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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Does Anybody Know about the Mini-Maximite computer Kit ?
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Rickard5 Guru  Joined: 31/03/2022 Location: United StatesPosts: 463 |
Hi does Anyone Know anything about this Silicon Chip Mini-Maximite Basic Computer Kit is there a design to Breakout the VGA - SD Card - power and Sound? What if any are the Spec differences vs the CMM2? Is it worth the risk to Spend $80 USD on one? I really one one because my CMM2's are irreplaceable so I don't dare experiment with the GPIO and for $80 their Cheep enough for dedicated Projects Thanks Guys Rick  I may be Vulgar, but , while I'm poor, I'm Industrious, Honest, and trustworthy! I Know my Place |
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Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1611 |
It's a cut down version of the original Mono Maximite. See Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9306 |
I still sell the "E64" Micromite Plus module on my website here. Scroll down a little, "MicroMite Explore 64 Version 1F - FULLY ASSEMBLED MODULE". It is the same US$80 figure, including tracked shipping to you. The E64 also has the built-in "Microbridge" USB interface chip, and a micro-SD card slot, which the above module does not. (unless it's on the bottom, but I can't see that from the photo) Regardless of if you go for the Silicon Chip module, or my E64, both are a little different to the PicoMite, in that these PIC32 based modules DO NOT support VGA. They were designed to connect to either an SPI or parallel type LCD touch-screen. VGA support only arrived on the Micromite Extreme(MMX) series of boards that matherp made, and I think that was only cos he ported MMBASIC to yet another chip type that COULD generate VGA. The Mini-Maximite and the E64(and by extension, the E100) don't support VGA, so you can't use a VGA screen on these modules. They can produce PWM sound in the same way as the PicoMite via a suitable filter. From memory, they only support uncompressed WAV or MOD files - MP3 etc, is not supported. EDIT: Spec differences - There are many differences, but to keep things short and simple, the Mini-MM and E64/E100 run at either 100MHz or 120MHz depending on what chip is used, the CMM2 runs at either 400MHz or 480MHz depending on if you have the revision Y or revision V ARM processor chip(so the CMM2 is MUCH faster). The Mini-MM, E64/E100 have around 100k of RAM, the CMM2 has around 12MB depending on the SDRAM chip used. The CMM2 supports USB keyboards, the Mini-MM/E64/E100 don't(but you can use PS/2 keyboards). The CMM2 supports USB mice in PS/2 mode, the Mini-MM/E64/E100 don't support a mouse at all. The CMM2 supports FAT32 and exFAT SD cards up to 128GB in size, the Mini-MM/E64/E100 only supports FAT32 and up to 32GB card size. I'm going from my memory here, so some of that might not be QUITE right, but this is only to give you a feel for the fact that the spec differences are quite numerous, and about the only thing they all have in common, is the MMBASIC language!  Edited 2024-08-07 16:08 by Grogster Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| PhenixRising Guru Joined: 07/11/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 857 |
Not sure what you're looking for but the ARMmite H7 can handle 800 X 480 @ 16bits Awesome device   |
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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6781 |
I don't think it's much competition for the PicoMite at that price! Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9110 |
3X as fast as a fully overclocked PicoMite, 4x RAM, much more I/O, vastly faster display output - no comparison Edited 2024-08-07 17:19 by matherp |
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| Rickard5 Guru Joined: 31/03/2022 Location: United StatesPosts: 463 |
OK you had me at more I/O, trust me I'm all in on the Picomites, if I don't hurry and show some Results She who must be Obeyed will have my ________ on the chopping Block, we just had a long talk about Tech Spending above my Station, and Now I know my Place Like I say I'm Blessed I have 2 CMM2's and I love them so much I'm scared to do any fiddling with the GPIO. Now the Picomites I'll Play Fast and Lose with because they cost $2 and I can buy more for $4 for the stuff I really want to do I don't need Graphics or Color. It all revolves around Automating My Small Lathe and Milling Machine! NOT CNC, I've been doing CNC off & on for 35 years and for the Small Parts I make it's not worth it! I'm looking to control steppers like a Sequencer, and maybe spindle Speed control the rest is manual Machining and the Picomite is Great for its Applications but the CMM2 would do more Gooder. and eventually I'd like controllers that are Machine Agnostic, like Legos for other machines! and finding larger touch screens would be a bonus (10"+) I may be Vulgar, but , while I'm poor, I'm Industrious, Honest, and trustworthy! I Know my Place |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6781 |
