New Q60 Boards

[Peter]

The original machine is purely made from throughhole type components. It will still be possible to have them machine soldered, but that has become very expensive. Various components are obsolete, but available. The CPU socket is not available, and needs to be "tinkered" - or the CPU soldered directly.

I may be able to help here. I have a CNC and have made some custom PGA sockets that are unobtainium for friends. It went so well I am collecting every PGA pattern so I can take a request and just hit "go".... I sourced the correct 2.54mm black high temp Nylon 6. It would be a shame to have to solder a CPU that hasn't already got solder on its legs. I'll look up the pin pattern and spin some up.

It is 18x18, 223 pins, of which 17 are unused in general, further 29 are unused in my design. The PCB has holes for all 223.
It would be cool to have a one-piece socket. How do you press the pins into the nylon carcase? Manually?

[Dave]

It is 18x18, 223 pins, of which 17 are unused in general, further 29 are unused in my design. The PCB has holes for all 223.
It would be cool to have a one-piece socket. How do you press the pins into the nylon carcase? Manually?

On smaller single pieces, yes. If I get an order for a quantity I do have a vibrating sorter and should be able to automate it.

The nylon 6 has a dual diameter hole so the turned pins embed properly and cannot shift. I have a bit I haven't tried yet which should be able to cut the retaining detent on the upper inside of the wider hole, and the correct bevel for the narrowing section. Nylon 6 has good thermal characteristics and excellent dielectric properties.

I also want to add spring clip catches so HSF options can be clipped onto the chip in a standard way. I will look at my various 060s and see if the different variants have any pin differences, then plan on a one size fits all 060 socket.

I can also mill customizations into existing heatsinks. I have made a few copper heat spreaders with heat pipes too.

[Peter]

I will look at my various 060s and see if the different variants have any pin differences, then plan on a one size fits all 060 socket.

No pin differences between the PGA variants.

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi

I am updating the BOM for the Q60.amd simplifying the Q60, by only supplying a single speed Q60. In 2002, I had 60, 66, 80Mhz options.

The Q60 in its current design, can reach a maximum of 80Mhz, which used a 68LC060RC75 CPU, over clocked to 80Mhz. There are other custom PLDs that only work at 80Mhz, so no other speed increase can be obtained, even if the 68LC060RC75 can run at 100Mhz.

Does the lack of FPU in the CPU cause a problem?

Is an MMU essential for QL software?

[Peter]

The Q60 in its current design, can reach a maximum of 80Mhz, which used a 68LC060RC75 CPU, over clocked to 80Mhz. There are other custom PLDs that only work at 80Mhz, so no other speed increase can be obtained, even if the 68LC060RC75 can run at 100Mhz.

Not sure what you mean. 110 MHz versions of the PLDs also exist. They are obsolete of course, but the 80 MHz versions are obsolete, too. If you obtain the 110 MHz speed grade, could try out 100 MHz in principle. Obviously some adjustments for the timers would be requited for actual use, but those could be done later if the board runs stable. I don't think it would, but that is not a matter of the PLDs.

Is an MMU essential for QL software?

No QL software needs the MMU.

[ql_freak]

No QL software needs the MMU.

No CURRENT software (and that even IMHO). It would be nice, if the board supports MMU and FPU, even if it's only delivered and tested with a 680xx without MMU and FPU.

[Derek_Stewart]

The Q60 in its current design, can reach a maximum of 80Mhz, which used a 68LC060RC75 CPU, over clocked to 80Mhz. There are other custom PLDs that only work at 80Mhz, so no other speed increase can be obtained, even if the 68LC060RC75 can run at 100Mhz.

Not sure what you mean. 110 MHz versions of the PLDs also exist. They are obsolete of course, but the 80 MHz versions are obsolete, too. If you obtain the 110 MHz speed grade, could try out 100 MHz in principle. Obviously some adjustments for the timers would be requited for actual use, but those could be done later if the board runs stable. I don't think it would, but that is not a matter of the PLDs.

What the comment means, is I am trying to cover the fact that other platforms can overclock the CPU to higher speeds than 80Mhz. Where as the Q60 80 Mhz can not, unless hiher speed PLDs are used, this means a change to the BOM and the testing of the higher speed PLD.

But I will keep this in mind.

I am only at the part sourcing stage, also need to find a reliable CPU supplier.

[Derek_Stewart]

The Q60 in its current design, can reach a maximum of 80Mhz, which used a 68LC060RC75 CPU, over clocked to 80Mhz. There are other custom PLDs that only work at 80Mhz, so no other speed increase can be obtained, even if the 68LC060RC75 can run at 100Mhz.

Not sure what you mean. 110 MHz versions of the PLDs also exist. They are obsolete of course, but the 80 MHz versions are obsolete, too. If you obtain the 110 MHz speed grade, could try out 100 MHz in principle. Obviously some adjustments for the timers would be requited for actual use, but those could be done later if the board runs stable. I don't think it would, but that is not a matter of the PLDs.

Is an MMU essential for QL software?

No QL software needs the MMU.

Hi,

Thank you for the relay, I am only trying to cover the possible non availability of FPU, MMU based 68060:

68EC060xxx : No FPU, MMU
68LC060xxx : MMU included, No FPU
68RC060xxx : MMU, FPU, included

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi

I am sorry to say due adverse comments from a user on the QL Discord Hardware channel. I have told in not do many words that that my manufacturing skills and techniques are not good enough, and probably unreliable. Do I am calling pause to the Q60 production for now.

Other projects, I will complete the commitments.

Then back to being a normal user.

[Peter]

The Q60 boards sold by Derek were very high quality.
The same goes for all Q68 that I saw, including repairs for users not reading the manual.
Confusion might have been caused by some of the old Qbranch Q40 boards - but Derek was never involved there.

Sadly, there are still persons in the QL scene who demotivate others with inept public criticism.
I hope that after a while of retreat, Derek will continue his work for the QL community.