[1]The C64 Community Loading... This site is best viewed in a modern browser with JavaScript enabled. What are the Technical specs? Dean_Demon Hey community, just wondering if there are any details about the technical side of the mini for it's emulation and i'm not referring to the usb or hdmi. I was a C64 programmer & musician and had a fair number of games published in the 80's & early 90's so i'm quite interested in this, i've gone through all kinds of emulators previously but technically performance hasn't been very accurate as i'm looking for something that is near to 100% as speed is very important as you just can't clock close enough to a real C64. Thanks all. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trinket [2]RetroBiker The device is a full C64 implementation. All shots of the board show a big fat ARM chip on board. This is just another emulation box. They have a license from Cloanto for their related IP, and it wouldn't surprise me if they based this on Cloanto's version of VICE. Their technical story has changed wildly since the initial crowdfunding. The initial design was intended to be a proper reimplementation, maybe they were hoping for a DTV-style epoxy blob custom chip, but we're a long way from those times. RetroBiker, how long ago was it since they claimed it wasn't emulation? [3]RetroBiker The included games were originally machine code apps running in ROM cartridges. Says who? Weren't most of these games disk based? [4]Dean_Demon i'm looking for something that is near to 100% as speed is very important as you just can't clock close enough to a real C64. If you're not going to get an old C64, then maybe you can find a DTV? You can hook up some real peripherals to it, and it's a full ASIC reimplementation so the timings should be very good. Reliability should be very high, too, as there's very little to go wrong on it. But I don't think its SID is as accurate, if music is your focus. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- RetroBiker I've not seen any specific specs on the board, however they have explicitly declared that this is a C64 implementation and is not using emulation. There's a video on the FUNKYSPECTRUM YouTube channel showing the device actually running at an event in Milan last year showing a naked board plugged in and running. It shows that the performance is spot on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean_Demon [5]RetroBiker Hey thanks for that, i'll check it out and thanks for the info. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- spannernick1 C64 implementation Or emulation Plug and Play HDMI Output/ 2xUSB ports on the side 64 Pre-installed Games Ability to Play own Roms from USB Stick Menu interface Pixel Filter Options Virtual Keyboard or USB Keyboard Access to Basic. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- RetroBiker Further to the above, I'll offer the following, however note that it is pure speculation! It's based on a few facts, though: * The device is a full C64 implementation. * The included games were originally machine code apps running in ROM cartridges. * They would have called into the Kernal (sic), I/O ROM, character generator, video display, zero page, keyboard, etc. The video I referred to above suggests the games selector and save/restore functionality runs in a layer over the C64. This leads me to believe the device works by: * Selecting cartridge ROM images - once selected, generating a machine restart which will cause the ROM to be activated. * Saving and restoring games will save and restore the RAM state of the device (so, hopefully, will work for your own creations, too). * Selecting the BASIC option will just blank the cartridge ROM causing you to drop into the familiar BASIC startup when the device is reset (giving you full access, including to writing machine code programs, etc). * The USB storage will work by being recognised (or a file selected) as the contents of the cartridge ROM, or as a disk. Or (preferably) that overlay layer will kick in allowing you to select storage files to map as cartridge ROM, disk #8, etc. As I said, this is speculation, but is, in my opinion, the most likely way the device will operate. If so, then I am doubly excited to get hold of one! Note that the firmware will be updatable, so if some of the functionality (say with the USB storage) is not as full featured as you'd like to start with, you can expect improvements over time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean_Demon I have reviewed the Milan footage and did notice some things that many wouldn't which did suggest there is some form of emulation which gave me some concern. The animation for Uridium and Creatures for instance isn't 100% accurate so hopefully that was just an early version as things may have improved since then. The menu system and picture quality is excellent as well as saving etc which are all good, nice that you can add a keyboard and have the Basic functionalty too. I still have all my original source code of published work and unreleased code as well so am looking to see how it performs and may release them in future if there's a big up take on this mini. i do still have a pre order for the mini but still deciding on whether to wait so see what gamers make of it first, i do still support any C64 or other retro products today and back many kickstarters but i am encouraged by the mini and is actually nice to have it nearly here for many generations to enjoy, thanks for all the info guys and much appreciated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- RetroBiker [6]Trinket Agreed. The more I see, the more I am beginning to think this is, indeed, an emulator. Am still excited for it, but if it is an emulation, then it just won't be as good as it could have been. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean_Demon [7]Trinket I still have my original C64 and still working but of course is a little bit of pain of getting it up and running and of course would be great to have a more modern standard, i usually get my 1084s monitor out but they sure are clunky by today's standards. If anything i'm going to wait for the full version or just see how the mini performs on release. SID implementation is rather important to me as i wrote many SID's, sure this wouldn't be of much benefit to most gamers but to people like myself who coded this is something quite important and of value. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dean_Demon [8]RetroBiker You'll find most will have that opinion, still it's a nice box and having games all at once has benefit but i do already own all of the bundled games but that's not a problem. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- References Visible links 1. https://community.thec64.com/ 2. https://community.thec64.com/d/66/5 3. https://community.thec64.com/d/66/5 4. https://community.thec64.com/d/66/1 5. https://community.thec64.com/d/66/2 6. https://community.thec64.com/d/66/7 7. https://community.thec64.com/d/66/7 8. https://community.thec64.com/d/66/8