My reply was about the Mini-Maximite, Peter. I don't know what happened to the order of the posts. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| PhenixRising Guru Joined: 07/11/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 857 |
Any kind of spindle control (threading for example), you can't beat encoder feedback and now the PicoMite can handle it, even better than some dedicated devices. A whole new world for me  |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3150 |
But I think matherp was talking about the H7, not what you originally posted about or the E64. Per Phoenix, are you sure the PicoMite can't do what you want--even if you have to use 2 of them? PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6781 |
@Rick A neat way to add more or less bomb-proof IO to a CMM2 would be to use a WII controller port as an I2C - that's what it is - and link it to a PicoMite. You'll need a WII controller extension lead and cut the other end off so that it can be connected to the Pico. Then you need some Pico software to read the I2C port and drive the GP pins depending on the message. You could have several Picos at different I2C addresses. I've not actually done this but it should be pretty easy to set up. It's not high speed IO but it would be less risk than connecting stuff to the pins if that makes you nervous. :) Edited 2024-08-07 22:09 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Rickard5 Guru Joined: 31/03/2022 Location: United StatesPosts: 463 |
@ Mick That is a COOL IDEA!!! I'd throw all the Picos in the world at that, can we see a Lesson on that, because I'm a Crap sorry Programmer, I didn't get the English Public School Education, I got the American Public School education Thanks Rick Edited 2024-08-07 23:37 by Rickard5 I may be Vulgar, but , while I'm poor, I'm Industrious, Honest, and trustworthy! I Know my Place |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3150 |
Cute video. American Public School education here, and in my opinion, they did a pretty good job. But why would you need a WII controller when you can just use serial I/O to control the PicoMite ? Ok, you have to overcome your fear of connecting some wires to the CMM2 I/O pins, but 0V, Rx, Tx--how wrong could you get it? Here's another version: PicoMite Serial Client Of course, you can use Mick's idea of cutting up a WII cable, but use the pins for serial instead of I2C (I think--untested). Cancel that--I guess the pullups would interfere. You can test the serial control of the PicoMite using MMBasic DOS and a USB/serial module. ~ Edited 2024-08-08 01:24 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 4223 |
Rickard, If you are scared to damage your CMM2 IO, just add 10k series resistors. Or logic buffers. Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6781 |
That's exactly the point, Lizby - he doesn't want to plug anything into the IO pins. Can't really go wrong with the WII connector. Maybe a low resistor in each line. The only problem with I2C really is that it's not buffered. The support in MMBasic is pretty good. The serial option would be better really, the software is already written. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3150 |
The I2C version would not be much different: you receive a string, then you process it. But the buffering in MMBasic makes serial control of a Picomite sooo easy. PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Rickard5 Guru Joined: 31/03/2022 Location: United StatesPosts: 463 |
@ Lizby, I too am a Victim of the US Dept., of Indoctrination, And I respect your Views, but what we have for education since the '70s is a BAD joke! Lance I am the Most 'MERICAN American you'll ever Meet, I Know we have some Problems, I Know I have some Problems, but I'll never be a Champion of an Education system in Country that promotes CHILD ABUSE! Education should be Professionals held Accountable for their Academic Results not teaching to a test, this country needs industrial Arts Again, NIO CHILD EVER FOR ANY REASON should be Forced to Take Spanish in a US SCHOOL! and More over Teacher Pay should be linked to Performance not some Union Scale on par with industry! Rick P.S. I want to explore this Serial and I2C more :) I may be Vulgar, but , while I'm poor, I'm Industrious, Honest, and trustworthy! I Know my Place |
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