FRAM71B... LAST CALL

[Hans Brueggemann]

Finally, there will be a new and improved version of FRAM71 available, the FRAM71B.
FRAM71B will come in two versions, having either 512 KB or 1 MB of FRAM, and a greatly reduced stand-by current consumption.
Write down your name in this thread (or send me a PM if you don't want your name to be listed here), and once we have reached 30 names, i will be triggering a new production batch.
note that this is just a poll. i understand that you may lose interest in the module along the long road from poll to production. hence, there is no obligation to buy until you explicitly confirm your order upon personal notification of pricing and availability.

Hans

UPDATE 2016-12-05
Most of the modules have found a new home by now. This is your last chance to grab one, there will be no further production batch.


UPDATE 2016-09-18
open for orders!
you can place your order by sending an email that has your full shipping address details to FRAM71B at GMX dot net. i will be responding to you by sending payment details. Sorry, no PMs!
FRAM71B-512:239.00
FRAM71B-1024: 321.00
Separate 512K extender (included in -1024 variants): 103.00
(prices in EUR, inc. S&H)
this is the way how orders get processed:
a. The first 30 (“The 30” ) people that showed their interest on the hp forum have absolute shipment priority over all followers.
b. Who belongs to “The 30”? Have a look through this thread. If your name is among the first 30, then you’re most likely in.(some forum members responded via PM and are also in, so that makes it 30 in total)
c. “The 30” _will_ get an FRAM71B-x, under the condition that they place their order by no later than November, 30 th.
d. Those among “The 30” who showed interest for more than one unit can order only one unit, and must place an additional order after November, 30th.
e. After November, 30th , there will be a “last call” announcement on the hp-forum for any left-over modules. These will go on first-come, first-serve basis, but prioritizing d). This is the time when a new customer from HHC should try to place an order. Do _not_ try to order a left-over before the last call, I will simply ignore it.
f. In july 2017, all plain unpopulated p.c. boards that were left over from production can be purchased by those who want to roll their own FRAM71B.

FRAM71B Manual Ver. 1.0 now online, see link below.

UPDATE 2016-05-20
Just a short update on FRAM71B status. by now, all 30 FRAM71B are gone, so it will go into production as soon as my time permits. Some changes to the original FRAM71 design had to be made, though:
1) The oscillator is gone. FRAM71B won't have built-in UART support.
2) 8 KB chips are no longer supported.
3) 16 KB chips are restricted to BOT_FRAM and LCIM use only.
4) CN2:1 jumper now only swaps areas F_0x0..F_0x2 instead of swapping between entire TOP and BOT FRAM.
5) FRAM71B will be available as FRAM71B-512 version only.

so far for the "bad" news, and here are the good ones:
6) Bankswitching of 32KB chips between TOP_ and BOT_FRAM is now available under software control via config word in H_0x2C000.

in case you wondered why there is still the TOP_ and BOT_FRAM terminology:
7) A separate 512 KB memory module will be available to upgrade FRAM71B-512 to FRAM71B-1024 without any further HW modifications.

for those of you who never heard of FRAM71, have a look at this thread:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-2515.html

[Dave Frederickson]

One, please.

[Sylvain Cote]

One 1MB, please.

[rprosperi]

(01-02-2016 08:07 AM)Hans Brueggemann Wrote:  Finally, there will be a new and improved version of FRAM71 available, the FRAM71B.

One, 1MB version please, probably.

Can you elaborate on what the improvements are, besides increase to 1MB and lower stand-by power usage?

[Gene]

Might help if you explicitly (as best you estimate) list the cost in here for both versions.

[Dave Frederickson]

(01-02-2016 05:04 PM)Gene Wrote:  Might help if you explicitly (as best you estimate) list the cost in here for both versions.

The cost of a first-batch 512K module was 260 euros plus shipping. The 1MB option was another 100 euros but it should be easier to install the second chip on the new module, so that price might come down, however there's no obligation to purchase (so if I offer to buy a dozen then we reach 30 sooner! ).

Dave

[Guenter Schink]

As stated earlier somewhere else, 512K version for me please.

Günter

[smp]

One 512K version, please.

Thanks!

smp

[J-F Garnier]

(01-02-2016 08:07 AM)Hans Brueggemann Wrote:  Finally, there will be a new and improved version of FRAM71 available, the FRAM71B.
FRAM71B will come in two versions, having either 512 KB or 1 MB of FRAM, and a greatly reduced stand-by current consumption.

An improved version with a "greatly reduced stand-by current consumption" is a good idea because the standby current is IMHO the major weakness of current design, but can you give us a figure?
If the gain is 2, it's not interesting for me. If it's a factor of 20 or better (that is down to 10uA - about the same level of the bare HP-71B), I may be interested!

Regarding the memory capacity, 512kB is more than enough for me since it's not possible to map all 512kB simultaneously.

J-F

[Dave Frederickson]

(01-10-2016 05:28 PM)J-F Garnier Wrote:  Regarding the memory capacity, 512kB is more than enough for me since it's not possible to map all 512kB simultaneously.

The 1MB version is like having two FRAM71's installed at the same time with the ability to switch between them and has nothing to do with mapping more than 512K. For example, one FRAM could be used for work and the other for experimentation. It's like having two machines in one. They could even have different ROM versions.

If you plug in a RAM module and configure it as an IRAM it can be used as a "shared IRAM" to copy files between the two systems.

Dave

[Michael Fehlhammer]

My name should be on your pre-order list already, but I want to modify my order:
- one 1MB instead of 512kB module

Thank you Dave for clarifying the advantages of the 1MB version!

[HP-Collection]

OK, HP-Collecion takes Michael F's 512k version

Matthias

[gferluga]

One 512K version for me please...

[Hans Brueggemann]

(01-10-2016 05:28 PM)J-F Garnier Wrote:  An improved version with a "greatly reduced stand-by current consumption" is a good idea because the standby current is IMHO the major weakness of current design, but can you give us a figure?
If the gain is 2, it's not interesting for me. If it's a factor of 20 or better (that is down to 10uA - about the same level of the bare HP-71B), I may be interested!

J-F

standby current on FRAM71B will be down from 150 µA to approx. 60 µA. very early FRAM71 (non-B) prototypes got indeed down to below 10 µA, but that was at the cost of the SYSRAM feature. if you _really_ need the reduced current consumption on your FRAM71, drop me a mail
note however, that it takes about 17000 hours (more than 2 years) for an FRAM71-512 to bring down a fresh battery pack to a LOW BAT condition.
higher standby currents are more problematic when it comes to battery changes and associated "brown-out" times. but then again, that can be easily mitigated by having your HP-71B connected to an AC charger while changing the batteries.

[Namir]

One 1MB, please.

Namir

[Jurgen Keller]

1 x 512K, please.

[Andres]

I may be interested,

Andres Rodriguez

[Namir]

1 MB please!

Namir

[BruceH]

Yes, I'd like one, please. Either size - whichever gets into production first.

[Hsilop]

I am interested, probably in a 1 MB version, but I'd like to know the prices before making the final choice.