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Demos Amiga Demoscene Archive Forum / Emulation / Amiga on a chip !

 

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Toffeeman
Member
#1 - Posted: 13 Apr 2007 21:10
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Yes some Amiga hardware developers have reversed engineered the Amigas 3 custom chips and is going to produce a single chip Amiga on the cheap ! They are absolutely sure that they are 100% compatible which truly amazes me. They have tested each chip on its own working in tandem with 2 real chips and also altogether on there own all working as expected. The developers held a seminar at Breakpoint 2007 which you can download here:-

http://breakpoint.untergrund.net/videos.php

In the seminar they basically explain how they created the chips and there intentions for future products using Amiga chips. At the moment they are only PAD compatible but they say AGA will be very easy to-do and will hopefully have AGA chips by the end of the year. I like the idea of a gig flash drive with all your favorite ADFs on and being able to plug it straight in to a modern day display device. I really hope they pull this off but I know they have a lot of licensing issues to contend with.

Blueberry is that you that asks the last question ? I saw your 4k seminar a few years back (very interesting to) and thought that was you.
Toffeeman
Member
#2 - Posted: 13 Apr 2007 21:12
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z5_
Member
#3 - Posted: 13 Apr 2007 21:17
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There are actually two projects going on trying to achieve this: the clone-A project (presented at Breakpoint) and aimed for commercial purposes.

There is also the Minimig, developed by a (i think dutch) guy. There is a very long thread about it at Amiga.org. This project is aimed for open source purposes.

The clone-A project was showcased at Cebit and every visitor was allowed to bring games for test. I think there was a 100 euro reward for every failed game. In the end, one did but they weren't sure if Clone-A was to blaim.

Both projects are extremely interesting and have huge possibilities imo.
winden
Member
#4 - Posted: 14 Apr 2007 14:26
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swa the video yesterday, let me say i find that work extremely amazing! now if they managed to rebuild also a 060-speed compatible m68k processor, or motorola built a coldfire with 060-speed toggle, we would stop having so much problems due to lack of accel boards :)

specially liked the fact that they want to make a clone and not to do a similar but upgraded machine (more chipmem, et all)...
rload
Member
#5 - Posted: 17 Apr 2007 19:01
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will they recreate the cpu aswell or just add 68000 to the board? I had the impression of the latter, so no new 060s I think..
xeron
Member
#6 - Posted: 17 Apr 2007 21:18
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Jens intends to put the CPU on the FPGA as well.
Toffeeman
Member
#7 - Posted: 17 Apr 2007 22:36
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If they are making the AGA chipset as he said than they are going to need at least an 020 to emulate AGA software. I think the 060 would be to much work for now but surley you could overclock the 68000 FPGA to 060 like speeds ?

I hope there is an option to make the blitter go fast as possible :0)

Maybe these system will encourage more new hardware demos :0)
z5_
Member
#8 - Posted: 26 Jul 2007 23:48
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In the meantime, the minimig sources are released and there are talks underway for actual product.
skan
Member
#9 - Posted: 30 Jul 2007 18:25
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Oh, btw: did I tell you can find a nice Minimig-related interview in the latest Jurassic Pack? (issue #17)
Guess who made it.... ;D
Toffeeman
Member
#10 - Posted: 31 Jul 2007 02:07
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Thanks for the update guys I want one ! I must make sure I write a demo effect for it.

Skan have you posted that interview on www.amiga.org ? It's very good and I'm sure they would like it.
skan
Member
#11 - Posted: 31 Jul 2007 09:23 - Edited
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@Toffeeman

thanx! =)
Well, it can be already found online here, but you need to register first! ;)
Toffeeman
Member
#12 - Posted: 31 Jul 2007 21:43
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You should post a link to it on www.amiga.org !

I like the way it loads the logic onto the FPGA when it starts up. What do you need to compile the Verilog sources into the logic code the FPGA uses ? It would be really interesting modifying Amiga hardware yourself ! I'd probably add a chunky screen or adding bitmap rotation to the blitter or something. Of course I know knothing about Verilog yet.
skan
Member
#13 - Posted: 1 Aug 2007 11:41 - Edited
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Toffeeman

done! :)

you can find all the tools you need on Dennis' homepage. He will put compiled binaries online soon anyway! ;)
noname
Member
#14 - Posted: 8 Aug 2007 14:14
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S-Video output as in this video on Youtube (rather than Scart) would be nice. Gotta write him an email.
z5_
Member
#15 - Posted: 23 Dec 2007 22:10
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Just noticed on amigaworld that Acube is going to sell fully assembled boards of the MiniMig so it's getting really interesting. I wonder how good demo compatibility is though.
Azure
Member
#16 - Posted: 5 Jan 2008 21:50
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There is a freely available sourcecode for the minimeg + 68k processor:

http://gamesource.groups.yahoo.com/group/minimigtg 68/

It runs on an $150 FPGA board.
z5_
Member
#17 - Posted: 10 Feb 2008 22:13
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In the meantime, minimig is for sale from Acube. I wonder how good the compability with demos is.
skan
Member
#18 - Posted: 11 Feb 2008 18:02 - Edited
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sp_
Member
#19 - Posted: 12 Feb 2008 11:22 - Edited
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skan
Member
#20 - Posted: 12 Feb 2008 15:48
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NatAmi is an interesting project indeed... hope it follows the same successful route as minimig did...

btw, do you remember there was another project before minimig?

Amiga arcade

 

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A.D.A. Amiga Demoscene Archive, Version 3.0