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Name It Win It Contest Closed - MicroPropPC — Parallax Forums

Name It Win It Contest Closed - MicroPropPC

jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
edited 2011-01-12 16:55 in Propeller 1
Update:

@potatohead wins with MicroProp . The product will officially be called MicroPropPC.

I'm hoping to have first hardware prototypes functional in first week of February 2011.
Depending on the prototype build and front/rear panel design/cutout progress boards
could be generally available by first week in March.

I've moved power plug and switch to back and PS2/USB ports to the front.

Thanks to all!
--Steve

Name this propeller product! - Contest Closed!

If the name you suggest wins, you will get one free when they are available.

For the time being, I'll call it "PropellerPC." The board illustrated below
is designed for use as a general purpose single board computer which
will run C programs with Heater's Zog (also available for Parallax C3) and
other languages eventually such as PropellerJVM and BigSpin.

Programs are stored and fetched from SDRAM via a cache so the wider
the data bus the better. The optimal bus width is 16 bits since up to 15
latched address bits are used anyway. This is a second generation Propeller
SDRAM design.

The board is designed to fit in a Hammond RM2015S enclosure.

PropellerPC Features:
  • 2 Propellers (main uC and vgaC)
  • 16 bit SDRAM: 8MB to 128MB
  • 64KB EEPROM for each Propeller can be 128KB
  • RTC with battery backup CR2012 or separate
  • RM2015S 4x5x1.2" ABS Enclosure
  • Front and Backpanel cutouts (TBD)
  • +9VDC to 15VDC Center Positive Power Operation
    (+7.5VDC Operation w/o Power Protection Diode)
Front Panel:
  • System Status LED
  • uSD Card Slot
  • Reset button
  • USB Propeller Serial Port
  • Propeller Serial Select Switch
  • TX & RX LEDs capable of system status updates
  • Dual PS2/USB Connector
  • Optional 5V power on LED indicator.
Rear Panel:
  • VGA Connector
  • Stereo Audio Plug
  • PS2 Keyboard Connector (2 port split)
  • Center Positive Power Plug
  • Power Switch

Architecture Summary:

The 2 Propeller architecture is used with 16 bit SDRAM to achieve the highest
possible SDRAM data throughput to/from the primary Propeller execution chip.
Both Propeller serial consoles are accessible via the front panel USB port.
The microSD card is connected to the primary Propeller.

The secondary Propeller provides VGA, simple R/C Stereo Audio, PS2 and/or USB
connection, SD card detect, system status LED, and RX/TX LED 2 bit drivers.

Communications between primary and secondary Propellers is via I2C and a
parallel 8 bit bus that will allow down stream pseudo-DMA transfers at 5MB/s.
The 5MB/s pipe is intended primarily to update the secondary Propeller VGA
and other data intensive buffers.

The color coded picture here is a bit out of date. The most recent Rev A0 PCB picture is attached.

attachment.php?attachmentid=77084&d=1294688569

Enclosure picture:

RM2015S_RB.jpg

Rev A0 PCB:

attachment.php?attachmentid=77163&d=1294864012
PropPC_Outline3.png
860 x 708 - 30K
MicroPropPC.png
771 x 583 - 404K
«13

Comments

  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,519
    edited 2011-01-10 13:24
    Very cool product! I'll have to think up a good name so I can win a free one!

    Why is the power plug on the front panel? Wouldn't it be better on the back so that the power cord can be hidden behind the case?
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-01-10 13:28
    Looks cool. Can I also suggest adding a couple holes to accept a 2-pin header that are connected in parallel with the rest switch? That will make it much easier in case someone wants to add a remote reset button.

    Robert
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2011-01-10 13:40
    The Prospector ( or Propspector :D )
    The Turbine-ator
    The Proper Computer
    Twin Props
    The Twinster

    they're my entries, for now anyway :D since nobody has started naming it yet!
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,519
    edited 2011-01-10 13:42
    How about PropBox?
  • Shawn LoweShawn Lowe Posts: 635
    edited 2011-01-10 13:54
    The Propinator
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2011-01-10 13:59
    Congrats Steve - looks great!

    XTerminator (with subscript mm between the X and the T - ie XmmTerminator)
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-01-10 14:23
    Nice job jazzed
    '
    PropPad
  • RsadeikaRsadeika Posts: 3,846
    edited 2011-01-10 14:35
    This looks like a very interesting product, so, I think PropDUO would be a great name.

    Ray
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2011-01-10 14:37
    PPC... just make Prop PC the acronym de jour. These days, briefer is better.

    or:

    P-Box
    Prop Pod
    ProCo (Propeller Computer)
    Spinner
    SpinTwin
    TwinSpin
  • Roy ElthamRoy Eltham Posts: 3,000
    edited 2011-01-10 14:50
    Propeller T16
    PT16
    TwinProp 16
    TP16

    DiProp 16
    DP16
    BiProp 16
    BP16


    I like the 16 referring to 16 cores and the 16bit sram.
  • RonPRonP Posts: 384
    edited 2011-01-10 14:57
    How about

    PropPuter
    V-PitchProp as in Variable Pitch Propeller
    F-PitchProp as in Fixed Pitch Propeller
    V-Twin Prop
    Twin Prop
    PropPair
    MultiProp

    Ron
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-01-10 14:59
    Lots of interesting suggestions so far. Keep 'em coming. Thanks!

