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| qlwiki:q68 [2020/05/11 21:58] – Added fast memory, Minerva and QLNET janbredenbeek | qlwiki:q68 [2023/08/25 12:22] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== Q68 ====== | ====== Q68 ====== |
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| | {{:qlwiki:q68_top.jpg?200|}} |
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| The Q68 is a complete replacement system for the QL. It is designed by Peter Graf, who also designed the [[qlwiki:Q40]] and [[qlwiki:Q60]] systems, and became available in limited quantities in December 2017. | The Q68 is a complete replacement system for the QL. It is designed by Peter Graf, who also designed the [[qlwiki:Q40]] and [[qlwiki:Q60]] systems, and became available in limited quantities in December 2017. |
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| The Q68, unlike its predecessors, is based around a single FPGA chip which emulates the 68000 processor and internal QL peripherals. The Q68 interacts with the user through a standard PC keyboard, mouse and SVGA monitor, while mass storage is provided by up to two SDHC cards. | The Q68, unlike its predecessors, is based around a single FPGA chip which implements a 68000 compatible processor and internal QL peripherals. The Q68 interacts with the user through a standard PC keyboard, mouse and SVGA monitor, while mass storage is provided by up to two SDHC cards. It is available in a black aluminium custom case or as a mainboard only. |
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| * Serial port via DB9 connector, speed up to 460k baud | * Serial port via DB9 connector, speed up to 460k baud |
| * I<sup>2</sup>C interface | * I<sup>2</sup>C interface |
| * 10base-T Ethernet interface (currently not supported by software) | * 10base-T Ethernet interface |
| * Extension bus | * Extension bus |
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| * 1024x768, 65536 colours | * 1024x768, 65536 colours |
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| As the video RAM is shared with the main RAM, using the higher resolutions with 256 or 65536 colour modes may slow down processing considerably (up to 56 percent in 1024x768x65536 mode). However, there is a 12K section of 'fast memory' available between addresses $19000 and $1BFFF which does not suffer from this contention and can be used to accomodate timing-critical code. | As the video RAM is shared with the main RAM, using the higher resolutions with 256 or 65536 colour modes may slow down processing considerably (up to 56 percent in 1024x768x65536 mode). However, there is a 12K section of 'fast memory' available between addresses $19000 and $1BFFF which does not suffer from this contention and can be used to accommodate timing-critical code. |
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| In order to exchange files with other systems, a second partition may be formatted on the card using the FAT16 file system, which is accessible by SMSQ/E using the FATx_ device. | In order to exchange files with other systems, a second partition may be formatted on the card using the FAT16 file system, which is accessible by SMSQ/E using the FATx_ device. |
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| In June 2019, [[https://qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2881|driver software]] became available which allows the Q68 to be connected to the original QL's [[qlwiki:QLNET]] ports, using a few additional electronic components. This allows the Q68 to be used as a file server for the QL, providing gigabytes of mass storage. | In June 2019, [[https://qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2881|driver software]] became available which allows the Q68 to be connected to the original QL's [[qlwiki:QLAN]] ports, using a few additional electronic components. This allows the Q68 to be used as a file server for the QL, providing gigabytes of mass storage. |
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| | In December 2020, [[https://qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3578|driver software]] for the ethernet interface also became available which supports the ARP, ICMP and UDP protocols. It also supports the [[http://www.dilwyn.qlforum.co.uk/internet/index.html|IP Network driver]] to re-enable some standard QL networking facilities over TCP/IP. |
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