Spec core with ZXMMC+

[Paradroyd]

I managed to find a really good layout map and cheat sheet. I'll try just putting this up on a second monitor and see how that works. Now that I think about it, I can't imagine that I'm going to do a ton of real programming on it anyway.

[MasterOfGizmo]

The latest release fixes the flickering pixels in the top left screen area. Also f11 now also acts as the nmi button.

And finally the core supports the scandoubler_disable feature. In 15khz the core does not boot reliably and you might have to hit reset a few times. But once it boots its stable. Also the osd does not work but you don't need that with the esxdos anymore, anyway.

[javidoom]

Awesome work with the Spectrum core!!!!

Thanks!!!

I recommend using esxDOS 0.8.6b4 as it solves some keyboard issues with some games.

Miguel Guerreiro is working too in a new version with long filenames, so it's going to be the best esxDOS ever

It has some limitations due to not using the 128k real mode, so some games don't work. But you can solve it loading a z80 before (or after) the game.

You can take an example with the game: PENTACORN QUEST, available here: http://www.mojontwins.com/mojoniaplus/v ... =16&t=1544

If you load it, you'll get a garbled screen, but after a few more tries, the reset shows a 128k menu, loading from there, the game works.

Or, you can use the 128.z80 in the attachment, which enables the 128k mode and load games which doesn't work without 128k mode enabled.

Thanks again for the core update!!

Regards.

[Paradroyd]

I recommend using esxDOS 0.8.6b4 as it solves some keyboard issues with some games.

0.8.5 seems to be the latest version available, at least from the official site.

[javidoom]

Hi.

You can find it in the esxdos official forum.

Regards.

[remowilliams]

Happy that you like it. The spare time of a week was well spent

The Spectrum core with DIVMMC / ESXDOS support is brilliant, thank you!

[javidoom]

I recommend using esxDOS 0.8.6b4 as it solves some keyboard issues with some games.

0.8.5 seems to be the latest version available, at least from the official site.

Hi!

Now I'm at home and here is the link to latest beta (0.8.6b4): http://board.esxdos.org/viewtopic.php?id=5

Regards.

[Paradroyd]

Hi!

Now I'm at home and here is the link to latest beta (0.8.6b4): http://board.esxdos.org/viewtopic.php?id=5

Regards.

Got it. Thanks!

[NML32]

I get a message about RTC driver missing with esxDOS 0.8.6b4. How I wish I had a usb RTC for my Mist.

[MasterOfGizmo]

Ah, yes, the usb rtc. I still have the pcb design and always wanted to have a few built ...

But you'd still need some hw support in the core.

On real divmmc the rtc is also optional. Maybe you can comment the driver loading in some esxdos config file.

[NML32]

If anyone ever decides to make and sell USB RTCs I'll buy one.

[vebxenon]

Hi First of all, thank very much for the MiST Board, and for every core developper or porter Well, I've testing the ZX Spectrum core, and I've found a sound problem on some games, like the new Castlevania or Genesis http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek ... id=0025295, music sounds too bad... Have you tested them? Regards.

PS: Thanks also to javidoom for the 128.z80 file Now I'm able to enjoy some games that I thought they were incompatible.

[Newsdee]

Sometimes modern games work on emulators but not so well on real hardware. I'll try those two on my speccy 2 when I get some time... The We Are Alive demo works identically between the MiST and the original, at least.

[vebxenon]

I've tested Castlevania and Genesis on real hardware. No issues found

Regards,

Salva

[farvardin]

on http://www.mike-stirling.com/retro-fpga ... n-an-fpga/ they talk about this issue: "Cycle accuracy – there is no memory contention and the CPU core doesn’t match the timing of the real Z80. This causes problems with games (and particularly demos) that do high-resolution colour by changing the attribute values at precise times. Multi-colour border effects also suffer."

On some games the beeper music is affected. I also write some 1bit musics and some engines works rather ok, while others are significantly degraded: the music plays lower, and slower, probably because it requires more CPU cycles. You can see an example with Raw Recuit: (original music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl8dAVybwq8). It's a pity because otherwise the sound is great.

[rrmagro]

Hi, everyone.

