Memory boards
Posted by: pca
Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:11
Hi.
OK. Here's the deal. I have a design for a memory upgrade board for Mk2/2A boards which (although I haven't yet built a prototype) I'm pretty sure will work quite nicely. After much thought, I was unable to come up with a good way of getting it above 64MB, but that should be sufficient for most people. I had hoped for 128MB, but it turns out to be pretty much undoable.
It would be possible to add other things as well, but after talking it over with Hugo we decided there wasn't all that much point. I had considered both 100mbit ethernet and USB host, but dumped them for various reasons:
1) the data rate from the USB host controllers suitable for use in this application are dreadful, according to Hugo, and the controllers consume enormous amount of idle bus cycles, thereby slowing things down.
2) for a number of reasons that have been thoroughly explored in past discussions, 100Mbit ethernet in this application wouldn't really achieve much that 10Mbit doesn't, and complicates things quite a lot.
3) There are supply problems with some of the parts for both USB and ethernet
4) It may well not fit anyway.
So, the current plan is for a PCB which will fit to the underside of the main board, attaching to the test points. It will have 8 64Mbit DRAM chips giving a total of 64MB of ram, and will require one patch wire. On a MK2A you could omit the wire and still get 48MB. On a MK2 you will have to remove the chips currently fitted to get the full amount.
It is a completely surface mount device, and would as such not really be suitable for selling as a kit. I will therefore have to get the things made in batches as completed sub-assemblies, which will then need to be fitted by one or other of the prople floating around who are good at such things.
I am provisionally aiming at a price of about £90-100, and the advantage of doing it this way should be shorter lead times and less supply problems than the tuner kits have. So far, I have contacted a company who can do the assembly, have routed the PCB, and I'm waiting for a quote on quantities of the RAM and on manufacture of the boards.
Anyone interested?
Pca
Posted by: mlord
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:26
I'll take one!
Note about 100mb/s ethernet: with more memory, the underlying assumptions have changed, and it would now be able to have a more noticeable impact on I/O due to Linux's caching (which now has more memory to play with).
Cheers!
Posted by: skibum
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:33
Drooooool.
I'll take 2 please Patrick. And someone to install them
Posted by: Shonky
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:42
Yep, I'll take one.
Do you still have to remove the original chips for a Mk2a? I assume yes but you only mention that it's necessary for the Mk2 in your post. If not, the original chips are redundant, right?
And there is enough room underneath the PCB right? I don't remember huge amounts of space between the board and metal case but we are talking only one surface mount chip thickness plus PCB (~3mm?)
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:46
I am, of course, interested. Four, please. But, a question: what does this do to people with enhanced memory via the stacking method? Does all of the memory need to be removed?
Posted by: Roger
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:52
I'll take two.
Posted by: pca
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:53
The board adds 4 identical banks of 16MB, and duplicates the bank0 set currently present on a MK2A. Obviously, this isn't going to work all that well. The idea is that each bank can be disabled by means of a switch on the memory board, so in the case of a MK2A you would turn off the first bank. This would still give you 64M, as the original memory would be used.
As for room, there's a whole 2.5-3mm available! 0.8mm for the PCB, 1.2mm for the chips, 0.1mm for the insulator sheet on each side of the PCB, and loads of room left over
pca
Posted by: pca
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 10:55
Well, if you've already butchered your poor board, you could disable the appropriate banks on the expansion board to compensate. I would recommend removing the added stacked chips, but it shouldn't be absolutely necessary. You would still only have 64MB though.
pca
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 11:01
Ah, my board has been hacked a few times already - digital out, illumination hack. The memory was just the most recent. Still, if it is a matter of only gaining an extra 16MB over the existing 48, it may not be practical. Still, I would like to get the boards anyway, just in case I run into trouble later on.
Posted by: crazymelki
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 11:12
I'll also take two.
I'll take one, please Sir.
Posted by: robricc
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 11:23
I'm probably in for two or three at least.
Posted by: Folsom
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 11:33
I'll take two of the boards.
Posted by: BryanR
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 11:51
I'll take one as well, thanks!
Posted by: Attack
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 11:58
I would order two
Posted by: Mach
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 12:11
I'm in for 1, maybe 2.
Posted by: BAKup
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 12:20
Count me in for 2.
