QL_GoldCard

A reverse engineering exercice using the Sinclair QL GoldCard Expansion Card as target

Licensed under Cern OHL-S - https://ohwr.org/cern_ohl_s_v2.txt

(The 3D Model of the PLCC chips is work of Zerover)

WARNING: DO NOT USE THIS PROJECT IS NOT TESTED AND MISSING THINGS

This is not a functional item, it's only a exercice of reverse engineering to reinforce my skills in Kicad EDA Software.

This project match schematics found on internet, and pictures of the real interface.

• There is no know source of the JEDEC file for the Altera's CPLD
• Some IC can be deprecated and not found on market.
• No information about original has 2 or 4 copper layer, I just use 4, as I was not able to do it in only 2.

Anyway:

• There is not error or warning on the PCB and Schematics
• Schematics seen to be good
• Copper side match 1:1 pictures of internet.

For that:

• If you take the risk and do one and it work, please let me know.
• If you have the source of JEDEC file for the CPLD, please let me know.
• If you found any error in the schematic or PLC, please, let me know.

Two folder

• Original - The design as similar as posible to the Miracles design.
• Alea - new design with new footprints.

The GoldCard Board

This card is a upgrade of the Sinclair QL computer from 1985, it provide a 68000 processor running a 16Mhz and with a bus wide of 16bit, against original 68008, 7,5Mhz and 8bits bus wide, this is theorically 4 times faster than original QL.

Provide Aditional 1920Mb of Ram (16bits) of 2048Mb installed. (128Kb are used as shadow Rom)

Include a up to 4 disk drive (3 + 1 with a add-on card) compatible with 720Kb, 1.44Mb and 2.88Mb (up to 3.2Mb depend of the format)

It have a Real Time Clock.

This was later superseded by the SuperGoldCard, that use a 68020/24Mhz and 4Mb of Ram.

There area at least 3 Version of the PCB, this is based on the lastes one, version 1 was usually yellow, version 2 and 3 was red color.

Version 1 and 2 have a capacitor solder between CLK and GND under the 68000, and a 3-pad solder jumper under the floppy controller.

CPLD have a sticker over it, "INGOT 6" for version 1 & 2, and "INGOT 5" on Golcard 3

Comparative