PCMCIA RTG card 'P-Vision' in advanced development

[rubber_jonnie]

The problem I ran into with the PCMCIA slot an my accelerator is that when the accelerator is configured for 8 Megs, it prevents anything working in the card slot.

That only happens with cheap accelerators with processors with only 24-bit address lines. Ones with 32-bit address lines leave a hole for PCMCIA in the memory map.

Yes, makes sense.

[SlCKB0Y]

Especially with Framethrower in the works (A600 ready now, A1200 early 2026).

The Framethrower for the A1200 is, for me, a holy grail piece of hardware. Unfortunately, at this stage I’m fairly convinced that it’s vapourware, never to actually be released… :cry:

[Swissfalcon]

The framethrower was demonstrated at the Amiga 40, I had it in my hands:

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[terriblefire]

Anyone know where the PCMCIA connectors for this can be got? i've a much simpler project in the works (not a video card) and i'm struggling to source anything PCMCIA.

[terriblefire]

The problem I ran into with the PCMCIA slot an my accelerator is that when the accelerator is configured for 8 Megs, it prevents anything working in the card slot.

That only happens with cheap accelerators with processors with only 24-bit address lines. Ones with 32-bit address lines leave a hole for PCMCIA in the memory map.

I dont think this is correct. Because the the upper 8 bit lines of the address bus are not even connected to the amiga (i.e. between the edge connector and anywhere on the amiga). The issue is usually fixed by not even letting the amiga see cycles that are not for it.

[Higgy]

Anyone know where the PCMCIA connectors for this can be got? i've a much simpler project in the works (not a video card) and i'm struggling to source anything PCMCIA.

Do you have an 1k.org account? Developer is on there.

If you don't, then I can pop on and ask.

Also there is another project, not Amiga specific but is an IDE emulator+sound card etc. They must also be sourcing connectors:
https://www.yyzkevin.com/

[rubber_jonnie]

That only happens with cheap accelerators with processors with only 24-bit address lines. Ones with 32-bit address lines leave a hole for PCMCIA in the memory map.

I dont think this is correct. Because the the upper 8 bit lines of the address bus are not even connected to the amiga (i.e. between the edge connector and anywhere on the amiga). The issue is usually fixed by not even letting the amiga see cycles that are not for it.

Well I don't know enough about it to comment further, only what I saw reported on line regarding this particular accelerator, and the PCMCIA slot never worked when I had it set up for 8MB RAM, but always worked with 4MB.

Would be nice to have a definitive answer.

[alexh]

That only happens with cheap accelerators with processors with only 24-bit address lines. Ones with 32-bit address lines leave a hole for PCMCIA in the memory map.

I dont think this is correct. Because the the upper 8 bit lines of the address bus are not even connected to the amiga (i.e. between the edge connector and anywhere on the amiga). The issue is usually fixed by not even letting the amiga see cycles that are not for it.

I understand it was an "over simplification". And I bow to your knowledge and experience.

Would be nice to have a definitive answer.
The PCMCIA slot never worked when I had it set up for 8MB RAM, but always worked with 4MB.

Accelerators with only 24-bit Address lines have a smaller address map, they still need to map their FastRAM somewhere, and it is usually to addresses which overlap the PCMCIA memory space.

Given what TF has said, the CPLD/FPGA on the accelerator does "not let the amiga see cycles" within this address range making it impossible to access PCMCIA memory space.

Some accelerators have a jumper which limits FastRAM to 4MB, that needs less space in the Amiga memory map and it doesn't need to overlap PCMCIA address space. Given by what TF said, the jumper makes the CPLD/FPGA "let the amiga see cycles" for the PCMCIA memory space.

CPUs with 32-bit address lines can map their FastRAM above 24-bit and does not need to overlap any Amiga address space. So the CPLD/FPGA on the accelerator will "let the amiga see cycles" for the PCMCIA memory space.

Ultimately it is a compromise for having a smaller address map on CPUs with only 24-bit address lines.

[rubber_jonnie]

I dont think this is correct. Because the the upper 8 bit lines of the address bus are not even connected to the amiga (i.e. between the edge connector and anywhere on the amiga). The issue is usually fixed by not even letting the amiga see cycles that are not for it.

I understand it was an "over simplification". And I bow to your knowledge and experience.

Would be nice to have a definitive answer.
The PCMCIA slot never worked when I had it set up for 8MB RAM, but always worked with 4MB.

Accelerators with only 24-bit Address lines have a smaller address map, they still need to map their FastRAM somewhere, and it is usually to addresses which overlap the PCMCIA memory space.

Given what TF has said, the CPLD/FPGA on the accelerator does "not let the amiga see cycles" within this address range making it impossible to access PCMCIA memory space.

Some accelerators have a jumper which limits FastRAM to 4MB, that needs less space in the Amiga memory map and it doesn't need to overlap PCMCIA address space. Given by what TF said, the jumper makes the CPLD/FPGA "let the amiga see cycles" for the PCMCIA memory space.

CPUs with 32-bit address lines can map their FastRAM above 24-bit and does not need to overlap any Amiga address space. So the CPLD/FPGA on the accelerator will "let the amiga see cycles" for the PCMCIA memory space.

Ultimately it is a compromise for having a smaller address map on CPUs with only 24-bit address lines.

Cool, thanks makes sense.

[terriblefire]

Anyone know where the PCMCIA connectors for this can be got? i've a much simpler project in the works (not a video card) and i'm struggling to source anything PCMCIA.

Do you have an 1k.org account? Developer is on there.

If you don't, then I can pop on and ask.

Also there is another project, not Amiga specific but is an IDE emulator+sound card etc. They must also be sourcing connectors:
https://www.yyzkevin.com/

Chucky contacted him and we got a rage post back. (the A1K guy, i think he's angry that i didnt let him take over the 4060 project).