FPGA Releases: Difference between revisions

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m (→‎Current F256K Release: I added a Code column to display what the FPGA shows as its version tag when the F256 is booted up. I can only attest to the F256K ones since it's what I own, someone else could add what is shown from the F256Jr. I also fixed the F256K RC13 date from 12-Dec to 09-Dec)
(6809 cores for k2)
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
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== F256K FPGA Releases ==
# move the FG & BG Text LUT to:


=== Current F256K Release ===
=== Important: ===
Most users will want to consume the "Firmware package relases" (taken from here: https://github.com/FoenixRetro/f256-firmware/releases. )  which contain both the latest of the FPGA releases seen here on this page, and the kernel/base programs intended for the flash memory. The page you're ready here is meant for power user who would want to test back compatibility or attempt some roll-backs in case bugs are found, and for readers who want to learn about the release notes of each new FPGA version.


''(* "Purple" refers to the official 2025+ release of the K2; "Black" refers to the first run of K2B boards sent out to the original F256K owners in late 2024)''
=== Latest FPGA core files for all platforms ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Series !! Version
! colspan="3" |
!Code!! Date !! Download !! Release Notes
==== <big>F256Jr2</big> ====
!
! colspan="3" |
==== <big>F256K2</big> ====
|-
!Core
!Link
!Notes
!
!Core
!Link
!Notes
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/Jr2/Classic/2025-01-07/F256Jr2_MMU_Jan8th_2025_OPL3.mcs 08-Jan-2025]
|OPL3 added
!
|6502 MMU
|Black*: [https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K2/CNTX1/2025-02-02/CFP95600C.bin 02-Feb-2025]
Purple*: n/a
|fix Onboard Access to a SPI Flash
LCD Splash Screen
|-
|65816 Ext
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/Jr2/Extended/2024-12-21/F256Jr2_Ext16_Dec21st_2024.mcs 21-Dec-2025]
|Implementation of the 256Bytes
Copy from Flash to RAM before booting.
!
|65816 Ext
|Black*: [https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K2/CNTX2/2025-01-07/CFP95616E.bin 07-Jan-2025]
Purple*: n/a
|Updated access to WS6100
UART for the VS1053B
|-
|65816 Ext 2x
|[https://c256foenix.com/product-category/gen2-core/?v=5435c69ed3bc Buy Here]
|2x CPU speed
layer of 16 bit colored text
 
hardware line drawing
 
64 more sprites.
!
|65816 Ext 2x
|[https://c256foenix.com/product-category/gen2-core/?v=5435c69ed3bc Buy Here]
|2x CPU speed
layer of 16 bit colored text
 
hardware line drawing
 
64 more sprites.
|-
|6809
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/Jr2/6809/2025-06-15/F256JrJr_FNX6809_June14th_RC0014_0003.mcs 15-Jun-2025]
|WIFI Speed and Interface (added TX_Empty & RX_Empty Flag)
!
|6809
|Black*: [https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/K2/CNTX3/K2_NitrOS9_Load_BlackBoard_Aug26th.bin 26-Aug-2025]
Purple*: [https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/K2Purple/CNTX3/FNX6809_First_Release_Aug24th_PurpleBoard.bin 24-Aug-2025]
|This is the preliminary version and only works with a PS/2 keyboard plugged in.
If destined for slot 3, rename the file and put in CNTX3/f256k2t9.bin
|-
|-
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| F256K
! colspan="3" |
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| Release Candidate 13
==== <big>F256Jr</big> ====
|00130000 B0
!
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | 09-Dec-2023
! colspan="3" |
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1054250189675843736/1182993744044249149/F256K_WBh_Dec9th_RevB0x_RC13_0000.jic F256K_WBh_Dec9th_RevB0x_RC13_0000.jic]
==== <big>F256K</big> ====
|  
|-
* Fixes a problem with Interrupt from timer0 that was working on the Jr.  
!Core
* Resolves a discrepancy between the F256Jr interrupt block and the F256K.
!Link
!Notes
!
!Core
!Link
!Notes
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/Jr/Classic/F256M_Wbh_Jan26th_2025_RC20_0100.jic 26-Jan-2025]
|fixes Overlay FONT on top of graphic
with Background Color Enabled
!
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K/F256Kc_WBh_Jan26th_2025_RC16_0001.jic 26-Jan-2025]
|fixes Overlay FONT on top of graphic
with Background Color Enabled
|-
|65816 Ext 2x
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/Jr/Extended/F256M_Wbh_Jun24th_2025_RC0100_0002.jic 24-Jun-2025]
|Fixed bugs with register 0x0000 and 0x0001
!
|65816 Ext 2x
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/K/F256Kc_WBh_Jun23th_RC0100_0003_DualSpeed_CPU.jic 23-Jun-2025]
|Fixed bugs with register 0x0000 and 0x0001
|}
|}


