Gadget Gangster QuickPlayer Extreme and PropGCC XMMC

mindrobots · 2012-05-28 11:17

I got my QuickPlayer Extreme with the SD module and teh Winbond 8Mbit flash installed.

I built a .cfg like this:

# [qsbig]
    clkfreq: 80000000
    clkmode: XTAL1+PLL16X
    baudrate: 115200
    rxpin: 31
    txpin: 30
    tvpin: 12   # only used if TV_DEBUG is defined
    cache-driver: spi_flash_cache.dat
    cache-size: 8K
    cache-param1: 0x11121021 # 0xooiiccpp - oo=mosi ii=miso cc=sck pp=cs-protocol
    cache-param2: 0x13000000 # 0xssxxxxxx - ss=cs
    led-pin: 16
    sd-driver: sd_driver.dat
    sdspi-do: 0
    sdspi-clk: 1
    sdspi-di: 2
    sdspi-cs: 3

I can load a program with XMMC memory model. Just a tiny blink program. and it runs fine.

SimpleIDE output:

Project Directory: C:/Users/rapost/Documents/SimpleIDE/blinky2/   propeller-elf-gcc.exe -o a.out -Os -mxmmc -I . -fno-exceptions pin.c pin.h blinky2.c
 propeller-elf-objdump -h a.out
 Done. Build Succeeded!
  propeller-load.exe -I C:/propgcc/propeller-load/ -b QSBIG -p COM16 a.out -e -rLoading the serial helper to hub memory
  9528 bytes sent
 Verifying RAM ... Loading cache driver 'spi_flash_cache.dat'
  1464 bytes sent             
 Loading program image to flash
 Loading the flash loader to EEPROM via hub memory
  4628 bytes sent
 Verifying RAM ... OK
 Programming EEPROM ... OK
 Verifying EEPROM ... 1056 bytes sent

notice, the loader doesn't tell me it patched my led_pin value but it did.

LMM also works (why wouldn't it?)

Project Directory: C:/Users/rapost/Documents/SimpleIDE/blinky2/   
propeller-elf-gcc.exe -o a.out -Os -mlmm -I . -fno-exceptions pin.c pin.h blinky2.c
 propeller-elf-objdump -h a.out
 Done. Build Succeeded!
  propeller-load.exe -I C:/propgcc/propeller-load/ -b QSBIG -p COM16 a.out -e -rLoading a.out to EEPROM via hub memory
  2968 bytes sent
 Verifying RAM ... OK
 Programming EEPROM ... OK
 Verifying EEPROM ... Patching __cfg_led_pin with 00000010
 OK

here you can see that the patch was made.

I haven't been able to get the SD to work yet for file I/O. I assumed the pins were the same as the GG PP-USB but the documentation on the GG site isn't complete for the new board.

More testing as time allows. I also have SRAM chips to play with.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2012-05-28 11:56

mindrobots wrote: »

I haven't been able to get the SD to work yet for file I/O. I assumed the pins were the same as the GG PP-USB but the documentation on the GG site isn't complete for the new board.

More testing as time allows. I also have SRAM chips to play with.

Are you using the optional microSD connection points on the Extreme? If so, it appears you have your code right.

do = 0
clk = 1
di = 2
cs = 3

OBC

mindrobots · 2012-05-28 16:20

@OBC, affirmative on the connection points. I assume you did it like that for sideways compatibility!

Instill need to test more... Pilot error and I are old friends!!

It was exciting to see the flash drivers load the code...at least it appeared to load.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2012-05-28 16:48

I'm having so much fun experimenting with SRAM, that I haven't even purchased the FLASH yet for myself.

I'm assuming you are using this part?

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/1817540-spi-flash-8mbit-8-dip-w25q80bvdaig.html

OBC

mindrobots · 2012-05-28 18:48

That's the one I got!

jazzed · 2012-05-28 19:05

@mindrobots, I'm very happy to see you getting the flash to work! Thanks.

So, no luck with the SD card? Does the board have pull ups?

