are included in the
modern computer model Sprinter.


        The configuration of a sprint.


  This - the main configuration of a sprint.
Includes 4MB of memory, a graphical screen with
regimes 320h256 pixels (256 colors) and
640h256 Pixels (16 colors). Profiles
using 16M colors. Also
Configuration includes a text mode 80h32
character (16 colors). Controller FDD,
Controller IDE, keyboard controller
are built on the internal serial
port of the processor, accelerator, PLD 8
single bits.


  The accelerator will be used for
action with the RAM and videoRAM, it accelerates
transmission of data blocks and
Filling up the physical RAM
speed limit of RAM. Accelerate
logical data processing, it
blocked on the functions AND, OR, XOR.


        The configuration of the Spectrum.


  This configuration was created for
the possibility of using the software
software created for the computer ZX
SPECTRUM and its several clones.
Configuration can operate in
several modes. There's Music
co-processor AY-3-8910, which works
in all modes.


           Sprinter ZX mode.


  This - the interim regime for access
the ability of Sprinter in the Mode
SPECTRUM'a. This solution enables
expand the ability of ZX-programs
"Iron" level.


          ZX Spectrum mode.


  This mode is designed for 100%
compatibility with the original model
ZX Spectrum (ULA, synchronization screen
etc.).


           Mode Pentagon 128


  The most popular Russian (and not
only) Spectrum with 128K RAM. Port
1FFDh not available, this regime is fully
synchronized with the Pentagon


           Mode Scorpion 256


  Russian Spectrum clone with 256K.
Port 1FFDh available.


           Mode Pentagon 512


  Russian Spectrum clone with 512K of RAM.
Port 1FFDh not available. Full Time
synchronization with the Pentagon.


      Distribution of RAM sprinter.


  Sprinter Distribution of RAM - double
level.


  Computer RAM (4MB) is divided into
blocks of 16KB, the block number is determined
one byte. Address processor Z80
divided into 4 blocks with addresses # 0000
.. # 3FFF, # 4000 .. # 7FFF, # 8000 .. # BFFF
And # C000 .. # FFFF, which are called
numbers 0, 1, 2 and 3 ...


  ROM and RAM too quickly divided into
blocks of 16KB. Physical page number
ROM is set to # E0 .. # EF, and Fast
RAM - # F0 .. # FF. Now for addressing
Fast RAM will only be used
2 and 1 bits of that number.


  The remaining 3 ports of memory pages
are currently in reserve.


                Part 2.


  The scheme of memory allocation allows
joining together address the processor is not
only with the RAM or ROM, but also with
ports and memory card inserted into ISA-
in the connector. In the address # C000 .. # FFFF through
Port # 1FFD connected extended
page of RAM in their place may
redirect connectors. It turns out that
several bytes can be controlled and
pages, and ports and slots.



  Once connected to memory blocks
Spectrum configuration - combined with
logical units of the scheme
Spectrum allocation. In
each window processor logical place
block of memory allocated for
Spectrum. In the 0 ROM in the box 1 -
page 5, in box 2 - page 2,
box 3, any of the pages 0 .. 7
regime Pentagon-128, for the regime
Scorpio-256 0 .. 15 for treatment
Pentagon 512 - and 0 .. 31.


  Each logical unit has
own physical page number
RAM. Logical page with the numbers 0, 2
and 5 are double rooms, a first for
static connection in the windows of 0, 1, 2
with the processor. Non-physical
pages are placed in these cells.


  In the configuration of each of the Spectrum
Page ROM or RAM has a port in
which placed the physical number of
page. 32 ports of memory pages -
total (active Pantagon-512
added 16 ports). 16 ports
used for page numbers, RAM
connected in the third window of the processor.
Three ports used to connect
page of RAM in windows 0 .. 2. Some ports
will be used to connect
different pages of ROM. One port - for
Rapid connection RAM instead of the page
Rom. And one port - the port system
page, which is connected to the place immediately ROM
after restarting the computer keyboard
Ctrl + Alt + Del.

                <To be continued ...>


                 *