Imagine this with our CPCs!?

[Iridium+]

Now this I can't wait for and see it implemented with our CPCs! I've really been wanting and dreaming about something like this for some time. I even started to try and make one myself - but gave up

A video card for the CPC called The Video Beast!:

The Video Beast Monster

I can't wait! 

[Gryzor]

Well that'll be fun, but it won't be a CPC as discussed many times before... 

[XeNoMoRPH]

One unit for me , pole 

[Bryce]

That much silicon on the board and it can't even do standard HD??? They're not trying hard enough.

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

Well, it can probably run Doom though. 

[abalore]

Theoretically you can wire the CPC keyboard to a PS5 and play PS5 games, but it's still not a CPC

[GUNHED]

Well that'll be fun, but it won't be a CPC as discussed many times before...

No, it's a Video card only. 
Question is; Will it work with CPC's 16 bit I/O?

[Prodatron]

Does it have a blitter for the bitmap part?
If not it looks very similiar to the "new" Spectrum Next video modes: nice for sprites, but the bitmap layer would be slow and static (and badly addressed).

Btw the GFX9000 (V9990) has much better specs in most cases and is 30 years old.

[Anthony Flack]

I have no interest in attaching something like this to my CPC.

I might have an interest in attaching something like this to a Z80 and some RAM/ROM and a JAMMA interface and writing a game for an 8-bit arcade board. That would be fun. 

[GUNHED]

Does it have a blitter for the bitmap part?
If not it looks very similiar to the "new" Spectrum Next video modes: nice for sprites, but the bitmap layer would be slow and static (and badly addressed).

Btw the GFX9000 (V9990) has much better specs in most cases and is 30 years old.

The VDP9990 chip is not produced any longer. Forum members had serious problems to order it (see it's thread!). It's sadly the same like with T-Rex (not an grafic card, but was cool in it's time) for example.

[Prodatron]

Currently there is a new batch available:

https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/technobytes-v9990-new-batch/msg230541/#msg230541
https://theretrohacker.com/product/trh9000-for-msx-the-open-source-yamaha-v9990-video-card/

[zhulien]

V9990 is good but an alternative that is easier to get would be better

[HAL6128]

I don't think that another graphic processor will be easier to program (as the V9990), ...if there isn't at least some code in hardware implemented, e.g. the ICs playing mp3 just with one command and without calculating all the stuff by the CPU itself, the board will do it.
But what about a graphic card: bring it into a certain configuration, note the specifications, polling states, transfer data, do calculations for movements and scrolling, handle sprites etc.
You still need to communicate via INs/OUTs, shift lot of data to and fro, as it is with all other extension boards.
We would need an experienced programmer who develops an environment or at least RSX commands for Basic. Hardware is enough available. Look e.g. at the PlayCity module: 6 channels of great AY magic sound. It's a pity for that great extension to less people develop music / software for it.

[abalore]

I have no interest in attaching something like this to my CPC.

I might have an interest in attaching something like this to a Z80 and some RAM/ROM and a JAMMA interface and writing a game for an 8-bit arcade board. That would be fun.

Exactly. What makes a CPC be a CPC is the Gate Array, without the Gate Array it's just a generic Z80 system.

[zhulien]

I'd love one of these for CPC - even if it is just to support it since someone else rejects it.

Actually I think the more options for CPC users, the better.  For myself the CPC has a couple of major deficiencies and video output is the only one I can think of that remains unresolved fully - the v9990 is okay... but not widely available - althought there are some available for MSX again if you can get hold of an AMSDAP.

I could be anal and say I don't want an m4 card because what makes a CPC be a CPC is no internet and no sdcard.  but... in my view, they improve what I want out of my CPC, and an m4 card is a must have for 'every' CPC owner.  I would likely say similar for every CPC programmer with regard to a video card - unless you don't like programming on your CPC - or are ok with a sub-perfect image when you are programming...  or... you don't actually program *on* your CPC.

Every CPC user - unless you absolutely cannot afford it...  and I cannot understand why as the total are likely cheaper than your mobile phone.   Buy an mx4, an m4 card, a memory expansion (at least 512kb), and save for a video card (which doesn't yet exist).  There are some other excellent cards too but I think every CPC should be upgraded to those stated as a minimum.

[Anthony Flack]

I do think with modern upgrades you can take it to a point where it isn't really a CPC anymore, and it's only still using the Z80 out of pity.

There's no practical reason to use a CPC for anything now, and so wrestling with its limitations become part of the appeal for me. But it's not my business to tell anybody else what they should do. I guess a programmable retro arcade board just appeals to me more than attaching one of these to one of my vintage computers.