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Re: Parallax Propeller

From None <vandys@vsta.org>
Newsgroups comp.lang.forth, comp.arch.embedded
Subject Re: Parallax Propeller
Date 2013-01-27 03:09 +0000
Message-ID <20130127030725.21245.80472@localhost.localdomain> (permalink)
References (8 earlier) <qvvjf81u8h341ng3ndmnq48egqhqjf5r9f@4ax.com> <7xwqv9m2ub.fsf@ruckus.brouhaha.com> <9ejmf8hp8uf95n8ot7fqq3tv80tkb2cf7o@4ax.com> <20130124232504.16848.3314@localhost.localdomain> <20130125214801.18426.45870@localhost.localdomain>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> writes:
> I don't follow what causes the skew you mention.  Instruction timings 
> are deterministic, no?

The chip has a lower level bit stream engine which the higher level CPU
("cog") is feeding.  Well, a pair of cogs.  Each cog has local memory
and then a really expensive path through a central arbiter ("hub").  It
fills its image of the scanlines from the shared memory, then has to
feed it via waitvid into the lower level.  Note that it's bit stream
engine *per cog*, so you also have to worry about their sync.

So yes, instruction timings are deterministic (although your shared
memory accesses will vary modulo the hub round-robin count).  You
need to reach the waitvid before it's your turn to supply the next value.
But given that, this is much like the old wait state sync feeding bytes
to a floppy controller.  PLL and waitvid sync are achieved with
magic incantations from Parallax, and it is not 100%.

> If the timings are deterministic, the skew should not be cumulative 
> since they are all based on the CPU clock.  Is the CPU clock from an 
> accurate oscillator like a crystal?  If it is using an internal RC 
> clock, again timing to sufficient accuracy is hopeless.

The board has a CPU clock from which the PLL derives the video output
frequency.  I recall the CPU clock being based on a crystal, but not one
with any consideration for video intervals.  And the PLL's are per cog,
again my comment about (potential lack of) global sync.

Anyway, you should buy one and check it out.  I'd be curious to hear
if (1) you also observe the same video quality, and (2) if you think it's
the waitvid mechanism, more the PLL->SVGA generation, or the sync issues
of the paired video generators.  They even supply the schematic, FWIW.

Andy Valencia
Home page: http://www.vsta.org/andy/
To contact me: http://www.vsta.org/contact/andy.html

