ZX Spectrum Next Port to MiSTer

[Xbytez]

ZX Spectrum Next

- Initial port.

This version uses standard SDRAM (not SRAM).

Just posted by Alexey (Sorgelig) on his Patreon, please support him if you can.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/zx-spectrum-next-48951167

GitHub is here:

https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/ZXNext_MISTer

[Fallon]

Seems to work well - only had time to try out the Warhawk demo, and naturally it runs much better than it did via CSPECT emulation.

[jca]

What is it about this sentence "This version uses standard SDRAM (not SRAM)."?
MISTer does not have SRAM so the only possibility to have this core is to use SDRAM. If the sentence was "This core introduces wait states at 14MHz and 28MHz because MISTer has only SDRAM and not SRAM" it would make more sense.
Sorge brain must have been rewired while living in Japan: I remember a Japanese manual for a tape player which said "do not press the record button as this device does not have one".

[lister_of_smeg]

There is a previous port attempt which requires a special 32Mb SDRAM + 2Mb SRAM module

[jca]

Thanks, now I understand the origin of the sentence. Still, the readme line "Uses SDRAM instead of SRAM. Some wait states are added in 14MHz and 28MHz modes." should be corrected. But that's just me.

[RetroP]

Is anyone else having problems with the .vhd not auto loading after saving settings and then cold rebooting?
It seems to save at first as resetting works for me.

[Insert Disk Two]

Exactly my same issue. I guess the next update will solve this.

[ReadyPlayerTwo]

Im not having any issues at all, all auto loads settings for me on reboot.

I did do the firmware update if that might make a difference (but unlikely)

[RetroP]

It seems moving the .vhd to the sdcard root works.

[nico24]

Anybody know how to get the special keys to work - like EDIT or Graph key etc.?

[RetroP]

https://www.specnext.com/new-ps2-us-keymap/

That should help.

[nico24]

Thanks - but can't see the EDIT key on there.

[Fallon]

It would be a nice feature to have a shared folder or some way to load spectrum next files from the Mister OSD.

[Breaking Hard]

Its realy funny I got ordered dual memory pcb, wait month till come all parts, build it today and find that new core do not need it)
PS I have issues with do not save settings also.

[RetroP]

It would be a nice feature to have a shared folder or some way to load spectrum next files from the Mister OSD.

It's because the next reads to/from the SD card, so you basically have to emulate that.
The best way to deal with it is to make a copy of the .vhd, move it to your PC, mount it and add files there.
Every time you add content to the .vhd, upload it to your mister over the network or direct to the micro sd.

[Xbytez]

If you are experiencing issues with, this the initial ZX Spectrum Next port, remember to the best place for reporting issues is on GitHub.

See here for reporting issues with the core:

https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/ZXNext_MISTer/issues

[antonie]

It would be a nice feature to have a shared folder or some way to load spectrum next files from the Mister OSD.

It's because the next reads to/from the SD card, so you basically have to emulate that.
The best way to deal with it is to make a copy of the .vhd, move it to your PC, mount it and add files there.
Every time you add content to the .vhd, upload it to your mister over the network or direct to the micro sd.

It is also possible to connect to the vhd (over the network) using Samba. On MacOS it is mounted as a new filesystem. Then it is as easy and "drag-n-drop" to move files across.

I'm assuming the same would apply to Linux desktop and Windows.

[Paradroid]

Just to make people aware, you do not have to deal with a VHD if you simply copy all the files to your 2nd SD Card (the top one). Works a treat and now very easy to add new stuff via a PC.

[WiteWulf]

It is also possible to connect to the vhd (over the network) using Samba. On MacOS it is mounted as a new filesystem. Then it is as easy and "drag-n-drop" to move files across.

I'm assuming the same would apply to Linux desktop and Windows.

But DON'T do this while the core is running! Accessing the .VHD from two different systems at the same time could corrupt the image.

("Could"? Who am I kidding, your house will burn down, you'll lose your job and the wife will take the kids to live with her mum in Doncaster if you do this )

(Might seem obvious, but maybe not to some folks )

[jordi]

Impressive work!!!

Does anyone got ESXDos on Next core running in 128K mode?

[pgimeno]

It is also possible to connect to the vhd (over the network) using Samba. On MacOS it is mounted as a new filesystem. Then it is as easy and "drag-n-drop" to move files across.

