Re: [OT] Self-Made computer using standard Microchips
On Mon, Feb 26, 2007 at 04:21:57PM +0100, Michelle Konzack wrote:
> Hello,
>
> since I do not know any Mailinglists to this subject, I hope I find some
> colegous (Electronic Engineers) here.
>
> For more then 20 Years I was working with Zilog Z8000/Z8400 and Motorola
> 6800/68000/68010 and Singel-Chip CPU's building my OWN computers and
> programming them in 100% asembler.
>
> Now time flies and I have the need to build some ultra smal but hyper
> performant Systems. Since you are all involved with embedded Systems,
> can you provide me with Infos Where to get ARM, MIPS and other CPU's
> and ITS SPEZIFICATIONS to build my own Computers.
>
ARM: Go and talk to Wookey at Aleph One: talk to Simtec: talk to the DD
behind Linutop: talk to Arcom (www.arcom.com) ; talk to Technologic
Systems (www.embeddedARM.com) - chances are that hardware that's already
around for US$ 150 will do everything you want and more. All of the
above supporting Debian right now.
Bulk buying will drive down board prices.
You want cheap MIPS boards? Buy old Netgear wireless routers.
Talk to AMD about Geode development systems / the guy who sells OpenBSD
in Belgium who is also a Soekris expert.
Talk to Freescale and the Blackfin DSP people.
Pick up scrap games consoles from Ebay if that will do it.
> Now I have bought over 40 different ARM and MIPS based SBC's and not a
> singel one fit my needs in Speed and functionalities.
>
> My goal is, to create some customizable SBC's running Embedian and
> certainly full blown (but striped) Debian Installations.
>
> For some time I have bought a MAN-2088 Supertruck (2000HP, 88 tons) to
> transport two Mobilhomes of 7.15x3x2.6 meters and it is FULL Debian
> powered from the Motor-Control over the Water-Epuration to the Clima
> System, Photopholtaik-System, Chargers and what else. Using over 80
> CPU's (in general Am486 and SC520 but Athlon and Opteron too)
>
> Another Question:
>
> Do you know Mailinglists in german or english for Electronic Engineers/
> Developers ? Maybe with relation to OpenSource and Linux.
>
Are you a radio amateur? You might want to talk to some of the home
constructors and, in particular, the G-QRP club.
> What I like to see is an equivalent to the Open Source Software.
> I mean, something like "Open Hardware" or such.
>
> Hobby Electronic Journals like "Elector" or "ELO" are going already
> in this direction but I want to change the "Hobby" to "Professionel".
>
> :-)
>
> Since I am customer of Philips Semiconductor, Maxim/Dallas and Valvo I
> know the prices of microchips of any kind and I think, there is many
> lowcost hardware which are currently heavily sold OVERPRICED.
>
Overpriced is relative: it depends on how many you make. If you make
e.g. five copies of a computer board / radio transceiver it will be
expensive. Fifty copies gets substantially cheaper and you get faster
at building the thing: fifteen thousand copies and the price drops to
almost nothing above the heavily discounted price of components.
Systems integration costs, design and small production runs mean that
home built designs are almost never worth it: it is cheaper to ask for a
slightly custom built version of an existing design.
Taking the example of a home-built radio transceiver: one individual
can't undercut the major radio manufacturers and volume discounts. One
individual can, however, design what _he/she_ wants. Use a quality
tuning knob with a flywheel behind it, the best quality crystal filter,
large loudspeaker, heavy guage steel case? Not a problem: use
high quality sub assemblies from high performance professional
gear as recycled components? Not a problem.
If you want to design your own SBC from nothing, then of course you can
- but it may be cheaper in terms of time, effort and money to build on
pre-existing costed designs and let someone else take the risk of
testing prototypes, fabrication and so on.
HTH,
Andy
> Thanks, Greetings and nice Day
> Michelle Konzack
> Systemadministrator
> Tamay Dogan Network
> Debian GNU/Linux Consultant
>
>
> --
> Linux-User #280138 with the Linux Counter, http://counter.li.org/
> ##################### Debian GNU/Linux Consultant #####################
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