FPGA Replay Board

[psxphill]

Can these AROS 2x 512 kB ROMs be used on an Amiga 500 ?
 
Considering it only has a 256 kB ROM from start.

A500 rev 6+ support 512k roms, earlier versions require a wire added between 1 & 31. To support 1mb roms you need to run some wires to the extra pins on the rom (the socket is 40 pins but a 1mb rom is 42 pins).

[SamuraiCrow]

Can these AROS 2x 512 kB ROMs be used on an Amiga 500 ?

No.  AROS 68k requires an '020 or better at this point.

[Darrin]

Is DVI behaving in the same manner as Analog VGA does so that even though it's 31kHz hor sync, it's still 50Hz vert sync ? Or does DVI simply just bash the pixels to the screen without the need of a 50Hz sync ?
 
The reason I ask is that many LCD monitors suck at displaying 50Hz analog VGA. Either they just won't operate, or they display a silly message on the screen which sometimes cannot be clicked away using the OSD on the LCD monitor.
 
Also, I was wondering if the Replay board uses more or less the same OSD layout as Minimig does, or is it more facelifted when it comes to the layout (e.g. mouse controlled etc?).
 
//Espen

A tip for people:  If you're looking for a monitor to use with the Minimig/FPGA or a normal scan doubled Amiga for PAL modes then chcek out the Viewsonic range.  I picked up a couple of 1920x1080 models with VGA & DVI inputs and they work like a charm.  In fact, my A4000 has the RTG output to the DVI in 1920x1080 for Workbench and the VGA is used for native modes via the IndivisionAGA.  The otehr identical monitor is connected to my A2000 using a Cybervision 643D and an "Amber" SDFF both to the VGA and a PC to the DVI.  Minimig looks good on it too.

[freqmax]

No.  AROS 68k requires an '020 or better at this point.

Guess FPGA-Arcade will be very handy now ..

Though an 68000 version would be useful for A500, Minimig, etc.. Just a compile option away?

Is there any free C compiler that runs under AmigaOS on 68k?

[SamuraiCrow]

Guess FPGA-Arcade will be very handy now ..

Though an 68000 version would be useful for A500, Minimig, etc.. Just a compile option away?

Is there any free C compiler that runs under AmigaOS on 68k?

I doubt if it would help.  AROS has many macros that are based on the GCC compiler.  I doubt if you could run it on anything less than an '020 anyway.  Furthermore, considering that the quality of code generated by GCC is iffy at best on the 68k, you'd be better off hand-compiling on the flat 68k.

I hope someday to make an LLVM-based compiler for AROS.  I've even heard there is a college student writing a 68k backend for LLVM.  If he pulls that off we will be in much better shape for compilers.  LLVM is slightly lighter weight than GCC and the help is much more available on the LLVM mailing list for trying to make high-quality code.

[freqmax]

Is there any software that calls every AmigaOS call and can verify its correctness?

An example could be to openwindow(), capture screen and compare with an reference picture.

[espskog]

A tip for people:  If you're looking for a monitor to use with the Minimig/FPGA or a normal scan doubled Amiga for PAL modes then chcek out the Viewsonic range.  I picked up a couple of 1920x1080 models with VGA & DVI inputs and they work like a charm.  In fact, my A4000 has the RTG output to the DVI in 1920x1080 for Workbench and the VGA is used for native modes via the IndivisionAGA.  The otehr identical monitor is connected to my A2000 using a Cybervision 643D and an "Amber" SDFF both to the VGA and a PC to the DVI.  Minimig looks good on it too.

THank you very much for this info. I was wondering how I was gonna dig up a decent model of a monitor that I could use that will cope with the 50Hz sync.
Do you know the modem number of the one you got working ?

Espen

[espskog]

Guess FPGA-Arcade will be very handy now ..

Though an 68000 version would be useful for A500, Minimig, etc.. Just a compile option away?

Is there any free C compiler that runs under AmigaOS on 68k?

I am just wondering, why would we want to run AROS on a 68k system when we can run Workbench the normal way ? What are there advantages ?

[desiv]

I am just wondering, why would we want to run AROS on a 68k system when we can run Workbench the normal way ? What are there advantages ?