I'm assuming the same would apply to Linux desktop and Windows.

Probably, but for Linux at least (maybe for Mac too) it's more practical to mount the MiSTer filesystem with sshfs, which I prefer over Samba because allows creating symbolic links among other things, then mount the VHD directly (as a loop device) from there. The image posted in this thread requires -o offset=65536 to work; that's necessary to skip the partition table and unused sectors.

Code: Select all

# Mount the MiSTer filesystem (I keep it mounted in my desktop permanently)
echo 1 | sudo sshfs root@10.0.0.82:/media/fat /mnt/mister/ -o allow_other,password_stdin
# Mount the VHD
sudo mount -o offset=65536 /mnt/mister/games/ZXNext/boot.vhd /mnt/temp/1

Just, as WiteWulf said, don't do this with the core running, and don't forget to unmount it before running the core.

[antonie]

It is also possible to connect to the vhd (over the network) using Samba. On MacOS it is mounted as a new filesystem. Then it is as easy and "drag-n-drop" to move files across.

I'm assuming the same would apply to Linux desktop and Windows.

Probably, but for Linux at least (maybe for Mac too) it's more practical to mount the MiSTer filesystem with sshfs, which I prefer over Samba because allows creating symbolic links among other things, then mount the VHD directly (as a loop device) from there. The image posted in this thread requires -o offset=65536 to work; that's necessary to skip the partition table and unused sectors.

Code: Select all

# Mount the MiSTer filesystem (I keep it mounted in my desktop permanently)
echo 1 | sudo sshfs root@10.0.0.82:/media/fat /mnt/mister/ -o allow_other,password_stdin
# Mount the VHD
sudo mount -o offset=65536 /mnt/mister/games/ZXNext/boot.vhd /mnt/temp/1

Just, as WiteWulf said, don't do this with the core running, and don't forget to unmount it before running the core.

Interesting, I'll definitely try that on my Mac.

[guddler]

I just reboot the MiSTer, hit F9 to go to the linux side and mount it from there. When finished I unmount it and load the core.

I like the idea of the second SD card though. I wasn't aware of that so might start using a second card instead. It will also save space on my main card, not to mention ensure that everything is easily accessible when my real Next arrives later in the year.

[lordoftime79]

how do i use the second SD slot?

[Dr_Dave]

how do i use the second SD slot?

I've just tried it. It's really simple, you just make a Spectrum Next bootable SD Card in the normal way (https://www.specnext.com/sn1-2/) then put the SD Card in your secondary slot and boot the core. You do need to make sure you've removed or renamed the .vhd file though, otherwise it just works. I just took my SD Card out of my Next and used that directly.

It also seems to work a lot better than the .vhd image as well, particularly when scanning large folders.

I think the MiSTer might become my default Next...

[lordoftime79]

the image output by the next core is smaller than the image put out by an actual next, I have played with the options but it still displays smaller - has anybody else found this?

[NML32]

The MiSTer ZX Spectrum Next core has Tape-In support via the ADC add-on. I loaded a few ZX Spectrum wav files through the Tape-In (ADC).
I wonder how hard it would be to add RTC support to the ZX Next core?

[SegaSnatcher]

Loving this core, just need some game recommendations.

[Chris23235]

Loving this core, just need some game recommendations.

I can recommend Delta's Shadow, it looks and play fantastic.

Beggars in Space is what Jetpac 2 could have become if Ultimate hadn't made Lunar Jetman.

Warhawk Next is also not only a technical showcase but also a good game.

Tyvarian also from Rusty Pixels is nice even if in my opinion it is the weakest of their 3 "big" games.

Bikers is more a technical showcase then everything else, but as a pure Hang On clone it is worth a look (but I think this kind of racing game concept aged badly).

Q*bee is a very polished Q*Bert clone.

There are more Next games, but to me these are the best at the moment.

[Fallon]

Loving this core, just need some game recommendations.

I'd say check outhttps://www.rustypixels.uk/ , a small development team consisting of talented coders from back in the Spectrum era:

- Tyvarian
- Baggers in Space
- Warhawk

The above are paid, digital downloads are available which cost less.

There's also a good Tetris version called "Crowley's World Tour" available.

There's also some quality arcade conversions like Scramble, plus Pacman, which are pretty pointless playing on the ZX Next core, but interesting seeing the Next running them perfectly.