=== Previous F256K Releases ===
=== Previous FPGA core files for all platforms ===
Use these for testing out older softwares and snooping around for persistant issues.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="3" |
==== <big>Previous F256Jr2 Cores</big> ====
|-
!Core
!Link
!Notes
|-
|6809
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/Jr2/6809/2025-06-13/F256Jr2_FNX6809_June13th_RC0017_0002.mcs 13-Jun-2025]
|Move the FG & BG Text LUT to:


{| class="wikitable"
$18_3800        $18_383F            TEXT_LUT_FG
! Series !! Version
 
!Code!! Date !! Download !! Release Notes
$18_3840        $18_387F            TEXT_LUT_BG
|-
|6809
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/Jr2/6809/2025-06-11/F256Jr2_FNX6809_June11th_RC0017_0000.mcs 11-Jun-2025]
|big Wishlist
full access to write back the onboard flash
|-
|-
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| F256K
|6809
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| Release Candidate 12
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/Jr2/6809/2025-01-17/F256Jr2_FNX6809_Jan17th_RC0014_0002.mcs 17-Jan-2025]
|00120011 B0
|Fix for the manual Reset
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | 19-Nov-2023
Fix for the readback of Multiplication Values
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1054250189675843736/1175965530000212048/F256K_WBh_Nov19th_RevB0x_RC12_0011.jic F256K_WBh_Nov19th_RevB0x_RC12_0011.jic]
|  
Corrects the issue with no-response from command $20 & $21 (not being processed in the early parser).
The Jr doesn't have the issue.
|}


== F256Jr FPGA Releases ==
Endianess


=== Current F256Jr Release ===
Changes to: Line/Pixel Position
|}


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Series !! Version
|+
!Code!! Date !! Download !! Release Notes
! colspan="3" |
==== <big>Previous</big> <big>F256K2</big> <big>Cores</big> ====
|-
!Core
!Link
!Notes
|-
|6502 MMU
|Black*: [https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K2/CNTX1/2025-01-08/CFP95600C.bin 08-Jan-2025]
Purple*: n/a
|OPL3 implemented
|-
|6502 MMU
|Black*: [https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K2/CNTX1/2025-01-07/CFP95600C.bin 07-Jan-2025]
Purple*: n/a
|Instantiation of the UART for the VS1053B @ $DDB0
|-
|-
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| F256Jr
|6809
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| Release Candidate 17
|no previous versions yet
|?
|
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | 18-Nov-2023
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1010352563406770217/1175321652859523123/F256M_Wbh_Nov18th_2023_RC17_0100.jic F256M_Wbh_Nov18th_2023_RC17_0100.jic]
| In light of decision to dump the big ticket items and the accessories from the store...
* Removed the very SPI core introduced yesterday to drive the FNXNET51 module.
* Removed the DP memory for the MMU and replace it back with simple Registers, which means that when you reset the system, the MMU, Page0 will be reset back to the way it was. However, the caveat is that if you change between RAM to FLASH MMU default value, you need to do a reset, either a debug reset or General Reset because the MMU is now only 32bytes in Size, so, 4 pages of 8 values.
|}
|}


=== Previous F256Jr Releases ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="3" |
==== <big>Previous F256Jr Cores</big> ====
|-
!Core
!Link
!Notes
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/Jr/Classic/F256M_Wbh_Dec23rd_2023_RC18_0100.jic 23-Dec-2023]
|Tiles fix; shifted by one towards the left.
(0100 = Serial RAM/Flash Select)
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/Jr/Classic/F256M_Wbh_Nov18th_2023_RC17_0100.jic 18-Nov-2023]
|In light of decision to dump the big ticket items and the accessories from the store...


