MiniMig+

[Matt_H]

I wouldn't call the Minimig a "stock A500".  Mine has a 68000 at almost 50MHz, 3.5MB RAM, 4 "floppies", 2 Hard Drives and a Scan Doubler.  You could say it has a PS-2 keyboard and mouse adapter too.  

Heh, fair enough, although those features weren't part of the first Minimigs. I'm looking forward to the extra RAM on the Minimig+ for some basic audio and image processing, as well as a comfortably-sized RAM disk workspace. With the Ethernet, it'll also be sufficient for some basic web browsing - enough to grab some files from Aminet, at least. Having just tried to do this on my 6MB 030 A2000, I can tell you it's a little difficult

We may finally have a true "luggable" Amiga that can handle (almost) any modern display and input devices

Now if someone can find/build a case for it with an integrated display...

[Darrin]

Heh, fair enough, although those features weren't part of the first Minimigs. I'm looking forward to the extra RAM on the Minimig+ for some basic audio and image processing, as well as a comfortably-sized RAM disk workspace. With the Ethernet, it'll also be sufficient for some basic web browsing - enough to grab some files from Aminet, at least. Having just tried to do this on my 6MB 030 A2000, I can tell you it's a little difficult

We may finally have a true "luggable" Amiga that can handle (almost) any modern display and input devices

Now if someone can find/build a case for it with an integrated display...

Yeah, without ram and/or Ethernet and/or USB the Minimig will always be a games machine.  And as you say, while you can surf the net with an 030 on classics, my A2000 and A4000 both have 040 CPUs and RTG which makes a hell of a difference.

At least the FPGA Arcade will give us RTG and then 060, Ethernet and USB via the daughterboard.  Eventually.

[psxphill]

I thought at 2014 I have realistic expectation.

Of course you did, but an FPGA at this price can't do PS3 graphics no way no how.

[Matt_H]

Yeah, without ram and/or Ethernet and/or USB the Minimig will always be a games machine.  And as you say, while you can surf the net with an 030 on classics, my A2000 and A4000 both have 040 CPUs and RTG which makes a hell of a difference.

At least the FPGA Arcade will give us RTG and then 060, Ethernet and USB via the daughterboard.  Eventually.

Methinks I need to take a closer look at this FPGA Arcade thingy. I haven't been following it at all - what you're describing sounds pretty darn cool! Is there a good web resource to learn more about its Amiga features?

[Darrin]

Methinks I need to take a closer look at this FPGA Arcade thingy. I haven't been following it at all - what you're describing sounds pretty darn cool! Is there a good web resource to learn more about its Amiga features?

Check out Mike's site:
http://www.fpgaarcade.com/

Especially the forum where there's lots of discussion on the various cores under development.

Here's a pic of the FPGA board with the prototype 68060 board fitted on top.
http://amigatronics.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/060-daughter-board.gif

You can see the CPU, USB ports, extra RAM, clock, optical audio out, micro SD card (which can be used as a "real" Amiga formatted hard drive rather than using HDF files on the main board's SD card), and Ethernet port.

So in short you get the following:

Main board:  Various cores running different systems/arcade games.  Amiga core to feature:  Soft 68000/020 Core, 64MB RAM (user configured between Chip/Fast/etc), OCS/ECS and AGA chipset (with P98 RTG), SD card to hold ADF, HDF, Kickstart and core files, PS-2 ports for mouse & keyboard (optional USB ports for USB mouse and keyboard only), DVI video out (optional S-video and composite), stereo audio out, 2 x 9pin joystick ports, JTAG connector, expansion port (for daughterboard), Serial port, micro USB port for flash updates.

Daughterboard adds following (subject to change):  Real 68060 CPU, extra 128 MB RAM, Micro SD card slot (as hard drive), optical audio out, real time clock, USB, Ethernet.

While the daughterboard is being developed with the Amiga core in mind (and anyone can build their own cards for the slot), I see no reason why an old Mac core or Atari ST core couldn't make use of it either.

[AmigaClassicRule]

Check out Mike's site:
http://www.fpgaarcade.com/

Especially the forum where there's lots of discussion on the various cores under development.

Here's a pic of the FPGA board with the prototype 68060 board fitted on top.
http://amigatronics.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/060-daughter-board.gif

You can see the CPU, USB ports, extra RAM, clock, optical audio out, micro SD card (which can be used as a "real" Amiga formatted hard drive rather than using HDF files on the main board's SD card), and Ethernet port.

