VR4110 core
Hi All,
I'm in my final year doing a BSc Computing Science degree in the UK, and for my project/dissertation I've chosen to attempt to get Linux to run on an old Sky Digibox (PACE 2500N) set-top-box. So far my research has revealed the CPU has is a NEC VR4110 core with lots of MPEG and graphics processing stuff tacked on. The board itself is quite interesting, with a PC-Card slot, audio out, 2x SCART, RF-out, modem, and serial connection.
I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions regarding what kernel to use (it seems as though the best would be 2.4, is this correct?), or any knowledge whatsoever of similar chips and especially how to bootstrap, etc...
I'm currently reading Sweetman's "See MIPS Run" which is a great book, but I'm curious as to how much the chip differs from what's documented therein. NEC seem to have lost the documentation about this chip, so they're no help...
Many thanks,
Chris
Signature · 3 lines
Chris Boot [email protected] http://www.bootc.net/
Quoted 4 lines · Chris Boot
I'm in my final year doing a BSc Computing Science degree in the UK, and for my project/dissertation I've chosen to attempt to get Linux to run on an old Sky Digibox (PACE 2500N) set-top-box. So far my research has revealed the CPU has is a NEC VR4110 core with lots of MPEG and graphics processing stuff
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Quoted 2 lines
tacked on. The board itself is quite interesting, with a PC-Card slot, audio out, 2x SCART, RF-out, modem, and serial connection.
Do you know which SoC is actually used? Perhaps a NEC EMMA or EMMA2?
Gr{oetje,eeting}s,
Geert
--
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- [email protected]
In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
-- Linus Torvalds
Quoted 13 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 4 lines · Chris Boot
I'm in my final year doing a BSc Computing Science degree in the UK, and for my project/dissertation I've chosen to attempt to get Linux to run on an old Sky Digibox (PACE 2500N) set-top-box. So far my research has revealed the CPU has is a NEC VR4110 core with lots of MPEG and graphics processing stuff
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Quoted 2 lines
tacked on. The board itself is quite interesting, with a PC-Card slot, audio out, 2x SCART, RF-out, modem, and serial connection.
Quoted 5 lines
Do you know which SoC is actually used? Perhaps a NEC EMMA or EMMA2?
Gr{oetje,eeting}s,
Geert
Hi Geert,
Hmm, glancing at the "Product Letter" I have, it does mention "Enhanced Multi-Media Architecture" so I'm guessing its an EMMA SoC indeed.
Thanks,
Chris
Signature · 3 lines
Chris Boot [email protected] http://www.bootc.net/
Quoted 17 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 16 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 7 lines · Chris Boot
I'm in my final year doing a BSc Computing Science degree in the UK, and for
my project/dissertation I've chosen to attempt to get Linux to run on an old
Sky Digibox (PACE 2500N) set-top-box. So far my research has revealed the CPU
has is a NEC VR4110 core with lots of MPEG and graphics processing stuff^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Quoted 3 lines
tacked on. The board itself is quite interesting, with a PC-Card slot, audio
out, 2x SCART, RF-out, modem, and serial connection.
Quoted 4 lines
Quoted 1 line
Do you know which SoC is actually used? Perhaps a NEC EMMA or EMMA2?
Hmm, glancing at the "Product Letter" I have, it does mention "Enhanced Multi-Media Architecture" so I'm guessing its an EMMA SoC indeed.
Do you have to part number?
Gr{oetje,eeting}s,
Geert
--
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- [email protected]
In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
-- Linus Torvalds
Quoted 22 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 20 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 18 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 7 lines · Chris Boot
I'm in my final year doing a BSc Computing Science degree in the UK, and for
my project/dissertation I've chosen to attempt to get Linux to run on an old
Sky Digibox (PACE 2500N) set-top-box. So far my research has revealed the CPU
has is a NEC VR4110 core with lots of MPEG and graphics processing stuff^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Quoted 3 lines
tacked on. The board itself is quite interesting, with a PC-Card slot, audio
out, 2x SCART, RF-out, modem, and serial connection.
Quoted 7 lines
Quoted 4 lines
Quoted 1 line
Do you know which SoC is actually used? Perhaps a NEC EMMA or EMMA2?