Posted by: pca
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 12:31
OK, so it looks like my initial test batch of 25 is gone already! I may have to do a bigger initial set.
I have heard back from the memory supplier, and the chips are in stock and rather cheaper than I feared. So that's all right then.
Just the PCB to go now.
pca
Posted by: mvigneau
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 12:33
I'll take one. I will have the person that repaired my other chips (many times) do the surface mount soldering for me.
Posted by: peakmop
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 12:41
It really sounds much better than stacking and having 6->3 patch wires dangling around.
Count me in for one of those.
Posted by: SuperQ
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 12:52
I'm very much interested, I have an original MK2 player.
Posted by: Chuck
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 13:34
I'll take at least two!
Posted by: coolblue
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 13:35
count me in for two
Posted by: andym
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 13:37
Hmm, a hundred quid for another 32MB of memory. Takes me back ten years! For that sort of price I would struggle to justify it to myself... (Says the man who's just dropped £100 on new headphones
)
Posted by: gogee2000
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 14:14
count me in for one as well, thank you :-)
i've got a MK2 in case you need to know that as well.
greg
Posted by: DBALKUNJR
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 14:23
Count me in for one as well.
Posted by: genixia
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 14:29
Quote:
Well, if you've already butchered your poor board,
Hey! I'd hardly call it 'butchered'. 
Posted by: schofiel
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 14:51
Need you ask? I'll take two, and I'm prepared to install/test them also.
Posted by: schofiel
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 14:54
You have to know Patrick....
Posted by: genixia
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 14:58
I guess he's protective of his babies. I wonder how he'll feel when I completely disassemble a Mk1 mainboard.
Posted by: tman
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:00
Dibs on 2
I'll take two please.
Could we look into shipping a mass order to someone in the US and then distributing from there to save on shipping? Possibly to someone in the States who could also offer installs?
Posted by: andym
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:06
Quote:
Possibly to someone in the States who could also offer installs?
I'm sure Eutronix Stu will be on the case.
Posted by: genixia
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:08
I might too. I've got to finish up some other stuff first though.
Posted by: russell
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:10
You can count me in for 1 please
Posted by: mtempsch
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:11
Definately 1, possibly 2...
Posted by: loren
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:13
Wow. It amazes me that so many of us are willing to spend close to 200 bucks on a small RAM upgrade. Maybe i'm missing the huge benefit here, but that's a chunk of change. Someone fill me in... why? Surely it can't be to save drive spinups for wear and tear... a new drive costs less.
Oh, and standard disclaimer applies... i'm not dissing the product since well... as we all know Patrick is THE MAN. Just trying to grok it. I want it but i don't know why. heheh.
Posted by: peakmop
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:18
Quoting famous Jeep motto:
It's a GEEK thing, you wouldn't understand...
Disclamer: no pun intended
Posted by: mlord
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 15:32
I'm going to run an internet web server from it.. need the extra memory for NFS/Apache.
Cheers
Posted by: skibum
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 16:00
Don't know. But he'll put it back together in 2 hours
Posted by: mcomb
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 16:26
Quote:
It amazes me that so many of us are willing to spend close to 200 bucks on a small RAM upgrade.
Agreed, the price seems a little steep compared the the "stack the chips" method, particularly if you don't really feel the need to go beyond 32Megs. What are the advantages of this method? Will these boards be any easier to install? Why are so many people who already have memory upgraded empegs so excited by this?
Of course, I'm probably in for one board myself since I would like some additional memory and it looks like this is going to quickly become the standard way to do it.
-Mike
Posted by: pca
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 16:27
But you don't have to justify it, just buy it
pca
Posted by: pca
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 16:29
Don't worry, I'm not all that protective. I do after all have a MK2A motherboard here on the desk being used as a power supply
Neatly, of course...
pca
Posted by: pca
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 16:31
What are the advantages of this method?
Primarily, reliability. In an automotive application, vibration will remove patch wires eventually, unless you use a LOT of glue. Plus it will be quicker to assemble and if necessary debug.
pca
Posted by: pca
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 16:32
Could we look into shipping a mass order to someone in the US and then distributing from there to save on shipping?
I'm planning on arranging to have a local 'distributor' to do exactly this, on various continents. It will make a lot of things much simpler. I just haven't had a chance to contact the various suspects yet.
pca
Posted by: robricc
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 16:45
We have a full shipping facility here. UPS and FedEx make daily pickups.
