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59 changes: 37 additions & 22 deletions commander-x16-wikipedia-entry.txt
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -5,41 +5,53 @@
| logo =
| image =
| caption = <!-- include if image is not a logo -->
| developer =
| manufacturer =
| carrier =
| type = [[Retrocomputing]]
| generation =
| designer = [[The 8-Bit Guy]]
| developer = {{Collapsible list
| Graphics =
| Hardware =
| Kernal =
}}
| manufacturer = [[TexElec]
| type = [[Retrocomputing]], [[8-bit computing|8-bit Computer]]
| generation = n/a
| releasedate = n/a
| lifespan = n/a
| price = TBD
| discontinued = n/a
| unitssold = n/a
| unitsshipped = n/a
| media =
| media = SD card, [[Game Cartridges|Cartridge]]
| os = {{nowrap|Commodore [[KERNAL]]}}<br>{{nowrap|[[Commodore BASIC]]}}
| power =
| power = [[ATX#Power_supply|ATXX]]-compatible Power Connector
| cpu = [[WDC 65C02]] {{nowrap|@ 8 MHz}} {{cite web|title=Commander X16 FAQ|url=https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/about-faq/}}
| storage = [[SD card]], [[floppy disk]]
| memory = {{nowrap|512 [[kilobyte|KiB]] [[read-only memory|ROM]]}} + {{nowrap|40 KiB [[random-access memory|RAM]]}} + {{nowrap|512 KiB banked [[random-access memory|RAM]]}} (expandable to 2&nbsp;MiB)
| display = [[VGA]]
| graphics = Custom FGPA
| sound = TBD
| input = SD card, Floppy disk, GPIO
| location = n/a
| controllers = SNES x4
| storage = {{Collapsible list
| title = Storage media
| [[SD card]]
| [[Commodore bus|Commodore IEC Bus]] - attached Storage Devices including [[SD2IEC| Floppy disk hardware emulator]]
| 50-pin [[Game Cartridges|ROM cartridge]]
}}
| memory = 2087,75[[kilobyte|KB]] (standard) in Total. 39,75[[kilobyte|KB]] useable in BASIC + 2[[megabyte|MB]] in 256 Banks of 8[[kilobyte|KB]].
| display = [[VGA]], [[S-Video]], [[Composite]], [[HDMI|HDMI-compatible]] (future developemts)
| graphics = [[Versatile Embedded Retro Adapter]]<ref name="Video Embedded Retro Adapter">{{Cite web |last=van den Hoef |first=Frank |date=March 17, 2023 |title= |url=https://github.com/fvdhoef/vera-module |url-status=live |website=[[GitHub]]}}></ref> (Based off a Custom [[FPGA]]) with 128[[kilobyte|KB]] dedicaded Video Memory
| sound = [[Versatile Embedded Retro Adapter]] + [[Yamaha YM2151]]<ref>https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commander_X16#Sound</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=David |date=October 12, 2022 |title=The Commander X16 has finally arrived! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcWqMGju7fk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028140720/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcWqMGju7fk |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |access-date=October 28, 2022 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
| input = [[/PS/2_port|PS/2]] for mouse and keyboard in addition to [[Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System#Peripherals|SNES Controllers]]
| controllers = {{Collapsible list
|title= 4 [[Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System#Peripherals|SNES Controllers]]
| 2 Controller Ports on the [[ATX#Connectors|ATX-compatible I/O Shield]]
| 2 [[Pin_header|Pin Headers]] for two additional ports on-board.
| }}
| camera = No
| touchpad = No
| connectivity = No
| service = No
| onlineservice = TBD
| dimensions = TBD
| weight = TBD
| topgame = TBD
| compatibility = {{nowrap|Commodore [[KERNAL]]}}<br>{{nowrap|[[Commodore BASIC]]}}
| predecessor = n/a
| predecessor = inofficially: [[Commodore C64]]
| successor = n/a
| related =
| website = http://commanderx16.com
| related = [[Commodore C128]]
| website = {{url|https://www.commanderx16.com/}}
}}

