Shrinking the N64

[stuntpenguin007]

My plan is to make N64 schematics in EAGLE, and shrink the size of the N64 motherboard. As of now I expect this project to crash and burn, but I'd still like to give it a shot. Kibble was working on a project like this a while ago : http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=32430" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . He seems to have disappeared from the forums though.

The process should go something like this:
1. Make a library with all the parts I'll need such as the CPU, RCP, RAM, etc.
2. Make a schematic of the board
3. Turn that schematic into a board

Right now I need to find a datasheet for the CPU, RCP and RAM so I can make the library. I don't know if those datasheets exist, but if they do, could someone point me to them? Or if there is an existing library for N64 parts, please let me know. I'll post the library online when I finish.

edit: Added EAGLE library which contains RCP, CPU and RDRAM. I'm not sure if you need the .l#1 files in the zip, but I included them just in case.
http://www.mediafire.com/?bch58ttldkiwqw3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[limpport]

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=32430" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stuntpenguin007]

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=32430

I feel like that exact same link is already in my first post

Is it safe to assume that the 120 pin plastic qfp on page 207 of this datasheet http://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf-dat ... 38389.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; matches the CPU?

[bassmasta]

I hope you didn't forget about Ozone!
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php ... 70#p419570" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While his might not be what your looking for, I'm sure he has either the parts libraries or made his own.

In any case, if you find/make the libraries, please do share. I'd love to see just how small you can make it.

[stuntpenguin007]

Thanks! I was just reading old Ozone posts, which is where I came across a datasheet for the RAM.

http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datashe ... 718C50.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Page 45

edit: Looks like making the library is easier than I thought
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee34 ... PU_NUS.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It's the CPU.

[The Smooth]

By the time i want to make a 64p this better be done, or i'll...

just kidding.

[stuntpenguin007]

By the time i want to make a 64p this better be done, or i'll...

just kidding.

Haha. Lets just hope it actually gets done someday.

Added library of major components in first post.

[stuntpenguin007]

Not much progress, but some. I'm beginning by connecting all the CPU - RCP traces.

[bassmasta]

So, what size are you aiming for? Layers?

Thought of doing a "modular" solution, like Ozone suggested?

I'm really excited for this.

[timmeh87]

I started this once. here. Its 4 layers so it might not open in the free version. Mostly its the schematic that you probably want to look at, I made a lot of changes from ozones.... I dont know where my part list went.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XYLLZ69E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stuntpenguin007]

I started this once. here. Its 4 layers so it might not open in the free version. Mostly its the schematic that you probably want to look at, I made a lot of changes from ozones.... I dont know where my part list went.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XYLLZ69E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks. That's going to save me hours of figuring out where traces go. Apart from unrouted signals, how far along is that board? Are you still working on it at all?

I don't really have plans for how small I want it to be yet. Right now I'm mostly just hoping to get it all together

[timmeh87]

I was at the point where I was going to try to route it, then check it like 50 times, then have the board done professionally. the schematic has already been checked about 5 times. I dont doubt that it still contains errors.

I redid the whole regulator block, and added a whole controller, as you can see. pin headers for most all the signals. I was planning on making a daughterboard that contained a controller pack and rumble pack in one. Its designed to use only two ram chips. Im pretty sure someone here proved you can use large RAM chips and have full "expansion pack capability" with only the two chips.

As I was routing it, I was really wishing I had more space. It started getting real tricky right where I stopped. I encourage you to learn from what I have there and possibly start over...

The ultimate goal would be to combine this project with marshallh's cartridge emulator.

[timmeh87]

Here are more useful files.

1) an XLS sheet with all the original part numbers and values from the board i was copying. These should roughly correspond to the part numbers in the schematic. I actually desoldered and measured each part. booyeah.

2) a picture from a website where i designed the 3.3v regulator. no pth080000, this thing is custom.

3) a little picture of some parts that were not soldered onto my board, whos footprints I originally included but then decided to remove. Im not positive what it does, I think it had something to do with RGB maybe

4) an updated library file. Probably has way more parts.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FDV1F5LL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stuntpenguin007]

Thanks a lot! This is really helping me out. I'm going to check over the schematic a few times, and then start a new board and see how it turns out.

I can verify that soldering 2 4MB chips directly to the motherboard functions with full expansion pack capabilities, as I've done it myself. I was looking at this datasheet http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datashe ... 718C50.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and I noticed that it mentions 64-Megabit RDRAMs. If I could get one of those chips, I should only need 1 chip for expansion pack capabilities.

[timmeh87]

Also, you need to figure out what your tolerances are and stick to them. I think i was doing 6 mil. It depends on who's making your board.

Also, If you figure out what U3 is let me know .