MiSTer FPGA Forum

Hi guys,

I am still in the very slow process of studying Verilog and I would love to learn more about Arcade PCB's layout design.

Would somebebody please be so kind as to advice on any good book/literature/tutorial?

So far I have found this one here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0672328208/

But I am not 100% sure that this is what I am looking for.

Many thanks in advance for any help!

Alkadian,

This book looks amazing. Thanks for the link - I had no idea this existed!!
You probably know about my video series on MiSTer core development. But if you don't, check out episode 1 that has a resources section. A good book in there about arcade design - it is a bit old though.

https://youtu.be/qxgM9NPrhqw

nico24 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:29 pm Alkadian,

This book looks amazing. Thanks for the link - I had no idea this existed!!
You probably know about my video series on MiSTer core development. But if you don't, check out episode 1 that has a resources section. A good book in there about arcade design - it is a bit old though.

https://youtu.be/qxgM9NPrhqw

Hi nico24,

First of all many thanks for your feedback. It is a fantastic book indeed! It's been on my bedside table since I have got it!

Then, massive congratulations to your video lessons!! Just today I went through your second episode. I did love it and I very much look forward to your next episodes! I was already a subscriber thanks to @Xbytez post

I have already bought 'Digital Design and Computer Architecture'. It is great!

I would also recommend this website:

https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/

Thanks again!

Thanks for the feedback!

I've just bought that book too, since it looks really really good. Can't wait to get it.

Great website too. Thanks.

nico24 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 6:13 pm Thanks for the feedback!

I've just bought that book too, since it looks really really good. Can't wait to get it.

Great website too. Thanks.

All these books are a real investement! I went through the Nand2tetris course (1 and 2) a few months ago as well.

Yeah, I have learnt a lot from that website and it contains a lot of resources as well. I can't remember which console the author was referring to but he has put a link to a great blog regarding the yamaha chip YM21280 which is the heart of my beloved Yamaha DX7. But that is another story

Thanks again and happy retrogaming!

It's funny - I was heavily into synths and samplers after my 8-bit computer days, probably the reason I never got into the 16-bit computers. I haven't looked much into the sound side of FPGAs, but I can see that becoming a real rabbit hole!

nico24 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 9:39 pm It's funny - I was heavily into synths and samplers after my 8-bit computer days, probably the reason I never got into the 16-bit computers. I haven't looked much into the sound side of FPGAs, but I can see that becoming a real rabbit hole!

Too funny indeed! I always loved arcade/consoles videogames and synths back in the day! I wish we could also have a Roland TB-03 and TR-909 implemented in FPGA! Maybe one day

When I was a kid my biggest and deepest dream was to have an arcade cabinet in my bedroom. Well a few years ago that dream came true and I have got one - not in the bedroom as wife would not appreciate that - and now with a mister setup as well! Super cool! So having all these synths could become true too!

Mine was that and an Akai Sampler S3000, with the CD-Rom. I actually got an Akai S612 that had the same disks as the Amstrad 6128 - the 3" jobs!

nico24 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 9:56 pm Mine was that and an Akai Sampler S3000, with the CD-Rom. I actually got an Akai S612 that had the same disks as the Amstrad 6128 - the 3" jobs!

Wow!! That's cool! I do love that!

You have got a great taste!

Btw I trust we could spend hours, days...years in talking about all of it!!

Andre who wrote that book has an electronics course on Udemy.

https://www.udemy.com/course/crash-cour ... cb-design/

I think he throws in a pdf of the book with the course.

Fabiens blog is also worth a browse for random hardware stuff.

https://fabiensanglard.net/

MISTerMark wrote: ↑Sat Dec 25, 2021 4:38 pm Andre who wrote that book has an electronics course on Udemy.

https://www.udemy.com/course/crash-cour ... cb-design/

I think he throws in a pdf of the book with the course.

Fabiens blog is also worth a browse for random hardware stuff.

https://fabiensanglard.net/

Yep! I have been tempted by his course as well. The course's price has been always up and down and now is down again.

Thanks for Fabiens blog. I was not aware of that! I will check it out.

This time of the year is perfect for this sort of things

So I bought the Andre LaMouthe book and also the course on Udemy was only $11 - it's hours and hours long, so I say it's a steal. Overall some really excellent info there. Thanks for putting me on to the book and the course.

nico24 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 8:02 pm So I bought the Andre LaMouthe book and also the course on Udemy was only $11 - it's hours and hours long, so I say it's a steal. Overall some really excellent info there. Thanks for putting me on to the book and the course.

Cool! That book is awesome indeed! As I mentioned above it is here on my bedside table all the time.

I pulled the trigger and went for the course as well just an hour before the good deal expired!

The free book provided by the author, as part of the course, is an early version of the hard copy of his book, in fact there are hand made sketches as opposed to actual pictures. It is prettry good to own both now!

Mean time I have placed the order for the same logic analyzer and logic probe you have got. All these electronic devices are never enough

Looking forward to your next episodes! Thanks!

So I was hoping the actual hardcopy book had better diagrams than the hand drawn ones. I was so relieved to see that they are!
On the logic analyzer ideally there'd be one that does 24 channels, because you'll see later in the videos that we need to see the address lines and the data lines at the same time. I'll use the Ben Eater method of using an Arduino, but you need to slow the cpu right down for that one. It'll be fun when we get to that point.

nico24 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:55 pm So I was hoping the actual hardcopy book had better diagrams than the hand drawn ones. I was so relieved to see that they are!

Oh yes, absolutely!

nico24 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:55 pm On the logic analyzer ideally there'd be one that does 24 channels, because you'll see later in the videos that we need to see the address lines and the data lines at the same time. I'll use the Ben Eater method of using an Arduino, but you need to slow the cpu right down for that one. It'll be fun when we get to that point.

Perfect, it's time to get some dust out of my Arduino then!
Regarding Ben Eater method, I have briefly checked that out. That looks very interesting indeed. I must admit that I have never heard of him. I have just put his blog in my favourites. Many thanks for sharing your passion and your knowledge. This is very appreciated!

Another course you guys might find interesting is Design A Cpu by Ross McGowan.

https://www.udemy.com/course/design-a-cpu/

He designs the cpu from the book But How Do It Know by J Clark Scott in Logisim.

http://www.buthowdoitknow.com/

MISTerMark wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 1:21 pm Another course you guys might find interesting is Design A Cpu by Ross McGowan.

https://www.udemy.com/course/design-a-cpu/

He designs the cpu from the book But How Do It Know by J Clark Scott in Logisim.

http://www.buthowdoitknow.com/

Hi,

That seems very cool, thanks for sharing.