# 040E_FAQ.TXT - 040Excel FAQ # Copyright (C) 2000 Tachibana Eriko # # This text file is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by # the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or # (at your option) any later version. # # This text file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, # but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of # MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the # GNU General Public License for more details. # # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License # along with this text file; if not, write to the Free Software # Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 # USA <<< 040Excel FAQ >>> ==== Read First ====================================================== This is an FAQ for 040Excel. As the \xell40 board on Mankai Net was about to become a question board, I personally decided to create an FAQ. Most of this info was written by Makio from the \xell40 board, but it also includes the personal point of view and thoughts of the author of the FAQ. Please have a look at the \xell40 on Mankai Net as well. This text file is not a program, but the copyright and distribution provisions comply with the GNU General Public License version 2 or above. Also, there is no warranty for this information, therefore you should use it at your own risk. Author-Producer: Tachibana Eriko (Tachibana Eririn) 2000-01-19 release 1.0 Tachibana Eriko E-mail: ======================================== ==== FAQ ============================================================= ================ Q. What's the latest news (situation as it presents itself today)? A. Please read the \xell40 board on Mankai Net to get the latest news or if you need more info. ================ Q. Which topics are discussed on 040Excel? A. These are the main topics which are discussed: Trial version Primary limited distribution version for XVI Primary limited distribution version for SUPER and previous versions Primary general distribution version for XVI Primary general distribution version for SUPER and previous versions Expansion slot version -Trial version It's the trial version. -Primary limited distribution version This is meant for the review of individual specificities in each category, for software development, and for the discovery of bugs which were left unnoticed by the developers. Therefore, it could be unstable and the logic could be rewritten or there could be a reorganization of jumpers after its distribution. The limited 10 releases are cheaper than the primary general distribution version. The recruitment of distributors is already finished. -Primary general distribution version Mass-production version. The recruitment of distributors is already finished (the recruitment was held until the 14th of November 1999). -Expansion slot version This is to be inserted in the expansion slot of the X68000 Compact XVI and X68030 Compact. However, it is unconfirmed whether the expansion slot version will be produced or not. In addition, the XVI-compatible machines are as follows: CZ-634C-TN X68000 XVI CZ-644C-TN X68000 XVI-HD The machines compatible with SUPER and prior versions are as follows: CZ-601C-GY/BK X68000 ACE CZ-611C-GY/BK X68000 ACE-HD CZ-602C-BK/GY X68000 EXPERT CZ-612C-BK X68000 EXPERT-HD CZ-603C-BK/GY X68000 EXPERT2 CZ-613C-BK X68000 EXPERT2-HD CZ-604C-TN X68000 SUPER CZ-623C-TN X68000 SUPER-HD ================ Q. How much is it going to cost? A. The prices of the primary general distribution versions are below: 040Excel (XVI-version) 40,000 yen 040Excel (SUPER and previous versions) 40,000 yen XC68LC040RC25 + 50MHzOSC 4,000 yen XC68LC040RC33 + 66MHzOSC 8,000 yen MC68040RC33 + 66MHzOSC 25,000 yen The 040Excel does not include an MPU, an oscillator (OSC), or SDRAM. You should take care of this by yourself or order one or several of the extra parts from above. ================ Q. When will these be distributed? A. The distribution of the primary limited distribution version was announced for 1999, but with the supply of chips being delayed, it has been delayed until January 2000. As of the writing of this FAQ, it still has not been distributed. The distribution of the primary general distribution version is announced for March-April 2000 because of a few minor changes in the circuit. ================ Q. Are you not recruiting anymore? A. The recruitment for the primary general distribution version is already finished, but a secondary distribution is announced for around the end of the distribution. The recruitment is announced for June 2000. ================ Q. What is being used in the MPU? A. It will use a 68040 or a 68LC040. 