{| class="wikitable"
* Removed the very SPI core introduced yesterday to drive the FNXNET51 module.
! Series !! Version
* Removed the DP memory for the MMU and replace it back with simple Registers, which means that when you reset the system, the MMU, Page0 will be reset back to the way it was. However, the caveat is that if you change between RAM to FLASH MMU default value, you need to do a reset, either a debug reset or General Reset because the MMU is now only 32bytes in Size, so, 4 pages of 8 values.
!Code!! Date !! Download !! Release Notes
|-
|-
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| F256Jr
|6502 MMU
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| Release Candidate 16
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/Jr/Classic/F256M_WBh_Nov17th_2023_RC16_0111.jic 17-Nov-2023]
|?
|
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | 17-Nov-2023
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1010352563406770217/1174998797991022632/F256M_WBh_Nov17th_2023_RC16_0111.jic F256M_WBh_Nov17th_2023_RC16_0111.jic]
|  
* No Write Allowed when Debug Port writes in the MMU Memory Zone
* No Write Allowed when Debug Port writes in the MMU Memory Zone
* Incorporation of a new SPI Controller to interface with the FNXNET51 module using the NES/SNES MiniDin9 Connector
* Incorporation of a new SPI Controller to interface with the FNXNET51 module using the NES/SNES MiniDin9 Connector
* ReSync of the Debug Generated RDY to stop the CPU. (untested)
* ReSync of the Debug Generated RDY to stop the CPU. (untested)
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/tree/main/fpga/Jr/Classic various older]
|
|-
|65816 Ext 2x
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/Jr/Extended/F256M_Wbh_Jun17th_2025_RC0100_0001.jic 16-Jun-2025]
|CPU runs at 2x speed at 12 MHz
MUST use a 65816 cpu chip,
will not work with the 6502
|-
|6809
|n/a
|n/a
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="3" |
==== <big>Previous</big> <big>F256K</big> <big>Cores</big> ====
|-
!Core
!Link
!Notes
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K/2024-12-23/F256K_WBh_Dec23rd_RevB0x_RC14_0000.jic 23-Dec-2023]
 
|Tiles fix; shifted by one towards the left.
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K/F256K_WBh_Dec9th_RevB0x_RC13_0000.jic 09-Dec-2023]
|
* Fixes a problem with Interrupt from timer0 that was working on the Jr.
* Resolves a discrepancy between the F256Jr interrupt block and the F256K.
|-
|6502 MMU
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/blob/main/fpga/K/F256K_WBh_Nov19th_RevB0x_RC12_0011.jic 19-Nov-2023]
|Corrects the issue with no-response from command $20 & $21 (not being processed in the early parser). The Jr doesn't have the issue.
|-
|6502 MMU
|various older
|
|-
|65816 Ext 2x
|[https://github.com/Mu0n/F256MiscGoodies/raw/refs/heads/main/fpga/K/F256Kc_WBh_Jun18th_2025_RC0100_0000_DualSpeed_CPU.jic 18-Jun-2025]
|CPU runs at 2x speed at 12 MHz
MUST use a 65816 cpu chip,
will not work with the 6502
|-
|6809
|N/A yet
|N/A yet
|}
|}
---old version will be kept at the bottom for a while in case errors are found above---


== FPGA Upgrade Guide ==
== FPGA Upgrade Guide ==


If you haven’t upgraded FPGAs before, below are some great videos to guide you.
==== How to Upgrade the F256K FPGA (and F256Jr) ====
Note that the below Video Guide applies to both the F256K & F256Jr, despite it just being titled F256K.
 
<youtube>U7bq7t_qjxg</youtube>


You will need to download Quartus Prime Lite 18.1 Edition, since you are going to target a EP4CE15 FPGA (Cyclone 4).
You will need to download Quartus Prime Lite 18.1 Edition, since you are going to target a EP4CE15 FPGA (Cyclone 4).
Line 82: Line 269:
[https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/software-kit/665988/intel-quartus-prime-lite-edition-design-software-version-18-1-for-linux.html Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition 18.1 for Linux]
[https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/software-kit/665988/intel-quartus-prime-lite-edition-design-software-version-18-1-for-linux.html Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition 18.1 for Linux]


=== Video Guide ===
==== How to Upgrade the FPGA for the F256K2 ====
It is possible that there will be more graceful methods in the future, but for now, the easiest is to pop off the uSD card found on the left side of the board marked "uSD Card / FPGA Load" and to replace the .bin files inside the directory of the root of that uSD card, using a modern computer.
 