    Some Q&A's:

    @dbetz, the power plug is on the front for a few reasons mainly having to do with board layout.

    @RobotWorkshop, I'll see if I have room for a small reset header; there is no more room on the front. I was thinking that since the reset button is through hole, it would be pretty easy to replace it with a cable if necessary. Is that solution a suitable substitute for a separate header?

    By the way, I plan to provide these "built to order" and sell them myself.
    The configurations will mainly be regarding SDRAM sizes.

    I'll provide a generic version to GadgetGangster and others later.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-01-10 15:14
    Oh good the best name hasn't been taken yet (imho).

    TurboProp

    Duane

    Edit: Okay second best name: Jazzed Up Prop or Jazzed Up Propeller, and Jazzed Up TurboProp. Oh yeah, that board is as good as mine.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2011-01-10 15:26
    I suggest Twin Otter, after an iconic airplane that goes where few other airplanes can go and has, yep, two propellers :-)
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-01-10 15:40
    Prop station, Propstation 2

    Micro Propeller PC

    Personal Propeller Computer

    Micro-prop

    Silicon-Prop

    Propeller Powered PC

    Prop PC DUO

    Prop Station 2 DUO
  • RonPRonP Posts: 384
    edited 2011-01-10 15:44
    You said "keep 'em coming."

    PropDeuce
    DeuceProp
    The Deuce (simple)
    Deuces Wild
    PropChipper
    PropDoubler
    PropPipper
    PipperProp
    PropDueler
    PropSpeeder
    Synergy Prop X2 (my favorite)
  • Brian RileyBrian Riley Posts: 626
    edited 2011-01-10 15:46
    JazzPC (Jazzed Propeller Computer)
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-01-10 15:50
    Prop Mini

    ParaProp

    Prop Unity PC

    Unity Duo

    Propeller Jazz! (Technical Development Workstation)

    Gestalt PC (DUO)

    Blender

    Propeller Direct PC

    Zen! (Technical Development PC -- Propeller Powered)

    Smart PC (Dual Propeller Powered Development / Entertainment Micro Computer System)

    Cheetah

    Phoenix Duo (Includes PDE, Propeller Development Environment)

    OxyProp --> Breathe new life into your Propeller Development Efforts

    Tetragen, Duogen, Propgen -- Personal Development Station

    Prop PDS

    Boss! DPC (Dual Propeller Computer)
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-01-10 15:58
    Congratulations Steve. Nice to see a dual prop solution as it shows off the prop at its best.. a processor and an I/O processor because both are functions that the prop excells at.
    As for names, I would offer you TwinBlade or RetroBlade, but I have both those in the pipleine.

    JazzyProp - A dual propeller based single board computer
    Jazzy SBC
    JazzyTwins

    I can see we will have a few boxed designs which I think will help open up the playing field.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,726
    edited 2011-01-10 16:06
    der DoppelProp?
    Propeller Iced Twice?
    Double down?

    Very nice, Jazzed! You're going to have trouble picking out of all those names...
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2011-01-10 16:08
    The Wowboard!
  • Ding-BattyDing-Batty Posts: 302
    edited 2011-01-10 16:21
    PRAM
    PRAMx2
    DRAMatic
    DRAMaticProp
    Prop DRAMatics
    DRAMaPro or DRAMaProp
    RAMProp
    Drambuie :)
    "The Prop that Refreshes" (ugh!)
  • william chanwilliam chan Posts: 1,326
    edited 2011-01-10 16:37
    Shouldn't the power socket be at the rear panel?
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-01-10 16:59
    Blade DUO

    Turbo Blade DUO

    Blade Turbo DUO

    Dualblade PPC.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-01-10 17:16
    That's "The Jazz" board because it's "on the jazz". As in http://onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/on+the+jazz

    Another totally audacious concept for the Propeller.

    Zog will love it, Catalina will love it. Already can't wait for the Prop II version:)
  • RavenkallenRavenkallen Posts: 1,057
    edited 2011-01-10 19:18
    Wow, that looks pretty neat. Especially with the sheer amount of RAM. It will not be long before we have a full PC system running on a Prop....AS for names.
    You need something cool, something powerful.. How about,

    FireRainX2...
    Night-TroXX...
    JazzRage...
    Comet...
    Shadow2...
    BoomBOX...
    StarRider...
    ScRAM-RAM...
    ZZTop...What, how did that get in there?:)
  • ambroxioambroxio Posts: 17
    edited 2011-01-10 20:33
    PropC (propeller Computer)

    Propulsion

    bebop O.o .. you know , honoring the jazzy nickname
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,235
    edited 2011-01-10 20:40
    Super Propalicious 1
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-01-10 22:11
    We have had the fruits such as apple, macintosh, peach etc.

    With the jazzed theme, how about an instrument such as

    Trumpet "with much fanfare jazzed introduces the Trumpet - a modern small dual propeller based single board computer".

    Now you just need for the board to play a trumpet tune as a default on powerup and you are away!
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,936
    edited 2011-01-10 22:20
    really not coming up with much......

    Propeller 2x8 SBC
    Bin8SBC or Byn8Prop ("binate" means "growing in pairs")
    Prim8PC (and use a pair of monkeys as a logo)
    Propeller WORKM8 or WORKM8 SBC

    Tried to come up with something using 2 and 8, but dualocto sounds like a cartoon villain......however, dualocto.com is available!
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