Breakthrough for the ao486 core announced - Cache

[bbond007]

Where does one obtain that incredible wallpaper?

MiSTerKun_Wallpaper1024_8bit.zip

(335.53 KiB) Downloaded 305 times

[Schyz]

I just had the chance to test Fallout under Windows 95, it works! It's a bit slow when loading and at the end of each combat, but this game wasn't really intended for a 486, still, it's truly amazing what this core is capable of. I suspect the DOS version might perform better as there is less overhead, but I cannot find a no-cd patch for DOS. I cannot imagine how great this core would be if it ever supports optical drive.

If somebody wants to try it, the Windows version requires DirectX 3.0, this one here worked great for me: http://falconfly.3dfx.pl/directx.htm

[Chris23235]

I just had the chance to test Fallout under Windows 95, it works! It's a bit slow when loading and at the end of each combat, but this game wasn't really intended for a 486, still, it's truly amazing what this core is capable of. I suspect the DOS version might perform better as there is less overhead, but I cannot find a no-cd patch for DOS. I cannot imagine how great this core would be if it ever supports optical drive.

If somebody wants to try it, the Windows version requires DirectX 3.0, this one here worked great for me: http://falconfly.3dfx.pl/directx.htm

You can use CD images under DOS:

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=754

Not as convenient as direct image support from within the core, but it works fine.

[Schyz]

You can use CD images under DOS:

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=754

Not as convenient as direct image support from within the core, but it works fine.

My initial testing was just a matter of copying the install from GOG to the VHD, which was the easy and fast solution.

I'm going to try now with FakeDR, I just dumped the data of my original CD from a real DOS machine, but it's taking some time to transfer from that machine due to its very slow network card.

EDIT: DOS version is much slower

[flynnsbit]

Just wanted to throw out a public THANK YOU to bbond007 for keeping the RBF builds coming while development is actively happening. It is much appreciated for this specific core and so much fun to be along for the ride on the progress.

[DecoySports]

Where does one obtain that incredible wallpaper?

MiSTerKun_Wallpaper1024_8bit.zip

Thank you very much! Also a huge thanks as well for the incredible effort of providing the dev builds.

[IAmParadox]

Just a note, cache27 contains changes to the bios, but, no new bios file was provided, or, exists in the repo, so, who knows what that will do, or, if it is even functionally different from cache26.

[bbond007]

TOPBENCH

https://dosbenchmark.wordpress.com/

New-vs-Old.jpg (535 KiB) Viewed 9899 times

[IAmParadox]

Just a note, cache27 contains changes to the bios, but, no new bios file was provided, or, exists in the repo, so, who knows what that will do, or, if it is even functionally different from cache26.

After some consideration, this may just be an interface to the bios, so, maybe a new one isn't required for these changes to work. But, as I said, I can't test anything until I get my system back. If only there was a MiSTer emulator/simulator...

[mahen]

Hi ! Yep, indeed, I remember, I always thought my PC friends were unlucky because the same games looked way more blocky despite the same resolution

Any idea how to "downscale" the picture in order to apply the scanlines filters to the 240p pictures ?

I really can't see myself playing 320*240 games in fullscreen on a 24" monitor without scanlines

@mahen:
On a PC, on real hardware, low resolutions like 320x240 will usually (always?) be scandoubled to resolutions like 640x480 before they even reach the monitor.

It's always an integer scale, so good-looking scanlines are possible. But the scanline filter would have to omit every other horizontal line, or downscale the image before applying the scanline effect.

[Caldor]

Just a note, cache27 contains changes to the bios, but, no new bios file was provided, or, exists in the repo, so, who knows what that will do, or, if it is even functionally different from cache26.

After some consideration, this may just be an interface to the bios, so, maybe a new one isn't required for these changes to work. But, as I said, I can't test anything until I get my system back. If only there was a MiSTer emulator/simulator...

Yeah, I suspect it might just be that it uses the same bios, but a bit differently? This morning I did have some strange visual things happening with cache26. Strange display errors. I will do some more tests when I get home, but with cache27.

TOPBENCH

This looks great. I was looking for some Benchmark tools and have noticed your previous benchmark screens. I think I will try to benchmark the different cores, I especially want to see how Cache20 performs compared to 25 and 27. I will make a new video later today I think, because I also want to go over how to setup AO486 again, but using freeware stuff like FreeDOS, so I can share a VHD with some shareware games and such to start out with. Also show how to add and remove files from VHD images in Windows 10.

