FPGA Releases

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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.

F256K2 FPGA Releases

Current F256K2 Release

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes
F256K2 Classic ? 01390005 B3 08-Jan-2025 CFP95600C.bin OPL3 implemented
F256K2 Extended ? ? 07-Jan-2025 CFP95616E.bin Updated the code to access the WS6100 -

Been verified by @gadget Instantiation of the UART for the VS1053B (it is exactly like the SAM2695 UART, same code) (to be tested)

F256K2 6809 not yet

Previous F256K2 Releases

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes
F256K2 Classic ? 01390005 (B2?) 07-Jan-2025 CFP95600C.bin Instantiation of the UART for the VS1053B (it is exactly like the SAM2695 UART, same code)

The overall Load will need to be tested but the new thing is the UART for the VS1053B that is located @ $DDB0

F256Jr2 FPGA Releases

Current F256Jr2 Release

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes
F256Jr2 Classic ? ? 08-Jan-2025 F256Jr2_MMU_Jan8th_2025_OPL3.mcs OPL3 implemented
F256Jr2 Extended ? ? 21-Dec-2024 F256Jr2_Ext16_Dec21st_2024.mcs updates the RevA1A (I think it is going to work for A0A, if there is an issue it would be with the System Serial Port).

Changes - Implementation of the 256Bytes

Copy from Flash to RAM before booting.

F256Jr2 6809 RC014 ? 17-Jan-2025 F256Jr2_FNX6809_Jan17th_RC0014_0002.mcs Fix for the manual Reset

Fix for the readback of Multiplication Values Endianess Changes to: Line/Pixel Position

Previous F256Jr2 Releases

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes

F256K FPGA Releases

Current F256K Release

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes
F256K Release Candidate 16 00160000 B0 26-Jan-2025 F256Kc_WBh_Jan26th_2025_RC16_0001.jic This is the Fix for FONT overlay with Graphic background when BG is zero

Previous F256K Releases

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes
F256K Release Candidate 14 00140000 B0 23-Dec-2023 github: F256K_WBh_Dec23rd_RevB0x_RC14_0000.jic

discord: F256K_WBh_Dec23rd_RevB0x_RC14_0000.jic

Fixes a problem with the tiles; needed to be shifted by one towards the left.
F256K Release Candidate 13 00130000 B0 09-Dec-2023 github: F256K_WBh_Dec9th_RevB0x_RC13_0000.jic

discord: F256K_WBh_Dec9th_RevB0x_RC13_0000.jic

  • Fixes a problem with Interrupt from timer0 that was working on the Jr.
  • Resolves a discrepancy between the F256Jr interrupt block and the F256K.
F256K Release Candidate 12 00120011 B0 19-Nov-2023 github: F256K_WBh_Nov19th_RevB0x_RC12_0011.jic

discord: 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.

F256K various older various See here for a dump of older releases: github repo

F256Jr FPGA Releases

Current F256Jr Release

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes
F256Jr Release Candidate 20 00200000 B0 26-Jan-2025 F256M_Wbh_Jan26th_2025_RC20_0100.jic fixes the Overlay FONT on top of graphic with Background Color Enabled

Previous F256Jr Releases

Series Version Code Date Download Release Notes
F256Jr Release Candidate 18 00180100 B0 23-Dec-2023 github: F256M_Wbh_Dec23rd_2023_RC18_0100.jic

discord: F256M_Wbh_Dec23rd_2023_RC18_0100.jic

Fixes a problem with the tiles; needed to be shifted by one towards the left. (0100 = Serial RAM/Flash Select)
F256Jr Release Candidate 17 ? 18-Nov-2023 github:F256M_Wbh_Nov18th_2023_RC17_0100.jic

discord: 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.
F256Jr Release Candidate 16 ? 17-Nov-2023 github: F256M_WBh_Nov17th_2023_RC16_0111.jic

discord:F256M_WBh_Nov17th_2023_RC16_0111.jic

  • 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)
F256Jr various older various See here for a dump of older releases: github repo

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 FPGA Core description CPU in the FPGA
CNTX1 F256 Classic mode with a memory management unit (MMU), where the CPU sees 64k at once 65816 acting as 6502
CNTX2 F256 Extended mode with a flat memory map all accessible at once 65816
CNTX3 F256 with the 6809 core 6809
CNTX4 ??? To be determined later

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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