Olimex has began to take pre-orders for the AgonLight2, a custom-made model of the Agon Gentle 8-bit open-source {hardware} laptop based mostly on the Z80 household and operating BBC Fundamental.
Bernardo Kastrup and Dean Belfield created the Agon mild 8-bit retro laptop with VGA and PS2 keyboard port and programmable with BASIC earlier this yr and launched all {hardware} design information, the firmware, and documentation on GitHub, and Dean uploaded a one-hour-long video on YouTube. It was designed with EasyEDA, however Olimex re-captured the design in KiCad after getting buyer requests, and the brand new cost-optimized board named AgonLight2 will begin transport by the tip of January 2023.
AgonLight2 specs:
- MCU – Zilog eZ80F92 8-bit microcontroller @ 18.423 MHz with 128 KB flash, 256 bytes configuration Flash reminiscence, 8 KB SRAM (See PDF datasheet for particulars)
- System Reminiscence – 512KB, 10ns, parallel SRAM
- Storage – MicroSD card socket
- Terminal subsystem
- MCU – ESP32-PICO-D4 dual-core SiP @ as much as 240 MHz with 4MB flash
- Reminiscence – 8MB, 133 MHz, serial PSRAM
- Video Output – VGA port as much as 640×480 decision, 64 colours
- Audio – 2x mono audio jacks
- USB 2.0 Kind-C port for energy and programming ESP32’s firmware
- USB Kind-A port for keyboard
- Programming – ZDI port for programming the firmware of the CPU
- Expansions
- Plastic boxed management port with 20 GPIOs
- UEXT enlargement board for Olimex add-on modules
- Energy Provide
- 5V through USB Kind-C port or management port; DCDC converter (as much as 2A)
- LiPo battery help with charging circuit, 2-pin connector, and Vbat on management port
- Dimensions – TBD
The primary adjustments made by Olimex are highlighted in daring within the specs above, however I’ll checklist them once more for extra readability:
- Changed the USB-An influence connector with a USB-C connector as it’s utilized in all new telephones, tablets and gadgets as mandated by a brand new EU directive
- Changed the PS2 connector with a USB-A connector for connecting USB keyboards with out an adapter
- The Linear voltage regulator was changed with a DCDC transformed which delivers as much as 2A present
- Added help for LiPo batteries
- Changed the naked header 32-pin connector with a plastic boxed 34-pin connector, including two further indicators Vbat and Vin which permit AgonLight to be powered by this connector too.
- Added a UEXT connector for Olimex modules
- A number of different small adjustments and a lot of the parts had been modified to Olimex’s element base to decrease prices
The brand new AgonLight2 helps the identical Quark firmware because the Agon mild with three modules: Quark BBC BASIC, Quark MOS, and Quark VDP which might be discovered within the GitHub repo linked within the introduction. Olimex talked with Bernardo to verify it was a very open-source {hardware} venture earlier than, and the up to date board is now even featured on the official venture’s web page. The KiCad {hardware} design information and datasheets for the AgonLight2 board might be discovered on GitHub.
Olimex is taking pre-orders for 50 Euros for the AgonLight2, which appears to be like like a fairly good value contemplating the Agon Gentle board had an estimated BoM value of round $50 for a small manufacturing run. Transport is anticipated to begin on January 31, 2023.
Jean-Luc began CNX Software program in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, earlier than quitting his job as a software program engineering supervisor, and beginning to write each day information, and critiques full time later in 2011.
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