--- wikisrc/users/rkujawa/g-rex.mdwn 2012/07/07 11:27:29 1.7 +++ wikisrc/users/rkujawa/g-rex.mdwn 2012/07/08 12:30:39 1.8 @@ -19,25 +19,46 @@ In case you've noticed an error in this # 1. Theory of operation -G-REX is connected to local expansion slot present on CyberStorm PPC and -Blizzard PPC. +# 1a. Hardware -G-REX is an evolution of PCI bridge used previously on CyberVisionPPC and -BlizzardVisionPPC cards. These products share a lot of similiarities (at -least when it comes to PCI interface). In fact CVPPC/BVPPC can be treated as -a special one-slot version of G-REX. Maybe actually it's the other way around -;-). +Three versions of G-REX exist: -Firmware does the dirty job of assigning PCI resources (BARs, interrupt lines, -etc.) before the OS is running. Therefore G-REX does not need any special -initialization. +* G-REX 1200 (for Amiga 1200 equipped with BlizzardPPC) +* G-REX 4000D (for Amiga 4000 equipped with CyberStormPPC) +* G-REX 4000T (for Amiga 4000T equipped with CyberStormPPC) + +There were at least two different revisions of G-REX 1200. Later revision +(marked "Neue Version") probably does support DMA in first two slots. I'm not +sure if it is possible to detect revision of the G-REX in software. + +Blizzard PPC hardware revision 0 is not compatible with G-REX +(revision 2 is certainly compatible, not sure about revision 1). + +There's a rumor that most G-REX 4000T were recalled due to hardware problem. + +G-REX is connected to local expansion slot present on CyberStorm PPC and +Blizzard PPC. These slots have different physical connectors but signals seem +to be mostly the same. + +The bridge itself is an evolution of PCI bridge used previously on +CyberVisionPPC and BlizzardVisionPPC cards. These products share a lot of +similiarities (at least when it comes to PCI interface). In fact CVPPC/BVPPC +can be treated as a special one-slot version of G-REX. Maybe actually it's the +other way around ;-). All memory spaces of G-REX are directly visible and addressable in Amiga memory space, unlike in Mediator. Firmware allocates memory space as needed, depending on what cards are installed. -Blizzard PPC hardware revision 0 is not compatible with G-REX -(which revisions are compatible?). +# 1b. Firmware + +G-REX firmware is a part of Flash ROM present on Blizzard PPC and CyberStorm +PPC boards. Known CSPPC firmware revisions supporting G-REX include 44.69 and +44.71. + +It does the dirty job of assigning PCI resources (BARs, interrupt lines, +etc.) before the OS is running. Therefore G-REX does not need any special +initialization. # 2. Memory map @@ -89,7 +110,7 @@ Addresses in this space are treated as a On CVPPC/BVPPC this space is present at different address - 0xE0000000. -# 2d. Bridge configuration registers +# 2d. Bridge configuration registers (0xFFFE0000) Offset - meaning @@ -102,9 +123,8 @@ properly by the firmware. # 3. Detecting the G-REX -Since AutoConf entries are created by the firmware, G-REX needs a special -firmware for CyberStorm PPC and Blizzard PPC. Known CSPPC firmware revisions -supporting G-REX include 44.69 and 44.71. +Since AutoConf entries are created by the firmware, it is not possible to +detect G-REX easily if the correct firmware is not installed. Detecting the G-REX is done by looking for Phase5 vendor ID (8512) and product ID 101. Keep in mind that there will be more than one such board present, as @@ -141,9 +161,6 @@ reverse engineering. [TO BE COMPLETED] -There were at least two different revisions of G-REX 1200. Later revision -probably does support DMA in first two slots. I'm not sure if it is possible -to detect revision of the G-REX in software. G-REX 4000D probably has busmaster DMA capability in all slots.