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Open Source 3D Hardware
An anonymous submitter writes: "Open Source haven icculus.org has updated with a new project: Manticore. Different from most Open Source projects however, Manticore is hardware. It is a 3D graphics acceleration design, coded in VHDL. Although still fairly early in development, its goals are similar to those of other 3D cores, from companies like NVIDIA and ATI. The project includes an SDRAM controller for storage, and a VGA unit for display, in addition to the 3D rendering core. It is available under the Design Science License. Source, Documentation and other information available at the Manticore Homepage."
...but to actually make the dang thing won't they need a million-dollar chip fab or something?
...you are a THIEF if you use open source hardware!!
Microsoft needs your money! Now!
Than the bitboys!
:-)
Belief is the currency of delusion.
Now all we need to do is get a computer to emulate the graphics card, hook it up to an open slot in another computer, and write a linux driver for it. Then we, too, can experience the joy of playing Quake 3 through Wine at a resolution of 200 X 180 at 10 FPS.
If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
Are we sure Manticore is not a genetic engineering project?
Q: I grabbed Manticore from CVS, but it won't compile on my x86 1.8 GHz P4.
A: Manticore is a hardware project. You must fabricate the chip using the VHDL files.
Q: Help, I can't get Manticore to fab.
A: Are you using an Applied Materials Silicon Etch DPS II Centura 300 etcher? This is the only machine we have access to, we can't support other models.
Q: I produced a wafer, what next?
A: Many people use a dremel tool to cut the chip to size and mount in a 432-pin test carrier.
Q: Do you have a PCB design for AGP4x?
A: Check the mailing lists, most of the PCB layout guys are quite active there.
Q: I finally have my Manticore graphics card. Where can I find the drivers?
A: We need software developers! See http://www.manticore.org/contribute.html for details
Anyone who's seen Dark Angel will know they produce some damn nice hardware
is download and compile me up a new videocard. sweet.
Furthermore you will need appropiate software to synthesize and run place and route on the fpga. These generally cost from around $10000 each
Bah! Kids these days are such whiners. Back in my day, real men did their own placement and routing. First it was the C compiler, and now this. It just goes to show that the computing industry is going to pot.