Posted by: genixia
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 17:11
Quote:
Quote:
What are the advantages of this method?
Primarily, reliability. In an automotive application, vibration will remove patch wires eventually, unless you use a LOT of glue. Plus it will be quicker to assemble and if necessary debug.
Getting to 48MB the other way is difficult, and getting to 64MB incredibly so. 64MB also requires some creativity to deal with the limited clearance between the memory and IDE cable. I raised my drive tray, and peakmop separated his IDE cable so he could move it out of the way. Neither of those measures could be described as routine. Whilst I'm not too concerned with reliability issues for the players that I've done (lots of glue, heh!), the new method should be a much better way to do it.
I'd point out that the 'old' way is still going to be a cost effective 32MB upgrade (~$80 installed) for those who can't justify the (estimated) $240 installed cost of the new 64MB upgrade. Paul still has chips available for those who chose that route. (And it shouldn't preclude an eventual 64 upgrade either).
For anyone questioning the cost of this new method, a 64MB upgrade done the old way would end up costing about the same anyway, ( 3 * $30 chips) + ( 3 * $50 installs) = $240.
Posted by: SonicSnoop
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 17:53
Could we use the memory we already have for the empeg? cause I already have a bunch of memory chips for my empeg. But am very interested in this either way.
Posted by: Terminator
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 18:38
Sign me up!
Posted by: Laura
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 19:32
Yep, count me in for 2.
Posted by: mlord
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 19:34
My own plan is to get one of these upgrade boards from Patrick, and then find some willing bloke to send me their player so I can install it and test Hijack on it -- making any Hijack changes as required to get it all nicely supported. And then to return the upgraded player to whomever loaned it. They pay for the parts, but not for the actual installation.
For my own players, I'm sticking with one set (16MB) of stacked add-on memory. I'm not wealthy enough to actually install the 64MB kits onto all of my own players!
Cheers
Posted by: loren
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 20:05
I understand the reliability side... but no one (save for Mark and his webserver) has really justified why you'd need more RAM in the first place. Help me out folks, i'm trying to justify the cost to myself here!
Posted by: drakino
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 20:09
I'm up for one kit.
And Loren, more memory also allows use of larger music databases. Think of it this way, in theory, a 100 gig player filled with typical music would have a database 5 times larger then a 20 gig player. Thus, less cache. Bu upgrading to 32, or 64, you return the player to a state where it has plenty of cache room, and also has enough memory to do the database rebuilds. It was discussed at the meet that database rebuilds don't currently enable swap, leading to some of the crash issues in 3.0 alpha on database rebuilds, due to the memory overhead of the player app running.
Posted by: mlord
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 20:13
Well, once units with 32MB or more become common, I fully intend on adding some major new functionality to the hijack kernels. The kinds of stuff I've held off in the past due to memory consumption.
You know.. like vertical playlist menus.. NFS server (just a kernel config option), etc..
Cheers
Posted by: rtundo
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 20:31
I volunteer my unit if you want Mark. It's been out of my car recently and sitting in the house. Need to tighten up the mounting a little but much too busy at the moment. It has Ver 2 software but if you want to use it feel free to install any version you want. Just let me know what you want to do. (This means I'm in for one board )
Posted by: loren
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 21:34
Quote:
You know.. like vertical playlist menus.
SOLD! haha.
If I play my root playlist on my Rio, it won't remember it between reboots. My empeg (mk2) won't even play the root playlist in the first place. I'm hoping that more RAM will help this. Either way, database rebuilds are painful. Mark has mentioned the web server stuff will be faster, and I've been getting more use out of that as well.
Hard drives are cheaper, but data is priceless.
Posted by: tman
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 23:23
Isn't the can't remember the playlist problem to do with lack of space in the dynamic data partition? The space reserved for the current playlist has a hard limit. Extra RAM won't help in this case. You'll need to get the empeg guys to see about modifying the format of the dynamic data partition.
Posted by: genixia
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 23:27
Quote:
Isn't the can't remember the playlist problem to do with lack of space in the dynamic data partition?
I believe that it is. Certainly Paul's players don't remember a large running order over a reboot, even with 48MB RAM.
Posted by: Jonathan
Re: Memory boards - 16/07/2004 23:28
Need any more response? I want one!
Ah, okay. My bad.
