Are members here interested in having a Mega65 core on the MiSTer platform?
Is somebody interested in porting the Mega65 to the MiSTer platform?
Alexey Melnikov (sorgelig)?
For those who don‘t know what Mega65 is, look here www.Mega65.org
The successor of the C64 was in development in 1989/90, but never finished.
The Mega65 project is doing exactly that. They took C65 prototypes, analysed them, and finished the C65 on an FPGA system.
Result is the Mega65, that shall be sold maybe next year to interested people.
100 prototypes/developer systems are sold already and will be shipped until end of this year.
https://shop.trenz-electronic.de/en/303 ... t-computer
Maybe it is an idea to port the Mega65 to the MiSTet platform?
This would bring a bigger user/developer base to the Mega65.
The main Mega65 core developer likes the idea that Mega65 gets ported to the MiSTer platform.
He would give full support for such a project.
It‘s far beyond my sklills to do that on my own.
It‘s only that I‘d like the idea to have a Mega65 core on the MiSTer platform.
BTW, the Mega65 is not a cheap system. Estimations go to >750€ or more per system.
Have a look here:
https://www.forum64.de/index.php?thread ... ost1582694
Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
-
tontonkaloun
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 7:38 pm
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
That would be great.
I wanted to buy this mega65, but found it expensive. I look forward to the public version.
I wanted to buy this mega65, but found it expensive. I look forward to the public version.
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
Until now this is only an idea, nothing more.
An I don‘t have the skills to port the Mega65 core to the MiSTer platform.
Until now I have found out that the Mega65 main core developer (Paul Gardner-Stephen) also likes the idea.
He is willing to give support for such a project.
But he has no time to do this port on his own.
And I want to find out, are there people here interested to have this Mega65 core on the MiSTer platform.
Until now many people read my post, but only two answers until now.
And the Mega65 core is not finalized until now.
So before starting a port, there should be the final Mega65.
Some day next year....
The Mega65 project is already on GitHub (github.com).
Sourcecode, Documentation, etc. is available there.
And every time when I have a look at the already existing Mega65 documentation I am deeply impressed.
Download the five PDF files and have a look:
https://github.com/MEGA65/mega65-user-guide/releases
manni199
An I don‘t have the skills to port the Mega65 core to the MiSTer platform.
Until now I have found out that the Mega65 main core developer (Paul Gardner-Stephen) also likes the idea.
He is willing to give support for such a project.
But he has no time to do this port on his own.
And I want to find out, are there people here interested to have this Mega65 core on the MiSTer platform.
Until now many people read my post, but only two answers until now.
And the Mega65 core is not finalized until now.
So before starting a port, there should be the final Mega65.
Some day next year....
The Mega65 project is already on GitHub (github.com).
Sourcecode, Documentation, etc. is available there.
And every time when I have a look at the already existing Mega65 documentation I am deeply impressed.
Download the five PDF files and have a look:
https://github.com/MEGA65/mega65-user-guide/releases
manni199
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
Not sure if you are aware of it but the topic was discussed earlier even back in 2017.
https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.p ... 65#p331658
Also Sorgelig did once try to port it already and commented on it. Not sure if the source of the core changed a lot since then.
The quasi nonexistent software library holds down the excitement of most users and devs I would guess.
https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.p ... 65#p331658
Also Sorgelig did once try to port it already and commented on it. Not sure if the source of the core changed a lot since then.
The quasi nonexistent software library holds down the excitement of most users and devs I would guess.
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
No, I didn‘t know that.
I started with MiSTer two or three months ago.
Before I read about the Mega65 project and the extreme successful ‚Spectrum Next‘ kickstarter campaign.
There are many people interested in the Mega65.
The estimated price for the Mega65 is quite high (750€ or more).
So I thought having the Mega65 on the MiSTer platform would be a good idea.
Until now the Mega65 is not finalized.
So best is to wait for the finalized version.
Maybe then there are more people interested.
The complete Mega65 project can be found at github.com
I started with MiSTer two or three months ago.
Before I read about the Mega65 project and the extreme successful ‚Spectrum Next‘ kickstarter campaign.
There are many people interested in the Mega65.
The estimated price for the Mega65 is quite high (750€ or more).
So I thought having the Mega65 on the MiSTer platform would be a good idea.
Until now the Mega65 is not finalized.
So best is to wait for the finalized version.
Maybe then there are more people interested.
The complete Mega65 project can be found at github.com
-
Darthcustom
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:40 pm
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
I really support having Mega65 core ported to MiSTer.... I'm following Mega65 for long time but 750€ is too high to my taste. DevKit was 1000€. I´d see it more in the 500€ price range.
I'd love to see Mega65 running in my MiSTer....
I'd love to see Mega65 running in my MiSTer....
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
Let's wait for final version first.
Unfortunately C65 has no software. Even ROMs weren't final. The only thing in C65 was useful is C64 mode. So the only command you need in C65 is GO64.
As for C64: MiSTer already has very compatible C64 core and i don't expect the one in Mega65 beat it in any aspect.
