CoCo 4 Ideas

(for a path to the Ultimate CoCo 5)

Around 1994 I had a concept of how a CoCo4 should be I think it was partly inspired by the idea of having multiple TC9's in a Tomcat and later by Sock Masters CoCo 4 idea.
The Idea I came up with then evolved into a concept I call the CoCo 5, an idea which is probably not fully achievable. The CoCo 4 ideas here are meant to be reasonably achievable while bringing the CoCo 5 idea closer to reality.

Basic CoCo Four Requirements

    The following are the minimum CoCo 4 requirements.     The following are the Extra CoCo 4 features that would be desirable.
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 have
strived 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

CoCos Compared.


 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.



















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