Re: Announcing the Vector World's First Fully Functional CCPU on an FPGA

Nice.. I've been putting of repairing that Star Castle for a while, and I
may continue :)

On Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 3:03 PM, Ed Henciak <ehenciak@yahoo.com> wrote:

> This just plain rules :-)!
>
> Ed
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Mark Shostak <shostakmark@gmail.com>
> *To:* vectorlist@vectorlist.org
> *Sent:* Tue, October 26, 2010 3:59:08 PM
> *Subject:* VECTOR: Announcing the Vector World's First Fully Functional
> CCPU on an FPGA
>
> This was posted on the Cinelabs web site, and I wanted to share it with the
> list...
> -Mark
>
> ---
>
> Cinelabs is pleased to announce the first fully working CCPU implemented on
> a single chip FPGA. We have designed the new IRM in a custom IP Core. The
> design includes all of the original CCPU functionality, plus many
> enhancements.
>
> Cinelabs has been repairing CCPU boards for people the world over, for more
> than 10 years and has observed mounting issues with keeping original CCPU
> boards in working order. Their components are now over 30 years old and are
> failing much more frequently than even just 10 years ago. Compounding this
> is the increasing rarity and rising cost of, certain components such as
> bipolar PROMS and obscure static RAM.
>
> With Cinelabs’ advancement, collectors will no longer have to worry about
> trying to keep their old boards running, as there will be a reliable
> replacement available, based on modern, obtainable components.
>
> When incorporated into our new CCPU replacement board, the following
> features will be available:
>
> * Drop-in Replacement for All Cinematronics and Vectorbeam CPU Boards
> * Cycle for Cycle Accurate (Not an emulation)
> * New Conventional Analog XY Monitor Interface (with daughter board)
> * Expanded RAM for QB-3
> * Integrated Color Board Support
> * Single EPROM Operation
> * "Naked CCPU" (all registers displayed on LEDs)
> * Jumper Selectable Core Configuration (JMI, Instruction PROM Revision,
> etc.)
> * Driver ICs in DIP Packages for Easy Repair
>
> Additionally, there are many more features that will be incorporated into
> later revisions, such as Multi-Game support, High-Score Save, a Dynamically
> Re-Mappable Control Panel and Dual Z-80 Co-Processor configurations for
> games such as Rocket Racer and Demon. Also Game Networking, 10 MHz “Turbo”
> Operation, Early Frame Timeout Detection, Multi-Sound support, Monitor Input
> Protection, a full Hardware Test Channel, and more.
>
> The system (a.k.a. IRM) is presently running on a hand-made prototype (see
> picture), and a formal PCB is currently being made.
>
> [IMAGE DELETED FOR VECTORLIST POSTING; click here to view<http://www.cinelabs.com/IRM/proto1.jpeg>
> ]
>
> For more information and status updates, visit us at
> http://www.cinelabs.com/IRM
>
> Cinelabs is dedicated to vector graphics style, coin-operated video arcade
> machines. We are primarily focused on the line of arcade machines based on a
> design by Larry Rosenthal, and later manufactured by Cinematronics, Inc.
> Although we have no affiliation with either Larry Rosenthal or
> Cinematronics, Cinelabs is committed to preserving their work, enhancing it
> as time permits, and assisting collectors in repairing and preserving their
> own collection of Cinematronics and Vectorbeam machines.
>
> Thank You,
> Mark Shostak
>
>

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Received on Tue Oct 26 16:13:30 2010