Kiwi - a 68k Homebrew Computer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 14, 2014, 06:24:39 pm
content: Take a look at this nice DIY 68k computer:https://www.ist-schlau.deI just ordered the kit, and it works:It has the good old Amiga feeling, but the V9990 graphics co-processor with lots of external VRAM, is more powerful, and my Kiwi has two original SIDs for 6 channel stereo retro sound

author: BloodyCactus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 02:14:52 pm
content: wow. If I was not building a GBA1000 amiga motherboard that would be awesome. Looks a bit expensive converting euro to usd but maybe oneday

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 02:35:53 pm
content: Yes, it is a bit expensive, because he produced only a handful of the boards and it is a 30 cm x 20 cm big board, with two dozen ICs and many more passives. And just the V9990 costs EUR 20-30 at eBay, because it is not produced anymore, so I think it is a fair price. He is very helpful, too, if you have problems with it, which I had, because it was delivered with one wrong IC and one broken IC, which he both changed for free.I will play more with it next month, now finishing my C64 MIDI interface software.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 03:16:15 pm
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on July 14, 2014, 06:24:39 pm68K won't die, eh?Anyone remember the Radio Electronics REACTS 68K?

author: BloodyCactus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 03:21:54 pm
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on July 15, 2014, 02:35:53 pmI think I remember seeing it on hackaday, was very impressive. I have the 68k DIP i pulled from my amiga500. 64pin dip its huge!I have too much amiga stuff to build (gba1000, 68060 accelerator, 4mb picasoii and thylacine usb board).but that kiwi board looks really nice. damn. now I want one.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 08:31:31 pm
content: Quote from: BloodyCactus on July 15, 2014, 03:21:54 pmOh yeah, but that is the fully 16bit 68000 version. Kiwi uses the MC68008, which has only 8bit bus, so a "much smaller" 48pin DIP onlyI have that enormous 68k chip including a matching ZIF socket too, but I am cutting my teeth on the 68008 one first - waaaay less stuff to wire up!

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2014, 09:25:44 pm
content: Quote from: janoc on July 15, 2014, 08:31:31 pmActually the Kiwi uses a MC68008 in 52 pin PLLC package, quite small:

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2014, 08:23:15 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on July 15, 2014, 09:25:44 pmAh ok, those "cheaters"! :-p I have the DIP one, found it easier to wire up on an universal protoboard than a square PLCC socket.J.

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 18, 2014, 12:02:33 pm
content: Yeah, the whole Kiwi is a bit cheating. It uses an Atmega for scanning the PS/2 keyboard and mouse and a CPLD for some glue logic and address decoding. But the CPLD is ok, because PLAs etc. are difficult to get and program and maybe too small, and address decoding with simple logic gates probably would have made the board twice as big. But at least instead of the Atmega, a 6500 CPU should have been used, like the 6500/1 used in the Amiga for the keyboard scanningBut still a nice computer.