Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Philski on October 11, 2011, 09:38:06 PM

Title: Minimig Questions
Post by: Philski on October 11, 2011, 09:38:06 PM
Hello all!

Long time no post.

I was just wondering if anyone could give a bit of a status update as to where the Minimig is these days as I'm looking at picking one up from AmigaKit.

Firstly does it support hard drive/multi-disk out of the box, or does it need any updates done.  And if so how do you go about updating?  In the early days I noticed posts about having to hook up your Minimig to a PC to update certain elements and I'm not sure if I'd be able to do these on my iMac.

Do I need to make up ROM files or are the ones that come on Amiga Forever usable by just adding them to the SD card?

Does the base system allow for the turbo mode or is additional hardware required (a PIC board if I recall correctly)?

Finally, is it possible to connect 4 controllers (preferably mouse) in order to play 4 player Hired Guns?

Any help on any of these would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Phil
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: amigakit on October 11, 2011, 10:35:44 PM
Hello

With the latest firmware, you can use hard drive file on the SD Card.  It has a PIC that can be updated to firmware releases as required.

You will need ROM files either from your own ROM that you own.

The latest firmware allows turbo mode, the ARM controller is not required for these features.

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: Philski on October 11, 2011, 11:01:37 PM
Hi there!

Thanks for the help :-)

I own A500 and A600 ROMs, do I need to create the files from the Amiga or can I just use the ones on the Amiga Forever CD?
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: amigakit on October 11, 2011, 11:11:49 PM
You can use files for A500 or A600.  These will be compatible with the Minimig
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: Darrin on October 11, 2011, 11:48:24 PM
Get the 4MB model.  Trust me, it is worth the extra cash.
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: freqmax on October 11, 2011, 11:49:07 PM
Btw, does AROS m68k work on Minimig?
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: Darrin on October 12, 2011, 04:57:34 AM
Quote from: freqmax;663287
Btw, does AROS m68k work on Minimig?


I've never tried it.  Does AROS work on a straight 68000 with 3.5MB RAM?
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: vidarh on October 12, 2011, 10:12:20 AM
Quote from: freqmax;663287
Btw, does AROS m68k work on Minimig?


AFAIK not yet. The problem is that unless something has changed recently, the Minimig firmware only support 512KB ROM images and the AROS m68k ROM (at least used to ..) take more than that. It'll take either firmware support for 1MB ROM's in the Minimig or more work on shrinking the AROS ROM before it'll work, probably.
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: freqmax on October 12, 2011, 01:27:26 PM
Quote from: vidarh;663316
Minimig firmware only support 512KB ROM images


Probably the easiest aspect to fix. Just decode 2 more address lines.
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: Thomas on October 12, 2011, 01:31:42 PM
Quote from: amigakit;663278
You will need ROM files either from your own ROM that you own.


You can decrypt Amiga Forever ROM files by running Transrom inside UAE.
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: mikej on October 12, 2011, 01:39:17 PM
http://www.minimig.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=409

Running on Replay and Minimig (although more troublesome)
/MikeJ
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: Dwyloc on October 12, 2011, 01:41:14 PM
Quote from: freqmax;663287
Btw, does AROS m68k work on Minimig?

Soft kicking a nightly build from an adf worked fine when I tried it a few weeks ago, but loading the rom directly does not currently work due to lack of support for 1MB extended roms at present.
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: Dwyloc on October 12, 2011, 01:57:28 PM
Quote from: Philski;663271
Hello all!
Firstly does it support hard drive/multi-disk out of the box, or does it need any updates done.  And if so how do you go about updating?  In the early days I noticed posts about having to hook up your Minimig to a PC to update certain elements and I'm not sure if I'd be able to do these on my iMac.
I don't know about updating the PIC under OSX but you can do it with an Amiga (68k, OS4 or MorphOS) or AROS as well as under windows see tinybld PIC uploader http://aminet.net/search?query=minimig

Quote from: Philski;663271
Finally, is it possible to connect 4 controllers (preferably mouse) in order to play 4 player Hired Guns?

As the minimig does not have support for multiple mice or connecting more than 2 joysticks I don't thing Multiplayer Hired Guns will work.

I will also second the advice to go for the 4MB version of the minimig or you will quickly fine yourself returning it and paying AmigaKit to upgrade it if you want to use software and games from harddisk.

If you want to run AROS-68k on it you also need the 4MB version, but even then you will only have 2.5MB of free ram after soft-kicking the AROS rom as the commodore rom uses 512K and the AROS-m68k ROM uses a further 1MB, before you even get past the AROS boot screen.
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: Philski on October 12, 2011, 11:44:41 PM
Quote from: Dwyloc;663326
As the minimig does not have support for multiple mice or connecting more than 2 joysticks I don't thing Multiplayer Hired Guns will work.

I will also second the advice to go for the 4MB version of the minimig or you will quickly fine yourself returning it and paying AmigaKit to upgrade it if you want to use software and games from harddisk.If


I thought that would be the case, but had to ask.

As for the 4mb version, i was certainly thinking of going that way, as it's hard enough trying to load WHDLoad games on my 600.

Thank you to everyone for your help!
Title: Re: Minimig Questions
Post by: freqmax on October 13, 2011, 01:15:57 AM
FYI, The FPGA Replay will have 64 MB of RAM. Quite a difference.. ;)