exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

This is not a typical wanted post, but there are 2 things that I'd pay money for:

1) Lynx battery mod - Lynx eats through AAA batteries very fast. I'd like to buy a mod that would replace them with with rechargeable batteries (laptop cell?) with integrated charging circuit so I dould use my phone charger with them.

2) (I do not know if it is possible, please people who know say so): Falcon accelerator with dual port ST-RAM. This solution would have very fast ST-RAM that can be accessible both by the chipset and CPU at the same time. Only IO space ($00FF0000-$00FFFFFF IIRC) should be routed by original Falcon bus. This would give us very fast ST-RAM. Is it possible?

If you upgrade your Atari Lynx screen the battery life improves no-end. But if you don't want to do that Best Electronics in USA sells an external rechargeable battery pack.

https://www.best-electronics-ca.com/lynx_bp.htm

I agree with @alexh , upgrade the screen and battery life will be much improved.

I used a BennVenn screen in mine, and liked it so much I fitted a BennVenn screen to my Game Gear too, and it was equally brilliant.

AdamK wrote: 23 Nov 2023 09:42 2) (I do not know if it is possible, please people who know say so): Falcon accelerator with dual port ST-RAM. This solution would have very fast ST-RAM that can be accessible both by the chipset and CPU at the same time. Only IO space ($00FF0000-$00FFFFFF IIRC) should be routed by original Falcon bus. This would give us very fast ST-RAM. Is it possible?

I'm not aware of anything that does this, but a similar idea is on my (very long) list of things I'd like to work on.

I'd not do it with dual ported RAM, but I'd emulate DRAM with SRAM, providing lots of down cycles to service a parallel interface to a 50MHz 030 in the expansion port.

So yes, I'm sure it's doable. No, I'm not sure such a thing yet exists.

BW

alexh wrote: 23 Nov 2023 11:52 If you upgrade your Atari Lynx screen the battery life improves no-end. But if you don't want to do that Best Electronics in USA sells an external rechargeable battery pack.

https://www.best-electronics-ca.com/lynx_bp.htm

I have screen upgrade it is great. I know that battery pack exist, but I'd really like to have something I described.

Badwolf wrote: 23 Nov 2023 12:55

AdamK wrote: 23 Nov 2023 09:42 2) (I do not know if it is possible, please people who know say so): Falcon accelerator with dual port ST-RAM. This solution would have very fast ST-RAM that can be accessible both by the chipset and CPU at the same time. Only IO space ($00FF0000-$00FFFFFF IIRC) should be routed by original Falcon bus. This would give us very fast ST-RAM. Is it possible?

I'm not aware of anything that does this, but a similar idea is on my (very long) list of things I'd like to work on.

I'd not do it with dual ported RAM, but I'd emulate DRAM with SRAM, providing lots of down cycles to service a parallel interface to a 50MHz 030 in the expansion port.

So yes, I'm sure it's doable. No, I'm not sure such a thing yet exists.

BW

SRAM will probably do well, but I'm worried about a cost. How much 16MB SRAM costs today? Also, why not go past 030? There is 080 and PiStorm :)

Dual ported RAM is no better than normal RAM for this application as when one side is reading or writing the other side is blocked from access and has to wait. I've looked into this for another project. Also dual ported RAM is VERY expensive.

You can also get the adapter that lets you plug your Lynx into any USB port for
a power supply.

As long as you're inside or in a vehicle, you're golden. :)

https://songbird-productions.com/produc ... r-adapter/

PS I did the screen upgrade on my Lynx - 100% highly recommended!

I did a Benn Venn screen upgrade on my Lynx II along with an ElcheapoSD cart and have been using it on Rechargeable batteries.

Originally I got two sets of batteries so I could swap them out but it lasts for so long I now only use the one set.

AdamK wrote: 23 Nov 2023 14:16

Badwolf wrote: So yes, I'm sure it's doable. No, I'm not sure such a thing yet exists.

SRAM will probably do well, but I'm worried about a cost. How much 16MB SRAM costs today?

About £5 per megabyte if you have space for 7 chips.

Also, why not go past 030? There is 080 and PiStorm :)

A few reasons.

1) I have several 50MHz 030 board and know how to do them.

2) 080 isn't a real processor and almost certainly doesn't work with the ST series.

3) In an experiment alter as few variables at once as possible. Preferably only one at a time.

4) PiStorm struggles to service a 4MB/s 8MHz ST memory bus, it would get precisely zero benefit on a Falcon bus which is already up to twice as fast.

BW