Its amazing how much the performance has jumped.

And thanks for sharing the builds of these new development builds of this core. So much is happening these days and its nice to follow the progress

[Cebion]

On Monkey Island 2 I had the issue that by default the speaker was playing and the soundblaster was not detected.
On 27 everything is detected right away, awesome.

So how about we get that compatibility list getting started

[Caldor]

On Monkey Island 2 I had the issue that by default the speaker was playing and the soundblaster was not detected.
On 27 everything is detected right away, awesome.

So how about we get that compatibility list getting started

Would overall be pretty nice. In many case I think its per game you have to experiment and usually there is a solution. I have noticed that Soundblaster 1 does not always work but then Soundblaster 2 does, but not all games specify whether they are referring to one or two.

Sometimes audio has to be adlib, sometimes it has to be soundblaster, sometimes Soundblaster Pro v2. But if it works better in 27... oh, in 26 they fixed the sound detection bug. You had to reduce the speed to 30mhz while the game detected the soundcard, and then you could put it to something higher than 30mhz again and it would work. That should no longer be a problem since cache26.

Edit: As IAmParadox pointed out its cache25 that got the sound problem fix.

[IAmParadox]

On Monkey Island 2 I had the issue that by default the speaker was playing and the soundblaster was not detected.
On 27 everything is detected right away, awesome.

So how about we get that compatibility list getting started

Would overall be pretty nice. In many case I think its per game you have to experiment and usually there is a solution. I have noticed that Soundblaster 1 does not always work but then Soundblaster 2 does, but not all games specify whether they are referring to one or two.

Sometimes audio has to be adlib, sometimes it has to be soundblaster, sometimes Soundblaster Pro v2. But if it works better in 27... oh, in 26 they fixed the sound detection bug. You had to reduce the speed to 30mhz while the game detected the soundcard, and then you could put it to something higher than 30mhz again and it would work. That should no longer be a problem since cache26.

Actually, it was cache25 that fixed the soundcard detection.

[evilsim]

anyone tried Comanche yet ? It used to run really well on my friends 486 DX50 when I was a kid. My 386 SX at the time was a joke! Great game too. Its wonderful to see the progress this core is making ~ keep up all the good work to those involved

[kathleen]

@evilsim,
Just tried Comanche maximum overkill and it works pretty well with the cache27 !

[AntialiasedPixel]

Has anyone figured out the shared folder feature yet? One of the main pain points for me with the original core was getting new stuff on there. I would always have to open the vhd on my pc, copy files on, then re-ftp it over. Would be great to just ftp a game directory each time I wanted to add something!

[IAmParadox]

Has anyone figured out the shared folder feature yet? One of the main pain points for me with the original core was getting new stuff on there. I would always have to open the vhd on my pc, copy files on, then re-ftp it over. Would be great to just ftp a game directory each time I wanted to add something!

You can setup an ftp server, or client in the core, and, ftp, that way. There are directions for both dos and windows.

[Caldor]

Well... I guess you could open SSH or FTP to the MiSTer from the PC and then just have some 200mb VHD that you use to get new stuff to your MiSTer.

[Beeble]

After changing from 26 to 27, I am not able to run with 100Mhz anymore, only start up with 90 or below.

Anyone else having that issue?

Which ET4000 Bios to recommend? Can it be a generic ISA one like found here:

http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fi ... enustate=0

Or better use the ET4000w32 (which should be the VLB Version?) mentioned here before?
(http://www.elpod.org/pcem_roms/)

[Caldor]

After changing from 26 to 27, I am not able to run with 100Mhz anymore, only start up with 90 or below.

Anyone else having that issue?

Which ET4000 Bios to recommend? Can it be a generic ISA one like found here:

http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fi ... enustate=0

Or better use the ET4000w32 (which should be the VLB Version?) mentioned here before?
(http://www.elpod.org/pcem_roms/)

The second one, should have the CRC of the one we have been told is the bios they use for the dev builds... although there is a chance that they began using a new bios for cache27. I have not begun testing it yet, I am working on making a big Freeware VHD with FreeDOS and a bunch of shareware stuff.

