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Posts Tagged ‘hardware’

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 (972)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Multi-Cartridge Interton VC4000 Extension (Adapter)

October 7th, 2017 No comments
Multi-Cartridge Interton VC4000 Extension

Very nice adapter designed by Rolo that allows you to use the Rolo Multi-Cartridge also on the Interton VC 4000 console.

Gallery:

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

Dragon32/Coco2 Multi-Cartridge with Extensions (Odyssey 2/Vectrex)

September 6th, 2017 3 comments
Dragon32-Coco2 Multi-Cartridge with Extensions (VideoPac-Vectrex)

The Multi-cart by Rolo was designed to to hold a variety of Dragon 32-64/CoCo 2 rom cartridge based programs, which are running directly from the eprom at address range $c000 to $ff00.

The cart holds up to 64 8k-roms. It can play roms with a size of 1k to 16k. You simply select a memory slot from 00 to 63, press RESET on your Dragon, and the program launches.

This enables you, to use your Dragon simply without further hardware setup: no cables, no drives, no extra PSUs, no controller-carts.

The Dragon/CoCo 2 Multi-cartridge now can also be used for other systems.

Currently there are three Extension Cartridges (adapters) available:

  • VECTREX.
  • Odyssey 2/PHILIPS G7000/G7200/G7400.
  • INTERTON ELECTRONIC VC 4000.

A compilation of rom-files for all four systems can be burned on a single eprom (27C4001), adding versatility to the device.

Gallery:

source: archive.worldofdragon.org atariage.com

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

SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7e released

May 7th, 2017 1 comment

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • Fix critical DAC timing quirk causing audio distortion with MSU1.
  • Fix clock glitch on SD card access leading to audio/video distortion with MSU1 in rare cases.
  • Properly map SRAM to banks f0-ff instead of f0-fd in Mode 20 (“LoROM”) memory map.
  • Add support for headered bsxbios.bin
  • Slight SD Card read performance optimization for MSU1 (try and avoid unaligned reads)
  • Change initial SRAM fill value (by devinacker)
    • Fixes Ken Griffey Jr., Ou-chan, possibly other games that handle checksums badly.
  • Always start game on PPU2 field 0
    • Theoretical compatibility improvement.

Download:

source: sd2snes.de

Categories: Firmware, 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 (1107)

source: diagrom.com

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

EverDrive N8 NES OS Update v14 released

October 29th, 2016 No comments

It was released a new OS Update for the EverDrive N8 NES Flash Cartridge (Nintendo NES) by Krikzz. The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • Fixed MMC4 (glitches in Fire Emblem)
  • New mappers support. 31, 137, 138, 139, 141, 147, 168
  • Removed “audio mix vol” option. Now it always in “Hi” state.
  • Removed “Mapper info” menu due the lack of memory space.
  • Minor bugfix.

Download: -EverDrive N8 NES OS Update v14 (1292)

source: krikzz.com

Categories: Firmware, 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

Assembly and Replacement of the old DualSID with the MixSID

October 9th, 2016 No comments
Assembly and Replacement of the old DualSID with the MixSID

Assembly and Replacement of the old DualSID with the MixSID.

Unlike the DualSID i had to replace the two electrolytic capacitors (see picture) because the PCB of the MixSID is much more big and the two capacitors hinders the right installation of the PCB in the SID socket.

For the technical specifications of MixSID go here

Gallery:

source: henning-bekel.de

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7d released

October 8th, 2016 No comments

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • Reworked the in-game hook code again, squeezing out a couple more CPU cycles – compatibility improved further
  • BS-X: new bsx page file by LuigiBlood!
    • contains a proper channel map, notably fixes Fuurai no Shiren: Surara o
    • sukue and most likely more games
    • enables a great number of town features
  • BS-X: better detection for script-type ROMs (e.g. various magazines)
  • Cx4 SKIP instruction timing sped up a bit. Core felt a bit too slow. (this is a makeshift “fix” until I implement the proper Cx4 instruction timing I recently figured out)
  • Fixes:
    • fixed occasional black screen after soft reset (L+R+Select+Start)
    • in-game hook memory area visibility quirks fixed in various situations, notably fixes BS Kirby no Omochabako: Pinball
    • BS-X: fix PSRAM corruption on SNES WRAM writes, fixes a number of games, notably BS Kirby no Omochabako: Pinball (tough one)
    • PPU2 H/V count odd/even read flag is reset on ROM load, this fixes games that depend on it when run after games that leave it in a dirty state – notably audio glitches and freezes in Super Punch-Out when run after Fuurai no Shiren.
    • SPC Player: Fixed a long-standing transfer corruption bug that occurred because the original bulk transfer routine didn’t account for CPU stalls by HDMA (which is abundant in the sd2snes menu). This fixes occasionally missing instruments, corrupted samples etc.
    • fixed an occasional deadlock on bootup where the menu would hang at the “Loading…” screen.
    • fixed hard freeze when selecting a file immediately after disabling the “Hide file extensions” option
    • fixed persistent hard freeze in recent games list handling when running games with long path names (> ~120 characters)
    • revert DAC I2S timing to pre-v0.1.7c behaviour, hopefully reducing audio glitches for sd2snes Rev.G units
    • fixed corrupted file list display after playing an SPC file with a scrolled file name
  • Cosmetic changes:
    • “Loading” window is replaced by status bar notification to be less
    • disruptive with very short load times
    • configuration settings no longer have the wrong color when changed

Download:

source: sd2snes.de

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7c released

August 17th, 2016 No comments

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • major overhaul of the in-game hook code, with more help from the FPGA, to significantly reduce CPU footprint. This improves hook compatibility with a variety of games.
  • in-game hook: avoid disruption of manual controller reads (fixes controls in Super Star Wars games)
  • new option: “Hide file extensions” (effective after next directory change)
  • do not silently fail to load saved games when the sd2snes/saves folder does not exist (create the folder instead)
  • do not silently fail to load/save cheat files when the sd2snes/cheats folder does not exist (create the folder instead)
  • Cx4 core now runs at exactly 20Mhz
  • fixes:
    • MSU1: avoid missed control register status changes on rapid rewrites (fixes FF3 Dancing Mad, Zelda FMV missing audio)
    • fix auto region patch timing (hopefully)
    • fix DSP1 header detection (fixes Ballz 3D JPN)
    • add reset hook to boot games on start of frame only (fixes Boogerman PAL)
    • clear entire SPC700 RAM (do not spare IPL area) – fixes echo artifacts in many games
  • minor cosmetic changes:
    • resize SPC player loading window
    • prevent flickering letters on System Information screen

Download:

source: sd2snes.de

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

MixSID – flexible stereo SID board with integrated channel mixer

August 4th, 2016 No comments

The MixSID is a stereo SID board for the C64 that can be used with any combination of SID models on a wide range of C64 mainboards.

Features include an integrated stereo channel mixer, pragmatic stereo addressing scheme, flexible handling of io areas, onboard audio input, output and digiboost circuits, dedicated stereo output, full paddle compatibility and versatile digital control.

source: henning-bekel.de

Categories: Hardware, News & Rumors, Today

SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7b released

April 27th, 2016 No comments

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

  • SD2Snes folder is always hidden again.
  • Fixes:
    • Fix garbled time on initial clock setting (new unit or battery replacement)
    • Fix BS-X not booting/booting incorrectly after soft reset.
    • Fix OBC1 being always disabled.
    • Fix firmware crash when saving after using the serial command line.

Download: SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7b (909)

source: sd2snes.de

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today