MiSTer FPGA Forum

Will the ao486 core run all of the 8088 games that the Tandy 1000/IBM XT did or is it too fast to run?

There are utilities for PC to slow it down, IIRC.

Not sure if any MiSTer cores currently use an 8088 cpu core, but there's GPL 8088 vhdl code out there http://www.ht-lab.com/cpu86.htm so if someone really wanted to extend it to create a Tandy 1000 core with all the bells and whistles a Tandy 1000 might have had, that might be an option for them.

You are correct, but a lot of games don’t run properly or the sound is messed up with the slow down utility. Plus, there is the lack of Tandy graphics/sound. The 8088 instruction set is 8-bit and is different from the 16-bit 8086/x86 processors. All-in-all it’s not quite the same.

Is there a list of games specific to Tandy 1000 that won't run elsewhere?

I wonder if it would be enough for the ao486 core have special Tandy features (e.g. enhanced video mode),
or the games do need a 8088 CPU, maybe the PC88 core can run them instead?

Not sure if it is the core or the slow down programs, but my success rate with those is quite limited...

The Tandy 1000 is a weird machine since it uses an 8088 8-bit CPU and has a proprietary video mode, sound chip, and EEPROM. Similarly, it is a PC compatible platform which means it is not 100% compatible with all DOS software. Tandy's ran DOS from ROM unless you had a hard drive (or later boot disk) in which Tandy specific versions of DOS would have to be installed. These also included the BIOS setup programs that saved to the EEPROM since BIOS was not available in the ROM due to space constraints.

Outside of the special Tandy video mode, the Tandy 3-Voice chip (SN76496) is the same as used in the Sega Master System. As posted above, it seems that an 8088 CPU has been done in VHDL too. If development began, it would probably be best to make a new core since it really is an 8-bit CPU and requires booting from ROM.

It's probably entirely possible and feasible, but requires a lot more research. I know that PCem does emulate a Tandy pretty well with most of it's quirks, which would provide tremendous research value.

A Tandy core would be pretty darn amazing. It's hands down my favourite way to play earlier Microprose games. The Pirates! version for it in particular is gorgeous!

LeftEmpty wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2020 6:10 pm A Tandy core would be pretty darn amazing. It's hands down my favourite way to play earlier Microprose games. The Pirates! version for it in particular is gorgeous!

I think the old Kings Quest games and other early games by Sierra had special Tandy modes if I recall ..

Someone on MiST started a Tandy 1000 project sometime a year or two ago. haven't heard any updates, but it was declared. Search the FB MiST group.

Thanks Televicious. I will look for it.

Awestyn wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 11:40 pm Thanks Televicious. I will look for it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1501669 ... 667059954/

making it easy. theres no ETA.