The best version of a CoCo 4 would be a system that implements many of the requirements for a CoCo 5.
I call this version the CoCo Four Plus and is described here..
For an overview of the CoCo 5's features study the table at the bottom of this page.
For a full description of the CoCo 5's features see the detailed description here..
The CoCo5 features description is very in depth consisting of over 30 web pages some of them quite long
so to fully understand all the concepts you will need to read all the pages and then re-read them cross-refereeing pages with related information. Best order in which to read them is
1. Read the MainPoints in http://jechar.ca/coco/5.
2. Skip the Reading list but read all other pages linked to the main page.
3. Read the Reading List
4. Re-Read whatever you need to understand the full concept.
I havestrived to keep everything internally consistent. My original notes were full of inconsistency which I think I have largely eliminated if you do find a inconsistency or just want to make a comment or suggestion please email me at coco@jechar.ca
Computer | CoCo3 / 3+ | CoCo4 | CoCo4+ | CoCo4++ | CoCo5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CPU |
1x(6809
/ 6309) Hardware |
1x(6309) FPGA Implementation. |
1x(6309) FPGA Implementation. |
2x(6309) FPGA Implementation. |
4x(6309) FPGA Implementation. |
MaxClock |
1.788MHz / 2.68MHz | 7.152MHz | 7.152MHz | 7.152MHz | 7.152MHz |
GPU |
GIME
/ GIMEx |
Enhanced
GIMEx Compatable |
Enhanced
GIMEx Compatable |
Enhanced
GIMEx Compatable |
GIMMEx32 |
Colors | 16/64 or 256/512 | 256/512 | 256/512 | 256/512 | 256/3072* * With Limitations. |
Other GPU features. | High
Speed DMA copy features Polygon Generation & Quick Shape Fill |
High
Speed DMA copy features Polygon Generation & Quick Shape Fill |
High
Speed DMA copy features Polygon Generation & Quick Shape Fill |
High
Speed DMA copy features Sprites Layers with Color Mixing and Transparency Control |
|
Memory |
128KB
to 2MB |
1MB
to 2MB |
4MB |
4.5MB |
8MB* |
Non-volatile Memory |
None |
8KB |
168KB
to 256KB |
168KB to 256KB | 256KB |
JOYSTICK PORTS | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
IO-Port
bits |
6 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
BitBanger | 115.2 Kb/sec. | 230.4 Kb/sec.v | 230.4 Kb/sec. | 230.4 Kb/sec. | 230.4 Kb/sec. |
Casette Max Speed |
1500 b/sec. | 1500 b/sec. | 3000
b/sec. + 256K for virtual cassettes. |
3000
b/sec + 256K for virtual cassettes. |
6000
b/sec + 256K for virtual cassettes. |
Audio Digitizer | None | 8/12 bit Stereo | 8/12 bit Stereo | 8/12 bit Stereo | 8/12 bit Stereo |
RF Out | Channels 3/4 | None | None | None | None |
3/4 Switch | Channel Select | ROM Select | ROM Select | ROM Select | ROM Select |
Composite Out | Yes | Yes | Yes
and may act as a secondary monitor in OS9 only. |
Yes
and may act as a secondary monitor. |
Yes
and may act as a secondary monitor. |
Audio Out | Mono RCA | Stereo 3.5mm Jack | Stereo 3.5mm Jack | Stereo 3.5mm Jack | Stereo 3.5mm Jack |
RGB Out | Yes | No | No | No | Optional
via Advanced Adapter Port |
HDMI | No | No | No | No | Optional
via Advanced Adapter Port |
Video Digitization | No | No | No | No | Optional
via Advanced Adapter Port |
High
Speed RS232 Port |
No | Yes 460 Kb/sec or 920 Kb/sec. |
Yes 460 Kb/sec or 920 Kb/sec. |
Yes 460 Kb/sec or 920 Kb/sec. |
Yes 460 Kb/sec or 920 Kb/sec. |
VGA | Requires
the GIMEx board. |
Yes Standard | Yes Standard | Yes Standard | Yes Standard |
USB | No | No | Limited
USB 1.1for Updates and Sys-Mouse only. |
Limited
USB 1.1for Updates and Sys-Mouse only. |
Limited
USB 1.1for Updates and Sys-Mouse only. |
Keyboard | CoCo3 | CoCo3 /or CoCo5 | CoCo3 /or CoCo5 | CoCo3 /or CoCo5 | CoCo5 or Bluetooth. |
CoCo Expansion Slots | 1 External | 1 External | 1 External | 1 External | 2 External / 1 Internal |
Virtual Multipack | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes 3. |
Advanced Expansion Slot | No | No | No | No | Yes 32 Bit / 57 MHz. |
Bluetooth |
No |
Yes |
Yes | Yes | Yes - 2 Bluetooth Channels. |
Power
Supply |
Internal |
External |
External | External | External |
Operateing System | Extended
Color Basic 2.1 |
Extended Color Basic 2.1 / Basic 4.0 (Basic 3.9 , 4.0 and 4.5 are versions of Extended Color Basic that add support for the new capability's of the GIMEx,CoCo4 & CoCo5 respectively.) |
Extended
Color Basic 2.1 / UDISK EXTENDED COLOR BASIC 4.0 |
Extended
Color Basic 2.1 / UDISK EXTENDED COLOR BASIC 4.0 |
Extended
Color Basic 2.1 / UDISK EXTENDED COLOR BASIC 4.5 / Executive Supervisory Programs / CPU-GPU Assembler Monitor |
Dual Monitor Support | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes
and partial Triple Monitor Support with optional HDMI advanced adapter. |
Other Not Well Defined | Stereo Sound ** | Stereo Sound ** | Stereo Sound ** | Stereo Sound ** | |
* The GIMMEx32 Graphic Chip supports up to
32 Meg. of RAM. making possible
enhancements beyond the baseline 8 Meg. Design.
** I would like to see some sort of stereo sound included in the CoCo4
possibilitys include.
Whichever one is chosen software support in Basic 4.0 is a must.