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Thread

Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-13 06:37 +0000
  Re: Parallax Propeller MK <mk@nospam.co.uk> - 2013-01-13 10:26 +0000
    Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-13 12:22 +0000
      Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-01-13 07:24 -0600
        Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-13 13:55 +0000
          Re: Parallax Propeller mhx@iae.nl (Marcel Hendrix) - 2013-01-13 17:13 +0200
            Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-01-16 06:23 -0600
              Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-16 15:01 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-01-16 09:12 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-16 15:36 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-01-16 10:59 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-16 23:38 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-01-17 04:04 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <forthfreak@gmail.com> - 2013-01-17 04:52 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-01-24 22:48 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <forthfreak@gmail.com> - 2013-01-24 23:10 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-01-28 17:42 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller "Rod Pemberton" <do_not_have@notemailnotz.cnm> - 2013-02-05 06:05 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-02-05 08:41 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-02-05 10:21 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Bernd Paysan <bernd.paysan@gmx.de> - 2013-02-05 21:37 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller "Elizabeth D. Rather" <erather@forth.com> - 2013-02-05 10:44 -1000
                Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-02-05 15:52 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-02-06 00:29 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-02-06 00:31 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Bernd Paysan <bernd.paysan@gmx.de> - 2013-02-06 19:46 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-02-09 00:11 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) - 2013-02-09 10:25 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-02-06 18:26 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-02-05 15:07 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-02-05 15:49 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller "Rod Pemberton" <do_not_have@notemailnotz.cnm> - 2013-02-05 06:04 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-02-05 15:21 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-16 18:09 -0500
          Re: Parallax Propeller Ben Bradley <ben_u_bradley@etcmail.com> - 2013-01-18 21:07 -0500
            Re: Parallax Propeller "Paul E. Bennett" <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> - 2013-01-19 10:06 +0000
              Re: Parallax Propeller Arlet Ottens <usenet+5@c-scape.nl> - 2013-01-19 13:04 +0100
              Re: Parallax Propeller "A. K." <akk@nospam.org> - 2013-01-19 13:22 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller Bernd Paysan <bernd.paysan@gmx.de> - 2013-01-19 13:38 +0100
              Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david.brown@removethis.hesbynett.no> - 2013-01-19 17:12 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-01-19 16:45 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david.brown@removethis.hesbynett.no> - 2013-01-20 17:49 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-01-19 20:54 +0200
                Re: Parallax Propeller Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-01-19 11:04 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-01-19 23:05 +0200
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <markrobertwills@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-01-20 01:05 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Arlet Ottens <usenet+5@c-scape.nl> - 2013-01-20 12:11 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-01-20 13:53 +0200
                Re: Parallax Propeller upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-01-20 13:26 +0200
                Re: Parallax Propeller Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2013-01-19 14:23 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2013-01-19 14:18 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david.brown@removethis.hesbynett.no> - 2013-01-20 20:32 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2013-01-20 18:08 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Walter Banks <walter@bytecraft.com> - 2013-01-20 17:12 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mel Wilson <mwilson@the-wire.com> - 2013-01-20 19:19 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller Walter Banks <walter@bytecraft.com> - 2013-01-20 21:12 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2013-01-21 09:01 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller Walter Banks <walter@bytecraft.com> - 2013-01-21 21:11 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-01-22 09:39 +0200
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mel Wilson <mwilson@the-wire.com> - 2013-01-22 10:14 -0500
              Re: Parallax Propeller Waldek Hebisch <hebisch@math.uni.wroc.pl> - 2013-01-20 02:03 +0000
            Re: Parallax Propeller George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2013-01-19 12:29 -0500
              Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-23 12:29 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <markrobertwills@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-01-24 14:03 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-01-24 22:55 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <forthfreak@gmail.com> - 2013-01-24 23:03 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Coos Haak <chforth@hccnet.nl> - 2013-01-25 20:02 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller Hugh Aguilar <hughaguilar96@yahoo.com> - 2013-01-28 17:13 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2013-01-29 09:15 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller Anders.Montonen@kapsi.spam.stop.fi.invalid - 2013-01-30 12:19 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david.brown@removethis.hesbynett.no> - 2013-01-30 21:18 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <forthfreak@gmail.com> - 2013-01-30 22:57 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Alex McDonald <blog@rivadpm.com> - 2013-01-31 10:38 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <forthfreak@gmail.com> - 2013-01-31 12:34 -0800
            Re: Parallax Propeller Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-01-19 10:42 -0800
              Re: Parallax Propeller bob@bob.com - 2013-01-19 19:56 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-23 12:40 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller None <vandys@vsta.org> - 2013-01-24 23:26 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller Walter Banks <walter@bytecraft.com> - 2013-01-25 11:49 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-25 09:25 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller None <vandys@vsta.org> - 2013-01-25 21:57 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-26 18:07 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller Mark Wills <markrobertwills@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-01-27 00:50 -0800
                Re: Parallax Propeller Andrew Haley <andrew29@littlepinkcloud.invalid> - 2013-01-27 03:30 -0600
                Re: Parallax Propeller Dombo <dombo@disposable.invalid> - 2013-01-27 12:58 +0100
                Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-28 21:38 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller None <vandys@vsta.org> - 2013-01-27 03:09 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-28 21:51 -0500
                Re: Parallax Propeller None <vandys@vsta.org> - 2013-01-30 02:10 +0000
                Re: Parallax Propeller rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2013-01-30 18:32 -0500
            Re: Parallax Propeller David Schultz <abuse@127.0.0.1> - 2013-01-20 11:21 -0600
      Re: Parallax Propeller albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2013-01-13 16:24 +0000
      Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2013-01-14 10:51 +0100
        Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-16 06:06 +0000
          Re: Parallax Propeller David Brown <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> - 2013-01-16 13:43 +0100
            Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-16 15:27 +0000
      Re: Parallax Propeller Rafael Deliano <rafael_deliano@arcor.de> - 2013-01-15 21:10 +0100
        Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-16 06:26 +0000
      Re: Parallax Propeller gavino_himself <visploveslisp@gmail.com> - 2013-01-22 06:26 -0800
    Re: Parallax Propeller Peter Jakacki <peterjakacki@gmail.com> - 2013-01-13 12:44 +0000

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