This will of course imply that you open up your case. [[Optional Upgrades#Opening the F256K case|There is a guide]] on how to do so for the original F256K enclosure. Perhaps the F256K2 enclosure will be similar.
 
For those unfamiliar with the process of removing the uSD card from these slide-operation holders here is the process:
 
1) very gently press down on the middle metal locking slider that goes across on top of the uSD card and slide it towards the left.
 
2) the uSD card and its locking slider will now open up by rotating towards the left with a hinge on the left side
 
Inside the root of this uSD card, there are four folders marked as CNTX# where # is a number from 1 to 4. Simply replace the .bin file therein to update any one given core. You may completely ignore .prm files since they do not affect the F256K2.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Folder
!Hard coded file name
!Typical* usage
!CPU in the FPGA
|-
|CNTX1
|CFP95600C.bin
|F256 Classic mode with a memory management unit (MMU), where the CPU sees 64k at once
|65816 acting as 6502
|-
|CNTX2
|CFP95616E.bin
|F256 Extended mode with a flat memory map all accessible at once
|65816
|-
|CNTX3
|f256k2t9.bin
|F256 with the 6809 core (planned) or 68000 core (planned)
|6809
|-
|CNTX4
|foenix138.bin
|F256 with 2x CPU speed Extended mode with a flat memory map all accessible at once
|65816
|}
 
====== Note* on typical usage ======
As long as you keep the proper hard coded names tied to their folder names, you can slide any core to any slot. For example, if you want the 2x core to be in the CTNX2 folder, just rename it appropriately to CFP95616E.bin as you put it into CTNX2/.
 
====== F256K2 core prep steps: ======


Note that the below Video Guide applies to both the F256K & F256Jr, despite it just being titled F256K.
# Take care of placing the bin file in the FPGA load uSD card
# Set the core selecting DIP switches at the back of the unit. Down (towards bottom of the unit) = 0, Up (towards the upper side of the unit) = 1. See below for all possibilities.
# Power up the unit. If this is the first time you're using that core and you've never done step 4 for it, it's normal to not have a properly booted initial software (ie superbasic or otherwise)
# Write the firmware to the content of the flash. Each of the 4 cores have their own 512kb of reserved flash space that are selected at the same time as the core itself from the uSD FPGA load card. Once they are written to, they are set for future usages as you switch between cores and won't require further flash writes, unless you're doing updates.


==== How to Upgrade the F256K FPGA (and F256Jr) ====
====== Core selecting DIP switches in the back ======
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Core 1
!Core 2
!Core 3
!Core 4
|-
|
[[File:Core1.png|thumb]]
|
[[File:Core3.png|thumb]]
|
[[File:Core2.png|thumb]]
|
[[File:Core4.png|thumb]]
|-
|0 0
|1 0
|0 1
|1 1
|}


<youtube>U7bq7t_qjxg</youtube>
==== How to Upgrade the FPGA for the F256Jr. the 2nd ====
Go look at this [[FPGA Upgrade Guide (F256JrJr)|guide here in the wiki]].


=== Suggested USB Blaster ===
=== Suggested USB Blaster (K and Jr. only) ===


Earth People Technology
Earth People Technology
Line 101: Line 356:


Chinese Knockoff (please avoid if possible)
Chinese Knockoff (please avoid if possible)
=== Open Source blaster software (K and Jr. only) ===
For those who are struggling to program the FPGA with Linux or Apple, Stef found this great tool:
https://github.com/trabucayre/openFPGALoader/releases

Latest revision as of 15:22, 26 August 2025

  1. move the FG & BG Text LUT to:

Important:

Most users will want to consume the "Firmware package relases" (taken from here: https://github.com/FoenixRetro/f256-firmware/releases. ) which contain both the latest of the FPGA releases seen here on this page, and the kernel/base programs intended for the flash memory. The page you're ready here is meant for power user who would want to test back compatibility or attempt some roll-backs in case bugs are found, and for readers who want to learn about the release notes of each new FPGA version.


