Classic computing fanatic Felix Queißner is engaged on a modular house microcomputer, impressed by traditional computer systems of the Nineteen Eighties — and powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2350 dual-core dual-architecture microcontroller, linked to 8MB of pseudo-static RAM (PSRAM).
“The Ashet Residence Pc bridges the hole between easy microcontroller growth boards and fashionable single-board computer systems, providing the processing functionality to run a full graphical desktop OS whereas sustaining the {hardware} accessibility of easier techniques,” Queißner guarantees of the system. “Constructed across the [Raspberry Pi] RP2350 dual-core processor, it combines enough computational energy for a contemporary consumer interface with a clear, education-oriented structure. The modular enlargement system, impressed by traditional pc designs, permits direct {hardware} entry whereas offering correct driver abstractions for portability.”
The Ashet Residence Pc (prime), powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2350, is designed to run the custom-built Ashet OS (above). (📷: Felix Queißner)
Whereas the Raspberry Pi RP2350, with its two Arm Cortex-M33 and two free and open supply RISC-V Hazard3 cores working at as much as 150MHz, is a really fashionable piece of apparatus, Queißner’s inspiration calls again to the modular microcomputers of the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties — together with the enduring Altair 8800, launched in 1974 and well-known for kick-starting the non-public computing revolution and setting the stage for Microsoft’s success within the working system market.
A inventory ABS case homes the modules, together with a core module that pairs the Raspberry Pi RP2350 with 8MB of pseudo-static RAM (PSRAM), 16MB of flash storage, a USB 1.1 host port, Quick Ethernet connectivity, a battery-backed real-time clock, and an built-in debug probe. Seven enlargement slots are offered, with designs at present together with a video card able to 640×400 at 60Hz with eight bits per pixel shade, a PCM soundcard with 16-bit 48kHz enter and output capabilities, a USB card with 4 USB 1.1 Host ports, a “Fundamental I/O” card with eight general-purpose enter/output (GPIO) pins and an I2C bus, a “Commodore Connectivity Card” that gives two serial ports appropriate with Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 equipment, and a perfboard “Consumer Growth Card” for {custom} add-ons.
The system is designed to run Ashet OS, a fundamental working system impressed by Amiga Workbench. “It’s an experiment in simplicity, approachability, and fashionable design,” Queißner claims, “constructed to show which you could have a responsive, hackable, and transportable OS — with out bloated complexity or pointless boundaries. Whether or not you are a curious hacker, retro computing fanatic, or simply somebody bored with ready on fashionable machines, Ashet OS goals to encourage and empower.”
Queißner has already created a “purposeful cable muddle prototype,” and is now taking the mission via the design for manufacturing stage. (📷: Felix Queißner)
Queißner has shared screenshots, renders, and a few case mock-up pictures on the mission’s web site; he says that “a purposeful cable muddle prototype” that is ready to boot into the working system and launch functions has been constructed, with the following stage within the course of being design for manufacturing forward of a deliberate launch.
“One of many targets is to make the pc out there for €250 (round $300) or much less,” Queißner says, “but when that is doable relies on so many particulars that it’s onerous to inform within the present part. It doesn’t matter what’s the end result of this part, the entire pc design might be out there without spending a dime underneath a permissive license and may be constructed by everybody.
