So, let's review. What do you have to play with when you're playing with Sentinel 65X?
First off, you have an 8MHz 65816-compatible processor. In the prototype, you get 512KB of linear memory, which is expandable; in the final version, it'll have 2MB on-board, because the cost difference is negligible in SMD.
An 8MHz 65816 very good for 2D games -- for comparison, it's ~88 times as fast as the CPU in the Commodore 64 at 16-bit math, and 11 times faster than an 8MHz 65C02 at same; it's also over twice as fast as the 65816 compatible CPU in the Super Famicom/SNES.
You also get 512KB of flash ROM on board, two SNES controller ports (enhanced with I2C bus pins where the SNES has them unconnected), the clock port, the expansion port, and, of course, the VERA, which provides:<li>Video generator featuring VGA signalling at a fixed 640x480@60Hz<ul><li>Support for 2 layers, both supporting either tile or bitmap mode.</li><li>Support for up to 128 sprites, which can be located individually over or under either tile/bitmap layer</li><li>Palette with 256 colors selected from a total range of 4096 colors.</li><li>16-channel Programmable Sound Generator with multiple waveforms (Pulse, Sawtooth, Triangle, Noise)</li><li>High quality PCM audio playback from an 4kB FIFO buffer featuring up to 48kHz 16-bit stereo sound.</li><li>Programmable VERA interrupt with dedicated interrupt vector</li></ul></li>
The cartridge port will support RAM, ROM, and I/O devices, as will the expansion port, which is meant to be paired with a buffered backplane accessory to add expandability to the system.
Essentially, Sentinel 65X is very similar to, but incompatible with the Commander X16 -- both due to the memory and I/O layout and due to the CPU being different.
Still to be developed, once the base hardware is stabilized:<li>Kernel and C/ASM SDK based on Calypsi</li><li>Buffered backplane expansion</li><li>USB Keyboard Adapter</li><li>Full custom Sentinel keyboard</li><li>[YOUR COOL GAME OR PROGRAM HERE]</li>
mos_8502 :verified: /
npub1qn…5hzwk
2024-05-03 00:44:51
Author Public Key
npub1qnufz4pycufk27kkeev5g0fgm0w0tqexsly674s2uwy0tynk5ymsk5hzwkPublished at
2024-05-03 00:44:51Event JSON
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"content": "So, let's review. What do you have to play with when you're playing with Sentinel 65X?\n\nFirst off, you have an 8MHz 65816-compatible processor. In the prototype, you get 512KB of linear memory, which is expandable; in the final version, it'll have 2MB on-board, because the cost difference is negligible in SMD. \n\nAn 8MHz 65816 very good for 2D games -- for comparison, it's ~88 times as fast as the CPU in the Commodore 64 at 16-bit math, and 11 times faster than an 8MHz 65C02 at same; it's also over twice as fast as the 65816 compatible CPU in the Super Famicom/SNES. \n\nYou also get 512KB of flash ROM on board, two SNES controller ports (enhanced with I2C bus pins where the SNES has them unconnected), the clock port, the expansion port, and, of course, the VERA, which provides:\u003cli\u003eVideo generator featuring VGA signalling at a fixed 640x480@60Hz\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSupport for 2 layers, both supporting either tile or bitmap mode.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSupport for up to 128 sprites, which can be located individually over or under either tile/bitmap layer\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003ePalette with 256 colors selected from a total range of 4096 colors.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e16-channel Programmable Sound Generator with multiple waveforms (Pulse, Sawtooth, Triangle, Noise)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eHigh quality PCM audio playback from an 4kB FIFO buffer featuring up to 48kHz 16-bit stereo sound.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eProgrammable VERA interrupt with dedicated interrupt vector\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\nThe cartridge port will support RAM, ROM, and I/O devices, as will the expansion port, which is meant to be paired with a buffered backplane accessory to add expandability to the system.\n\nEssentially, Sentinel 65X is very similar to, but incompatible with the Commander X16 -- both due to the memory and I/O layout and due to the CPU being different. \n\nStill to be developed, once the base hardware is stabilized:\u003cli\u003eKernel and C/ASM SDK based on Calypsi\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eBuffered backplane expansion\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eUSB Keyboard Adapter\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eFull custom Sentinel keyboard\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e[YOUR COOL GAME OR PROGRAM HERE]\u003c/li\u003e",
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