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Version 5 - June 23, 2023

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@sy2002 sy2002 released this 23 Jun 09:09
· 7 commits to master since this release
V5
218e702

Hardware support release: Insert hardware cartridges into the MEGA65's Expansion Port or simulate cartridges via *.crt files. Connect IEC devices such as drives and printers and enjoy Stereo SID sound. For an authentic retro feeling, feed a 15 kHz CSYNC video signal into your monitor or use the MiSTer VGA to RGB SCART cable to connect an old TV. Load faster using JiffyDOS or by directly loading *.prg files.

New Features

  • Hardware cartridges can be used in the MEGA65's Expansion Port. Most game cartridges are supported and also many Flash Cartridges (e.g. EF1, EF3, KFF) and some more sophisticated utility cartridges and freezers are supported (see cartridge documentation).

  • Run simulated cartridges by loading *.crt files from your SD card. Most cartridge types are supported. Saving data on the cartridge is not yet supported.

  • Ability to directly load *.prg files.

  • Ability to switch Kernal versions: Standard, C64 Games System, Japanese Revision and JiffyDOS.

  • Stereo SID support: You can choose from multiple real dual SID combinations and enjoy stereo SID tunes and demos. And you can also use "pseudo stereo" by running the two different SID models 6581 and 8050 at the same (one left and one right) while they play the same mono tune.

  • Hardware IEC port: Attach real 1541 & 1581 drives as well as printers, plotters or modern devices such as the SD2IEC and the Ultimate-II+.

  • Support for three VGA output modes: Standard VGA, 15 kHz retro RGB output with either horizontal & vertical sync signals or with a composite sync (CSYNC) signal. The latter one allows you for example to connect the MEGA65 to an old SCART TV using the MiSTer VGA to RGB SCART cable or to connect it to an old monitor using a standard VGA to BNC cable.

  • More clearly arranged menu system using submenus.

  • Possibility to scale-down the On-Screen-Menu (OSM). Use-case: Compensate for large overscans of certain retro Cathode Ray Tubes.

  • File browser's page up/down (cursor left/right) now jumps to the very first item when you press cursor left one (more) time while you are on the first page and to the very last item when you press cursor right one (more) time while you are on the last page.

  • A long reset is now visualized: The power led is glowing blue as long as the user keeps the reset button pressed during a long reset.

Improved C64 and C1541 Accuracy & Compatibility

  • Improved the 6510 CPU's interrupt dispatching which results in more demos working flawlessly (for example "All Hallows' Eve", this fixes
    #9).

  • Improved accuracy of the frequency ratio between the C64's CPU and the C1541 floppy's CPU which results in more demos working flawlessly (for example "Unbounded" by Demotion and "Ice Cream Castle" by Crest). It also fixes an issue with the diskmag "Input 64" (#2).

  • Merge MiSTer upstream fixes to improve simulation accuracy and compatibility with real hardware:

    • CIA: Disk parport: Ignore inputs on pins configured as output (MiSTer commit 4da804c, fix by sorgelig)
    • CIA: Fix timer reset values: Game "Arctic Shipwreck" works now and therefore this fixes MiSTer-devel/C64_MiSTer#107 (MiSTer commit 7eca7e3, fix by gyurco)
    • VIC: Change xscroll and turbo latch time (MiSTer commit f3a137b, fix by sorgelig)

Improved HDMI Compatibility

  • Works with more HDMI monitors, frame grabbers, HDMI switches, etc. The core was not compliant to section 4.2.7 of the HDMI specification version 1.4b: It did not assert the +5V power signal. Now it does assert the +5 power signal via the FPGA pin ct_hpd.

  • Fully dynamic flicker-free HDMI, which reduces our output latency on HDMI to less than 1ms and also eliminates the artifact, that moved from the top to the bottom of the screen every once in a while.

Bugfixes

  • Fixed a bug in the REU simulation that affected some owners of the newest MEGA65 batches who have a so called "Revision D HyperRAM". One effect of the bug was that these users were not able to play Sonic the Hedgehog.

  • Fixed the possibility of corrupting currently mounted D64 images: If the user changed menu settings while the core was writing to a D64 disk image (yellow MEGA65 drive led), then there was the possibility that this very D64 disk image would be corrupted.

Under the Hood

  • Updated to Vivado 2022.2 which will result in higher quality bitstreams.

  • Migrated to the newest version of the MiSTer2MEGA65 framework. The C64 core will benefit from an easier and faster workflow when it comes to migrating new framework features to the core.

  • Now using glitch-free clock multiplexers: The user can switch the "HDMI: Flicker-free" mode ON/OFF without the system performing a reset.

Assets 2