68EC040 cannot be used because it does not contain an MMU. ================ Q. Can the RAM be expanded? A. There is a DIMM socket on the 040Excel which allows the installation of SDRAM and the use of local memory. At this moment, you can use 64MB or 128MB of SDRAM. You will probably also be able to use 256MB ones. ================ Q. Where is the SDRAM allocated to? A. First, it is allocated to the area where the main RAM is unmounted within the main memory area ($00000000 to $00BFFFFF). For example, if originally 2MB are mounted in the main unit, the SDRAM will be allocated from $00200000 to $00BFFFFF. The RAM located beyond the 16MB of SDRAM are allocated as high memory beyond $01000000. However, if the main unit has been upgraded, the main RAM will be ignored and SDRAM will be allocated over the entire main memory area. ================ Q. Does DMA go through SDRAM? A. No, it doesn't. However, if the main unit has been upgraded, DMA will go through the SDRAM which has been allocated to the main RAM area ($00000000 to $00BFFFFF). On the other hand, there is a concept in which DMA goes through SDRAM with some software magic. Let's hope Mr. Yamapu can take care of this. ================ Q. Can you turn high memory on/off? A. This is probably not possible and will always be visible (as being turned on). Even if high memory is visible during start time, it does not mean that there is a problem during start time. ================ Q. Is the 68060 included? A. We are planning to include it in the primary general distribution version. However, in the XVI case, the content of the ROM seems to be in conflict with the 68060 and cannot boot as is. As a measure, I think a ROM expansion board to be installed in the internal memory expansion connector will be distributed. ================ Q. Will patched ROMs be distributed? A. If the 68060 is not included in the 040Excel for the XVI, there will be no need to patch it, and because there could be a copyright problem, I do not think it will be distributed. ================ Q. How do you install it? A. The 040Excel is installed with the following procedure: 1) Remove the cover or the shield plate of the right tower of the main unit. 2) Take out the MC68HC000 which is inserted in the socket on the main board. 3) Insert the MC68HC000 removed above in the socket for the 68000 on the 040Excel. 4) Insert the separately prepared 68040 in the 68040 socket on the 040Excel. 5) Insert the 040Excel in the socket on the main board (where the MC68HC000 was originally inserted). ================ Q. Is it necessary to upgrade the main unit? A. Basically, you should be able to use it without any upgrade, but in that case, DMA does not go through the SDRAM which is allocated to the main RAM area. An upgrade of the main unit is necessary to let DMA go through. Upgrading the XVI is relatively easy, but you need to cut the feet of parts in four places and solder five places. Upgrading SUPER versions and previous versions is rather difficult because the IC has to be pulled out. People who are not too familiar with soldering should not do this. Also, an upgrade service will be planned for people who are unable to perform the upgrade by themselves. ================ Q. Is it possible to mount the cover of the main unit? A. It is possible to mount the cover if you don't add the rather big heat sink, fan, or SDRAM module. ================ Q. Does it have any other functions? A. The functions from below are still unconfirmed. I do not know if these will actually be included or not. - SDRAM backup - compatibility with 256MB SDRAM - compatibility with 68060 - compatibility with CZ-600CE/CZ-600CB (first generation X68000) - expansion slot version 040Excel - PCI/SCSI/LAN port using the MPU socket of the 68040 This will depend on opinions and on the complexity of the development. Send a gentle request if there is a function you would like to see added. ================ Q. Can you tell us something about the software? A. At the moment, the JUPITER.X-upgraded driver for JUPITER-X can run to a certain extent. Mr. Yamapu, the author of JUPITER.X, has planned to develop the software. There are also rumors about official support by NetBSD. ==== Change History ================================================== 2000-01-19 (Wednesday) Tachibana Eriko * Release 1.0. * Copyright changed to GPL. File extension. * Added the time for the secondary distribution. Other amendments. 1999-11-15 (Monday) Tachibana Eriko * Modification issuance of the temporary version. 1999-11-12 (Friday) Tachibana Eriko * Issuance of the temporary version. * 040E_FAQ.TXT: new text. [EOF]