gc-forever - Gamecube/Wii Forums

I'm building a few more shuriken videos but this time I'm going to build a v2 design and with a xilinx spartan 3a xc3s200a instead of the xc3s50a. Now looking at both datasheets of both FPGA's the pinout matchs 1:1 with each other. I don't see anything different from the 2 besides cost and compacity so will I have any problems with flashing the gcvideo-dvi code to the board or shuriken video code to the board since its 1:1 match pinout. Having OSD and every other feature included with the DVI code would make this board a perfect alternative to the pluto 2x HDMI.

I dont know coding that well so I'm asking anyone here with experience to give me a few pointers to get this to work properly. I only ordered 3 boards and 1 xc3s200a to test if I can get this to work. The difference in price is 8.00usd so its worth a shot for everything you get with the stock DVI 2.0 code.

Thanks in advance

andre104623 wrote:I dont know coding that well so I'm asking anyone here with experience to give me a few pointers to get this to work properly.

Since that is more or less exactly what I soldered into my main Cube, I just added the modified files and the bitstream data for it to the repository. The pad snoop input is on the longer-but-smaller connector next to the FPGA, third pad from the Cube side.

Unseen wrote:

andre104623 wrote:I dont know coding that well so I'm asking anyone here with experience to give me a few pointers to get this to work properly.

Since that is more or less exactly what I soldered into my main Cube, I just added the modified files and the bitstream data for it to the repository. The pad snoop input is on the longer-but-smaller connector next to the FPGA, third pad from the Cube side.

Thank you Unseen, you really are amazing with all the GCvideo stuff you done for all of us here.

thanks guys as you can probably tell I have had f*ck all time to play with anything at the moment sigh. Really only intending my video board to be a reference design as I didnt like over paying for the pluto baord plus having to wait a month for the slow boat from china to turn up

Ok everything is on order including a few other projects that will be on the back burner for now. The pad snoop input is on what pin of the FPGA? I have a picture here of the board from OSH-park. Once I get everything built and working I will share the project on OSH park so no one else has to convert the files to there format just order some if you need to there 11.20usd for 3

andre104623 wrote:The pad snoop input is on what pin of the FPGA?

This one:

I have a picture here of the board from OSH-park.

There:

Unseen wrote:

andre104623 wrote:The pad snoop input is on what pin of the FPGA?

This one:

shuriken-padsnoop.jpg

I have a picture here of the board from OSH-park.

There:

shuriken-oshpark.png

Ah ok that was the same spot for the SPDIF output when the XC3S50A was used. Does this also have the SPDIF out as well I mean I won't really be needing it but just nice to know in the future

andre104623 wrote:Ah ok that was the same spot for the SPDIF output when the XC3S50A was used. Does this also have the SPDIF out as well I mean I won't really be needing it but just nice to know in the future

I have to admit that I didn't check where SPDIF was on the 3S50 - I just chose the point closest to the Gamecube that was available. SPDIF is also available, if I remember correctly it should be on the square pad closest to the HDMI connector.

Unseen wrote:

andre104623 wrote:Ah ok that was the same spot for the SPDIF output when the XC3S50A was used. Does this also have the SPDIF out as well I mean I won't really be needing it but just nice to know in the future

I have to admit that I didn't check where SPDIF was on the 3S50 - I just chose the point closest to the Gamecube that was available. SPDIF is also available, if I remember correctly it should be on the square pad closest to the HDMI connector.

Ok cool thanks unseen. I thought it was 8 pin on the spare but just wanted to make sure

happy_bunny wrote:thanks guys as you can probably tell I have had f*ck all time to play with anything at the moment sigh. Really only intending my video board to be a reference design as I didnt like over paying for the pluto baord plus having to wait a month for the slow boat from china to turn up

Well your reference design has turned into GCvideo-DVI since the pluto board is $70 Don't get me wrong though I have bought 2 pluto boards so far but I'm not planning on doing that again. As long as this build works out (hopefully my converted gerbers will be ok) I could build these at will. So if anyone would like one just shoot me a PM I could build one with a XC3S50a if a cheaper version is wanted.