Where are the details on this board?

The gg page schematic.pdf seems to be missing pages. Nice pictures of software though.

mindrobots · 2012-05-28 19:21

Steve,

From what I gathered from the page and what Jeff confirmed, my *.cfg file above should be accurate as far as addresses. The addresses for the 8 pin dip are called out in the text description of the board. I think the rest of my file is ok but I could be missing something.

I'll get some more testing done as soon as I can....maybe tomorrow morning.

Thanks!

David Betz · 2012-05-28 20:12

You guys beat me to this! My QuickPlayer Extreme board won't arrive until tomorrow.
Since you've already verified that xmmc will work with a flash chip I'll work on getting a SPI SRAM cache driver working.

mindrobots · 2012-05-29 03:31

SD and FLASH are working!

The *.cfg above has all the correct addressing.

I had hammered my SD card while I was playing so once I reformatted it, I was able to read/write files to it.

mindrobots · 2012-05-29 03:37

I haven't tried sd_cache. I presume that can be done with any SD adapter once you get the pins and driver set up properly.

If you are using sd_cache, I assume that prevents you from using the SD card for file I/O. To use sd_cache and SD file I/O, would you need 2 SD cards on your board? (dual floppies!

)

I may have trashed my corrupted my SD card during testing by trying the sd_cache.

David Betz · 2012-05-29 04:58

mindrobots wrote: »

I haven't tried sd_cache. I presume that can be done with any SD adapter once you get the pins and driver set up properly.

If you are using sd_cache, I assume that prevents you from using the SD card for file I/O. To use sd_cache and SD file I/O, would you need 2 SD cards on your board? (dual floppies! )

I may have trashed my corrupted my SD card during testing by trying the sd_cache.

Using the SD cache should not prevent you from using the SD filesystem on the same card. Just make sure you don't delete the file containing the program you're running!! :-)

jazzed · 2012-05-29 10:43

mindrobots wrote: »

SD and FLASH are working!

The *.cfg above has all the correct addressing.

I had hammered my SD card while I was playing so once I reformatted it, I was able to read/write files to it.

Congratulations!

David Betz · 2012-05-29 17:24

I just got my QuickPlayer module today. It was really easy to assemble and I happened to have a SPI SRAM chip around so I wrote a cache driver to allow xmm-single or xmmc mode to be used on the QuickPlayer with SPI SRAM. I've attached a zip file containing the board configuration file, the driver source and a built driver. I tested it with the fibo demo built in xmm-single and xmmc modes and it seems to work.

mindrobots · 2012-05-29 17:48

This is pretty cool. For $39 you get a propeller platform with SD, FLASH (or SRAM if you'd like)....

Hmmm, big memory, SD, stereo output, TV out, and a pair of Wii nunchucks.........there's got to be a project or two in there somewhere there!!!!

David Betz · 2012-05-29 17:52

mindrobots wrote: »

This is pretty cool. For $39 you get a propeller platform with SD, FLASH (or SRAM if you'd like)....

Hmmm, big memory, SD, stereo output, TV out, and a pair of Wii nunchucks.........there's got to be a project or two in there somewhere there!!!!

My only suggestion is that they consider adding an on-board SD card slot in the next revision rather than requiring a separate module. Otherwise, it's a nice module!

mindrobots · 2012-05-29 18:00

OK, and maybe headphone output instead of (in addition to or as an option for) RCA for the audio output.

The low cost is nice....which the optional SD allows.
I really like the kit format of the quickstart modules. I still enjoy putting a kit together.

David Betz · 2012-05-29 18:02

mindrobots wrote: »

OK, and maybe headphone output instead of (in addition to or as an option for) RCA for the audio output.

The low cost is nice....which the optional SD allows.
I really like the kit format of the quickstart modules. I still enjoy putting a kit together.

The kit factor is maybe why an SD card slot isn't included. I think they're difficult to solder.

Gadget Gangster QuickPlayer Extreme and PropGCC XMMC

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