Posted by: peakmop
Re: Memory boards (more data - more time) - 17/07/2004 00:22
Quote:
Hard drives are cheaper, but data is priceless.
Have you ever considered how much time it will take to listen to all of the stuff we are trying to cram onto our empegs' hard drives?
Quick math:
1 min. worth of MP3 song at a descent cbr of 192 Kbps - roughly 1.4 MB. Given the largest currently available empeg space - 160 GB, say 155 GB (158720 MB) of which is usable, there are approximately 113371 min. That's 78.7 days or 2.6 months!
Posted by: Gleep
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 00:44
I would be interested in 2.
Posted by: gbeer
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 01:02
I want one as well.
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver
Re: Memory boards (more data - more time) - 17/07/2004 01:17
I actually joke about that all the time to my friends. I've never done the math and assumed it was more than that. I remember when I got my first 12GB player, I used to joke that I could drive to and from California a few times without hearing the same song twice - now I could do more than that!
The point isn't having "hours" of music but rather having the means to hear "what you want, when you want." This is very true when DJing, so I can meet requests, but it's also great when driving around town. I say to my passangers, "What do you want to hear?" Someone who hasn't ridden with me might reply, "What do you have?" To which I'll repeat, "No. What do you want to hear?" Of course, even with my 140gb, I still get stumped all the time!
Posted by: Laura
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 01:59
Put me down as a second volunteer if you need one. My player also needs to have the IDE header soldered, it's pretty much useless at the moment.
Posted by: image
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 02:39
count me in for one
Posted by: FireFox31
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 03:00
Quote:
You know.. like vertical playlist menus.
SOLD! haha.
Haha, NICE! Hm, that might actually sell me too, though I'm hesitant to "butcher" my player if I don't need to.
Mark, would you plan to release "low mem" and "high mem" versions of HiJack for us poor 16meg folks in the future?
::shudders:: But, what if Mark doesn't offer low mem version? And what if Patrick's memory board goes out of production? I'll be stranded at 16 meg, software will be incompatible, my database size will be too big, and ALL that. Oh man, the threat of empeg add-ons going out of production is SO strong....
Posted by: FireFox31
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 03:04
You know what, put me down for one also. I'll keep my spare player as a pristine example of empeg's genius. But I'll jack up my main player with all the goodies. And besides, it's by Patrick. And if it goes out of production and I miss my chance at it, I'll KICK myself.
Posted by: Mataglap
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 03:27
I'm in for at least one!
--Nathan
Posted by: webroach
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 04:06
I'd be interested in one as well, Patrick.
Posted by: jerryfreak2
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 04:30
so how much is that in $US?
Posted by: BartDG
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 04:32
I'm in for one, possibly two.
Posted by: Daria
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 04:48
Me want. 1 for me.
Posted by: webroach
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 07:04
Posted by: Derek
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 09:53
Hi Patrick,
I'll take one as well, of course
Posted by: mlord
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 11:28
Quote:
Mark, would you plan to release "low mem" and "high mem" versions of HiJack for us poor 16meg folks in the future?
Well, I dunno. Hijack is just mostly stuff I do for my own use, and I make it available to the rest of us just because that way it gets tested more thoroughly!
Mmm..
Posted by: elperepat
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 11:40
Count me in for 1 board
Posted by: Ezekiel
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 13:40
I'd be in for two. How did I miss this thread?
-Zeke
Posted by: Micman2b
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 18:53
Me want one..
Posted by: thrasher
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 22:12
I want two,and someone to install them
Posted by: JaBZ
Re: Memory boards - 17/07/2004 22:28
I'd be interested in one, however I am in New Zealand, can I send the board to someone for install? How hard is the install i.e. number of solder points? I have soldered a few modchips to playstation2's..
Posted by: andy
Re: Memory boards - 18/07/2004 09:02
Two please.
Posted by: DeadFire
Re: Memory boards - 18/07/2004 12:03
Somehow I passed over this thread as well. I was planning to find someone to perform the "old" method upgrade to my player, but since that's not done yet...
I would definitely be interested in one. And of course if someone offers to install it, that would be wonderful.
Posted by: AndrewT
Re: Memory boards - 18/07/2004 19:59
One please.
Posted by: eslange
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 08:37
Well..