Hmm, glancing at the "Product Letter" I have, it does mention "Enhanced Multi-Media Architecture" so I'm guessing its an EMMA SoC indeed.
Do you have to part number?
Did I not send one?! It must have been late...
It's a uPD61032, marked D61032GL on the chip. The exact markings are:
NEC JAPAN
D61032GL
9949EK019
There's a couple of 2MB SDRAM chips just next to the CPU (both from different manufacturers, and with different pinouts, interestingly enough), 2 Amtel 2MB Flash chips, and so on.
I also forgot to mention the board has two smart-card readers and an interesting array of front-panel LEDs, buttons, and an Ir remote control receiver.
Thanks!
Chris
Signature · 3 lines
Chris Boot [email protected] http://www.bootc.net/
Quoted 5 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 4 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 2 lines · Chris Boot
Hmm, glancing at the "Product Letter" I have, it does mention "Enhanced Multi-Media Architecture" so I'm guessing its an EMMA SoC indeed.
Quoted 8 lines
Quoted 1 line
Do you have to part number?
Did I not send one?! It must have been late...
It's a uPD61032, marked D61032GL on the chip. The exact markings are:
NEC JAPAN
D61032GL
9949EK019
That's indeed the EMMA.
Quoted 2 lines
There's a couple of 2MB SDRAM chips just next to the CPU (both from different manufacturers, and with different pinouts, interestingly enough), 2 Amtel 2MB
IIRC, there's a separate 2 MiB SDRAM for MPEG decoding.
Gr{oetje,eeting}s,
Geert
--
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- [email protected]
In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
-- Linus Torvalds
Quoted 13 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 11 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 6 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 2 lines · Chris Boot
Hmm, glancing at the "Product Letter" I have, it does mention "Enhanced Multi-Media Architecture" so I'm guessing its an EMMA SoC indeed.
Do you have to part number?
Did I not send one?! It must have been late...
Quoted 7 lines
Quoted 4 lines
It's a uPD61032, marked D61032GL on the chip. The exact markings are:
NEC JAPAN
D61032GL
9949EK019That's indeed the EMMA.
Now we know what it is...where do I find the docs?
Quoted 5 lines
Quoted 2 lines
There's a couple of 2MB SDRAM chips just next to the CPU (both from different manufacturers, and with different pinouts, interestingly enough), 2 Amtel 2MB
IIRC, there's a separate 2 MiB SDRAM for MPEG decoding.
That would explain it, I guess. What that means is I have all of 2MB to play with then :-(
Quoted 3 lines
Gr{oetje,eeting}s,
Geert
Cheers,
Chris
Signature · 3 lines
Chris Boot [email protected] http://www.bootc.net/
Quoted 12 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 11 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 10 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 6 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 3 lines · Chris Boot
Hmm, glancing at the "Product Letter" I have, it does mention "Enhanced
Multi-Media Architecture" so I'm guessing its an EMMA SoC indeed.Do you have to part number?
Did I not send one?! It must have been late...
Quoted 8 lines
Quoted 6 lines
Quoted 4 lines
It's a uPD61032, marked D61032GL on the chip. The exact markings are:
NEC JAPAN
D61032GL
9949EK019That's indeed the EMMA.
Now we know what it is...where do I find the docs?
I'm afraid it's available under NDA from NEC only :-(
Gr{oetje,eeting}s,
Geert
--
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- [email protected]
In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
-- Linus Torvalds
Quoted 23 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 21 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 19 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 16 lines · Chris Boot
Quoted 7 lines · Geert Uytterhoeven
Quoted 3 lines · Chris Boot
Hmm, glancing at the "Product Letter" I have, it does mention "Enhanced
Multi-Media Architecture" so I'm guessing its an EMMA SoC indeed.Do you have to part number?
Did I not send one?! It must have been late...
It's a uPD61032, marked D61032GL on the chip. The exact markings are:
NEC JAPAN
D61032GL
9949EK019
Quoted 6 lines
Quoted 3 lines
Quoted 1 line
That's indeed the EMMA.
Now we know what it is...where do I find the docs?
I'm afraid it's available under NDA from NEC only :-(
Note, however, that the group that develops EMMA chips is based in the UK. If you contact them and ask nicely, there's at least a chance that they could provide some documentation for student work.
Regards,
Kevin K.