Date   : Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:37:42 +1100
From   : awilliams@... (Alan Williams)
Subject: Harddisc fakery using a microcontroller - back

 
Mark haysman said:
How about a Xilinx Spartan using a Picoblaze processor, or even a Z80 or
6502 core, there's plenty of space left in an XC3S200A to put a core
plus other support logic, small ROM and RAM. Yes, you'd need to
interface the bus to 3.3v, but should be doable with a single
LVTH162245, or two at the most (I've not looked at how many signals
needed). The other side (SD) is already 3.3v so no problem there.

Alan said:

Yep that would be a dream :-)

I don't work in this field and so I am very restricted by the PCB's I
can make at home.  This tends to rule out fine pitch SMD devices, so I
am always on the look out for things that can be socketed.  Though I
must say I am looking with interest at the viability of getting boards
made in China rather than our kitchen when everybody else is in bed.

My other option was EPM3064ALC44-10 which is 44 pin plcc.  John Kortink
uses this in the goMMC, and a atMEGAsomthing in 40 pin dil.  This is
about 1/5 the price of the FPSlicks and all the dev tools are free.

I think its about 21 bits of 5v tolerant IO for the 1MHzE bus side.

I liked the idea that the same hardware could be different things
depending on the firmware, so either a ACB4000 emulator or just a
straight IDE interface, but I don't think this will be possible with the
latter device selection.

Alan