Graynomad:
I would also vote for a format that doesn't use 100% of the edge real estate for the backplane, there's hardly anywhere to put your own connectors.
@Graynomad:
What do you mean by "100% of the edge for the backplane" -- the double-row header socket at the right edge? But if so, isn't that part of the standard Mega format -- and thus all corresponding shields, for those who want to use them?
What I'm saying is that there's no room left for connectors on my shield should I want to make one. For example maybe I want to make a shield with 4 or 8 serial ports all using DB(DE)-9 sockets. Where do I put them?
Granted that's hypothetical and nobody else is complaining
I hate to bump a thread, but does the team have any comments on this? I do understand that mega compatibility > RAM/ethernet support, but for Arduino users who need the extra memory, is the only solution for the foreseeable future (6+ months) to either a) roll your own board or b) use the Atmel evaluation kit?
So I've been looking into the SMC as well for an LCD and for what I can gather, since I don't use the ADDRESS pins for address, it seems I could still use the SMC to write to my LCD. It's using 8-bits. I do need ONE address line to tell it which memory internally to work with. Although I am not 100% sure. Still porting code from a Mega2560 project.
I think you'll be right there, the SMC has almost all the pins brought out for 8-bit access it's just that one address line so should be right.
If you do this let us know how it goes.
Of course one might wonder why you need to use the SMC for an LCD, LCDs are normally as slow as a wet week so memory-mapping one wouldn't help I think.
Looks like a good opportunity for a third party vendor to create a board using the Due's chip, but wired up for the hardcore extreme user. Rather than cloning the Due, it'd be an innovative evolution.
Looks like a good opportunity for a third party vendor to create a board using the Due's chip, but wired up for the hardcore extreme user. Rather than cloning the Due, it'd be an innovative evolution.
I actually did just that when they first announced the Due, had the PCB laid out and everything. But I used the 3U because that's what they said they were using. Then they changed to a 3X and I didn't have the energy to re do it
I brought out ALL the signals (IIRC) with a form factor that allowed a lot of the board edge for user connectors and various modes that allowed addressing on the backplane etc. It also used the great power control ability the SAM has to shut down the board and save power. Plus it could control about 6A of external power.
Here's a render of the finished PCB
So yes, I think there is an opportunity for a bright young lad to make a "pro" version.
A problem with this is that it's not just the ethernet jack. You also need an ethernet PHY chip, which usually has its own crystal, and a relatively "serious" interconnect to the main CPU...
The 3U and 3X are totally different pinout wise so it's a complete redesign of both PCB and partial redesign of the schematic because the 3X has at least one extra feature (the DACs).
So unless there's some real interest (unlikely) that's all folks