Hi, everyone! This is my first post to this forum. I'm glad to be part of this community!

I am trying my best to get a 65816 system up and running. Unfortunately, I am running into some issues, likely timing related. I could use some pointers. I have posted some background information here: https://www.rehsdonline.com/post/troubleshooting-65816-rom-ram-part-2.

The short version is that I am unable to get my ROM+RAM working with decoding logic. I'm guessing that I have a timing issue, but I haven't been able to figure it out.

I'd greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide.

Thanks!

Update: This issue has been resolved. Many updates were made based on great advice from members here. Ultimately, my lousy assembly coding was at fault. Credit to Adrien Kohlbecker for catching the issue with my code.

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What's an additional VIA among friends, anyhow?

Looking at the your diagram, you don't seem to be utilising the VDA and VPA pins on the 65816. These are used to determine if there is a valid address on the address bus or not. A rule of thumb is a 1 on either or both is fine. 0 on both means an invalid address and should be ignored by the decoding circuitry. Page 15 of the datasheet has some information on this (section 2.26).

Recommendations
- Put VDA and VPA through an OR gate - either a specific OR gate IC or within a GAL/CPLD - and use that as a part of the enable for all of the address decoding. Without this you're going to have some really random stuff happen and it might be the main cause of your issue.
- When writing to RAM, validate it with PHI2 (main clock) so the write enable signal for the RAM is enabled only when PHI2 goes high. Never do this for any 65xx device though (such as the 6522 or 6551) as they expect to be fed the 65816's RWB output. Also, don't do this for the chip selects - they can be enabled as soon as you know VDA & VPA are valid and the address range matches.
- With regards your pull up resistors on the 65816: I suspect 1K is fine, but you could try a 2K2 or 3K3 (I use 3K3 in my designs) as it will do the job, but consume less current.
Also, is there a reason for 10K value on the BE line pullup resistor? I've not seen anyone use a different value to the other 65816 pull ups, which is why I ask.
- RESB might be better with a 3K3 pull up as it can be a little unreliable without it -something I was warned about and I have definitely seen on my 65C02 designs.

Welcome!

Does your build still look like this (below)? If so, you have <ahem> some tidying up to do!

It's not just a matter of the length of all those cables. It also matters (a lot!) how the power and ground pins of your IC's get interconnected. For starters, cables between boards need to include at least one ground conductor (and ideally a power conductor too), attached to the local ground/power at each end. There are other requirements, too.

You mentioned you've been following Adrien Kohlbecker's video series, and he's facing some of the same issues. Have a look at the latest posts in his thread, here.

Given the fact that your project almost works, or works sometimes, it may seem to you as if only a minor tweak is needed. But that's misleading, as extensive changes may be necessary before you achieve solid, reliable operation. A project that works but is flaky can require just as much additional effort as one that's dead in the water. Sorry -- I don't make the rules, I'm just tellin' ya how it is!

This. But I wouldn't worry about pullup values. Ditto with the VPA, VDA thing, as problems in that department tend to be very subtle (not like what you're facing).

BTW your "schematic" is little more than a net list. It may seem clear to the person who created it, but others usually find it opaque -- it takes time to connect the dots. And not everyone will grant you that time. A real schematic with actual lines will increase the quantity and quality of the assistance you can garner here. Just sayin'!

-- Jeff

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Thanks, @GARTHWILSON. I will spend some time going through these resources.

Thanks, @banedon.

I will incorporate VDA and VPA. I hadn't as the sample schematic from WDC didn't seem to use it. My bad.

I will qualify the RAM's WE# with PHI2.

The pull-up resistor values were inaccurate on the schematic. I am using 3.3K the pull-ups, other than RESB, which uses a 1K (I could change it to a 3.3K). I will update the schematic. I have attached the reset circuit I am currently using.

No, it doesn't. I've attached a pic of my current PCB from which I'm working.


I appreciate the feedback on the schematic. I will post an updated version shortly.

Thanks!

Redrew your schematic before your last two updates. It should be easier to analyze by the guys here. I don't see anything wrong specifically, but AC or ACT components are dangerous; too fast, too noisy. 15nS RAM is also bad news.
Bill

I mentioned the pull ups as a suggestion more than anything else, not to resolve the issue at hand .

I have attached my updated schematic (before the pending updates based on feedback above). This isn't as nice as what you drew, Bill.

I have tried the circuit with all HC / HCT. Is that a better way to go?

Also, what should I look for in RAM?

Thank you!

Kinda like installing a big V-8 in a go-cart? Doable, but likely to cause problems, some obvious and others not so obvious ...

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Unfortunately, the 65C816 requires an AC chip for at least the bank address latching as well as the associated logic, as the timing margin is pretty thin (10ns to latch after rising edge of clock).



Having as less as possible AC/ACT chips on a breadboard is the way to go. On a PCB I would say it is fine if you have proper signal return paths / ground planes. Can you share screenshots of your PCB routing?

For the RAM, go with a slow, 55ns one before attempting to increase the speed. This goes for all the components, if they don't have a reason to be fast, go with slow chips, as they will be easier to manage for a start. Once you have a working slow build, then you can try to increase speed.

Your GAL can also be an issue with fast edges. Which model are you using? Can you also share how you're programming it and with which equations?



Having VDA, VPA be a part of the address decoding works but I would argue it is better to incorporate it into the read-write pulses. This way the address decoding is a fully static look-up, and you can more easily do DMA. Either way, I agree that they need to appear in the logic. I just released an episode on that subject yesterday, coincidentally!

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BB816 Computer YouTube series

_________________
http://WilsonMinesCo.com/ lots of 6502 resources
The "second front page" is http://wilsonminesco.com/links.html .
What's an additional VIA among friends, anyhow?

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x86?  We ain't got no x86.  We don't NEED no stinking x86!

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x86?  We ain't got no x86.  We don't NEED no stinking x86!