Neotron 600

The Neotron 600 is an open-source PCB which plugs into the Teensy 4.1. Using the Teensy 4.1 gives it excellent performance, an Ethernet PHY and a support for an easy-to-fit external QuadSPI SRAM chip. The only downside is that the pinout limits the colour output to 7 bits (128 colours).

Links

• Hardware: https://github.com/Neotron-Compute/Neotron-600-Hardware
• BIOS: https://github.com/Neotron-Compute/Neotron-600-BIOS
• Main CPU: https://www.nxp.com/products/processors-and-microcontrollers/arm-microcontrollers/i-mx-rt-crossover-mcus/i-mx-rt1060-crossover-mcu-with-arm-cortex-m7-core:i.MX-RT1060

Features

• Processor Module: Teensy 4.1
  • CPU: NXP i.MX RT1062 SoC
    • Core: 600 MHz Cortex-M7
    • RAM: 1024 KiB FlexRAM
    • ROM: 128 KiB Boot ROM (factory programmed mask ROM)
    • GPU: NXP i.MXRT LCD Controller
      • 1366x768 maximum resolution
      • Supports bitblit, rotation, alpha, chroma-key
  • 8 MiB Flash
  • 8 MiB QuadSPI SRAM (optional)
  • 10/100 Ethernet PHY
• Video Output: SVGA
  • Nominally 800x600 at 60 Hz
  • Other resolutions TBD (depends on pixel clock)
  • Texas Instruments THS7316 Video Amplifier used to drive 75 ohm VGA output
  • 2x 2-bit + 1x 3-bit 0.1% R2R DACs, to give max 128 (2^7) colours
• Storage: SD Card slot, supports FAT16/FAT32 and MS-DOS partition tables
• USB: 2x external USB 2.0 Full-speed Type-A Host ports (with a header for two more)
• Audio: 16-bit 48 kHz stereo
  • Wolfson WM8731 Audio CODEC
  • 3.5mm stereo Line Out
  • 3.5mm stereo Amplified headphone output
  • Digital volume control
• Keyboard/Mouse: 2x PS/2 Ports (2x 6-pin mini-DIN)
• Serial: RS-232 on 10-pin 2.54mm header suitable for DE-9 plug on IDC ribbon, MAX3232 transceiver
• Ethernet: Standard 100base-TX RJ45 port (driven from PHY on Teensy 4.1)
• Expansion: 4x internal 2.54mm 2x6 headers carrying power, SPI, I2C and a dedicated IRQ line
• RTC: MCP7940N RTC and coin-cell battery backup
• Mechanical Form Factor: microATX