Reply 980 of 3179, by shock__
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- Oldbie
I've looked into the 4MB ROM approach once again ... case in point, anyone up to soldering TSOP48 with a pitch 1.5x as fine as the InterWave? 😀 This certainly is overkill for the average hobbyist and something I'd have to teach myself first.
After checking into it various times I think now is the point where I can definitely postpone that idea due to a number of reasons.
- There is no 4MB ROMset known to exist
- The ROMMaker included in the InterWave SDK is an older version
- The 4MB ROM would have to be hardcoded in the GUS PnP drivers to be useable - considering the drivers in the InterWave SDK on the internet are outdated this could lead to a number of issues. An alternative approach would be hacking the existing GUS PnP drivers - something I cannot do or teach myself in a sufficient time.
- I'm unsure about the actual implementation in hardware (very likely via the RA20 + RA21 lines, but I could be wrong)
- Suitable ROM ICs are only available in packages I don't consider hobbyist friendly (and not that easy to obtain either)
- Adding a footprint for 32mbit ROM ICs would require rerouting a majority of the layout left to the InterWave chip, the general area where I spent 60% of the time for the project on.
I think I'll instead look at a way to make the current 1MB ROM flashable in circuit instead (which is just an idea for now - not a feature announcement) 😉
On the other hand I'm currently adapting the layout a bit to accept SOJ-sockets for the DRAM, making the card a bit more user serviceable and giving it a bit more professional look (afterall one of those DRAMs was dead on the prototype).
Also: ISA faceplate 😀 http://i.imgur.com/WPE2PN3.jpg
Current Project: new GUS PnP compatible soundcard
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