Pocket (C.H.I.P.) CPC

[LambdaMikel]

What options are there for a pocket CPC emulator.
I mean,

https://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G152875062626
comes to mind, and I also have a PSP and an Android-based Game player that are able to emulate the CPC.
Even though the emulators are pretty good, I think the PSP is from a technology point of view pretty obsolete by now, and I don't like Android-based emulators (because of Android).

I see there is a recent "upvote" to bring a CPC emulator for Odroid GO:

https://forum.odroid.com/viewtopic.php?f=158&t=31642
I'd like that.

Wondering what other options are there? Raspberry Pi 3b + (needs all the battery and TFT and buttons and.... and PiZero is not powerful enough)

I should add - ideally, that device should also be able to emulate other home computers, C64, Atari 800, BBC Micro, and Amiga (MSX and Speccy - don't care  )

And then... there is https://www.instructables.com/id/Retro-Arcade-Gaming-on-PocketCHIP/

Anybody any experiences / recommendations?

[LambdaMikel]

https://bbs.nextthing.co/t/building-retroarch-and-cores-from-scratch-on-pocket-c-h-i-p/8412

[LambdaMikel]

http://www.noodlepi.com/store

[LambdaMikel]

https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/

[rpalmer]

LambdaMikel,Most would probably try Raspberry Pi with WinAPE like emulator under linux installation.
This type of setup have been done for C64, ZX Spectrum, Gameboy, SNES and no doubt many others.
rpalmer

[keith56]

https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/

That's by the openpandora team isn't it... be aware that the Pandora was vaporware for years, and when it finally came out, the pre-orders were not being delivered when new customers were (because they couldnt make the device for the money they thought they could)

If money is no object then what about:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GPD-Aluminum-X7-Z8750-Portable-Touchscreen/dp/B0761SV1PB/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1537097991&sr=8-7&keywords=gpd
or
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEPTEMBER-Update-GPD-WIN-LPDDR3-1866RAM/dp/B07CJ2N8BC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1537097991&sr=8-5&keywords=gpd

[dionisisg]

i would go for an old netbook with the emulator of your choice. Hassle free + good portability, also these things sell for next to nothing these days.

[dionisisg]

this would be great but are ridiculously expensive when you find one expect no less than 300$

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VZ5GDU?tag=httpwwwudonzo-20

there is also the older model oqo 01+ but also very pricey

[LambdaMikel]

That's by the openpandora team isn't it... be aware that the Pandora was vaporware for years, and when it finally came out, the pre-orders were not being delivered when new customers were (because they couldnt make the device for the money they thought they could)

If money is no object then what about:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GPD-Aluminum-X7-Z8750-Portable-Touchscreen/dp/B0761SV1PB/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1537097991&sr=8-7&keywords=gpd
or
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEPTEMBER-Update-GPD-WIN-LPDDR3-1866RAM/dp/B07CJ2N8BC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1537097991&sr=8-5&keywords=gpd

These are very nice but indeed a bit too pricey. Same with the pyra.
thanks  for pointing out that the Pandora was vaporware.


I have an eeepc 900a and it is fine for most emulators but
Not fast enough for uae Amiga.

[pelrun]

Pandora wasn't vapourware. It existed, but delivering hardware at scale is *hard* and they got screwed over massively a few times (for instance the company subcontracted to develop the joysticks took the money and ran.)


They did eventually deliver, although getting through the entire preorder list took years and they ended up funding a lot of it out of their own pocket. A friend of mine got one, but I had to drop out and get a refund eventually.

[keith56]

Pandora wasn't vapourware. It existed, but delivering hardware at scale is *hard* and they got screwed over massively a few times (for instance the company subcontracted to develop the joysticks took the money and ran.)

They did eventually deliver, although getting through the entire preorder list took years and they ended up funding a lot of it out of their own pocket. A friend of mine got one, but I had to drop out and get a refund eventually.

I'm not denying they eventually delivered, but it was years late based on their original shipping claims when they took pre-orders, by which time their hardware spec was below an average mobile phone... 
I actually ordered one before I came to Japan... at that time the website said 'In stock for immediate shipping' - as this was after the product was finished.
A week later I checked the forums... and guess what, their supplier had shipped faulty components, and they had no shippable stock... I cancelled the order a month later after they failed to deliver.

It's totally understandable that a small run project will be late or have problems, but if you've no stock to ship, don't pretend you have it... and don't claim your project will be complete in months when you're taking pre-orders, if you have no realistic chance of doing so.

