Gotek cortex vs HxC - any difference?

[Walterg74]

Hi there,

I have a cortex flashed gotek drive, and the other day as I was playing around and tried to copy a disc, for which I received an error, I remembered reading that write is not supported.

I then remembered HxC does support write, besides also supporting other image types, and thought of getting one flashed with HxC.

However.. I also recall now that I read that the USB versions of the HxC do NOT support writing, and that this also included the Gotek flashed with HxC solution... (I assume write is write, and it also applies to saving your games?)

So is this in fact correct? If so, what is the advantage or why would one get an HxC flashed gotek? (Or flash it yourself of course). Does it give you anything else I may miss besides maybe protected games?

Sounds like it would be better to just get a "real" HxC (I have two of those, but I like the simpleness of the cased gotek...

 

[8 Bit Dreams]

HXC firmware allows to use your gotek not only with Amiga, but also with Atari ST, CPC 6128, ZX Spectrum +3 and other computers. Yes, write option is allowed

 

[Walterg74]

HXC firmware allows to use your gotek not only with Amiga, but also with Atari ST, CPC 6128, ZX Spectrum +3 and other computers. Yes, write option is allowed

Awesome. And I guess cortex doesn't? (The multiple computer I knew).

 

[UberFreak]

It does allow writing, but there are many reports that its buggy and sometimes corrupts the adf file.

 

[8 Bit Dreams]

nobody's perfect- just like all of us the firmware is under further developement. Jeff has done an impressive job, and he still improves and optimizes these cheap drives allowing us to use them on almost all retro computers. Just check the homepage from time to time, and install new updates..
You can also share your knowledge and support this project at hxc forum.
The only known difference for me is that the hxc can simulate two drives, while gotek is tuck with only one, otherwise thay are almost the same...
Unsure did You saw my post here:

https://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?88999-LCD-on-Gotek&p=818901&viewfull=1#post818901

i have changed the case, added display, and i am very happy with this cheap unit now, works like a charm.
Regards,

-Viktor

 

[Walterg74]

nobody's perfect- just like all of us the firmware is under further developement. Jeff has done an impressive job, and he still improves and optimizes these cheap drives allowing us to use them on almost all retro computers. Just check the homepage from time to time, and install new updates..
You can also share your knowledge and support this project at hxc forum.
The only known difference for me is that the hxc can simulate two drives, while gotek is tuck with only one, otherwise thay are almost the same...
Unsure did You saw my post here:

https://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?88999-LCD-on-Gotek&p=818901&viewfull=1#post818901

i have changed the case, added display, and i am very happy with this cheap unit now, works like a charm.
Regards,

-Viktor

Hmm ok, you mention hxc and "gotek", and not sure what you're comparing, as gotek is the hardware.

Are you comparing the two hardware devices? (Gotek vs floppy emulator) or the firmwares? (Hxc vs cortex).

Always talking about hxc, what are the differences (if any) besides usb stick vs sd card, between a gotek with hxc and the hxc floppy emulator?

 

[8 Bit Dreams]

Cortex is the name of a STM32F105 ARM (Cortex-M3) CPU from STMicroelectronics - hence the name of the firmware, written to be used with gotek drives (also for other STM32 based floppy emulators). This firmware supports ADF file extension and is for use with Amiga computers only. It was offered free of charge. Afrer author have seen that flashed gotek drives was offered and sold on ebay - he stopped further developement of that project.
Talking about HXC (as a hardware ) there are at least four different versions. Lotharek is selling two revisions of them. Zaxon has offered one low cost version and also Jeff (the creator) have one open source unit to be built at home. Support for use HXC firmware on Goteks was added later. As i mentioned before - there is a possibility to use the hxc (hardware/software) on more than 20 different systems while Cortex is stuck with support of ADF files only...

 

[yellowdog]

The Cortex firmnware Gotek drive can write. I tried under Amiga DOS, and working fine, the file copy

 

[fordav1]

you can use a Gotek with the flash floppy firmware also. it provides all the features of the Gotek HXC firmware for free.

 

[8 Bit Dreams]

There is also third player in the game now. Haven't tested this new firmware yet...

 

[fordav1]

The Gotek Flash-Floppy firmware works just fine. I have about 8 Gotek drives all with F-F firmware and all working well. Some of them I have also wired in an OLED display as per instructions on the F-F web site (https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy)

 

[Drag0nFly]

Thinking of getting another Gotek with the FlashFloppy firmware as well - looks quite promising. Recently had some strange issues with the Cortex 1.05fw (would hang when selecting/traversing the ADFs via the front buttons). Was using a SanDisk UltraFit USB stick which previously worked well (and which comes included with a few of the Goteks being sold on eBay), so it seems either the Cortex fw or the device itself developed issues which caused fs-corruption (was fixed after copying back a fresh SELECTOR.ADF)

In relation to this: is anyone aware of a Gotek which has been modified to *actually fit* inside an A500 (similar to the ones kipper2k used to make?) I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to have a more elegant solution to this (and I have the external cable/hw-hack to use DF1: as DF0:, but did not want to bend the pins on the CIA chip)

btw. - I know there are some kits out there (e.g, from kevinmount) which can accomplish this, but I am looking for something which includes the floppy emulator.