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New PCW FPGA hardware emulator

Started by steddyman, 16:23, 05 July 20

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funkheld

#25

yes, thanks for the info.



the fpga is not an emulator   :)

greeting

steddyman

#26
My apologies.  I should have posted that I released version 2 of the fpga core for PCW and it includes all the following:


* Turbo support to 32Mhz
* Expanded memory support to a maximum of 2MB
* 3" and 3.5" disk support
* Dual disk drives
* PCW 8xxx and PCW9xxx model support
* All hardware Joysticks and Mice supported
* 4 colour mode support


More details here: https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Amstrad-PCW_MiSTer



Features video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-IoDr81xjE

JohnElliott

I'm not sure you've got the model numbers right.

8256 / 8512: Dot-matrix PCWs with (usually) 180k boot drives. Boot sector checksum is 0FFh.
9256 / 10: Dot-matrix PCWs with 720k boot drives. Boot sector checksum is 0FFh.
9512 / 9512+: Daisywheel PCWs with 720k boot drives. Boot sector checksum is 01h.

So I suspect "9256 / 9512+" doesn't actually describe what it's doing.

steddyman

Hi John


Thanks for the response.  Yes, you are correct that the names are misleading.


I only have two modes:
8256/8512 = A: 180K 3", B: 720K 3" (but can read 180K disks) - Checksum 0xFF
9256/9512 = A: 720K 3.5", B: 720K 3.5" - Checksum 0x01


I did struggle on exactly how to classify those two modes in the menu.  Showing the Checksum and the drive types would probably confuse non-hardcore Amstrad PCW users.


I have the disk configuration I do in 8256 mode because it is incredibly convenient.  You can leave a CPM disk in A: then just iterate through the library just swapping drive B:


Any ideas on a better naming convention given the above information?

JohnElliott

I'd say "9512 / 9512+" for the configuration with checksum=1.

steddyman

Ok, thanks for the feedback John


I'll change that now.  I'm working on a fix for the SymbOS issue.


HAL6128

Just a short question: is it possible to emulate a harddisc for the CP/M OS over the MISTcore / -hardware?
...proudly supported Schnapps Demo, Pentomino and NQ-Music-Disc with GFX

RockRiver

Quote from: steddyman on 23:13, 23 October 204 colour mode support
PCW with Audio AY (dk'Tronics) and Habisoft's ColorIn board support

GREAT !! enhanced PCW
" PCW plus " " PCW+ "

TynH

This sounds pretty awesome, maybe something for uhmm Xmas?
Are there any limitations compared to real hardware?

RockRiver

#34
Quote from: TynH on 13:27, 23 June 21
... limitations compared to real hardware?
no HDD ; no real FDD (USB floppy drive doesn't support non MS-DOS format) ... only "virtual" DSKs...
and core autor said that SymbOS (cause ms-dos fat12 dsk? ) did not work.


[but colour & audio on PCW...  Habisoft guilty!!  :P   
It's one of my wet dreams...  :o  it's "missing link" Arnold Number Two...] if NeptUno core port not come, I'll buy a MISTer too.
I'm working nowadays in new 4 colour palettes for PCW games

RockRiver

hi! Rampa developer ports PCW Mister Core to NeptUNO fpga board.
8)
maybe in a future ports to others cheaper fpga boards: Sidi, Sidi64 ...

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