The V5Z80P

(See also V6Z80P)

The V5Z80P is a computer system board designed in the style of the 8-bit home micros. It has some modern connectivity (IDE interface, PC keyboard / mouse) but is essentially a throwback to the good old days, y’know, when computing was fun :)

It’s entirely my own design – done as a hobby project. It has fully homebrew architecture (the FPGA and OS be reconfigured to whatever is required, for example a simple Spectrum 48 emulator is also provided). Power-wise it’s probably somewhere between the Amiga 500 and a PC Engine, see specs below. You can download the entire project with sources, PCB layout, parts list, hardware manual, videos, everything I have on it in fact.. here.

V5Z80P Hardware:

Z80 CPU @ 16MHz
Xilinx Spartan II XC2S150 FPGA
256KB System / Audio RAM
128KB Video RAM
128KB Sprite RAM
JTAG / onboard EEPROM config

Features of the default FPGA architecture (OSCA):

256 colours from 4096 colour palette
Video output: PAL (~256 non-interlaced lines) at 50Hz, NTSC @ 60Hz
VGA (240 lines) @ 60Hz
Horizontal resolution: 368 pixels full screen PAL (similar to C64/Amiga lo-res)
Bitmap mode: 1-8 bitplanes or “chunky” mode (linear 1 byte = 1 pixel)
Tilemap mode: 256 16×16 tiles (x 2, dual playfield)
127 sprite registers (256 colours, 55 sprites on any one line, width 16 pixels / height upto 256 pixels)
Amiga-like 4 Channel 8-bit digital sound system (can play Protracker modules easily).

 Default OS Features (FLOS)

Command Line (freezer cartridge style) environment.
Launch programs by filename, autoexec, batch files, alternate keymaps, fonts, colour scheme etc.
Internal Z80 disassembler, memory monitor etc
Up/Download data via serial port.
Load / save files to FAT16 IDE drive (Compact Flash cards supported)

Connectors:

1 x 40 Pin IDE port: HDD and Compact Flash card (via standard PC adapter) compatible.
2 x Joystick ports (Atari-standard)
1 x PS/2 Keyboard Port (PC standard)
1 x PS/2 Mouse Port (PC standard)
1 x RS232 Com Port (4 pin mini-DIN)
1 x RGB video out port (8 pin mini-DIN)
1 x 3.5″ Stereo out socket

I have one V5Z80P left for sale. As it is my own board, you’d be kind of on your own with it, for that reason its available at the below cost price of £50 plus postage. I will post worldwide – Paypal accepted. Email me at the following address if interested..