[LambdaMikel]

I am wondering if one of these (MiST) FPGA computers could be used to implement a pocket CPC...

In the meantime, I am trying to run caprice32 on my Pocket CHIP (finally found a use case for it!)
Willl post the results.

[dionisisg]

IMHO this is the best option for portable emulators but damn its expensive!


https://www.ebay.com/itm/GPD-WIN-5-5-4GB-64GB-Handheld-Windows-10-Gamepad-x7-Z8700-TouchScreen/113253771838?hash=item1a5e736a3e:g:jMQAAOSw4QdbnmpP

[Bryce]

How about an Asus EEEEEEEEEPC? Would any emulator run decently on these? I have a 901 somewhere here with the original Linux installed, maybe I'll try installing an emulator when I have time.

Bryce.

[keith56]

Are we not counting the DS?
I have an original Nintendo DS, and it emulates a CPC just fine for most purposes
a few games won't run, but the speed is fine, and of course it has a touch keyboard!

[dionisisg]

How about an Asus EEEEEEEEEPC? Would any emulator run decently on these? I have a 901 somewhere here with the original Linux installed, maybe I'll try installing an emulator when I have time.

Bryce.

i believe any netbook is more than enough to emulate any 8 bit machine, some later amigas might be a bit heavy for them. The downside on the netbook format is the 7" inch display, it is just too big for real portability, that is why i suggested a UMPC (most are 5 - 6 inches with slidable keyboard) above but the price for a decent one is a bit 

[genesis8]

I am wondering if one of these (MiST) FPGA computers could be used to implement a pocket CPC...

In the meantime, I am trying to run caprice32 on my Pocket CHIP (finally found a use case for it!)
Willl post the results.

Waiting for an Amstrad CPC firmware for my Odroid Go !
Using Pocket CHIP keyboard doesnt seem to be easy to play CPC games without a joystick. And the company selling them isnt any more since march 2018.
PS Vita can use the PSP Amstrad CPC emulator too, and of course the Nintendo DS as stated by Keith56 but DS resolution is inferior to CPC, so a little bit compressed.

[LambdaMikel]

Waiting for an Amstrad CPC firmware for my Odroid Go !
Using Pocket CHIP keyboard doesnt seem to be easy to play CPC games without a joystick. And the company selling them isnt any more since march 2018.
PS Vita can use the PSP Amstrad CPC emulator too, and of course the Nintendo DS as stated by Keith56 but DS resolution is inferior to CPC, so a little bit compressed.

Let us know when you have it and how it goes! Very curious about this one


I have PocketChip setup with caprice32 now... I will make a little video about it.
It works... even though playing is more fun with external keyboard and joystick of course.

I hava a Play Station Portable and the CPC Emulator is fine, but Amiga is too slow.

@Bryce, you forgot a couple of EEEEE's!!  I guess it depends on the EEEPc... I have the 900a with Ubuntu, and caprice32 is doing fine. But UAE too slow as well. Some other 8bitters are also dropping frames there. But mostly ok.

[LambdaMikel]

Fruity Frank 

[LambdaMikel]

EEEPc 900a + Ubuntu + Caprice32 - not really pocket....

[rpalmer]

lambdamikel,
I too have an ASUS EEE901 PC with Win XP and WinAPE.
rpalmer

[Bryce]

I was hoping to change my EeePC901 to XP, but I can't find the proper image. Standard XP doesn't work and I need the French version as the device is french, so it's "stuck" with a very dated Linux until I can do something about it.

Bryce.

[LambdaMikel]

I use to have Win XP on the 900a, but I switched to Ubuntu 14.04 many years ago... and updated yesterday after a long time.
Captrice32 is running smootly and also joystick support works well.

[Bryce]

I'll give that (Caprice 32) a go.

Bryce.

[LambdaMikel]

Caprice32 is perfect on the 900a.

However, I can't recommend it on the Pocket C.H.I.P.It is the sound emulation:

https://bbs.nextthing.co/t/sound-issue-alsa-underrun-error-message/5367
The problem with these PCM buffer underuns. When a PCM underun occurs, the whole emulations stalls and stutters, making is a non-enjoyable experience.None of the "fixes" suggested online work, atually.
I still want to try Arnold, but currently can't get it to compile on CHIP.

So, Caprice is working on CHIP, but not smoothly enough. Seems CHIP is not fast enough. And you don't want to reduce the CPC speed to 75 %. (Even though that fixes the underruns)