DIY Z80 Computing
Moderator: MaxCoderz Staff
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
And where did you get the materials? I have a Beginner's Electronics kit with resistors, capacitors, and all, but I'm particularly interested in finding out where you got the screen.
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
- benryves
- Maxcoderz Staff
- Posts: 3087
- Joined: Thu 16 Dec, 2004 10:06 pm
- Location: Croydon, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
The LCD was from Rapid Electronics. Some other parts were sourced from RS Components, the Z80 was from Farnell.
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Ok "color LCD Module" returned some results that were more on topic.
Check out these color screens!
http://www.lcd-modules.com/color-LCD.htm
Do you think it would be possible to run something like this on a battery source? I guess all you'd need is the correct voltage.
Hmmmm...
Check out these color screens!
http://www.lcd-modules.com/color-LCD.htm
Do you think it would be possible to run something like this on a battery source? I guess all you'd need is the correct voltage.
Hmmmm...
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
- benryves
- Maxcoderz Staff
- Posts: 3087
- Joined: Thu 16 Dec, 2004 10:06 pm
- Location: Croydon, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
The biggest drain on mine is the backlight. The LCD itself has a typical rating of 6.77mA at 5V. The backlight has a maximum rating (ie, full brightness) of 975mA at 4.2V.
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Hmmmm... i can't find any info on the drain of these LCDs. After some research I decided I would get a TFT LCD rather than an STN one. Color and refresh speed seem to be better.
A 5.7" screen ought to do the trick, with a resolution of 320x240. It says the input is "Digital 18-Bits parallel RGB," so I suppose I'll have to figure out what that means and how to interface with it. But I should be working on my college essay...![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/grayscale_blank.gif)
Even better parts repository:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... &keywords=
A 5.7" screen ought to do the trick, with a resolution of 320x240. It says the input is "Digital 18-Bits parallel RGB," so I suppose I'll have to figure out what that means and how to interface with it. But I should be working on my college essay...
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/grayscale_blank.gif)
Even better parts repository:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... &keywords=
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
- benryves
- Maxcoderz Staff
- Posts: 3087
- Joined: Thu 16 Dec, 2004 10:06 pm
- Location: Croydon, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Digi-Key are based in the US, which incurs a rather extortionate P&P overhead (Rapid and Farnell are free within the UK once you've made up the minimum order). As I'm sure you noticed the sites I linked to were all UK-based, so probably not all that useful for you. (RS Components and Farnell are international companies, though, and will have a US base).
To work out what sort of LCD you need you'll need to work out how it's controlled. The one I'm using has on-board RAM and a controller so all you need to do is send it the data to display via its 8-bit data port.
To work out what sort of LCD you need you'll need to work out how it's controlled. The one I'm using has on-board RAM and a controller so all you need to do is send it the data to display via its 8-bit data port.
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Well, yes and no. The sites you referenced weren't useful for ordering from, but they had a lot of keywords that helped narrow my search.
Well, I want to end up running SymbOS, so I need some sort of display that supports 4 colors and a 320x200 CGA resolution. Your advice about knowing the controls is good, however. I'll need to look into that.
Well, I want to end up running SymbOS, so I need some sort of display that supports 4 colors and a 320x200 CGA resolution. Your advice about knowing the controls is good, however. I'll need to look into that.
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
- benryves
- Maxcoderz Staff
- Posts: 3087
- Joined: Thu 16 Dec, 2004 10:06 pm
- Location: Croydon, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
If you can find the datasheet for the LCD, that should have all the info you need. Mine is a PG12864LRS-ANN-H, and page 9 onwards lists the commands. By checking that out first I had a pretty decent idea of how I could use the device!
I don't know how SymbOS needs to talk to the display, but you may be able to find a video display controller that provides RGB output that you could (for example) hook up to an LCD cannibalised from something like a pocket TV.
I don't know how SymbOS needs to talk to the display, but you may be able to find a video display controller that provides RGB output that you could (for example) hook up to an LCD cannibalised from something like a pocket TV.
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Hmmm... symbOS is closed source, and has separate compiled versions for specific machines. I'll get it running in an emulator and try to see what it needs to run.
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Found this, but it looks like cheating: It's a pre-built modern CPC clone.
http://www.symbos.de/trex.htm
![Image](http://www.symbos.de/gfx/trex/trex-workstation.jpg)
http://www.symbos.de/trex.htm
![Image](http://www.symbos.de/gfx/trex/trex-workstation.jpg)
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
- benryves
- Maxcoderz Staff
- Posts: 3087
- Joined: Thu 16 Dec, 2004 10:06 pm
- Location: Croydon, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Being closed source makes life rather difficult. Building a CPC clone sounds like the most practical solution in that case.
Failing that, there's always Contiki.
Failing that, there's always Contiki.
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
Hmm... that looks interesting. And internet enabled?
Is it for the z80? Or does being open-source mean that that wouldn't matter anyways?
Is it for the z80? Or does being open-source mean that that wouldn't matter anyways?
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
http://www.sharpsma.com/Page.aspx/ameri ... 050Q5DR01/
This is the closest I've gotten to what I need, and I can get it on eBay for $25, $11 shipping (That's about 45 euros). It can be returned for the $25 back, but I would have to pay for shipping back and wouldn't get refunded for the initial shipping, so I would want to be sure that I could use it. Let me know your thoughts on it, I'll keep researching.
This is the closest I've gotten to what I need, and I can get it on eBay for $25, $11 shipping (That's about 45 euros). It can be returned for the $25 back, but I would have to pay for shipping back and wouldn't get refunded for the initial shipping, so I would want to be sure that I could use it. Let me know your thoughts on it, I'll keep researching.
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
- benryves
- Maxcoderz Staff
- Posts: 3087
- Joined: Thu 16 Dec, 2004 10:06 pm
- Location: Croydon, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
There is a Z80 version, yes. I believe Contiki is written in C.waeV wrote:Is it for the z80? Or does being open-source mean that that wouldn't matter anyways?
I think you need to drive that LCD yourself. That is, you'll need some external hardware to generate the synchronisation signals and constantly refresh the screen by pumping in the value for each RGB element.so I would want to be sure that I could use it. Let me know your thoughts on it, I'll keep researching.
Ideally what you need is some sort of LCD that has a built-in controller and RAM, so all you need to do is write to its RAM when you want to change is on the display.
Re: DIY Z80 Computing
I can't find anything. Most websites that sell this sort of stuff only sell to businesses and have a minimum purchase number, and I can't find good info on the ones that do sell to consumers. I haven't abandoned the idea, though, and thanks for your help so far.
I posted on this topic at ubuntuforums.org, and got a few interesting replies...
I posted on this topic at ubuntuforums.org, and got a few interesting replies...
cardinals_fan wrote:LateNiteTV wrote:if i were you, i would check out netbsd and learn some z80 asm.While NetBSD doesn't run on z80 (as noted above), it does run on some fairly cool stuff...WaeV wrote:Actually, z80 asm lead me to this topic.Why NetBSD?
http://www.embeddedarm.com/software/arm ... oaster.php
My ethicator machine must have had a built-in moral compromise spectral release phantasmatron! I'm a genius!
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)
![Image](http://corsairstudios.us/files/sig.png)