Hello I'm back from a very busy few weeks. I got fired from my job for running my own business account at my job so I got a new job and making a lot more money. Unfortunately this job has taken most of my free time away but still didn't stop me from my projects.

The shuriken video V2 is back from the fab and look good I got done building 3 gcvideo-lite board and 3 Shuriken video V2 with xc3s200a FPGA I have 6 more blank PCBs of both lite version and Shuriken video V2 so if anyone would like one send me a PM. The lite version is on hold right now becuase my programmer is having issues flashing the lattice FPGA so I ordered a programmer. One more week for the lite version but the Shuriken video works like a charm OSD and all. I made the Shuriken video v1 and v2 a shared projects on OSHPARK so just look them up if you would like to build them yourself

Sent you a PM andre

what value are C7 and C8 ? it looks like 100nF, this is from my website

Note: C7 should be 4.7uF and C8 should be 1uF both tantalum type caps to reduce noise.

I would really recommend you use those values as they are stated in the datasheet for that vreg (1206 size should fit 16V will do).

happy_bunny wrote:what value are C7 and C8 ? it looks like 100nF, this is from my website

Note: C7 should be 4.7uF and C8 should be 1uF both tantalum type caps to reduce noise.

I would really recommend you use those values as they are stated in the datasheet for that vreg (1206 size should fit 16V will do).

Ok i will do that. I have to be honest its been a while since I visited the website. I'll order the caps tonight from digikey. I havent hooked up the spdif output and i havent had any problems so far only tested it for a few hours seems to be working fine no artifacts or unwanted noise.

Are you guys building these by hand?

Laika wrote:Are you guys building these by hand?

Of course, how else would I put it together

Pick and place machine.

Laika wrote:Pick and place machine.

Seems very economic for ~10 parts.

But seriously, doing the soldering by hand is not that hard with some practice and some "special" soldering techniques (apply flux and then do drag soldering is what gives me good results).

You could also do the placing by hand and then put the whole thing in a reflow oven/do some hot plate soldering.

I understand, I work in smt for a living :p

Laika wrote:I understand, I work in smt for a living :p

Must be nice, but I actually like soldering by hand

andre104623 wrote:

Laika wrote:I understand, I work in smt for a living :p

Must be nice, but I actually like soldering by hand

me too,

Sorry guys been busy. But the Shuriken video v2 is confirmed working perfectly with or without the higher rated caps doesnt seem to make any change. So I have 3 ready to go and with finish the other 3 when the first batch is gone then I will be done with this project at this time. Maybe i will make others if people really want more

Great to read you didn't run into any additional problems, and nice job on the boards. Really eager to give this a spin and see how HDMI looks like. Especially eager to hear the difference in sound.

Good day everyone,

I'm trying to build this mod, but I'm having some issues with the flashing.

I couldn't find any clear instructions anywhere so I'm kinda going with the bits and pieces I'm finding here and there.

I installed iMPACT, I created the .MCS file through iMPACT wizard using the .bit file found on Github, under hdl/bin.

When I go to flash the mcs file I get an error that the cable is not connected tried different pin configuration but didn't seem to change anything.

I have 2 questions If
Anyone can be bothered to answer.

1) am I correct in assuming that the gc-video code is in the .bit file which had now been converted into the mcs file?

2) do I need to power the chip in any way to be able to flash it? As it is now. I Just have my xikink programmer connected to my laptop and the pins from J4 connected to the chip pinout. But the chip is not connected anywhere else.

Thank you for anyone that takes the time to assist.

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

You need to have power on the chip. The .bit file indeed contains the FPGA code. The .MCS file is meant to be written to the flash chip, which can be done through the JTAG connection of the FPGA.