Even I would like to have some extra memory, so:
PCA: you can count me in too for 1 set. Isn't easier to setup a web-site to take the orders there (like you did with the tuners). Its a hard time to count all request here
Posted by: andym
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 08:48
Quote:
Isn't (sic) easier to setup a web-site to take the orders there (like you did with the tuners). Its a hard time to count all request here
I think a 'me too!' hardly counts as a binding business agreement.
Posted by: bbowman
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 11:49
This is great! I'd like one. Also, is there a chance that we could see pictured of this board. I'm curious to see how it mounts and what it looks like.
Quote:
Isn't the can't remember the playlist problem to do with lack of space in the dynamic data partition? The space reserved for the current playlist has a hard limit. Extra RAM won't help in this case. You'll need to get the empeg guys to see about modifying the format of the dynamic data partition.
I noticed my 12mb empeg can not even play the root playlist whereas my 16mb RioCar can (but will not remember it through reboots). So I guess the dynamic data partition is used to store info between reboots and must be smaller than the 16mb used by the RioCar to load the playlist during operation? How hard would it be to get a larger data partition from the Build Brothers?
// I imagine a larger initial order will hopefully bring the price down?
Posted by: jmwking
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 12:18
/. Me too! //.
Way cool!
-jk
Posted by: peter
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 12:27
Quote:
So I guess the dynamic data partition is used to store info between reboots and must be smaller than the 16mb used by the RioCar to load the playlist during operation? How hard would it be to get a larger data partition from the Build Brothers?
Repartitioning disks without hosing content is reasonably hard. But the use made of the dynamic data partition isn't very efficient, so we could rearrange it to give more of its space to saved running-order. In fact, we've been threatening to do this for the whole of the v3 era, and it wouldn't surprise me if I'd threatened to do it for v2 final. But I just haven't got round to it.
Without a lot of work (which isn't going to happen) to v2, such a rearrangement would completely bork anyone who switched back from v3 to v2.
Edit: Well, I say "completely" bork; it'd bork their bookmarks and play counts. Whether that counts as complete borkage depends on one's individual bork threshold.
Peter
Posted by: Roger
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 13:30
Quote:
Repartitioning disks without hosing content is reasonably hard.
But if one was prepared to hose one's content, could one just make the dynamic data partition larger? Would the player use the extra? I don't remember.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 13:32
Or if one was starting with a fresh set of drives... Say, 100GB drives for example...
Posted by: peter
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 13:39
Quote:
But if one was prepared to hose one's content, could one just make the dynamic data partition larger? Would the player use the extra? I don't remember.
Not at present, no. And the stored running-order comes at the beginning, not the end; changing the code to stat the partition to find the endstop would solve the 28K limit on total fids but not the limit on stored running-order sizes.
Peter
Posted by: skibum
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 14:43
Surely changing the code to use only the bytes it needs, rather than all 512 would be a good idea as well. Doesn't each entry only use 32 or 64 bytes (can't remember which).
Posted by: peter
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 14:48
Quote:
Surely changing the code to use only the bytes it needs, rather than all 512 would be a good idea as well. Doesn't each entry only use 32 or 64 bytes (can't remember which).
It's certainly not very much, but the point of using 512 is that it's one sector and can be written atomically; that is, screwing up a write (due to powerfail) can only affect one track's information, not all its neighbours too. But yes, this consideration is probably not worth it, compared to the problems people are having with >256K running-orders. Reducing the FID-dynamic data space and handing the free space over to running-order storage is exactly the plan for, er, sometime in v3.
Peter
Posted by: rbenech
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 15:16
I want one too!
(BBS admin: add a $ sign post icon, it would make "me too" threads easier to read when we're buying stuff... maybe...)
Posted by: mlord
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 15:38
Quote:
It's certainly not very much, but the point of using 512 is that it's one sector and can be written atomically
Actually, that has not been true for most of the past decade or so.. Internally, most IDE drives will rewrite the entire physical track, or a large portion of it, when "rewriting just one sector".
Cheers
Posted by: genixia
Re: Memory boards - 19/07/2004 16:04
Quote:
(BBS admin: add a $ sign post icon...
We're on first name terms around here. He generally answers to either Drakino or Tom.
Posted by: canuckInOR
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 02:35
How about Head Honcho Red Coloured Name guy?