So in short you get the following:

Main board:  Various cores running different systems/arcade games.  Amiga core to feature:  Soft 68000/020 Core, 64MB RAM (user configured between Chip/Fast/etc), OCS/ECS and AGA chipset (with P98 RTG), SD card to hold ADF, HDF, Kickstart and core files, PS-2 ports for mouse & keyboard (optional USB ports for USB mouse and keyboard only), DVI video out (optional S-video and composite), stereo audio out, 2 x 9pin joystick ports, JTAG connector, expansion port (for daughterboard), Serial port, micro USB port for flash updates.

Daughterboard adds following (subject to change):  Real 68060 CPU, extra 128 MB RAM, Micro SD card slot (as hard drive), optical audio out, real time clock, USB, Ethernet.

While the daughterboard is being developed with the Amiga core in mind (and anyone can build their own cards for the slot), I see no reason why an old Mac core or Atari ST core couldn't make use of it either.

Can I order the FPGA Replay then now? Where can I go in the website to order it?

[Darrin]

Can I order the FPGA Replay then now? Where can I go in the website to order it?

All you can do is email your interest to go on the list, however there is an authorized reseller:

http://amiga.amedia-computer.com/

Mike is in China at the moment (with a board) and is still fiddling with the core.  As he's selling the product you can understand why he needs it as good as he can before it goes out because he's the one who will get grief from the users.

Some of us know what a "beta" core is, unfortunately others don't.

[donpalmera]

hmm the red flag for me is that Dragonball Super VZ is end of lifed. Im not sure freescale produce them anymore.

I doubt freescale "produce" any of the classic m68k chips any more. They have stockpiles to make sure they can supply parts for 15 years after first shipment or whatever Freescale guarantee...

Which doesn't mean anything here anyway. This will be a limited run of boards in the hundreds of units. If ACube have gotten hold of a few trays of chips they should have all the chips they need and plenty enough for spares. I have 8 or so of those chips in my parts bin. They aren't that hard to find.

Maybe try being excited that someone is bothering to source NOS chips to do stuff like this instead of inventing non-issues to be worried about. I'm impressed that they can make the SZ work like that (if it does actually work). It will be interesting to see if the built in I2C, SPI, DMA etc are usable from AmigaOS.

[ElPolloDiabl]

I just read about the BoXer and I had no idea how many times the goal got changed. Future this, future that.

This link: http://www.amigahistory.co.uk/boxer.html

It's unlikely it would have ever been finished.

[Britelite]

I thought at 2014 I have realistic expectation.

But what's the point, it's not like software would magically support new features.

[NovaCoder]

I think it's great are doing something interesting in the Classic scene and it's about time the MiniMig was updated.

Of course it would be better with an 030 and larger FPGA but it's still a nice update

[Hattig]

Is the DragonBall Super VZ 100% 68000 compatible then?

This is a good step up for the classic Minimig design, especially if AGA is eventually implemented.  The FPGA Arcade is great, but the board on its own is looking to be £200 or thereabouts, so if this board is significantly cheaper it will be a good alternative for those that don't need the option to add on an '060 board and run alternative cores.

But ... availability is the big thing here, as with all the FPGA Amigas.

[donpalmera]

Is the DragonBall Super VZ 100% 68000 compatible then?

The DragonBall VZ and SZ are the same core as the 68SEC000.

[IanP]

The issue is if the Dragonball Super VZ (MC68SZ328 pdf reference manual) is used then wouldn't it's FLX68000 core be incapable of running any AGA software that required a 68020? They aren't instruction compatible are they? Does kickstart 3 work on a 68000? I thought the reason the FPGA Arcade uses a new 68020 soft core was because of incompatabillity with AGA software on the earlier soft cores. :confused:

[NovaCoder]

The issue is if the Dragonball Super VZ (MC68SZ328 pdf reference manual) is used then wouldn't it's FLX68000 core be incapable of running any AGA software that required a 68020? They aren't instruction compatible are they? Does kickstart 3 work on a 68000? I thought the reason the FPGA Arcade uses a new 68020 soft core was because of incompatabillity with AGA software on the earlier soft cores. :confused:

Some early AGA games appear to have been complied for 68000 but most AGA will not run without those 020 instructions

[Duce]

Looking forward to this new Minimig+.  I don't play games whatsoever, so really been looking forward to something with an Ethernet port and something with more functionality than the original Minimig, which is admittedly very gamer focused.

Been looking for a "desktop" class modern hardware solution to run my BBS on, never did get an email back from the FPGA Arcade folks when they initially did their interest check years ago :/

Love my SAM, but it doesn't run the old BBS doors as well as I wish it did