A Retro computer project => FPGA peripheral board + 3.3V RCBUS slot + CPU board(s) making a custom system.
Retro-PETER is a family of boards based around the Lattice ECP5 FPGA to create a custom retro computer system.
- PETER base board with FPGA provides the peripheral features. It has on board SRAM memory but no CPU.
- One 3.3V RCBUS connector provides a CPU slot.
- One 3.3V RCBUS expansion connector allows connection of an RCBUS backplane for more card slots.
- GOLD is a simple LED board that connects to 6 GPIO outputs for flashing lights and debug info. I love a binary counter.
- BALD is an RCBUS LED card that flickers lights when there is activity. I found this useful for bringup of new CPU's either on an RCBUS CPU card or internal CPU cores.
- RANDY is a bus adapter from RCBUS to John's Basement 2067-Z8S180 card.
- ZORO is a Z180 RCBUS CPU card.
- SEWER is an eZ80 CPU card.
WARNING : This is a 3.3V system and any connections to PETER, including RCBUS, must NOT exceed 3.3V.
Disclaimer This is a hobby project and a vehicle for play. Not intended to be a product or to be optimised for size, cost, function, or meet any standard. All boards are prototypes and should be considered such even if there are new revisions over time.
John Winans has a video series and boards for an ice40HX4K + Z180 CPU card aka Z80 Nouveau. There is also a companion CP/M video series and project files. This project grew from following along with those video's and projects. Here are some links to follow John's work :
- John's Basement FPGA YouTube series.
- Supporting 2057-ice40HX4K board.
- Code for Series.
- John's Basement Z80 Nouveau YouTube series.
- Supporting 2067-Z8S180 board.
- Code for Series.
- John's Basement Z80 Retro YouTube series covering CP/M.
- CP/M SW to go along with the video series and which supports 2057-ice40HX4K + 2067-Z8S180 aka Z80 Nouveau.
- Johns Z80 Retro! Discord channel.