(ObOnTopic: Me too. Not that I need the RAM, yet -- I just like having a car stereo that's more powerful than my desktop computers.)
Posted by: peakmop
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 03:50
Quote:
I just like having a car stereo that's more powerful than my desktop computers.)
Here's a thought - since we are on the memory redesign, how about CPU - is it conceivable to upgrade to, say PXA255 XScale 400MHz? Then something crazy like video-4-empeg would be within reach
Posted by: andy
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 05:24
400Mhz ?
Even my Pocket PC has a faster XScale than that
My 624Mhz Pocket PC is the second fastest processor I own...
Posted by: tman
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 11:28
PXA255 isn't pin compatible with the StrongARM SA1100 inside the empeg so that'd be one ugly expansion board
Posted by: andym
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 11:36
Quote:
Quote:
I just like having a car stereo that's more powerful than my desktop computers.)
Here's a thought - since we are on the memory redesign, how about CPU - is it conceivable to upgrade to, say PXA255 XScale 400MHz? Then something crazy like video-4-empeg would be within reach
Hmm, then you'd need to upgrade the display as well. Which to be honest is the wrong shape unless you watch your films in cinemascope. The empeg hardware is great but it's the software that is absolutely killer.
Posted by: Micman2b
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 13:00
What would be cool for a empeg redesign is a pullout screen the a little larger than the size of the Rio Central screen.
Sean in NC
Posted by: lockuplever
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 14:28
ONE..........Thanks
Posted by: Skunk
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 16:19
Quote:
What would be cool for a empeg redesign is a pullout screen the a little larger than the size of the Rio Central screen.
You mean like this?
Posted by: andym
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 16:26
Quote:
You mean like this?
Yup
Posted by: jimhogan
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 16:27
Quote:
Anyone interested?
Two, please!
Posted by: skibum
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 16:49
Skunk, when are you producing those? cos I'll take a couple.
Posted by: Skunk
Re: Memory boards - 21/07/2004 17:54
Quote:
Skunk, when are you producing those?
I was hoping the cambridge folks would do that for me.
Posted by: Micman2b
Re: Memory boards - 22/07/2004 01:16
yeah, prettty much like that...
Posted by: tms13
Re: Memory boards - 22/07/2004 16:01
I'd like one. Perhaps two.
Posted by: eternalsun
Re: Memory boards - 23/07/2004 03:46
I'm interested in one maybe two depending on final price. I'm still looking for an empeg to replace my stolen one.
Calvin
Posted by: smu
Re: Memory boards - 24/07/2004 15:49
@PCA: I will take two, maybe three (plan on buying a third player :-D)
@mlord: If you want, I can borrow either my mkII or my mkIIa for you hijack updates:-)
cu,
sven
Posted by: clsmith
Re: Memory boards - 26/07/2004 11:11
Oh yeah! Count me in!
Posted by: tarkie
Re: Memory boards - 26/07/2004 21:10
Two for me please. I presume a web site will appear in due course? Also, whats the tuner count upto now?
Posted by: CHiP
Re: Memory boards - 02/08/2004 01:15
i'm interested in 1 maybe 2 boards.
Do you need help setting up a web site for taking orders? i work at an isp doing web programming.
Posted by: canuckInOR
Re: Memory boards - 03/08/2004 02:44
Quote:
Do you need help setting up a web site for taking orders?
Presumably he'd use the same site he did for taking tuner orders.
Posted by: jamville
Re: Memory boards - 03/08/2004 15:48
Greetings PCA,
I am interested in aquiring one or two.
Posted by: kds
Re: Memory boards - 07/08/2004 23:17
I'll take 2.
Posted by: caseyse
Re: Memory boards - 08/08/2004 00:35
I would like to order ten, thanks.
Anyone have a tracking number yet?
Posted by: snoopstah
Re: Memory boards - 08/08/2004 08:50
Patience! Some of us are still waiting for our tuners!
Posted by: Bagpuss
Re: Memory boards - 12/08/2004 20:41
I was about to buy a Mk2a, just so I could upgrade the memory.
Hopefully, this will save me the hassle.
I'll take two.
Bagpuss.
Posted by: grgcombs
Re: Memory boards - 17/08/2004 20:21
One please. I'll hopefully be able to get this installed the same time I get lighted buttons.
MLord if you still need a volunteer for a RioCar model, I've got a spare.
