Kaypro GIDE Project - IDE on 4-84 / 10-83 / 10-84

[Sharkonwheels]

Show of hands....how many folks would be interested in an IDE interface for the Kaypro 4/84, 10/83 and 10/84?

Desired Feature list:
Autoboot from ROM - no floppy-booting ( I would still accept FDD booting - ROM modding is not that easy!!!)
44-pin laptop and 40-pin standard IDE interfaces standard
Compact flash support for using CF instead of HD's
Replacement ROM based on Kaypro 1.9E firmware

Price goal is to be around $100-125 for the kit which would include a complete
kit for the GIDE interface, a replacement EPROM with a modified Kaypro
1.9E firmware for the 10 (should work on the 4/84 as well), and the proper
CP/M software (hopefully bootable floppy images downloadable) either downloaded or on disks.

Kits can be pre-built and tested for about an estimated $50 fee

Definitely to be supported:
Kaypro 10/83
Kaypro 10/84

Should be supported, as they had similar mainboard as the 10/84:
Kaypro 2/84
Kaypro 4/84
Kaypro 1
Kaypro "New 2"

Should work, but will test before claiming supported:
Kaypro 2x

Let me know if this piques your interest.

T

[Sharkonwheels]

By the way, if it goes through, I'd like to be able to do a bundle, as well, with an HP 1.3" 20MB IDE drive. Remember the KittyHawk? Little tiny thing, about the size of a small box of stick matches?

Pre-loaded, ready to plug in, boot up, and go! 20MB is still a decent amount of space under CP/M, and twice what the Kaypro 10 came with!

Now THAT would be cool!


T

[chuckcmagee]

As you know, I already have a few Kittyhawks sitting here. I have been interested in the project since day 1.

[Sharkonwheels]

About as close to a HardCard as you can get, for a Kaypro, huh?

T

[cfenton]

I would definitely be interested!

[Soupwizard]

I just picked up Kaypro 2 model 81-014 (2/84, I think, need to take apart and see), so I'm interested.

[Sharkonwheels]

Go here:

http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showpost.php?p=55494&postcount=22

To compare to my 2/84, to see if it is a 2/84

T

[Soupwizard]

Go here:

http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showpost.php?p=55494&postcount=22

To compare to my 2/84, to see if it is a 2/84

T

Using the photo of your board, and looking at the schematics off bitsavers, I think I have a 4/84 board minus the RTC and modem; mine has:

- Sockets but empty: U35, U36, U18, U19, U7, U12
- Soldered to board: U37, U31, U27, U28
- Soldered to board: J9 header

I take it the GIDE would connect to J9?

Edit:

And rom 81-292 with a pair of tec fb-501 SS/DD drives

[Sharkonwheels]

Using the photo of your board, and looking at the schematics off bitsavers, I think I have a 4/84 board minus the RTC and modem; mine has:

- Sockets but empty: U35, U36, U18, U19, U7, U12
- Soldered to board: U37, U31, U27, U28
- Soldered to board: J9 header

I take it the GIDE would connect to J9?

Edit:

And rom 81-292 with a pair of tec fb-501 SS/DD drives

SS/SS Would make it a 2/84 - that's really the only difference between a 2/84 and a 4/84. J9 is for connecting the kaypro MFM subsystem. For the GIDE, you remove the Z80, install the GIDe in the Z80 socket, and then install the Z80 on a socket on the GIDE. in other words, it goes between the Z80 chip, and the mainboard.

T

[Terry Yager]

I haven't seen you mention the K-II, which is all I have left.

--T

[Sharkonwheels]

Would probably be hard to do....
4K ROM, to start with, plus it'll be the original SS mainboard.

Get a 2/84 or a 2x, which shouldn't be too much, or a 4/84 even.
As of now, we would base off the 81-302 K-10 ROM, so the II mainboard would be a SERIOUS stretch!

Don't know if it'd be worth it, T - SS drives you'd have to replace...
Being a II, the PSU is the weakest of the bunch...plus the 4K ROM issue...

T

[Terry Yager]

Well, I can hope...

--T