(* "Purple" refers to the official 2025+ release of the K2; "Black" refers to the first run of K2B boards sent out to the original F256K owners in late 2024)

Latest FPGA core files for all platforms

F256Jr2

F256K2

Core Link Notes Core Link Notes
6502 MMU 08-Jan-2025 OPL3 added 6502 MMU Black*: 02-Feb-2025

Purple*: n/a

fix Onboard Access to a SPI Flash

LCD Splash Screen

65816 Ext 21-Dec-2025 Implementation of the 256Bytes

Copy from Flash to RAM before booting.

65816 Ext Black*: 07-Jan-2025

Purple*: n/a

Updated access to WS6100

UART for the VS1053B

65816 Ext 2x Buy Here 2x CPU speed

layer of 16 bit colored text

hardware line drawing

64 more sprites.

65816 Ext 2x Buy Here 2x CPU speed

layer of 16 bit colored text

hardware line drawing

64 more sprites.

6809 15-Jun-2025 WIFI Speed and Interface (added TX_Empty & RX_Empty Flag) 6809 Black*: 26-Aug-2025

Purple*: 24-Aug-2025

This is the preliminary version and only works with a PS/2 keyboard plugged in.

If destined for slot 3, rename the file and put in CNTX3/f256k2t9.bin

F256Jr

F256K

Core Link Notes Core Link Notes
6502 MMU 26-Jan-2025 fixes Overlay FONT on top of graphic

with Background Color Enabled

6502 MMU 26-Jan-2025 fixes Overlay FONT on top of graphic

with Background Color Enabled

65816 Ext 2x 24-Jun-2025 Fixed bugs with register 0x0000 and 0x0001 65816 Ext 2x 23-Jun-2025 Fixed bugs with register 0x0000 and 0x0001

Previous FPGA core files for all platforms

Use these for testing out older softwares and snooping around for persistant issues.

Previous F256Jr2 Cores

Core Link Notes
6809 13-Jun-2025 Move the FG & BG Text LUT to:

$18_3800        $18_383F            TEXT_LUT_FG

$18_3840        $18_387F            TEXT_LUT_BG

6809 11-Jun-2025 big Wishlist

full access to write back the onboard flash

6809 17-Jan-2025 Fix for the manual Reset

Fix for the readback of Multiplication Values

Endianess

Changes to: Line/Pixel Position

Previous F256K2 Cores

Core Link Notes
6502 MMU Black*: 08-Jan-2025

Purple*: n/a

OPL3 implemented
6502 MMU Black*: 07-Jan-2025

Purple*: n/a

Instantiation of the UART for the VS1053B @ $DDB0
6809 no previous versions yet

Previous F256Jr Cores

Core Link Notes
6502 MMU 23-Dec-2023 Tiles fix; shifted by one towards the left.

(0100 = Serial RAM/Flash Select)

6502 MMU 18-Nov-2023 In light of decision to dump the big ticket items and the accessories from the store...
  • Removed the very SPI core introduced yesterday to drive the FNXNET51 module.
  • Removed the DP memory for the MMU and replace it back with simple Registers, which means that when you reset the system, the MMU, Page0 will be reset back to the way it was. However, the caveat is that if you change between RAM to FLASH MMU default value, you need to do a reset, either a debug reset or General Reset because the MMU is now only 32bytes in Size, so, 4 pages of 8 values.
6502 MMU 17-Nov-2023
  • No Write Allowed when Debug Port writes in the MMU Memory Zone
  • Incorporation of a new SPI Controller to interface with the FNXNET51 module using the NES/SNES MiniDin9 Connector
  • ReSync of the Debug Generated RDY to stop the CPU. (untested)
6502 MMU various older
65816 Ext 2x 16-Jun-2025 CPU runs at 2x speed at 12 MHz