The '''Commander X16''' (colloquially known as the '''X-16''') is an [[8-bit]] [[Retrocomputing]] [[home computer]]. It is the brainchild of '''The 8-Bit Guy''', who wanted an accessible and affordable 8-bit hobbyist platform. It is intended not only as an educational tool, but also to solve some of the issues of finding an 8-bit system to tinker with today; namely ever-increasing costs, auction site price gouging/sniping, and unreliability of 30-year old hardware. The X16 is made entirely with off-the-shelf modern parts, ensuring availability without reliability issues. It has a real 8-bit CPU rather than using emulation or an FPGA recreation of a processor. It is intended to be inexpensive enough to promote a critical mass of users, to create its own software ecosystem, yet be simple enough that a single person can understand the entire system.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commander X16 FAQ|url=https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/about-faq/}}</ref>
Expand All @@ -58,13 +70,16 @@ The X16 is expected to ship with an augmented Commodore KERNAL, BASIC (with a DO
The X16 ships with {{nowrap|40 KB}} [[Static random-access memory|RAM]]. {{nowrap|1 KB}} of this used by the system for I/O. The 512K [[read-only memory|ROM]] is split into banks of 16K; Bank 0 holds the Commodore KERNAL and BASIC. The X16 also ships with 512K "high" [[Static random-access memory|RAM]], which is split into banks of 8K. High RAM is expandable up to 2MiB.

=== Ports and sockets ===
The X16 has four expansion slots with access to the CPU databus. There is no datasette port, and device 0 is re-purposed for the SD card. The X16 also has an IEC connector, and can connect to a Commodore disk drive. It also has two exposed SNES game controller connectors, with two internal pin headers that can support two more connectors. It accepts a PS/2 keyboard and mouse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commander X16 FAQ|url=https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/about-faq/}}</ref>
The X16 has four 50-pin expansion slots with access to the CPU databus. There is no datasette port, and device 0 is re-purposed for the SD card. The X16 also has an IEC connector, and can connect to a Commodore disk drive via a [[Commodore bus|IEC Port]]. It also has two exposed SNES game controller connectors, with two internal pin headers that can support two more connectors. It accepts a PS/2 keyboard and mouse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commander X16 FAQ|url=https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/about-faq/}}</ref>

==== Non-Compatibility ====
Whilst the Connector for the Cartridge will mechanically fit a [[Nintendo_Entertainment_System|Famicom Cartridge]], it is not electrically compatible and Famicom Cartridges should not be plugged in, as this can and most likely will damage the System or Cartridge.

=== Graphics ===
The graphics capabilities of the X16 are provided by the single FGPA, code named "VERA". This chip has multiple output formats, at a fixed resolution of 640x480@60HZ. It supports two layers with various tile and bitmap modes, and up to 128 sprites. Its color palette is 256 colors, using a total range of 4096 colors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commander X16 FAQ|url=https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/about-faq/}}</ref>
The graphics capabilities of the X16 are provided by the single FGPA, named "[[Video Embedded Retro Adapter|VERA]]". This chip has multiple output formats, at a fixed resolution of 640x480@60HZ. It supports two layers with various tile and bitmap modes, and up to 128 sprites. Its color palette is 256 colors, using a total range of 4096 colors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commander X16 FAQ|url=https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/about-faq/}}</ref>

=== Sound ===
Audio is not finalized; there are three separate sound generators being considered. For basic sound, the VERA chip itself has a programmable sound generator based loosely on the SID; the SAA1099 is also being looked at. For MIDI-like sound, the Yamaha YM2151 is being considered.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commander X16 FAQ|url=https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/about-faq/}}</ref>
Besides the [[Video Embedded Retro Adapter|VERA]] offering a 16 Channel [[Programmable_sound_generator|PSG]], it also uses the [[Yamaha_YM2151#Uses|Yamaha OPM]] for 8 Channels FM-Synthesis.

=== Memory Map ===

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