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Reverse Engineering the Macintosh SE PCB & Custom Chips for 1:1 reproduction

To show how serious i am about this project...I just bought a working 200MHz, 96 channel logic analyzer from eBay - comes with all 4 Pods, 14/16/18/20 pin DIP analyzer clips, 40 and 48 pin DIP clips and literally every probe going - i even have the floppies in the bag. I've already ordered a Gotek floppy replacement and i have an image of all the disks needed to work it. CRT is crisp as hell, bright, no burn-in. I'm also bidding on a Tektronix Oscilloscope and a hot air station for the SE/30 stuff moving forward. I am 100% COMMITTED to making a working one in the next 12 months, and I have every hope that Rev 1.4c is the final version...

DSC_0292.jpg

 
Your dedication is commendable. I only wish I had the background and expertise for this sort of thing. Maybe later in life I can learn.

 
Nice tool! I've read that some of those big logic analysers can understand the processor bus cycles and even do disassembly of captures. Does yours do anything like that?

 
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Even if you just get binary read-outs it's a great help. I've got a 2ch/16 bit Agilent MSO (an old one), and in some cases it's been a fantastic help, but TBH 16 bit just doesn't cut it for 68k systems. I've got at least one reversing project that's stranded on lack of logic analyzer channels, so I'm a little jealous of what you've got.

 
I've been following (lurking) this project for a while and decided to create an account to say that this is a really worthwhile effort. I'd love to see similar undertakings for other 68K systems.

 
Just out of curiosity:  if you're going to be cloning the SWIM chip, would it be possible to make it so you can daisy-chain floppy drives like you can on the Apple II?  I don't know if there are other hardware limitations, or if it could be implemented via the SWIM chip.

 
@techknight I've not even started yet - between heart issues and easing back into work again, i've just not had the chance. Ie - on Saturday, I slept for 12 hours straight - i will give it a go this coming weekend though...

 
Kai Robinson said:
@techknight I've not even started yet - between heart issues and easing back into work again, i've just not had the chance. Ie - on Saturday, I slept for 12 hours straight - i will give it a go this coming weekend though...
Click to expand...
Oh wow. I am sorry to hear that has happened. Hopefully you get well soon and not catch this corona nastiness in the process, wish you the best :-)

 
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If making a custom PCB, it would be interesting to make a SWIM that works with standard IBM floppy drives instead. And/or even IDE hard disks. IMHO more valuable to the future of retromaccing than making a 1:1 SWIM. But! Do whatever is most fun! :)
 

p.s: Sorry to hear about health issues! Hope you feel better soon!!

 
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