158 replies to this topic

[DialTone]

LOL @ repairing the fuse - Yeah, I'd heard that on the early chips, you could mask out the data areas on the chip and UV-erase just the control area, thereby "repairing" the fuse (which was UV-resettable). On the later chips, the fuse was electrically resettable and can be reversed using some funky out-of-voltage-tolerance spiking to the chip (allegedly), but one these OTP devices, the fuse is just that - a one-shot device. I've seen (microscopy) pictures of blown fuses and I'd say you'd have to be pretty damn skilled to repair one hehe!

As for the memory map, fair enough, sounds like you may have had some "info" then - does the cpu core still present some problems to MAME then? or are you just interested in the core "for completeness" ? I thought it was adequate to run the audio stuff now?

DT

[elcondor]

Well, I just think it would be nice for that CPU core to have those fixes put in it, since there's bound to be some monstrosity of a machine somewhere that's going to need that for MESS. Can't think of one right now, mind, but I do know that somebody bought those bloody Hitachi CPUs, didn't they?.

Anyway, good luck with this, whatever the outcome, you've got to praise the persistence of some people to get this running, not that I see the appeal for anything other than the SWPs, which will be even more of a sod than the AWP, because of the use of a 'proper' PCI graphics card (possibly).

[DialTone]

Sure thing - I must confess that besides the existing usage in MAME, I don't know of another system that used it, but like you say something must have!!

As for the SWP stuff, that will indeed be more of a bugger because more of the "onboard peripheral" stuff of the h8 will be needed for that (such as the DMA controller and suchlike) so that'll be more "beefing up" needed to the cpu core. As for the need to emulate an entire PCI card, I guess only time will tell on that score. There's a disappointing lack of SWP emulation so far - I appreciate that agemame has aimed to resolve that somewhat with the addition of the IMPACT video stuff [does the touchscreen work btw? I haven't even got the roms to be able to try it as yet ] and of course the ongoing MPU4 video work (again, I haven't seen the latest progress with that, but can probably help out once it's doing something constructive). I guess the biggest problem is that the resources for SWP machines are in shorter supply and the actual content is more heavily "protected" than the AWP stuff :S

[elcondor]

Yes, the touchscreen works, but the communications with the DUART are very wrong indeed, so some of the processes such as ingame timers etc are running far too fast. I don't know how far you got with DUART handling in JPeMu, but that'd be handy right now.

MPU4 Video? Well I know the main board works, becaus it runs the AWPs, but again, the video communications are the challenge. To make those work I have to rewrite (for the third time) MAME's 6850 ACIA driver to support the special status pins that every other usage has set to ground. Hopefully then we won't just get garbage coming down the serial link, as there'll be a proper handler to stop it.

ROMs, you say? PM me, I can help with that

[Guitar]

Oh, and if you ask me, emulating Epoch is still too soon, I am only in it for the CPU core.

I wouldn't worry, by the time I get a decent core going, there's every chance that it'll be long forgotton. Writing emulations takes time you know. Whats that? You want me to shut up and go away, ok.

Just messin', Guitar

[elcondor]

I wouldn't worry, by the time I get a decent core going, there's every chance that it'll be long forgotton. Writing emulations takes time you know. Whats that? You want me to shut up and go away, ok.

Just messin', Guitar

You've just made me realise that my wink smiley was missing, oh well, too late.

[benflynn]

bump - well this thread went very quiet. Have people decided that in light of EPEE its not necessary to keep working on a core?

[resigner]

Epoch Lamp Boards, now theres a blast from the past. It was far to easy to blow one when you where devving a machine. Turn all the lamps on for 5 seconds by mistake and booooom there she goes.

If you are serious about emulating Epoch drop me a PM.

Have Fun

Afternoon Ed

[Geddy]

bump - well this thread went very quiet. Have people decided that in light of EPEE its not necessary to keep working on a core?

I think from posts today it is obvious that EPEE is a total fake.

[jamesb99_1999]

Why bring this crap on here too?? Maybe it is maybe it isn't??? So - why get soooo worked up...

[chan]

if you carry on like that james im going to get really mad and swear at you .... you fiddle stick muck muck

[lincs1]

Why bring this crap on here too?? Maybe it is maybe it isn't??? So - why get soooo worked up...

coz if FF don't get the donations rolling in soon then the site will dry up pmsl

[lincs1]

epee was fake after all ho hum..............

have you got any proof whatsoever kind sir!!

[jamesb99_1999]

Where does it's fake come from - the fact that Trouty shouts loudest??? Come on keep that crap off here and on FF, and I don't see why everybody is so PLEASED that the project real or not has ended - seems the scene is keen to glory in failure...................

[RoadRunner]

I would love to have seen an Epoch emulator released just glaring lies and bullshit posted suggested that I should think 'wait a sec thats bollocks'

Totally agreed.

[lincs1]

YAWN BORiNG!!!


jus wait n see what the future holds instead of slagging the impossible


who's knows we might be able to play homers meltdown or duff beer guide

[RoadRunner]

Now this is what I was talking about on FF regarding "getting the right team with the right intentions" behind epoch emulation. Epee was ruined from day 1 by employing (by default it seems) the world's worst PR.

But in all seriousness this thread is good stuff and good luck with it all. Even though all the jargon is way over my head, it makes great reading - to see people discussing the problems and possible solutions instead of the rubbish we saw with epee.

Good luck!