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OSI 600D Superboard Build

Any 8bit repairs, images, cool things, upgrades etc.
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stephen_usher
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by stephen_usher »

*mumble* *mumble* clocks *mumble*
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:09 pm *mumble* *mumble* clocks *mumble*
Really, don't get me started :(
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
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HigashiJun
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by HigashiJun »

This journey will be longer than expected IMHO...

I hope you will find out soon what's wrong with your current set up.
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 1:44 am This journey will be longer than expected IMHO...

I hope you will find out soon what's wrong with your current set up.
Me too :dizzy:
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by stephen_usher »

Isn't it supposed to be an 8MHz crystal?

UK101-clock.jpg
UK101-clock.jpg (46.01 KiB) Viewed 1084 times
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 2:04 pm Isn't it supposed to be an 8MHz crystal?


UK101-clock.jpg
Not on the OSI, and I have confirmed the crystal frequency with somebody else who built one:

Screenshot 2024-01-28 at 16.49.24.png
Screenshot 2024-01-28 at 16.49.24.png (135.65 KiB) Viewed 881 times

There are other schematics that show 3.7Mhz, but you could argue it's 3.9Mhz and the schematic is terrible quality.

The service manual shows this:

Screenshot 2024-01-28 at 16.54.06.png
Screenshot 2024-01-28 at 16.54.06.png (575.09 KiB) Viewed 881 times
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by stephen_usher »

That 74LS86 is acting as a clock doubler isn't it?

The 4MHz output is on U58 pin 3 and that's pushed through one of the XOR gates on U79 before going into a second gate on U79 and XORed with the centre frequency of the crystal oscillation circuit, which will be ahead of the output from U58, creating a second pulse for every pulse from the crystal. Not regularly timed but it's an oscillation, so generating an 8MHz-ish clock.

I'm guessing that they're relying upon exact delay timings from the gates in the chips. If you don't have the precise types and manufacturers then the timings will change and it won't work. Very sketchy.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 5:23 pm That 74LS86 is acting as a clock doubler isn't it?

The 4MHz output is on U58 pin 3 and that's pushed through one of the XOR gates on U79 before going into a second gate on U79 and XORed with the centre frequency of the crystal oscillation circuit, which will be ahead of the output from U58, creating a second pulse for every pulse from the crystal. Not regularly timed but it's an oscillation, so generating an 8MHz-ish clock.

I'm guessing that they're relying upon exact delay timings from the gates in the chips. If you don't have the precise types and manufacturers then the timings will change and it won't work. Very sketchy.
What you're saying makes sense, but from the point of view of what's gone before, I was at one point getting 1Mhz to the CPU from the clock circuit, but it is now just delivering 500Khz, suggesting perhaps something that should be happening at U79 isn't.

It is designed to run at 1Mhz, but if the clocks are crappy across the board, even if the PHI0 clock is good, it doesn't follow that others are around the board.

I'll go and check the clocks at U58, U79 and U29, see what's what.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by stephen_usher »

It could be that the timing with the chips you have are marginal, especially if the ones you're using are too fast. I'm guessing that they're hoping the delay is half a clock cycle. Too fast and there's no time to create the extra pulse. Was an 74LS part specified or just a plain 74?
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
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Re: OSI 600D Superboard Build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:08 pm It could be that the timing with the chips you have are marginal, especially if the ones you're using are too fast. I'm guessing that they're hoping the delay is half a clock cycle. Too fast and there's no time to create the extra pulse. Was an 74LS part specified or just a plain 74?
U58 is a straight 7400 and that's what I'm using, and I tried swapping it out but no change. U79 is not behaving though, I checked earlier and I have 4Mhz where I was expecting, but at pin 6 of U79 there is nothing at all.

U79 tests fine in my TL 866, but that doesn't mean it's going to work in this scenario if it's marginal. I'd need to check, but I think an LS is specified.

I thought I had spares, but I don't so will check if it's an an LS or not and order some more.

Pin 12 of the LS93 should be on about 500Khz and it's half that, so more evidence we the 4Mhz input isn't right and it should be 8, then pin 11 should be 1Mhz and not 500Khz.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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