Greg
Posted by: peakmop
Re: Memory boards - 18/08/2004 03:26
That's exactly my point - buy empegs for the memory boards.
This gave me an excuse to get a little brother for my primary machine.
Satisfying an itch up my b**t I went and made another heat sink [see attachment]. This one came from an old Pentium 200 MMX.
You know, I'm getting better at those. Maybe I should ask Tom to reserve me a "Heatsinks" spot beside Tuners, Sleds, Buttons.
Time to update that signature of mine
Posted by: andym
Re: Memory boards - 18/08/2004 09:53
Why have you got a heatsink on your CPU? Is there a point?
Posted by: peakmop
Re: Memory boards - 18/08/2004 15:31
Yes, somehow I think it will prolong the life of my CPU on the hot days, but that's not the main point.
I have <sensored> cooking up, I will let you know how it goes.
Posted by: JaBZ
Re: Memory boards - 19/08/2004 02:30
Not only that, he has a system fan!.. Hmmmmm have you overclocked your empeg ? :P
Let me know when you have liquid cooling in place
Posted by: canuckInOR
Re: Memory boards - 20/08/2004 03:47
Not sure I'd want to see that, especially with an Empeg. Seems most liquid cooling around this BBS is a result of funny comments.
Posted by: AudunE
Re: Memory boards - 24/12/2004 11:47
How is the progress in this dept?
I would like to have two boards when/if they become available
Merry Xmas!
Posted by: mtempsch
Re: Memory boards - 24/12/2004 16:26
Quote:
. Seems most liquid cooling around this BBS is a result of funny comments.
That was close!:D But it was a mere spray of cookie crumbs, easily vacuumed...
Posted by: vince
Re: Memory boards - 24/12/2004 19:48
I would like to say "Me too please". I'll take one if/when available.
Posted by: foxtrot_xray
Re: Memory boards - 26/12/2004 12:15
I hate posting 'me too' posts, but..
Me too! Definately interested!
Me.
Posted by: shadow45
Re: Memory boards - 26/12/2004 19:21
Could this be something for a new builder? Some of us are prepared to hose our disks to gain partition sizes. I want more binaries on my / but with a fixed 16mb it's kinda rough.
we need bigger partitions on a newer builder image, methinks
Posted by: SonicSnoop
Re: Memory boards - 27/12/2004 13:10
I was wondering if there were any updates to these? I definitly want one.
Posted by: schofiel
Re: Memory boards - 30/12/2004 23:13
I've seen it, they are real - RSN!
Posted by: AudunE
Re: Memory boards - 30/12/2004 23:32
Cool!!!
All I need now is a car that runs...
Posted by: peakmop
Re: Memory boards - 07/02/2005 15:00
I have claimed my "Me too" a long time ago.
Now I was wondering if there is any news on the project?
I'm quite patient, but I like to have an idea how patient should I be?
Posted by: schofiel
Re: Memory boards - 07/02/2005 17:09
Oooh, a couple of days?
Posted by: canuckInOR
Re: Memory boards - 08/02/2005 04:43
Quote:
Oooh, a couple of days?
Are you talking "a couple of days" as in literal 24 hour time periods, or "a couple of days" as in metaphorical God created the earth in 7 days type periods?
Posted by: Ladmo
Re: Memory boards - 08/02/2005 05:10
Quote:
Oooh, a couple of days?
No, that would be in Rob S. time...which is somewhere between dog years and light years....(just kidding, Rob...don't take it out on my player! It is already been thru too much!)
Posted by: schofiel
Re: Memory boards - 08/02/2005 07:55
Well, yeah, from what I hear he has the boards back and is building up a couple of test prototypes now.
Posted by: PaulWay
Re: Memory boards - 09/02/2005 02:10
This is probably going to be a stupid question, but is this going to work with the Empeg Mark I? If so, I'll take one.
TIA,
Paul
Posted by: andym
Re: Memory boards - 09/02/2005 08:51
I'm pretty sure this is a Mk2(a) only upgrade.
Posted by: schofiel
Re: Memory boards - 09/02/2005 16:35
Yes, 2/2A only. However, memory upgrades for the Mk1 are a lot easier thank goodness. Drop a line on
[email protected]
Posted by: IronMan
Re: Memory boards - 11/02/2005 03:23
Count me in for one, I'm always up for throwing new things in my toys