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= THE FOENIX WIKI =  
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= Welcome to the world of Foenix Retro Computers! =
  
Welcome to the Foenix Project! Here you will find a series of brand new computers lovingly made by Stefany Allaire in the style of the early 16 and 32 bit machines of lore!  This is your chance to be a participant in the development of a new platform -- to start with a brand new machine akin to a high-end Atari or Amiga, write its very first programs, see what it can do, push its limits, and experience something new!  Models are available with a 65C02 CPU, 65816 CPU, a 680x0 series CPU, or both, with more CPU options planned for the future.
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Welcome to the Foenix Project! Here you will find a series of brand new computers lovingly made by Stefany Allaire in the style of the early 8, 16, and 32 bit machines of lore!  This is your chance to be a participant in the development of a new platform -- to start with a brand new machine akin to a high-end Atari or Amiga, write its very first programs, see what it can do, push its limits, and experience something new!  Models are available for 65C02, 6809, 65816, 68000, and 68040 CPUs.
  
{| class = "wikitable"
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* For 8/16 systems (F256) go to [http://wiki.f256foenix.com http://wiki.f256foenix.com]
| || '''F256 Jr''' || '''C256 Foenix FMX''' || '''C256 Foenix U''' || ''' A2560U ''' || '''A2560K''' || '''Gen X'''
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* For 24-bit systems (C256 FMX, GenX, C256 U, F256), go to [[C256|https://wiki.c256foenix.com/index.php?title=C256]]
|-
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* For 32-bit systems (A2560, GenX), go to [[A2560|https://wiki.c256foenix.com/index.php?title=A2560]]
| || [[File:Final_F256Jr.jpg|200px]] || [[File:C256FoenixFMX_RevC4B.2.25.jpg|200px]] || [[File:C256FoenixUBare.jpg|200px]] || [[File:A2560U Board.jpg|200px]]
 
|| [[File:A2560K.png|200px]] || [[File:Gen X Cube - 50%.png|200px]]
 
|-
 
| Released Year: || 2022/2023 || 2019 || 2021 || 2021/2022 || 2021 || 2022
 
|-
 
| Active: || Yes || <span style="color:#C00000"> '''Discontinued''' || Hold* || Hold* || Yes || Yes
 
|-
 
| CPU: || W65C02 @ 6Mhz || W65C816 @ 14Mhz || W65C816 @ 14Mhz || MC68SEC000 @ 20Mhz || MC68040V @ 25Mhz || W65C816 @ 14Mhz + 32bits CPU**
 
|-
 
| System Memory: || 256K SRAM || 4M SRAM || 2/4M SRAM || 4M SRAM || 4M SRAM/64M SDRAM || 4M SRAM/64M SDRAM
 
|-
 
| Video Memory: || Shared || 4M SRAM || 2M SRAM || 2M SRAM || 8M SRAM || 8M SRAM
 
|-
 
| Graphic Chipset:  || TinyVICKY - [[CFP9599]] || VICKY II + GABE || FATVICKY - [[CFP95168B]] || FATVICKY - [[CFP9171-68k]] || VICKY III - [[CFP95179K]] || VICKY III - [[CFP95179X]]
 
|-
 
| Internal Audio: || 2x PSG (Sn76489) || TBD || 1x Gideon SID || 1x Gideon SID || 2x GideonSID / 1x OPM / 1x OPN2 / 2x PSG || 1x OPM / 1x OPN2 / 2x PSG
 
|-
 
| External Audio: || 2x SID^^ || 1x OPL3/1x OPM /1x OPN2/ 1x OPL3 || 1x OPL3 || 1x OPL3 || 2x SID^^/1x OPM /1x OPN2/1x PSG/1x OPL3 || 2x SID^^/1x OPM/1x OPN2/1x PSG/1x OPL3
 
|-
 
| CODEC : || TBD || 1x 48KHz ||  1x 48Khz || 1x 48Khz || 1x 48Khz/1x 44.1Khz ||  1x 48Khz/1x 44.1Khz
 
|-
 
| Media IO: || IEC/SDCARD || SDCARD/IDE/FLOPPY || SDCARD/IDE || SDCARD/IDE || SDCARD/IDE/FLOPPY || SDCARD/IDE/FLOPPY
 
|-
 
| COM IO: || Simple Serial/WIFI*** || 2x Serial/ 1x Parallel || 1x Simple Serial || 1x Simple Serial || 2x Serial/1x Parallel/Eth || 2x Serial/1x Parallel/Eth
 
|-
 
| Joystick Posts: || 2x ATARI + NES/SNES Port****^ || 4x ATARI / 2x NES/SNES^ || 2x ATARI And/Or NES/SNES^ || 2x ATARI And/Or NES/SNES^ || 2x ATARI And/Or NES/SNES^ || 4x ATARI & 4x NES & 4x SNES
 
|-
 
| PCB Form Factor: || STD Mini-ITX || 10" x 6.2" || 7.13" x 4.4" || 7.13" x 4.4" || 12" x 5.5" || 9" x 9"
 
|-
 
| Power Supply: || ATX PS Plug || +12V 2.5mm Barrel || +12V 2.5mm Barrel || +12V 2.5mm Barrel || 4pins +5V/+12V || ATX PS Plug
 
|-
 
|}
 
(*): Due to FPGA's availability and abusive cost, those models are presently on hold.
 
 
 
(**): The concept behind the GenX is its ability to support different processors through a modular system.
 
 
 
(***): The WIFI communication is achieved through a ESP32/WIFI (Feather) Type board and it is optional.
 
 
 
(****): The RevA of the board doesn't have an extra 9Pins connector to interface with NES/SNES Adapter.
 
