Minimig - I'd consider taking the plunge

[WeiXing3D]

Now that the Minimig and the arm controller are available again, I need help in identifying the best configuration possible. So far this is what I've found available:

- Minimig 4 MB with 2GB SD card
- Arm controller
- Clear case
- US PSU
- Minimig AC adaptor

Note: I'd like to be able to use an external hard disk drive and a USB hub, is this even possible with the Minimig? and if yes, what do I need to make them work?

So my question is what else do I need to order to get a 100% functional system, ready to plug and play. Please keep in mind that I'm not a coder so I'd need a fully configured system. So again, what do I need to order when buying? Thanks

[gaula92]

You need what you mentioned, but I don't get this part:
-Minimig AC Adaptor
-US PSU
It's one or the other I think...

You can try contacting TheDaddy to see if he can sell you a Minimig case. He makes the most awesome cases I've ever seen. That clear case you mention is ugly to me.
His page is here, but remember you'll never want anything but his cases once you see them.
http://www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html

You will also like to get a 50HZ-compatible VGA monitor. Most old CRTs will do, and most LCDs will do, too, but PLEASE test that feature (with the Minimig itself) before buying one. I recommed you to go to a second hand store (where there are plenty cheap 4:3 LCDs) with the Minimig and asking to test it before you buy. REMEMBER, NO 50HZ, NO FUN!!! (No PAL demos, no PAL games... ouch!!!)

You will also need the latest core with fixed audio. It's here:
http://minimig.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=554
(First post by fellow boing4000.)

When you're ready, contact me at redwindwanderer at gmail dot com and we will discuss how to send you my Minimig HDFs so you can plug and start drooling (if you dare to use AmigaDOS directly since I don't use Workbench at all to get maximum available memory. It's just like a small Unix system, very easy to use).

[barney]

I would like to get a Minimig one day but I am totally confused on how to set it up.  Does one have to install Workbench or is software on the motherboard (ROM)?  If so, how is it installed?  Is WHDLoad used to play games on the Minimig?

[Ral-Clan]

I'd consider buying a Minimig too, but as far as I know you cannot yet attach any type of hard-drive (or other mass storage device to it).  There's only the SD card which can act like a floppy (or hold many floppy images).

As it is, (as far as I understand), the Minimig just does a pretty good job of emulating an ECS Amiga 500, but not much beyond that.

I've seen demos of an AGA Minimig - essentially a MiniMig A1200, but I don't think that's been released or perfected.

Too bad, because I certainly WOULD buy a Minimig if it had AGA, real or virtual hard drive support, RTG graphics support, more RAM and a 68030 or 040 emulated CPU.  Essentially a "big box" Amiga Minimig (A3000/A4000).

I was very impressed by the Minimig when it first came out (what, like five years ago now), and understood that a basic A500 Minimig was a great achievment, but I thought we'd be at the A4000 level with it now.

[gaula92]

@ral-clan and the others:

The minimig does support hard drive files on the SDD. I have hundreds and hundreds of Whdload games running on it! And they load fast, really fast.

Setting up the system is pretty easy. You have two options:
1)You take an HDF ready to use from someone else, loaded with the OS and games.
2)You take your time and create a blank HDF, then you install WB from ADFs on it, then Whdload, then get ALL the games you want from whdownload.com and start playing.

C'mon guys, it can't get any better / easier! Who needs an aging A600 with a clanky HD?
Just get a 4MB Minimig and you'll NEVER look back for OCS/ECS games and programs, guaranteed.
Oh, and since it's a hardware implementation, there's no input delay or strange refresh rate problems like you would get in a lame WinUAE setup: you get exact, PAL 50Hz image with perfectly smooth scroll in games and demos.

NOTE: I don't sell them or have any relation to people selling them, but I enjoy the Minimig so much I consider people should stop throwing away money on aging hardware and come to the world of FPGA Amigas (wich is the classic Amiga hardware future anyway).

[mongo]

I'd consider buying a Minimig too, but as far as I know you cannot yet attach any type of hard-drive (or other mass storage device to it).  There's only the SD card which can act like a floppy (or hold many floppy images).

The SD card can also hold a hard disk image file.

As it is, (as far as I understand), the Minimig just does a pretty good job of emulating an ECS Amiga 500, but not much beyond that.

I've seen demos of an AGA Minimig - essentially a MiniMig A1200, but I don't think that's been released or perfected.

Too bad, because I certainly WOULD buy a Minimig if it had AGA, real or virtual hard drive support, RTG graphics support, more RAM and a 68030 or 040 emulated CPU.  Essentially a "big box" Amiga Minimig (A3000/A4000).

I was very impressed by the Minimig when it first came out (what, like five years ago now), and understood that a basic A500 Minimig was a great achievment, but I thought we'd be at the A4000 level with it now.

The limitations of the Minimig are due to the board design and limited size of the FPGA. The FPGAArcade Replay board will have all of the features you want and more.

[mikej]

And there are 100 Replay boards arriving early Feb...
/MikeJ

[gaula92]

Of course, when I say Minimig I include the Replay Board or FPGAArcade, wich I already have here, waiting for a more compatible core (or other cores like Atari 800 or ST!).
Let's put it this way: Minimig v1.1 is the present. A super-Amiga500 on steroids with RAM for Whaload, a FAST cpu, and perfect compatibility with OCS/ECS 68000 software.
FPGAArcade is the future.

I would never put a single euro in a cellphone  or smartphone, a PS3/Xbox video console or whatever, but for Minimig V1.1 board and FPGAArcade, I'd get both.

[WeiXing3D]

And where can I buy the FPGAArcade Replay from?

[mikej]

Hopefully from a number of your usual suspects soon one stock is in place.
http://www.fpgaarcade.com will be updated and they will also be available directly from the site.

I have a list of everybody so far who has expressed interest, if you mail me I can stick you in the list for the fist 130 or so I have.
Email in website above.
/MikeJ

[Ral-Clan]

The FPGAArcade Replay board will have all of the features you want and more.

But the Amiga core to make this device the equivalent of an A3000 or A4000 is not ready yet?  Correct?

If it was ready I would most likely buy it.  I waited for years for a Natami with money in hand, but that never materialized.

I never believe any Amiga announcement until I see the hardware being demonstrated by a satisfied customer (not developer showing pre-release hardware) on YouTube.

Also, can all these Amiga FPGA solutions use modern VGA monitors?

[mikej]

But the Amiga core to make this device the equivalent of an A3000 or A4000 is not ready yet?  Correct?

If it was ready I would most likely buy it.  I waited for years for a Natami with money in hand, but that never materialized.

I never believe any Amiga announcement until I see the hardware being demonstrated by a satisfied customer (not developer showing pre-release hardware) on YouTube.

Also, can all these Amiga FPGA solutions use modern VGA monitors?

The firmware is coming together. Hold off if you want something solid until the bugs are squashed.

The Replay board can drive VGA / DVI / HDMI but the monitor must be able to cope with the H and V frequencies the core is generating.
/MikeJ

[Ral-Clan]

The Replay board can drive VGA / DVI / HDMI but the monitor must be able to cope with the H and V frequencies the core is generating.
/MikeJ

So does that mean that if the screenmode used is, for instance, NTSC, the video output would be 15KHz and require a monitor that supports it - or would this device automatically scan-double 15KHz modes to 31KHz so that one would not need to hunt down old / hard to find monitors that supported low scan-rates?

[Hattig]

And there are 100 Replay boards arriving early Feb...
/MikeJ

Surely they're all bagsied already :-)

[barney]

THanks everybody for the info on how to configure the Minimig.  I am still a little confused though.  Exactly what is "HDF".  Do you actually install workbench from the MInimig or do you prepare the SD Card on a separate machine (PC??).  

This may sound crazy but is it possible to pay and have sombody completely set up WB, install WHDLoad and various other sofware on an SD CArd?  I have a licensed copy of WHDLoad, so I could install my own key.  Thanks.