Minimig worthwhile?

[Darrin]

murple wrote:
If you want something that looks like an Amiga and runs non-AGA Amiga software but isn't an Amiga, and want to spend more money than it'd take to run UAE on your modern computer, then I suppose it's worthwhile. I think it's a really neat idea, and I'm impressed that someone built it, but I wouldn't buy one personally. If one was given to me for free, I'd probably use it for a week then never touch it again.

Each to their own.  I've used WinUAE and Amiga Forever from the early days and I get a better experience and more use out of my Minimig.

The beauty of the Minimig is the simplicity of it.  I mounted mine in a PC keyboard so it's as easy to transport as wrapping the mouse around the keyboard and shoving the PSU into my pocket.

There's no worries about using joysticks either.  Just plug your old Atari-style joysticks into the ports and away you go (the extra PS2 mouse port means no swapping anymore).

UAE is a cheap imitation of Amiga hardware.  The Minimig is new classic Amiga hardware.  Currently Minimig v1.1 has 1.5MB RAM, ECS, 28MHz 68000, 4 floppy drives, PAL and NTSC modes, a scan doubler and hard drive booting OS3.1.  It makes it a cost effective A500 replacement for games.

[Darrin]

boing4000 wrote:
Make that possible 3.5MB :-)

General:
Minimig and (any)UAE is not compareable to each other because emulation and simulation is a big difference! The fpga Amiga is a native simulator, no one will ever notice any difference to real Amiga(500/2000) on the same screen. Smooth scrolling and perfect feeling as on the real machine!

Of course I do understand in different interests. If one just like the real hardware, he may do so :-)

I have the RAM chips ready, I just need the time to fit them - the soldering is going to be a real {bleep} of a job, but I'm going to give it a go.  Actually I have 4 chips because there was a minimim order price from the company so I got a spare set "just in case".

My 4 weeks off when I planned to do this vanished in a puff of smoke and my company has had me working in Houston and Lafayette and then they sent me back to Rio a week early (I'm at the airport now waiting for my plane).

I'm "supposed" to have 4 weeks off when I get back.  Hopefully I can have a go then.  :-)

[Darrin]

boing4000 wrote:
Take your time in soldering those RAM chips Darrin. Its of course possible but require a quiet hand and suitable equipment like: 0.7mm fine solder, desoldering braid (and if available solder flux). Also the upper RAM chips has to match pin grid accurately, else its hard to solder a stable contact.

If there is any problem, Im sure Jakub or I can help to make your BigMem-Minimig run :-)

Cheers for the advice.  Jakub sent me a guide and some pics.  I've got the fine solder, desoldering braid and plenty of beer to calm my nerves.  I just need to find some gel flux.

If I can manage to do this then anybody should.  :-)

[Darrin]

wolfchild wrote:
Hey,

I've also got a couple of extra RAMs, bought with the intent of upgrading the memory.

Any advice on how to do so?  Do I have to straighten the tip of each pin?

Cheers!
Edwin

Use a set of pliers with FLAT blades (not crimped for gripping) to squeeze the legs of the chips flat otherwise they wont reach the legs of the chips already on the board.  

Don't forget that one leg of each new RAM chip doesn't get soldered to the lower RAM block, but it connected by wire to the spare I/O pins.

[Darrin]

boing4000 wrote:
Right, each pin #6 is not to bend. This modification will only work in new core release. Currently the extra ChipEnable lines should not be connected to spare IO pin, it could cause unwanted trouble.

It would be best to use removeable connection at spare IO due to some alternative FPGA core on Minimig pcb. FPGA64 and VIC20 core uses spare IO for Floppy IEC bus connection, This could interfere if suddenly some RAM enable went to low and cause a bus conflict.

However, in my case with the ARM expansion the lines do need to be connected to the I/O pins.

It might be an idea not to do the mod if your planning to buy an ARM board until you fit it as unsoldering and bending pins after they have been soldered in place might cause problems.

[Darrin]

kolla wrote:
Huh, RAM upgrade? How much RAM is the result?

It adds another 2MB to the board to give 3.5MB total which is enough to use WHDload with the 28MHz 68000 and the Hard File for playing games from Workbench (assuming you don't want to load them from the ADFs).

The C-One Minimig core actually gives you 8MB of RAM.