 
 
(^): An external NES/SNES interface box is needed, so this is extra.
 
 
 
(^^): The External SIDs are Sockets only, they must be populated by the owner.
 
 
 
OPM = YM2151, OPN2 = YM2612
 
 
 
''' All Foenix systems include the following base features:'''
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
| || '''Graphics'''            || '''Layers'''                || '''Sound'''                || '''Ports'''            ||
 
|-
 
| || 320x240x60fps            || 16x16 mouse pointer        || 2x Gideon FPGASID          || SD Card slot            ||
 
|-
 
| || 400x300x60fps            || 8x8 character plane        || 16-bit stereo CODEC        || 2x PS/2 (kbd/mouse)    || 
 
|-
 
| || 640x480x60fps            || 64 16x16x256 sprites        || TI SN76489 (Sega, Cabinets) || Stereo 1/8" headphone  ||               
 
|-
 
| || 800x600x60fps            || 4x 16x16x256 tile planes    || Yamaha OPL3 (Sound Blaster) || Stereo RCA Line In/Out  ||
 
|-
 
| || 24-bit RGB color space    || 2x 256-color bitmap planes  || 3KHz piezo beeper          || 2.5" internal IDE HDD  ||
 
|}
 
 
 
Additional features vary by class of unit:
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
| || || '''65816''' || '''680x0''' || ||
 
|-
 
| || '''Basic''' || C256U || A2560U || Basic units with 3-wire serial and an expansion port. ||
 
|-
 
| || '''Luxury''' || C256FMX || A2560K || Expanded units with MIDI, floppy, 9-wire serial, 25-pin parallel, and more! ||
 
|-
 
| || '''Explorer''' || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Gen-X || All of the above plus support for two CPUs! ||
 
|}
 
 
 
= Get Started =
 
 
 
Compare the different [[models]]: [[F256JR]], [[C256-FMX]], [[C256U]], [[A2560U]], [[A2560K]], [[Gen-X]]
 
 
 
Explore the [[documentation]]: [[C256]], [[A2560]], [[ICs]]
 
 
 
Join the [https://discord.gg/WqtwuEtN3a Discord],
 
 
 
Order your computer at https://c256foenix.com, and
 
 
 
Join in the fun!
 
  
 
= FAQ =
 
= FAQ =
  
Is this another FPGA Retro like the MiSTer?
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Are these FPGA Retros like the MiSTer?
  
* No! These machines are the real thing. You'll be running on a real 65816, 68000, 68040, i486dx2, etc. :).
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* No! These machines are the real thing. You'll be running on a real 65c02, 65816, 68000, or 68040!  The 6Mhz 6809 is an FPGA, but it's packaged as a standard 40pin DIP for use in the 65c02/65816 socket on the F256.  
  
 
Are these machines compatible with the C64? C128? Amiga? Atari-ST? IBM-PC?
 
Are these machines compatible with the C64? C128? Amiga? Atari-ST? IBM-PC?
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* No! This is not a MEGA65, a Vampire, or an Ultimate64.  We already have those platforms.  This is something new and different!
 
* No! This is not a MEGA65, a Vampire, or an Ultimate64.  We already have those platforms.  This is something new and different!
  
Is there an emulator?
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Are there emulators?
  
* Yes!  See the [[Emulators]] page!
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* Yes!  See the various platform specific wikis above.
  
 
Is the hardware "Open Source"?
 
Is the hardware "Open Source"?
  
* The schematics are available for download from the Discord.  The FPGA code is presently closed-source to keep the platform from becoming fragmented.
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* The schematics for many models are available for download from [https://www.c256foenix.com https://www.c256foenix.com].   
 +
* The FPGA code is presently closed-source to keep the platforms from becoming fragmented.
  
Are there any programming tutorials for the Foenix?
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Are there any programming tutorials?
  
* Stefany Allaire's videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNX2L8_enbRUAb8zKaR2KzQ
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* See the various platform specific wikis above.
* Tail Recursive's videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMNLxfepc0xAZodcvOlVenQ
 
* You can also follow along with the development of the Gen-X on Stefany's [https://www.patreon.com/c256foenix?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=creatorshare Patreon] page.
 
  
 
Happy hacking!
 
Happy hacking!

Latest revision as of 14:32, 15 March 2024

Welcome to the world of Foenix Retro Computers!

Welcome to the Foenix Project! Here you will find a series of brand new computers lovingly made by Stefany Allaire in the style of the early 8, 16, and 32 bit machines of lore! This is your chance to be a participant in the development of a new platform -- to start with a brand new machine akin to a high-end Atari or Amiga, write its very first programs, see what it can do, push its limits, and experience something new! Models are available for 65C02, 6809, 65816, 68000, and 68040 CPUs.

FAQ

Are these FPGA Retros like the MiSTer?

  • No! These machines are the real thing. You'll be running on a real 65c02, 65816, 68000, or 68040! The 6Mhz 6809 is an FPGA, but it's packaged as a standard 40pin DIP for use in the 65c02/65816 socket on the F256.

Are these machines compatible with the C64? C128? Amiga? Atari-ST? IBM-PC?

  • No! This is not a MEGA65, a Vampire, or an Ultimate64. We already have those platforms. This is something new and different!

Are there emulators?

  • Yes! See the various platform specific wikis above.

Is the hardware "Open Source"?

  • The schematics for many models are available for download from https://www.c256foenix.com.
  • The FPGA code is presently closed-source to keep the platforms from becoming fragmented.

Are there any programming tutorials?

  • See the various platform specific wikis above.

Happy hacking!