[jordi]

Hi,

I've got some strange errors (using latest version, but it happened before)

Fast Doom2 (it's on github), only does this strange error when exiting

WhatsApp Image 2020-07-29 at 19.02.43.jpeg (312.4 KiB) Viewed 9643 times

Descent

WhatsApp Image 2020-07-29 at 19.06.40.jpeg (324.23 KiB) Viewed 9643 times

And worms, directly does not start.

[Beeble]

Thank you, both for answering and your efforts with the Freeware VHD.

Is it a common issuen with 27 and not being able to run in 100Mhz?

[Kreeblah]

After changing from 26 to 27, I am not able to run with 100Mhz anymore, only start up with 90 or below.

Anyone else having that issue?

Which ET4000 Bios to recommend? Can it be a generic ISA one like found here:

http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fi ... enustate=0

Or better use the ET4000w32 (which should be the VLB Version?) mentioned here before?
(http://www.elpod.org/pcem_roms/)

The second one, should have the CRC of the one we have been told is the bios they use for the dev builds... although there is a chance that they began using a new bios for cache27. I have not begun testing it yet, I am working on making a big Freeware VHD with FreeDOS and a bunch of shareware stuff.

For anybody else with this question, I've been keeping the driver thread up to date with links to video drivers, UniVBE, and the ET4000 BIOS.

[Caldor]

Thank you, both for answering and your efforts with the Freeware VHD.

Is it a common issuen with 27 and not being able to run in 100Mhz?

I have begun testing 27 and I do not seem to have had any issues with 100Mhz yet. I have not even lowered it from 100Mhz so far. Tried running Settlers 2 and Shadow Warrior.

[Caldor]

Something I find strange about the new cache cores. None of them seem able to run Game Wizard 32 Pro. I am thinking it is a sign of memory problems, since GW32 loads itself into memory. I think I will try Cache20 again, since I am also benchmarking the cores, to see if it might be running differently.

[flynnsbit]

Thank you, both for answering and your efforts with the Freeware VHD.

Is it a common issuen with 27 and not being able to run in 100Mhz?

I have begun testing 27 and I do not seem to have had any issues with 100Mhz yet. I have not even lowered it from 100Mhz so far. Tried running Settlers 2 and Shadow Warrior.

Can you try Windows 98, at 100Mhz with 256MB of memory set and see if you can set 800x600 256 colors or more? On 27.

[kathleen]

Is anybody managed to get Windows 3.11 running with "at least' 256 colors ? I've the right boot1.rom (ET400W32 CRC : 713cb637), univbe installed, cache27 core and the right ET4000 driver for windows installed. Despite al of this, I can run W3.11 at 640*480 or 800*600 but only with 16 colors while the 256 colors driver is installed. It is impossible for me to get Windows 3.11 running with more than 16 colors. Any help/advise will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

[Caldor]

Thank you, both for answering and your efforts with the Freeware VHD.

Is it a common issuen with 27 and not being able to run in 100Mhz?

I have begun testing 27 and I do not seem to have had any issues with 100Mhz yet. I have not even lowered it from 100Mhz so far. Tried running Settlers 2 and Shadow Warrior.

Can you try Windows 98, at 100Mhz with 256MB of memory set and see if you can set 800x600 256 colors or more? On 27.

Ahh... Windows 98 stopped working for me with cache... 24 I think. It does seem to have more errors at 100hz and it might help lowering it to 90hz, but overall, it seems with Windows 98 its going to throw some pretty nasty errors pretty much no matter what you do. Windows 95 is more stable, but tried installing DirectX 8 and I began getting one of the errors from Windows 98 where it fills the top of the screen with a bunch of colors.

Windows 98 second edition does say it needs FPU, which this core does not have... not sure if that is the cause of any of this. I am not sure exactly why it wants FPU, but I only got even close to installing Windows 98 using some commands to bypass system checks during the installation.

[bbond007]

Is anybody managed to get Windows 3.11 running with "at least' 256 colors ? I've the right boot1.rom (ET400W32 CRC : 713cb637), univbe installed, cache27 core and the right ET4000 driver for windows installed. Despite al of this, I can run W3.11 at 640*480 or 800*600 but only with 16 colors while the 256 colors driver is installed. It is impossible for me to get Windows 3.11 running with more than 16 colors. Any help/advise will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

yes, with this driver:

http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fi ... enustate=0