FPGA Releases
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.
F256K FPGA Releases
Current F256K Release
| Series | Version | Code | Date | Download | Release Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F256K | Release Candidate 14 | 00140000 B0 | 23-Dec-2023 | F256K_WBh_Dec23rd_RevB0x_RC14_0000.jic | Fixes a problem with the tiles; needed to be shifted by one towards the left. |
Previous F256K Releases
| Series | Version | Code | Date | Download | Release Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F256K | Release Candidate 13 | 00130000 B0 | 09-Dec-2023 | F256K_WBh_Dec9th_RevB0x_RC13_0000.jic |
|
| F256K | Release Candidate 12 | 00120011 B0 | 19-Nov-2023 | 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
Current F256Jr Release
| Series | Version | Code | Date | Download | Release Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F256Jr | Release Candidate 18 | 00180100 B0 | 23-Dec-2023 | 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) |
Previous F256Jr Releases
| Series | Version | Code | Date | Download | Release Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F256Jr | Release Candidate 17 | ? | 18-Nov-2023 | F256M_Wbh_Nov18th_2023_RC17_0100.jic | In light of decision to dump the big ticket items and the accessories from the store...
|
| F256Jr | Release Candidate 16 | ? | 17-Nov-2023 | F256M_WBh_Nov17th_2023_RC16_0111.jic |
|
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:
