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Posts Tagged ‘amiga’

Released the latest version of DiagROM v1.3 for Amiga

April 22nd, 2023 No comments

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

  • Well decided to release 1.3 far too many people are still using 1.2.1 so this is now the releaseversion.
  • Read the text “FuturePlans.txt” for more info.
  • three might be updates. as V1.3 please check the date. but it will be bugfixes only.
  • Now default also produces a CD32 image to be burned on 27C800 Proms.
  • Fixed issue with ghostfastmem found on AA3000+ boards (detectes fastmem that isn’t there)
  • Fixed Addresserrorissue while playing testmodule on 68000 machines.
  • Fixed issue with Autoconfig printing forever (actually 65535 times) if there was no cards detected.
  • On RGB test. added white bars at every colorchange to make it more easy to count out what color is shown.
  • RTC test: added a adjustfunction telling how many frames between everytime RTC changes (second) to help adjusting RTC.
  • Added function to constantly monitor one memaddress. This is for dev of new hardware and not to diagnose issues.
  • Fixed addresserror crash on audiotest using 68000/010 CPU
  • Changed memorytestroutines to the new updated.
  • Fixed autoconfig so it would not end in a endless loop if no autoconfigcards was detected.
  • Fixed autoconfig with outside checking from github to handle boards with an illegal configuration better.
  • Simple Audio waveformtest now supports volumechanges and also HOPEFULLY oddbyte-bug in Sinuswaves are fixed
  • Some minor undocumented bugfixes.
  • Now the new memtestroutine actually seems to work “x” is just hardcoded testareas, but the manual option “7” now lets you
  • select what area to test and the depth of check (how many longwords between all tests 1 being every byte checked) (higher=faster test)
  • AGAIN Long pause.. ERASED the memtestroutine I was working on redid it TOTALLY!. available as “x” in memtest menu!
  • New Memtestroutine now should handle when colliding with workareas.
  • Manualtest routine now swapped to the new testroutine. you can now enter selected area to scan AND change blocksize.
  • higher blocksize=more accurate addresstest check.
  • also if you enter wrong order of area to scan it will be handled. 0 byte scanarea will cancel.
  • New experimental memtestroutine in the works. right now only doing a test of HARDCODED 16MB fastmem on A4k/3k
  • Should be much faster, ASWELL as it should handle address-error issues! TEST IT HARD PLEASE!
  • Also contains bug in Zorro handling asking boards to be shut down, issued via Github! (thanx!!)
  • Noticed that CSPPC did not work on DiagROM. This as it seems the board needs time to startup (HEY P5.. handle it with RST??)
  • so doing some waiting and resetmagic if a CSPPC is detected. not it starts OFTEN! (not always, if not. do a reset and it will start)
  • Fixed bug so if no chipmem available at boot, it doesnt try to do a addresserrortest of that area anyway.
  • Fixed scrollbug leaving traces of lowest pixelrow.
  • Added function in Autoconfig mode that lists a summary of detected boards.
  • Added About text.
  • Added support for handling 2 different workmem areas: Chipmem and Fastmem, showing info about it in systeminfo screen.
  • Systeminfo screen if detecting a 060 will show PCR registerbits.
  • If A3000/A4000 motherboard memory or CPU slot memory is found scanning of A1200 CPU Slot memory is disabled, This will hopefully stop
  • machine to crash with a 3640 installed and maprom enabled.
  • Found a interesting behaviour on Amiga 4000. If you have no chipmem, and write something to any chipmemaddress and then
  • read anything from any chipmemadress (not even same as you wrote to) THAT value will be read! so on an A4000 with no chip.
  • the memorydetectroutine would say that it finds a shadowram. also the UDS/LDS test said “ok” even it it impossible could be.
  • so fixed that by doing a write to chipmem with $ffffffff so it will read that if you do not have any chipmem. making the tests more true.
  • A1k Version have not been working for a while due to spaceissues. removed more or less all “not important” tests tomake it fit into the
  • very limited 64k bootrom. so it should work again.
  • Fixed bugs when using a 68000 CPU (010 aswell?) that crashed IRQ/CIA tests and also Extended chipmemtest. (Addresserror etc)
  • Also fixed more information in crashscreen.
  • During Startup, UDS/LDS test was done by writing $ff to diferent places, this could be wrong as no memory can also
  • show up as $ff changed value to $aa to be more “random” if memory is not present.
  • At startup, chipmem is filled with its memoryaddress, while doing this you see a checkered-pattern on screen.
  • After that, it verifies that the address contains that data, while doing this you see a distorded colorpattern on screen.
  • if fail, it will show what memaddress it fails at, memaddress as binary and also what it actually contained (should be its same address)
  • So no more telling ram is ok when thee was shorted/missing addresslines. Now check actually checks ALL memory and not only beginning.
  • Doing Addresserrorchecks on Chipmem AND workarea.. if left mousebutton pressed at poweron.
  • fastmem is chosen ar priority ram, if no fastmem found, chipmem will be used but screen turned off.
  • if addresserror found in chipmem, chipmem will be discarded. will be handled different later
  • New initcode in start. at memfail bits read will be written as green is correct, red if failed.
  • Also during error, a dividertext will be printed every 512k block

Download: DiagoROM v1.3 Stable (259)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

Released the latest version of DiagROM v1.2.1 for Amiga

July 20th, 2020 No comments

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

WOW This is a long time since I updated this. And lets be honest. I have forgot what i have changed.
BUT one thing I just been thinking. I have bumped the versionnumber in the wrong “end”.. so as I am working on a new init-routine. I consider this is the “stable” one.
So I bump the serialnumber to 1.2.1. I have been too busy with hardware so I must confess I haven’t coded so much on DiagROM. I have made some minor bugfixes etc.
I must still warn that if a routine is experimental you cannot really trust the tests.
Anyway in hope for the best in the future. the “daily” will for a while be a little “jumpy” while I get the new init working. This should be useful meanwhile.

Download: DiagoROM v1.2.1 Stable (949)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

Released the latest version of DiagROM v1.2 for Amiga

August 18th, 2019 No comments

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

  • Now Diskdrivetest should work on most machines.
  • Memchecks should now detect non working ram better.
  • Experimental CIA test added that should work on NTSC machines aswell. MIGHT give false results on TOD-B  tests. It will still say that IRQ is needed, this is not true :)
  • Added RGB Test.
  • Usual “bugfixes” pressing left mousebutton when chipmemdetect starts skips serial output and makes startup faster. holding down left mousebutton while doing memscan at start skips memtests. (good if it hangs during scan. known not found bug yet!)
  • Updated to tested values if new CIA test that should be more correct.
  • Also in memoryedit mode (memtest) added pageup/down functions with Q and Z keys.
  • (or Amigastandard shift+cursor keys)  also added official support to execute code from current locaton using the X key. (this is very much not really useful for most people)

Download: DiagoROM v1.2 Stable (754)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

Released the latest version of DiagROM v1.1 for Amiga

October 28th, 2018 No comments

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

  • New memory-detection routine that hopefully finds more memory.
  • A600/1200/4000 IDE detection.
  • Some bugfixes. (look at releasedata for more info)
  • Powerup extras:
    • press left mousebutton at power on, Screen will be disabled and IF there is fastmem present, fastmem will be used instead of chipmem.  Serial console is only option.
    • if you press right mousebutton at poweron. Computer will use the beginning of detected ramblock instead of end.
    • (you can combine both buttons at boot)
  • fire on joystick at power on:
    • Serialport output is disabled. this to make the machine to start with broken Paula.  DiagROM also tries to detect broken paula at start and will disable serial if detected. (this detection is far from 100%)

Download: DiagoROM v1.1 Stable (786)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

Released the latest version of DiagROM v1.0

October 27th, 2017 No comments

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

  • RTC Test improved with OKI Chipset support (but RTC test still is kind of buggy)
  • Remade the autoconfig handling for much better ZorroIII support etc.
  • Possability to turn on/off cache in manual memortedit (this WILL crach your machine on 68000/68010)
  • Added an experimental “no chipmem” screen to try to figure out biterrors with rasterbars. (dark bar=dead bit, light bar=working bit)
  • Added support for Amiga 1000 with a limited version of DiagROM.
  • Parallel and serialporttests using SysTest compatible loopback adapters.
  • Diskdrivetests.
  • And.. some internal changes and stuff I actually forgotten.

Updatehistory:

  • 2017-10-01:
    • Long time since last time:
    • Added tests for Parallel and serialporttesting using SysTest compatible loopbackadapters
  • 2017-07-30:
    • Added possability to run on A1000 as bootstraprom. I have removed moduletesting and gfx test-screemn to save space.
    • Some additional bugfixes.
  • 2017-07-06:
    • Fixed a bug, when setting DTR high I accidentally put Dikdrive motor on!
    • when no chipmem is foundand no fastmem, instead of just flashing a green screen, it now checks memaddr $400 and shows in stripes biterrors. bright color=bit working, dark=bit error. evbery 15 frame it flashes and steps +4 bytes of memaddr to check
  • 2017-06-17:
    • Oh! yes long time. Now DiagROM is opensource avaible at https://github.com/ChuckyGang/DiagROM
    • Totally rewritten Autoconfig, now handles Z2 and Z3 and should be working. if you get stuck in a loop (autoconfig not working) it
    • will halt after 32 “boards”. Also in ManualEdit mode, I have inlcuded a function to turn on/off cache. to debug cacheissues on CPU Cards.
    • BE CAREFUL! this WILL crash if you run it on a 68000/010
    • Also fixed bug of garbage in menus.

Download: DiagoROM v1.0 Stable (970)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

DiagROM Now supports Commodore A1000

July 30th, 2017 No comments

..from the author homepage:

I have updated the DAILY version now and it now supports the A1000 using a limited version of the DiagROM. I had to remove module-tests and test-screen.  but I guess that is not that important.

 Just use the A1kEVEN.bin and A1kODD.bin files and program to 27C256 proms and replace proms on the A1000 and you are ready to go.

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

DiagROM is now OpenSource

April 24th, 2017 No comments

DiagROM is now OpenSource and is avaible at: https://github.com/ChuckyGang/DiagROM

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Released the latest version of DiagROM v0.9

April 16th, 2017 No comments

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

  • A lot of internal changes.
  • But changed keyboardhandling in “Manual Edit” mode, hopefully keyboard works better now.
  • Chipmemdetect at startup does more tests to capture more biterrors.
  • Also added tests if CPU can do odd/eveb reads and writes. Request by Terriblefire.
  • Added a testpicture as GFX Test
  • Added test for RTC Chip, reads both types you have to know what chip is in your machine.
  • Added a experimental Autoconfig support for Zorro II boards and memory, Remember that you can only run this ONCE.
  • Autoconfigcode is based on Terriblefires code with addons by me.
  • Audiotest now includes several notes and waveforms and also a module.

Updatehistory:

  • 2017-04-15: Added Support for OKI Chipset in RTC Test
    • Added (somewhat experimental) support for Autoconfig for Z2 boards.
    • Must say thanx to Terriblefire for autoconfig code. (with some changes by my)
    • Added test at startup to see if CPU can do odd/even byte read and writes
    • Bumped version to V0.9 – Next Stable release
    • Released while being at the Revision demoparty.
  •  2017-02-25: Moved mainmenu alternatives to make space for more maintest-menus. also added some for future use.
    • Started on Others tests/RTC Test for the moment only showing ricoh RTC chip (A4k etc)
    • Removed temprary debugfunction added the 18:th.
  • 2017-02-18: Minor changes. sometimes when exiting a testscreen you got to the mainmanu instead of the submenu. cleaned up now.
    • also added a fakefastmem allocation at the boot so you can run stuff in fakefast by pressing LBM at poweron if needed.
    • TEMPORARY DEBUGFUNCTION: while dumping serialport at beginnning, screen also flickers while doing a serial timeout.
    • this is to figure out if machine still runs to veryfy I can do serialstuff (and detect failures) if paula is missing.
    • will be removed soon as it screws up onscreen colorcodes.
  • 2017-02-15: Added a testpicture, testscreen is moved in menu and will still bug. this will be reworked soon.
  • 2017-02-04: Simple audiotest is now improved, it now plays different waveforms, I have checked the frequencys with my Rigol scope.
    • But 20.6Hz in my headphones sounds weird, maybe should remove it in the test. the only thing not working there now is setting volume.
  • 2017-01-30: In Manual edit: added when using “goto memoryaddress” when pressing x it clears the string totally. Also hopefully fixed keyboardbug making
    • it more or less impossible to use keyboard on some machines.
    • Fixed bug showing strange flickering spritebugs random
    • Changed that in initial chipmemdetecting it checks more combinations of bits, this will make detect slower (due to serial output) but will detect more
    • biterrors.
    • TEMPORARY function: pressing fire/mousebutton in joystickport while poweron will totally disable serialoutput. this is to be able to run with broken
    • Paula. Will look into a better solution. so function will maybe be removed.
    • Added a testmodule, A groupmember will make a chipmodule for me later to have here. Now using the classic “Echoing”
  • 2017-01-06: Long time since last update.  Hollidays etc.  Anyway some minor internal fixes and a basic low-res testscreen added.

Download: DiagoROM v0.9 Stable (1106)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Released the latest version of DiagROM v0.8

October 23rd, 2016 No comments

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Updatehistory:

  • 2016-10-22: Fixed bugs in new Chipmemdetection that made it not detect any chipmem if there was missing/Broken chipmem in the beginning. Added errorhandling in the startprocess, so it can show on serialport if there was a exceptionerror. also will show colorcodes on screen.  done some smaller bigfixes. Will bump versionnumber and this will be the stable version.  It will take a while until next stable version is bumped. Need to do floppy, serial, paralell tests etc before that will happen. but you always have the daily version.
  • 2016-10-12: New Chipmem detection now handles shadowram so it should stop detecting memory instead of giving false 2MB Chip. IF no Chipmem avaible and machine can detect fastmem (NON autoconfig. more or less only A3000/4000 motherboardmem) it will now start using fastmem only. (screen flickers in different colors instead of printing text, nullmodem only) Fixed addresserrorbugs at CIA and joystickport tests on machines with 68000CPU. also should have correct CIA timing on slow machines. IF fastmemshadowram is detected during memorytests, test will exit.  MANUAL test have a option to disable that test.
  • 2016-10-07: LONG time no updates.  Familystuff.  Anyway. decided to do a total redo of initcode especially chipmemdetection. Detection is slower, but progress is printed on serialport so you can see address checked and if failure (in the beginning of the detection)  you will see what it wrote and what is read to help debugging of chipmemproblems. Screen should flicker in green while detecting.        drawback is that some tests (cia and joyport tests) now generates an addresserror. Will have a look of that.

Download: DiagoROM v0.8 Stable (1021)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Vampire 600 V2 HW Accelerator for Commodore Amiga

October 22nd, 2016 No comments
Vampire 600 V2 HW Accelerator for Amiga

The Vampire 600 V2 is the newest and the fastest accelerator available for your Commodore Amiga 600.  There is nothing on the market that can compete with its performance and price. It is intended to be used as an educational tool to allow users to be able to learn programming for the 68K series of CPU’s and see the capability of todays powerful FPGA’s.

This is not the final product as there will be constant impovements to the board and core and new programming instructions are being continually added.

Main Features:

  • 128MB Fastmem RAM.
  • Digital video output (HDMI).
  • SD card for HDD storage.
  • 64 bit core, full 32 bit compatibility.
  • Directly update core from the Amiga without need for external programmer.
  • FPU and 16 bit Audio is planned for future updates.

Gallery of the installation and testing:

Video Vampire A600 V2 Unboxing/Testing (sorry only in Italian language)

source: apollo-accelerators.com kipper2k.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Individual Computers Indivision AGA Mk2 A1200/4000T

The Indivision AGA Mk2 A1200/4000T is the successor to the discontinued Indivision AGA 1200 flicker fixer. As the name suggests, the new version also supports the Amiga 4000T (not the A4000 desktop model, there’s the Indivision AGA Mk2 A4000/CD32 for use with that computer). Other Amiga models are not supported.

The Indivision AGA Mk2 support a DVI-I connector instead of the usual VGA socket. DVI-I provides digital as well as analog signals, so you can use modern TFT displays, older TFT displays with analog input or CRT monitors alike (the latter two with a VGA adapter).

source: vesalia.de jschoenfeld.com

New donations – Spectrum +2 Boxed / Joy CD32 / C2N old model

January 13th, 2012 No comments

Today a friend has donated to me some nice things. Thanks Damiano (Manosoft).

Things that have been donated:

  • Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 Boxed.
  • Commodore CD32 Joypad Brand new.
  • VIC-20 Expansion Cartridge.
  • Commodore C2N old model.
  • Joystick Microswitch – The Bug from Cheetah.

New donations – A1200 + Blizzard 1260/80mhz – Scsi Module – 4Mb

November 22nd, 2011 No comments

Today a friend has donated to me some nice things. Thanks Igor.

Things that have been donated:

  • Amiga 1200 in nice cosmetic condition.
  • Amiga 1200 Powersupply.
  • Amiga Mouse (never used)
  • Phase5 Blizzard 1260 / 80Mhz with SCSI Module and 4Mb of Ram.
  • Commodore Amiga Video cable.

About the Amiga:

The A1200 offers a number of advantages over earlier budget Amiga models. Specifically, it is a 32-bit design, the 68EC020 microprocessor is faster than the 68000 and has 2 MB of RAM as standard.

The AGA chipset used in the A1200 is a significant improvement. AGA increases the color palette from 4096 colors to 16.8 million colors with up to 256 on-screen colors and an improved HAM mode allowing 262,144 on-screen colors. The graphics hardware also features improved sprite capacity and faster graphics performance. Additionally, compared to the A600 the A1200 was considered to offer greater expansion possibilities.

About the Blizzard 1260:

The Phase5 Blizzard 1260 is an accelerator which plugs into the trapdoor slot of the A1200. An optional SCSI-II controller is also available for this board. Includes a battery backed up clock. The card was also manufactured by DCE when Phase 5 went bust.

source: wikipedia amiga-hardware

Amiga 2000 REV4.5 Super Denise (8373R4) Upgrade

January 27th, 2011 No comments

I continue to upgrade my Amiga 2000 PAL REV 4.5. After the upgrade of the chip Fat Agnus and the Kickstart/4MB, today i have replaced the Denise chip with a new one. The Super Denise chip is capable of still higher resolutions and bit depths.

Individual Computers: Amiga 600 /1200 Turbo cards

November 18th, 2010 No comments

Individual computers has been working on a new turbo cards for the Amiga 600 and 1200. If you wish to purchase the turbo cards visit the official resellers Vesalia.

Amiga 1200 features: Amiga 600 features:
  • CPU 68EC030 @ 28 MHz.
  • 64 MB RAM.
  • MapRom function.
  • RTC optional.
  • CPU 68030 @ 25 MHz.
  • 32 MB RAM.
  • MapRom function.
  • Sophisticated mechanical mounting.

source: vesalia.de

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today