MUST use a 65816 cpu chip,

will not work with the 6502

6809 n/a n/a

Previous F256K Cores

Core Link Notes
6502 MMU 23-Dec-2023 Tiles fix; shifted by one towards the left.
6502 MMU 09-Dec-2023
  • Fixes a problem with Interrupt from timer0 that was working on the Jr.
  • Resolves a discrepancy between the F256Jr interrupt block and the F256K.
6502 MMU 19-Nov-2023 Corrects the issue with no-response from command $20 & $21 (not being processed in the early parser). The Jr doesn't have the issue.
6502 MMU various older
65816 Ext 2x 18-Jun-2025 CPU runs at 2x speed at 12 MHz

MUST use a 65816 cpu chip,

will not work with the 6502

6809 N/A yet N/A yet


---old version will be kept at the bottom for a while in case errors are found above---


FPGA Upgrade Guide

How to Upgrade the F256K FPGA (and F256Jr)

Note that the below Video Guide applies to both the F256K & F256Jr, despite it just being titled F256K.

You will need to download Quartus Prime Lite 18.1 Edition, since you are going to target a EP4CE15 FPGA (Cyclone 4).

Do not update to the latest version of Quartus Prime Lite, as the latest version doesn’t support that family of FPGA anymore and the software is very big.

Also, one might want to download only the "Intel® Quartus® Prime Programmer and Tools" as opposed to download the whole software by clicking on "Additional Software"

Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition 18.1 for Windows

Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition 18.1 for Linux

How to Upgrade the FPGA for the F256K2

It is possible that there will be more graceful methods in the future, but for now, the easiest is to pop off the uSD card found on the left side of the board marked "uSD Card / FPGA Load" and to replace the .bin files inside the directory of the root of that uSD card, using a modern computer.

This will of course imply that you open up your case. There is a guide on how to do so for the original F256K enclosure. Perhaps the F256K2 enclosure will be similar.

For those unfamiliar with the process of removing the uSD card from these slide-operation holders here is the process:

1) very gently press down on the middle metal locking slider that goes across on top of the uSD card and slide it towards the left.

2) the uSD card and its locking slider will now open up by rotating towards the left with a hinge on the left side

Inside the root of this uSD card, there are four folders marked as CNTX# where # is a number from 1 to 4. Simply replace the .bin file therein to update any one given core. You may completely ignore .prm files since they do not affect the F256K2.

Folder Hard coded file name Typical* usage CPU in the FPGA
CNTX1 CFP95600C.bin F256 Classic mode with a memory management unit (MMU), where the CPU sees 64k at once 65816 acting as 6502
CNTX2 CFP95616E.bin F256 Extended mode with a flat memory map all accessible at once 65816
CNTX3 f256k2t9.bin F256 with the 6809 core (planned) or 68000 core (planned) 6809
CNTX4 foenix138.bin F256 with 2x CPU speed Extended mode with a flat memory map all accessible at once 65816
Note* on typical usage

As long as you keep the proper hard coded names tied to their folder names, you can slide any core to any slot. For example, if you want the 2x core to be in the CTNX2 folder, just rename it appropriately to CFP95616E.bin as you put it into CTNX2/.

F256K2 core prep steps:
  1. Take care of placing the bin file in the FPGA load uSD card
  2. Set the core selecting DIP switches at the back of the unit. Down (towards bottom of the unit) = 0, Up (towards the upper side of the unit) = 1. See below for all possibilities.
  3. Power up the unit. If this is the first time you're using that core and you've never done step 4 for it, it's normal to not have a properly booted initial software (ie superbasic or otherwise)
  4. Write the firmware to the content of the flash. Each of the 4 cores have their own 512kb of reserved flash space that are selected at the same time as the core itself from the uSD FPGA load card. Once they are written to, they are set for future usages as you switch between cores and won't require further flash writes, unless you're doing updates.
Core selecting DIP switches in the back
Core 1 Core 2 Core 3 Core 4
0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1

How to Upgrade the FPGA for the F256Jr. the 2nd

Go look at this guide here in the wiki.

Suggested USB Blaster (K and Jr. only)

Earth People Technology [1] [2]

Terasic USB Blaster (low cost version) [3] [4]

Chinese Knockoff (please avoid if possible)

Open Source blaster software (K and Jr. only)

For those who are struggling to program the FPGA with Linux or Apple, Stef found this great tool:

https://github.com/trabucayre/openFPGALoader/releases

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