Introducing the U.C.A - Upd #15 (Final DIP40 Adapter)

[CHips]

With the Uca, is there still any point in getting the Molka/Cpu Shack's Test Boards?

Since the Uca is or will be "Universal" while the Molka Testers just test one kind of Cpu each...

[Williac]

I wonder how many of these chips will be desirable to collectors in 10-20 years because they would have been made in short supply during these years.

[xsecret]

[debs3759]

How do I find Molka's boards? Tried searching, but no joy.

[CHips]

They are available on the left navigation section of any https://www.cpushack.com/ page.

Would like to test some 180Xs, but also to avoid getting a Board just to let it take the dust forever once the Uca is available...
Also considering to sell my other testers too so if you want to make some savings by getting second hand ones, let me know.

[debs3759]

Thanks. Unfortunately outside my budget

[xsecret]

Finally! Here's what I got today:



Tray of Artix7 FPGA from Xilinx!

FPGAs are available again (in small but decent quantities) and price dropped.

Unfortunately, there is still a lot of shortage on DC-DC Converters and I must rework the new prototype PCB.

Anyway, I will soon assemble the new UCA based on Artix7 FPGA (instead of the old Spartan 6 which seems EOL now) and start working on the code translation needed.

[JourneymanDT]

@xsecret

Hey there... recent user here. Been monitoring this thread for news of the status of your project. Please put me on your interest list. As an arcade game collector/preservationist/restorer, I have a very keen interest in obtaining your CPU tester when it becomes available again!

Thank you, and have a great weekend!
Dylan Todd

[nigwil]

Good news to see you are able source parts again, UCA might be getting closer to availability?

If you are maintaining a list I would be interested too please. thanks for all your efforts, this UCA will be a very useful tool.

[Neology]

[xsecret]

I will share some new pictures of the reworked board based on Artix 7 soon.

[YC]

I want to order 4 complete sets, please add me

[rhchadwick]

Hi, new to this forum - I just read about the CPU tester on Hackaday.com and am really intrigued by the product! I have a cabinet full of legacy CPUs and support chips that I would like to test so this is REALLY interesting.

Please put me down for one of these also.

I've not found any indication so far of how you are pricing the hardware... maybe I missed it while skimming through 12 pages of posts.
Price will of course be a factor but if I'm able to quickly test my collection that would also be a big factor.
Is there a 'ballpark' price or a price goal for the UCA? I know group pricing will be a big factor but would like to at least have an idea of what it might be.

[xsecret]

I finally completed the redesign of the Universal Chip Analyzer (UCA) - well, at least the base board - to switch to a modern Xilinx 7-Series FPGA instead of the previous Spartan-6.
I also significantly upgraded the MCU to an ARM Cortex-A7 @ 600 MHz and upgraded the storage from SPI Flash to MicroSD.

Everything from hardware to software is now fully modular.

The whole story with many pictures is available here: https://x86.fr/final-universal-chip-analyzer-disclosed/

Betatester

I'm looking for a betatester (John will be the second one) to check everything before the first production batch.

Please drop me a private message if you have interest in the UCA and you have:

* Time to spend on testing and report bugs and issues.
* A vast chip collection, from early 70s IC like 4004 to at least Mid-90s CPU like Pentium.
* Also non-x86 CPUs (68xx, 65xx, the weirdest, the better)
* Some other ICs like DRAM, SRAM or EEPROM

Living within the EU is preferred (as shipping will be faster and cheaper), but not mandatory.
The goal is to fully validate the v3 hardware with the DIP40 adapter first, then the 486 Adapter then all other Adapters one by one.

For your efforts, you will receive a free complete UCA and all adapters and accessories.

Prices

UCA Prices will be announced soon. There will be a significant rebate for the first batch. I'm not sure at this time if I will start a crowdfunding campaign or not.

[debs3759]

I'll definitely be in for a UCA with all x86, 808x and DRAM/SRAM adapters (if that part is ready) when it's ready for retail.