Minimig AGA for the MiST v1.1

[mahen]

After a first beta at the end of 2014 and a first public version in June, Rok Krajnc and the Minimig / MiST / FPGA community release a first revision of the Minimig AGA core for the MiST FPGA, labelled 1.1.

It fixes quite a few major bugs. Here is an excerpt from the readme file :
- fixed mouse issues (fixes games Like Ishar 1, 2, 3, Robinson's Requiem, and many cracktros)
- fixed keyboard issues (fixes game Walker and probably many others)
- changes to FPGA clock handling, hopefully this will make a more stable minimig core
- entering the OSD menu using UP+DOWN buttons on a DB-9 connected joystick has been disabled
- 1MB kickstart ROM support added (enables you to run AROS ROM or your custom kickstart ROM)
- firmware now again supports using 256kB kickstart ROMs
- firmware now again supports using Cloanto AmigaForever encrypted kickstart ROMs

Official site & download : http://somuch.guru/minimig/minimig-mist/
Make sure you read the readme.txt !

[mahen]

Hmm, if it this good now might be a good replacement for real hardware? I wonder if the Mist can go in an A1200 or ATX case?

Check this : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/a1200housing/new-amiga-1200-cases-made-from-new-molds

Compatibility is not perfect yet although it's improving a lot. CPU speed is on par with a fast 030.

[mahen]

Please think twice before replacing your Amiga with a Raspberry Pi (if it's for Amiga emulation purpose). You're bound to have sync, 50 Hz, input delay, performance, blurriness... issues. Depends on your criterias of course, and the situation will probably improve eventually. Will be more compatible than a MiST, for the time being, though, but the overall experience is not comparable. (IMHO)

[mahen]

Someone asked about the speed. I measured with the Minimig AGA "newcpu" core 1.0,with SysInfo : CPU speed was on par with a 65 MHz 68030. (although the emulated CPU is a 020). It's better than what I had back in the days so I'm happy

The readme of version 1.1 says CPU speed was reduced a little bit to increase stability / compatibility, but I guess there is still room for improvements as there was a HUGE increase between the previous beta and version 1.0.

The current problem is compatibility. Former ECS core was close to 100% compatible. The current AGA one has issues at the moment but it's very recent (first public version at the end of june). Actually, quite a few AGA games have graphical glitches, and some require the "Turbo chipset" mode to be fullspeed, which reduces ECS compatiblity. Temporary workaround, but I'm quite confident That's why I disable the TURBO mode most of the time. I can play my favorite AGA games perfectly : Slam Tilt and Roadkill !

As for the MiST vs FPGAArcade. From a user point of view, they are not so different for the time being. The MiST has more cores and features from a software point a view for the time being, probably because the it is way cheaper and more widely available. From a hardware point of view, the FPGAArcade is supposed to be much better though (larger & faster FPGA, better audio converter, future 060 daughterboard support, DVI output...). However, the MiST has some cool stuff built-in (4 USB, 2 MIDI ports, USB power input).

Also, it's important to note that the cores developements are separate. The MiST Amiga core is built upon the Minimig one and the FPGAArcade seems to follow its own route. Same for the Atari ST core. There is cooperation regarding the TG68 (68k emulation), though.

In the long run, we can expect great stuff like Ethernet, RTG and AHI support. If those meet enough success and maybe if other developers jump in I guess