MiSTer FPGA Forum

Sega Saturn core is progressing!

Sergey Dvodnenko is a well respected FPGA developer and has already contributed much to the MiSTer project, please support him if you can.

https://www.patreon.com/srg320

You know an admin is excited about this core when he makes a new topic about it instead of putting it in the Saturn topic. Come on Sergey, open a Subscribestar, I want to give you cash for that BIOS clock setting porn!

the_importer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:04 am You know an admin is excited about this core when he makes a new topic about it instead of putting it in the Saturn topic. Come on Sergey, open a Subscribestar, I want to give you cash for that BIOS clock setting porn!

Now this is epic.

An update for the SEGA Saturn Core from Sergey Dvodnenko

If you can support his Patreon is here: https://www.patreon.com/srg320

Another status update from srg320.

83% utilisation, that's definitely going to be one full puppy if/when it's finished.

Will this require Dual SDRAM?

kubbie wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 11:10 am Will this require Dual SDRAM?

What’s that? First time I’ve heard of it.

C-R-T wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 12:59 pm

kubbie wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 11:10 am Will this require Dual SDRAM?

What’s that? First time I’ve heard of it.

Someone on Reddit posted it so I'm curious if we need to buy additional RAM module for this core.

kubbie wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 2:21 pm

C-R-T wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 12:59 pm

kubbie wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 11:10 am Will this require Dual SDRAM?

What’s that? First time I’ve heard of it.

Someone on Reddit posted it so I'm curious if we need to buy additional RAM module for this core.

Probably not. It would make the core way too niche. Sergey never said anything about that.

I don't think the Saturn has that much RAM.

It's not about the amount of RAM, it's about needing two sources of low latency ram. I'm sure it will be something he works out once everything else is implemented.

dmckean wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 7:51 pm It's not about the amount of RAM, it's about needing two sources of low latency ram. I'm sure it will be something he works out once everything else is implemented.

Like dmckean said the Saturn used 2MB work ram 1.5MB vram and 512kb sound ram, and had an expansion port that was used to expand the ram with an additional 4MB so that shouldn't be to big of an issue.

Looks like progress is moving forward, Sergey just posted another update to to his Patreon.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/still-working-on-53409577

Fingers crossed. Saturn core would be a major coup for MiSTer, much bigger than PSX or anything else (barring N64 perhaps).

akeley wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:50 pm Fingers crossed. Saturn core would be a major coup for MiSTer, much bigger than PSX or anything else (barring N64 perhaps).

I think it would be bigger than n64 for sure. Ditto for ps1. Both sold for far longer and far greater numbers.

Working n64 systems and games aren’t too difficult to find and Nintendo are re releasing some of the stuff as re masters on switch.

Saturn has a unique and quirky library and trust me as someone who owns 4 of the things in various states of disrepair, getting working Saturn hardware and games is not trivial.

throAU wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 1:48 pm Working n64 systems and games aren’t too difficult to find and Nintendo are re releasing some of the stuff as re masters on switch.

I was thinkng more along the lines of emulation availability. PSX is pretty solid, but N64 and Saturn are still considered to be rather difficult to emulate.

Even considering real HW, you can get a PSX for ~30 USD and you're good to go, what with the recent softmod. N64 needs an expensive flashcart...

The bigger issue with the N64 on MiSTer is how fast the chips run; the Saturn and PlayStation's chips run at about 1/3 the speed of the Nintendo 64's.

the_importer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:04 am You know an admin is excited about this core when he makes a new topic about it instead of putting it in the Saturn topic. Come on Sergey, open a Subscribestar, I want to give you cash for that BIOS clock setting porn!

Good one! *high fives*

akeley wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 2:52 pm

throAU wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 1:48 pm Working n64 systems and games aren’t too difficult to find and Nintendo are re releasing some of the stuff as re masters on switch.

I was thinkng more along the lines of emulation availability. PSX is pretty solid, but N64 and Saturn are still considered to be rather difficult to emulate.

Even considering real HW, you can get a PSX for ~30 USD and you're good to go, what with the recent softmod. N64 needs an expensive flashcart...

Yeah I was purely talking from a pragmatic end user standpoint. Having the Saturn in FPGA will open it up to a far larger audience, and ensure it survives as as platform; the hardware itself is both limited in availability, dying and as you say - difficult to emulate.

Its definitely a massive accomplishment from a technical standpoint as well for sure though

Another Sega Saturn MiSTer FPGA update from srg320, this time it is progress with CD block.

Another update was posted just now.

I'm impressed just seeing that level of 3D graphics on an FPGA, never mind it's a Saturn!

softtest9 wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 4:54 pm I don't think the Saturn has that much RAM.

Would likely be more about bandwidth than capacity

FoxbatStargazer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 3:06 pm I'm impressed just seeing that level of 3D graphics on an FPGA, never mind it's a Saturn!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3zNZ-vgNa0 - N64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adqnO7GDY3o - PS1

Obviously it'll be great when Saturn will get released, but Mister doesn't need this or that core to "survive".

Duffygag wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:08 pm Obviously it'll be great when Saturn will get released, but Mister doesn't need this or that core to "survive".

If you are responding to ThroAU, I think you misread the comment. The point was Saturn surviving as a platform by being preserved, not MiSTer.

throAU wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 3:37 am Having the Saturn in FPGA will open it up to a far larger audience, and ensure it survives as as platform; the hardware itself is both limited in availability, dying and as you say - difficult to emulate.

Ah ok that was more convoluted than I thought then

Yeah I was referring to the Saturn being opened up to more people and surviving. The mister will do just fine already.