Same as with Spectrum Next, it's useful as a whole device. Mega65 has nice case with keyboard (i wish they will sell cases separately!) and boot ROM managing specific HW. MiSTer doesn't need all these addons as MiSTer has it's own API servicing C64 perfectly.
While port of Mega65 is possible, it won't bring anything new.
So there are 2 main things before port:
1) wait for final version
2) check the requirements because later versions start to use quite large FPGA with a lot of BRAM - much more than DE10-nano has.
Unfortunately C65 has no software. Even ROMs weren't final. The only thing in C65 was useful is C64 mode. So the only command you need in C65 is GO64.
As for C64: MiSTer already has very compatible C64 core and i don't expect the one in Mega65 beat it in any aspect.
Same as with Spectrum Next, it's useful as a whole device. Mega65 has nice case with keyboard (i wish they will sell cases separately!) and boot ROM managing specific HW. MiSTer doesn't need all these addons as MiSTer has it's own API servicing C64 perfectly.
While port of Mega65 is possible, it won't bring anything new.
So there are 2 main things before port:
1) wait for final version
2) check the requirements because later versions start to use quite large FPGA with a lot of BRAM - much more than DE10-nano has.
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
great, I was looking forward to your statement about porting the Mega65.
You are the administrator here, so I was almost sure that you already follow this thread.
One question to you Alexey, how many manhours/mandays would you estimate it takes to do this port?
I am sure you already had a look on the HDL sources on GitHub?
Are there very big differences between MiSTer and Mega65 platform, so that there ist much more to do than simply recompile the Mega65 sources?
I completely agree with you that there must be a finalized Mega65 before starting a port.
Especially because the Mega65 is an enhanced version of the C65. So all new features must be finalized.
I thougt RAM would be no problem, because at least 32MB SDRAM is mandatory fo MiSTer to use all cores?
An the ARM core with 1GB RAM (Linux system) on the MiSTer board should compensate any disadvantage to the Mega65 FPGA.
It’s because I have no skills in programming HDL/VHDL you should judge the technical details to compare MiSTer with Mega65.
Also very important in my eyes is, that Paul Gardener will give any support that is needed to port Mega65 to Mister.
And Paul will applaud to have a Mega65 core on MiSTer.
I know that man people want a Mega65, but when the hear the estimated selling price (>=750€) the interest cools down.
To say it again, I would like having a Mega65 core on MiSTer because ist generates (hopefully) a much bigger user base for Mega65.
More user will result in more software....
Also every time I have a look on the Mega65 documentation I am impressed.
And the MiSTer platform is much much cheaper than Mega65. Mega65 is more a sculpture to put in a showcase to enjoy looking at it.
I know, the Mega65 designer want us to use and work with it for sure.
But I‘m sure there will be people that use MiSTer for use/work, and put the Mega65 in a show case (once when there is a Mega65 core for MiSTer).
So let‘s wait for mid of next year when final Mega65 is released.
...
You are the administrator here, so I was almost sure that you already follow this thread.
One question to you Alexey, how many manhours/mandays would you estimate it takes to do this port?
I am sure you already had a look on the HDL sources on GitHub?
Are there very big differences between MiSTer and Mega65 platform, so that there ist much more to do than simply recompile the Mega65 sources?
I completely agree with you that there must be a finalized Mega65 before starting a port.
Especially because the Mega65 is an enhanced version of the C65. So all new features must be finalized.
I thougt RAM would be no problem, because at least 32MB SDRAM is mandatory fo MiSTer to use all cores?
An the ARM core with 1GB RAM (Linux system) on the MiSTer board should compensate any disadvantage to the Mega65 FPGA.
It’s because I have no skills in programming HDL/VHDL you should judge the technical details to compare MiSTer with Mega65.
Also very important in my eyes is, that Paul Gardener will give any support that is needed to port Mega65 to Mister.
And Paul will applaud to have a Mega65 core on MiSTer.
I know that man people want a Mega65, but when the hear the estimated selling price (>=750€) the interest cools down.
To say it again, I would like having a Mega65 core on MiSTer because ist generates (hopefully) a much bigger user base for Mega65.
More user will result in more software....
Also every time I have a look on the Mega65 documentation I am impressed.
And the MiSTer platform is much much cheaper than Mega65. Mega65 is more a sculpture to put in a showcase to enjoy looking at it.
I know, the Mega65 designer want us to use and work with it for sure.
But I‘m sure there will be people that use MiSTer for use/work, and put the Mega65 in a show case (once when there is a Mega65 core for MiSTer).
So let‘s wait for mid of next year when final Mega65 is released.
...
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
If they need that badly to grow they user base, they could port the core themselves, no?
-
LamerDeluxe
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 10:25 pm
- Has thanked: 15 times
- Been thanked: 5 times
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
I'd love to see this ported to the MiSTer, if at all possible. I've been following the C65 with interest since the first news about it.
Re: Porting Mega65 to MiSTer?
Core still has non synthesisable code which Quartus will refuse to compile. The Cpu core might need a rewrite to make it portable and as it is a custom Cpu there is no drop in replacement. Didn't look at whether the largest chunk of bram could be moved to sdram as it is pointless while the core has code that can't be synthesised.