I have noticed that the Spectrum core has the ability to be compiled to "simulate" other models.

File: spectrum_mist.vhd Line No.: 47

Code: Select all

-- Generic top-level entity for Altera DE1 board
entity spectrum_mist is
generic (
	-- Model to generate
	-- 0 = 48 K
	-- 1 = 128 K
	-- 2 = +2A/+3
	MODEL				:	integer := 1
); 

Can this be done to be dynamically ? Or does these options weren't fully tested?
If they are some kind of beta features then disregard the rest of my post.
i.e.: the default could be the 48K model and on the OSD, it could be changed to another one or selected/saved in some kind of configuration file.

There are several Spectrum (Sinclair/Amstrad/Timex) models, as you guys know, if this core can "simulate" three of those, can other be also added/included?

Just for reference.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/faq/refe ... rdware.htm

Spectrum +2: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek ... id=1000489
Spectrum +2a:http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek ... id=1000490
Spectrum +3e: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/zxplus3e/
Spectrum SE: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/faq/refe ... erence.htm (This one would be awesome )

Timex TC2048/TC2068/TS2068: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/faq/refe ... erence.htm
Sam Coupe: http://sam.speccy.cz/ (This one could be more complicated to implement)

I know that i am asking to much but until today and after all these years i still love my Speccy's.

Regards,
Rui Magro

[vebxenon]

Oh, it would be great to change using the OSD the machine instead of using the 128.Z80 I use now...

Regards,

Salva

[MasterOfGizmo]

The Spectrum core just received some work. The whole setup now runs more stable and e.g. TV/15khz now runs and boots stable. The only functional change: A scanlines option.

[MasterOfGizmo]

User sorgelig just finished porting a new zx spectrum core.

It may look very similar on a first glance. But the new one is cycle exact! Even the colour bars from the shock mega demo work.

You find the binary on github as usual.

Merry christmas!

[xc8]

fantastic! looking forward for compatibility with ESXDOS...

[farvardin]

wow, that's so great! I haven't bought my MiST only for the zx spectrum, but it contributed for it. I was a bit disappointed when I noticed the timing was not very accurate. While I couldn't really see in in games, for beeper music, it was very noticable.

With this new core it seems very faithful to an original spectrum for 1-bit music, I can't hear any difference. I'll probably record a few thing to compare.

Now at least you can download Raw Recruit: http://worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0004043
and compare with a real recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl8dAVybwq8

(the esxdos menu is working fine for me)

Thanks a lot Till and Sorgelig!

[Paradroyd]

User sorgelig just finished porting a new zx spectrum core.

It may look very similar on a first glance. But the new one is cycle exact! Even the colour bars from the shock mega demo work.

You find the binary on github as usual.

Merry christmas!

Works great..thanks!

[oscarbraindead]

Hi all,
thanks for the new core. I've tried it but I can get the tape selector screen... the core boots to the 128K mode. The first time I press F11 the MIST mounts all the devices and returns to the zx spectrum 48 screen. Then, when I press F11 again to show the file selector, just resets to 48K mode again.
If I try previous versions of the core I can get the file selector without problems.
Any idea what I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance.
Best regards

[farvardin]

I think you're not doing anything wrong. I have almost the same behavior: boot in zx 128 mode first (I think you can use csw files there, but I haven't tried this myself), if I type F11, then it boots to zx 48 with esxdos, but for me if I type F11 again, then I can get the file selector and load my .tap.

In the previous core, I sometime got this "reboot" problem when I typed F11 (or it did nothing at all), sometimes I had to load another core, then the zx core again and it worked (Generally the esxdos menu told me there was a load error). You can try to delete the core and copy it again on your sd card.

The ay-3-8910 implementation seems a bit different from the other one. I can't say which one is better, maybe this one, at least the panning seems more balanced. I can't believe it only fits in this file: https://github.com/sorgelig/ZX_Spectrum ... a/ay8910.v

Like the other core, when I try to load a sna converted to tap, it only reboots, but maybe it's related to esxdos (I can load the same .tap on my real spectrum without problem)

[oscarbraindead]

Fixed!
I was using esxdos086-BETA4 but using the v085 it works well!

Thanks!