August 13th, 2024

Open Source FPGA Expansion Card for the Apple II

The A2FPGA is a peripheral card for Apple II models, offering 720p HD video and Mockingboard sound. It uses FPGA technology, supports multiple outputs, and is sold by ReActiveMicro.

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Open Source FPGA Expansion Card for the Apple II

The A2FPGA is an advanced peripheral card designed for the Apple II series, including models II, II+, //e, and IIgs. It provides HD video output at 720p 60Hz and is compatible with Mockingboard sound, allowing users to experience classic Apple II graphics and audio on modern displays. The card utilizes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for precise timing and memory access, enabling it to replicate the original hardware's functionality. It supports multiple display modes and audio outputs simultaneously, although certain configurations may require firmware adjustments. The A2FPGA is actively sold by ReActiveMicro and has been positively reviewed in various online videos. However, users should be aware of potential incompatibilities with other peripheral cards in specific slots, particularly Slots 4 and 7, which are designated for Mockingboard and Synetix SuperSprite functionalities, respectively. The device is not an emulator but a complete hardware implementation, ensuring authentic performance. Firmware updates are available to enhance functionality and address issues, with ongoing support from the developer community.

- The A2FPGA provides 720p HD video and Mockingboard sound compatibility for Apple II computers.

- It uses an FPGA for accurate interfacing and supports multiple display modes and audio outputs.

- Incompatibilities may arise with other cards in specific slots, particularly Slots 4 and 7.

- The device is actively sold and supported by ReActiveMicro, with firmware updates available.

- It is a complete hardware implementation, not an emulator, ensuring authentic Apple II performance.

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Link Icon 8 comments
By @klyrs - 6 months
If you program the FPGA with an Apple ][ emulator, can we call it a HyperCard?
By @_Microft - 6 months
If you are as curious as I were what the card looks like, then have a look at this:

https://github.com/a2fpga/a2fpga_core/blob/main/boards/a2n20...

I always find it impressive how integrated our electronics have become and how few components are required to achieve what would have taken large, crowded PCBs in the past.

By @tjake - 6 months
YouTube interview with creators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJXZZJZc5gI
By @djfergus - 6 months
Great to see the Sipeed Tang Nano modules being used - they are based on a Gowin FPGA chip and the dev modules (with HDMI and a stack of GPIO pins broken out) cost peanuts on aliexpress compared to equivalent FPGAs from more popular vendors. The vendor IDE is usable and open source tools are improving. Exciting times for embedded hobbyists.
By @zellyn - 6 months
This is fantastic. I once dreamed of making a generic interface card that could be programmed at will, using, say, a raspberry pi. However, a look through the timing diagrams in Sather shows surprisingly tiny latencies between the address and r/w signals hitting the bus, and the memory value needing to be presented. I concluded that an fpga would probably be required. Always fun when you can wait a few years and someone smarter than you builds the thing you imagined!
By @edanuff - 6 months
By @distantsounds - 6 months
720x480 is not 720p, that's 480p (assuming progressive scan and not interlaced).
By @woodrowbarlow - 6 months
once again i regret my decision to get an apple //c for my collection rather than the more expandable apple ][ or //e. in my defense, it just looks so cute!