Analog SliceKit Unboxing

[Folknology]

Hi Folks

Having just received my Analog SliceKit I did a short unboxing video so others can see what's in the box and how it compares to the previous SliceKit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1vcjaZ ... e=youtu.be

regards
Al

[AtomSoft]

Nice, heres mine:
http://atomsoft.wordpress.com/2014/05/1 ... -slicekit/

[pstnotpd]

Cool. Just some questions when watching this.

1. What's the XOVER connector for?
2. Could the original coreboard concievably be included in a stack using a (fictional) XSYS header slice on the square slot?

[Folknology]

a16_core_board.PNG

Not sure what the XOVER connector is, do you mean the H connector (I can see the xover jumper)?

I am talking about 16 pin IDCconnector marked H on the image which I refer to in the unboxing and assume it is connected to the XTAG signals for chaining etc.. due to it's proximity. However now I am not sure that this is the case, it's function is a complete mystery to me at the moment.

Still investigating

*Update strangely enough the pins seem to be connected to ground??

Looks like I messed up, please ignore my assumptions in the video about chaining using IDC cables the H connector is not what I thought it was, apologies

regards
Al

[leon_heller]

This is what the "Xover" or H connector is for:

The final type of connector is on the bottom left of the Core Board and is marked with a hollow square symbol with an X through it. This is for connecting multiple Core Boards together to form systems of 32 logical cores or more. It is termed the chain slot.

From here:

https://www.xmos.com/support/xkits?subc ... nent=17624

It looks like you were correct, Al. You could buy a second board and try it. :)

[Folknology]

It looks like you were correct, Al. You could buy a second board and try it. :)

LOL

I think the X within the square refers to the chain edge connector, I don't think now it has anything to do with the 16 pin IDC H connector, that is just a location coincidence. 16 pins isn't enough for JTAG+ 2 x 5pin XLinks for sliceKit chaining, it might be enough for say a JTAG+a 2pin Xlink, but the pins appear grounded, unless the Xover jumper changes this?

regards
Al

[Folknology]

Ok after continuity test I get the H Connector pin out:

row1: XD1,XD0,3v3,3v3,3v3,3v3,3v3,3v3 (pin1)
row2: GND,GND,GND,GND,GND,GND,GND,GND

(The second row is definitely grounded can be seen on the underneath of the board)

Strange, not sure what it's for maybe adding a top (xover?) shield in conjunction with the test pins, but why no 5V or any ADC pins?

The mystery deepens..
Also gives me some ideas for an 'xover' shield

regards
Al

[Ross]

The X-Over jumper simply hard wires that I/O of tile 1 and 0 together

[Folknology]

Thanks Ross, Any idea what the H-IDC connector is for then?

[Ross]

Looking at the hardware guide the info regarding the jumper marked X-OVER (read cross-over) appears to be missing, apologies. It is, however, included in the U16 sliceKIT hardware manual - see "Loop-back Jumper"

I have notified document author about this omission.

Regarding the the box-header, this relates to some currently unreleased functionality - I cannot say more than that at the moment I'm afraid!