Vampire 600 V2 - Amiga 600 FPGA accelerator Pre-order

[Jepplen]

I want it now I want it now :tantrum:

When it's finished

 

[easy_john]

Yes, I didn't published yet any videos or pictures about running programs to show compatibility level but we are getting there. So far all is going with the plan.

How about possibility to lock core speed (temporally, by software) to something that really exist long time ago, for example 68040@50mhz, to be 100% compatible with some rare demos or games, that can't run it detect more than 200mhz.

 

[majsta]

This will not be needed. Please write down if you have some special demos or something that you know that could be problematic so I can test them.

 

[Jose]

On the other hand a risc core would probably be easier to implement right ? Just saying....

Hmm, a fast 020 should be enough for running os 3.9, ther's no need for PPC at all.

I think you misunderstood.
And maybe I was unclear in my reply to @trydowave. I assumed he was wondering if you could run os4 so I just clarified that the Vampire is 68k only, not ppc. But maybe he was simply wondering if you could run 3.1, 3.5 or 3.9.
No one claimed you need anything more than a 020 to run OS 3.9 ;-)

 

[eXeler0]

check Majsta and apollo websites... looking very good.
http://www.majsta.com/
http://www.apollo-core.com/knowledge.php?b=1&note=3139

he's got some good benchmarks / vs ACA cards etc, also cpu detecting as 68ec040

Yea, saw that. It's interesting that the core is now being recognized as a 040. This tells me stuff is progressing nicely as the core is obviously less crippled (one that utilizes more LE's on the FPGA) than the one we saw in previous tests.
Unfortunately, IMO this also brings the side effect that 040 optimized software will expect an FPU. (As opposed to being recognized as a 250MHz 020)
AFAIK, the exact ideas about the FPU in Apollo core only exist in Gunnar's head atm, but at the very least some sort of patched FPU library will be required to maintain software compatibility? No?

Just saw that Gunnar posted some new info.
He says the Apollo core indeed is basically a 040 now (without FPU). They also have more or less an FPU working but its not included in the core yet, but is sure sounds interesting.
Im very impressed with the Apollo + Majsta team. They are really re-writing history here ;-)

 

[Jepplen]

Im very impressed with the Apollo + Majsta team. They are really re-writing history here ;-)

This.

 

[guyome]

Hello, Do you know when the Vampire V2 will be available ? like September 2015 or something or maybe better the begin of 2016 ?
Second question , Does the card will be working with Whdload at 100% ?
Third and the last lol I know the people who have already paid for it will be the first to be served but do you think the production will be bigger than this ?
thanks a lot !

 

[eXeler0]

@guyome Majsta says in Original Post that release is q3 or q4 2015. Nowhere does he say 2016 but with hardware projects like this nothing is guaranteed.
Be patient ;-)
As for 100% whdl... who knows.. is any amiga config 100% compatible?
The important thing to remember is that the softcore in the FPGA is upgradable. It will become better, faster and more compatible over time.
Again, be patient. From what weve seen so far it will be worth the wait

Skickat från min GT-I9505 via Tapatalk

 

[majsta]

@eXeler0 thank you for clarification, in your explanation nothing to add or remove

 

[guyome]

Ok fellas thanx for the information !

 

[sadirux]

Declaring interest, i will send the money tomorrow :rainbow:

 

[sadirux]

Payment send

 

[Jepplen]

Good choice

 

[Vlad]

Payment send for one board.

 

[majsta]

Hi ppl I was on holiday for 7 days. I ll reply to all PM tomorrow.
Edit: All done, PM answered and ppl added to the waiting list.

 

[majsta]

Ok, board is going to new and probably final redesign that's why all is delayed. Why? Why not add more memory and MicroSD Board size will need to be changed so it will be slightly bigger 65mmx100mm. Main reason for going with this redesign is that some people complained that memory amounts is too small for porting any modern application. Also with the memory used now we will never be able to run Phoenix core at full speed, performance in the future, the same time it will give higher resolution and bandwidth on HDMI. For microSD, we can use it in the future for various things... My plan was to get board to the people much sooner but let's try to attack PPC performance first

 

[eXeler0]

This is very interesting news Majsta,
Any idea of the new upper limits for memory size and speed?

 

[majsta]

Yes, I just hope that people will understand why is this better and that all will have little more patience. There was lot of changes with this design but, simply, reason for this was because Phoenix core each day getting faster and we need to support it as much we can. I have the values but I ll speak about them once when we confirm everything.
Just to mention one more thing I forgot, regarding maybe most important part in hardware design, PLCC 68 sockets, this time I will use much better sockets, so no more cheap sockets who cant ensure proper connection to old CPU.

 

[Sardine]

great news

for me take as long as you need

 

[Pghulme]

just out of interest, is this Apollo core open source or is it closed to this particular project?