As far as I can tell, the main advantages are that you could get it legally, without having to dig around e-bait or wherever..
And, it would be supported..

You are right tho, that if Workbench works for you and you have it, you should be fine...

desiv

[freqmax]

I concurr with desiv. AROS 68k makes it possible to offer an "turnkey" solution for Amiga. Ie you plug in power + video to the board and it just works(tm).

[Darrin]

THank you very much for this info. I was wondering how I was gonna dig up a decent model of a monitor that I could use that will cope with the 50Hz sync.
Do you know the modem number of the one you got working ?

Espen

I'm away on a business trip at the moment so I don't have access to the two monitors to check and they'll be "discontinued" models by now anyway... ... ah, found it:

Viewsonic VA2223wm 21.5in 1920x1080 5ms DVI SPK

I bought it from Tiger Direct and they very good about putting the monitor specs on their site.

Here's a list of all of their current Viewsonic monitors:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=12&sel=Mfr;Mfr_903

Their cheapest is this one for $99 that does 50Hz with a single VGA input:
Viewsonic VA1931WA-LED 19" Widescreen LED Monitor - 720p, 1366x768, 10000000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, VGA, Anti-glare

Then there is this one (similar to what I bought) with VGA and DVI for $159:
Viewsonic VA2231wm 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 1080p, 1920x1080, 16:9, 1000:1, 100000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, VGA, DVI, Integrated Speakers

One word of warning, they do list 2 "square screen" models and they show 56Hz-75Hz so you'll want to avoid them for PAL modes unless you have an Indivision.

[espskog]

Thanks Darrin for that info. I will go and check which model my local webshop offers.

EDIT: When I checked one of the webshops here, the WA1931WA-LED is listed as a 76-xx Hz and not from 50Hz->

So I am not quite sure what to do It sucks to buy one that does not work, or has this nagging "out of sync" message
flying around on the screen".

I think the best thing to do is to just test a few and see what I end up with. Otherwise I might end up with a disfunctional
LCD screen.

OR: I might buy a LCD with a tuner so I can run my C64-DTV on its sVIDEO ....hmm...maybe that'll be smart. Then I am 100%
sure it will work --- however, I am then locked in a SVIDEO mode...and I don't want that....it's too blurry on WB.

EDIT #2: OR...maybe a LCD TV with a Tuner *MUST* sync at 50Hz for VGA aswell, since it has to sync the PAL signal from the RF tuner. Hm,m,....i need to test

[espskog]

I concurr with desiv. AROS 68k makes it possible to offer an "turnkey" solution for Amiga. Ie you plug in power + video to the board and it just works(tm).

So to summarize that one up rather quick:

Alternative A:
For users who already own an Amiga and there for have WB 3.x disks

Alternative B:
For "new" users who does not have real WB 3.x disks

I see the advantage. But I am wondering if the compatibility on AROS 68K good enough to use as a replacement for "real" WB3.1 + Kickstart from Commodore?

Also -- are there any advantages when running AROS 68k ? Like, memory handling or other things that AROS programmers have though of which lacks in WB ? If yes, then I really agree that it is a nice way to go. But finally, how is the compatiblity to run natice 68k SW when AROS68k is used ? And is there a speed difference ?

Espen

[wawrzon]

trivialities like pushing windows outside the screeen are standard on aros(68k), on aos you have to use powerwindows for that (a very good patch). directories open within a browser window with a back gadget, which is more convinient than the way workbench does it. still there sre some behaviour disandvantages on wanderer. anyway i see aros as a replacement for well patched aos 3.9++ setup.

[vidarh]

directories open within a browser window with a back gadget, which is more convinient than the way workbench does it.

Maybe for some, but personally I prefer a 3.x Workbench over Wanderer any day. I hate how wasteful Wanderer is with space in the drawer windows.

[wawrzon]

yes, the layout capabilities of wanderer have to improve. i for me hate for instance the cropped file names in the lister, the strict raster layout. the overall functionality is somewhat worse than workbench at this time. but i hope it will be fixed. deadwood works already on optimizing decoration.