GVga: Simplified VGA for RPi Pico

[@drfrancintosh]

One thing I neglected to mention is that you don't need SYNC and DOUBLE BUFFERING at the same time. When DOUBLE BUFFERING you must call gvga_swap(...) at the end of the rendering loop. Also, the reason you might use 320x200 pixels (or some other odd number like 640x360) is to reduce memory usage. Also, I used the Pimoroni VGA Demo board for the Pico-to-VGA connection: shop.pimoroni.com/products/pimoroni-pico-vga-demo-base?variant=32369520672851

[@drfrancintosh]

Also, I just added a full text mode (not just text painted on a frame buffer). So you can get 40x25 lines of text for just 1,000 bytes. Check out the github.

[@Sarfarazzamani]

Thank you Dr. I followed for your great content and civility of course!

[@drfrancintosh]

You are very welcome

[@aleksandargurzan]

Thank you for understanding...but I must " like " the explain

[@vuxeim]

excellent, very detailed presentation, thanks

[@drfrancintosh]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sohl947]

Nice work! I picked up a Pico 1 to perhaps make a VGA for a fantasy retro computer with a CPU I'm developing in FPGA. I still hope to do some graphics in the FPGA, but the Xilinx Zynq chip on my board is rather limited in the amount of programmable LUTs and flip flops, so the Pico or maybe a ESP 32 TTGo are my backup options.

[@drfrancintosh]

Thank you, friend. Your project sounds interesting. FPGA is on my "road map." I'm very keen to drive LVDS displays. The FPGA-based boards for LCD displays are very bulky and power hungry. I'm hoping the Pico 2 will be able to drive LCD via LVDS.

[@KaylaDianeCapps]

Nice!

[@drfrancintosh]

SWAK

[@nunosantos2589]

Hello! First of all, great video! Subbed to you, and would be nice to post a schematic on how do you have that connected to the HDMI, VGA cable, or at least a view on how do you setup the connection between the pi and the monitor (maybe you have this already in another video, if you do link it if you don't mind) Keep up the good work! And thanks!

[@drfrancintosh]

Thanks for your thoughts! I neglected to mention that I'm using the Pimoroni VGA Developer board. I'll pin a link to it in the comments above. BTW: I just added a pure-text mode (not drawing text on a frame buffer). So you can get 80x60 rows/columns of text using only 4800 bytes of memory.

[@tektel]

what about the pico 2 to overcome memory and speed limitations?

[@drfrancintosh]

Great Idea! I Just got my Pico 2 and am setting up the SDK 2.0 for it. See my video on HDMI for PICO which I touch on this. Also, I have a Docker image for SDK 1.0 that I want to upgrade to SDK 2.0. I have a video on that as well - but it only announces the 1.0 Docker. Stay tuned!

[@paulthomas4917]

would the pico 2 with its 2 times memory not solve many problems?

[@drfrancintosh]

Yes, and no. The memory issues would be solved. You will be able to get better resolution. But the timing issues (eg: 640x480) is a performance issue. There may be better throughput with the Pico 2's' 150MHz clock rate. Or it's new HSTX output pins. But double buffering, sync, and interlace are likely going to be needed regardless. Thanks for your comment. I hope to do a Pico 2 follow up soon.

[@RoyAntaw]

I would like to subscribe and like but I shall do as you ask... and yes my time is precious but this is a great introduction to the Pico as a VGA output device. So thank you....

[@drfrancintosh]

Thank you friend. It's okay - I want to stand out from all the other creators to ask for a subscribe/like. You're welcome to susbscribe if you want to keep up with my projects.

[@Iswimandrun]

Nah I don't let you tell me what to do but I will watch

[@drfrancintosh]

party on, friend!