So basically I want to know how I should go about adding VGA video capabilities to a 6502 computer I want to make so that it can connect to a generic monitor. I actually haven't made the computer yet, but I need to know what parts I should be getting so that I can build it. It will include VIAs and ACIAs, so basically I was just wondering how I could add these capabilities. Is it possible to use ready-made video cards, I have quite a few laying around, but they would have been for windows 98 computers so i doubt it would be compatible at all, but i could buy some online I suppose. Thanks in advance!

There's a VGA primer at http://www.nathandumont.com/node/241 . Daryl (forum name: 8BIT) here is working on a VGA interface that will make it very easy to add video, and make it available to all. The forum topic on it starts at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2087 . His own website is http://sbc.rictor.org/home.html .

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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!

Ah yes, thanks for the reminder. I mentioned it in the displays section of the 6502 primer, and then forgot about it. I think the manufacturer's page on it is http://www.4dsystems.com.au/prod.php?id=131 .

Daryl's creation lets you feed it directly from the 6522's shift register, with only 2 wires, CB1 and CB2 (or is it 3 Daryl?) That's potentially up to hundreds of times as fast as going through a 6551.

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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?

[size=110]
Which is good if your machine has a 6522.


Well, you know what my opinion is of the 6551. I wouldn't use it as a paper weight, let alone a UART.

As far as demands on the serial interface go, the actual amount of data that has to be passed to the µVGA-II(SGC) to generate a display is relatively small. Many graphics functions require only an opcode and a handful of parameters to describe the object to be drawn. Even at the default interface speed of 9600 bps (effectively 960 CPS using 8-N-1 format), a system using the µVGA-II(SGC) would perform with alacrity.

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

This Picaso IC is a very attractive option for those with a TFT using a Solomon IC TFT controller.
And it's awesome that 4D sells this 64-pin QFP IC alone at a very respectable price.
It also accomodates a resistive touch panel.

I've been considering using it (the GFX2 parallel version) in v1.2 of the 65Org16.b DevBoard now for a few days. It would require some mod's to my NHD TFT which I've also been considering, in order to make it 16-bit compatible interface.

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65Org16:https://github.com/ElEctric-EyE/verilog-6502

On the module, there are 2 IC's. One is the Picaso on top of the board. Anyone know what the one on the bottom is?

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65Org16:https://github.com/ElEctric-EyE/verilog-6502

Actually I just now saw, the Picaso is on the bottom with the SD card connector. I believe they also use the SSD1963 TFT controller, same as on my NHD 800x480 TFT. It is a larger 128-pin QFP, although it is not shown on the 4D schematics as far as can see. Pretty simple to hook up though.

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65Org16:https://github.com/ElEctric-EyE/verilog-6502

On my uVGA II, the Picaso-A chip is on the top and a SSD1963QL9 is on the bottom with the uSD socket.

By top, I am saying the side with VGA socket on it. One could argue which side is really the top, as both sides have silk-screens and components.

Daryl

Edit - revised chip ID

Ah, so it is a SSD1963. This is a nice controller for a mobile TFT. Thanks for chipping in Daryl!

So the 4D's pair of IC's (Picaso and SSD1963) can be used to drive a WVGA (800x480) display with pre-programmed algorithms according to 4D's software (free!) for graphics and fonts. This is most attractive, especially for mobile devices...

Although their features do not address sprites... Yet, or even take advantage of hardware vertical scrolling of the SSD1963.

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65Org16:https://github.com/ElEctric-EyE/verilog-6502