I finally got my Aminimig from AmigaKit today (and a Competition Pro joystick) - thanks!

I had already purchased a universal DC power supply from Circuit City ($25) and a Transcend 2GB SD card from Tiger Direct ($9.99). Note that a Minimig bought from Amigakit for the USA does not come with an SD as standard.

I formatted the SD card to FAT16, downloaded and copied over the Minimig firmware from A-Cube's website, copied over a KS1.3 ROM and copied over some games for testing. The Minimig requires a 5v DC PSU and the one I purchased had settings for 4.5v or 6v, so I went with 4.5v. I grabbed an old PS2 mouse and keyboard, hooked up a CRT monitor and turned on the power strip. I watched with alarm as multicoloured lines flashed across the screen until I remembered that this was supposed to be a retro-fastloader display while the core loaded, and then smiled as the Amiga Kickstart 1.3 "insert disk" logo appeared.

I quickly tested SDI and Defender of the Crown before I decided that I really needed to give the Minimig some protection from the clutter on my desk or my fingers as I plugged and unplugged items. I didn't have a case handy, but I'd been toying with the idea of housing the Minimig inside a PC keyboard...

I grabbed my Dremel cutting tools, a Stanley knife, some tape, a scissors and a spare eMachines PS2 keyboard and went to work. Less than 60 minutes later I had this:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1270s.jpg

The top keyboard is the housed Minimig while the one below it is my actual PC keyboard.

Here's a shot with them flipped over:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1271s.jpg

As you can see, I used the Dremel to cut out some of the plastic molding, screwed the Minimig to the bottom of the keyboard, shortened the PC keyboard cord by 2 and a half feet (which took the most time) and added a couple of white rubber feet to the front to raise it up as a chip on the Minimig was hitting the desk. The SD card can be easily removed or inserted by just flipping the keyboard over.

Finally I hooked it up to a wide screen LCD for some games testing... and got no display.

I tracked down the beta core that allows 60kHz monitors to be used, added the required jumpers and got this:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/darrin01311/100_1273s.jpg

OK, it's a bodge job and I'll admit it, but a $10 PC keyboard and half an hour is better than leaving a bare board on your desk. Now I'm off to test some games...

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

It actually looks pretty nice, the entire setup is sort of remanicent of WebTV hardware, except better. Can you let us know what software you got working on it?

@ReverseGTR

Thanks.

I do need to replace that "eMachines" logo with an Amiga one!

I've got together a collection of ADF files and I'll work my way though them tomrrow (I need to meet my wife for dinner in town in 30 minutes). I'll post the results here with a detailed breakdown on any errors and pass them on to the Wiki list.

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Brilliant stuff!

Would you mind if I put a link to this thread on my Minimig site in the near future? (www.mobileinventions.com/minimig)

@straycat

No problem, help yourself. If you want some better hi-res photos of the underside of the keyboard then let me know and I'll email them to you. Cheers.

Last edited by Darrin on 24-Apr-2008 at 03:47 AM.

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@ReverseGTR

Just a quick update for you. It takes a while to test the games (because you end up playing the one that work for an hour!) and I've had other things to do, so here's what I found so far:

(Please note that I've used available "cracked" ADFs for testing rather than go to the effort of making real ADFs from my orginal (and in some cases corrupt) disks)

All software tested using Kickstart1.3 and the 60kHz modified core set for PAL.

1943 Battle of Midway – Works.
Alien Breed - Problem. Works, but main player sprite is invisible.
Arkanoid – Works.
Cannon Fodder – Problem. Works. When screen flickers black/blue between phases, insert disk #1, wait for flickering to stop and reinsert previous disk.
Cannon Fodder Xmas Edition – Problems. Works the first time, but after dying the game crashes when attempting to play again plus some graphics corruption on “barracks” when destroyed.
Chasos Engine – Locks up after “crack” screen with a blank display, but the drive light keeps flashing.
Defender of the Crown* – Works.
Desert Strike - Reports a “fatal disk error”.
It Came From The Desert 2* – Works. Hangs after intro with a black screen, press joystick fire button P2 to get “insert disk” prompt.
Dune II, Battle for Arrakis – Needs to create a saved game disk, worked up to that point however saw some graphics corruption on the pointer. Couldn’t test any further.
Kick Off 2 - Works.
Lemmings – Works.
Lemmings 2 - Locks up after “crack” screen and performs a software failure.
Little Computer People – Works (long pause after entering setup details to program running).
Lords of the Rising Sun – Works (lots of disk swapping!)
Menace – Main sprite detection error which causes the shields to constantly run down as if the ship it being hit by the enemy.
North & South – Works.
Rocket Ranger – Works.
S.D.I – Works.
Settlers – Problem. Works, but control panel graphics are corrupted making it impossible to play.
Oh No! More Lemmings – Works.
Silkworm – Works.
Sinbad and the Throne of the Falcon* – Works (lots of disk swapping!)
Speedball 2 - Problem. Works, but sound and some graphics corruption.
T2 The Arcade Game – Works.
Team Yankee – Works.
UFO Enemy Unknown – Needs to write to Disk 3.
Walker – Locks up with a red screen after the “crack” intro.
Wings – Works.
X-Out* – Locks up after the “trainer screen” with a black display.
Xennon2 Megablast - Works.
Zaxxon – Works.

Last edited by Darrin on 25-Apr-2008 at 10:51 PM.

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Well done, looks like a grand job.

Just one problem - the 4.5 V supply. That voltage is so low it's right on the lower limit of most 5V logic. It's likely to give you intermittent problems some day. I'd suggest looking for a regulated 5V supply, you can get them cheaply from Radio Shack or similar places. Just make sure it's REGULATED.

_________________
cheers
tony

Hyperion Support Forum: http://forum.hyperion-entertainment.biz/index.php

@tonyw

Thanks for the tip. The power supply claimed to be 5v (amongst others), but then didn't have an actual 5v setting on the slider switch (3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 & 12). Oh well, it works for now, but I'll keep an eye out for an actual 5v one.

I've just tested a few more (some hits and some misses) and I'll update my list later.

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@tonyw

I don't think the minimig has any 5V logic. It's more likely it uses the 5V to generate a couple of other voltages. Running logic directly on a user operated DC input is seriously asking for trouble.

Yeah, checked the schematics. Shouldn't be any problem running it on 4.5V. The 3.3V regulator won't be able to pump out full power at 3.3V with a 4.5V input, it needs 4.6V. But I doubt the system will have much problem running at 3.2V...

Edit2: But 6V should work as well. The regulators used handle up to 15V or so without any problems (other than extra heat, that is).

Last edited by olegil on 26-Apr-2008 at 12:01 PM.
Last edited by olegil on 26-Apr-2008 at 11:57 AM.

_________________
This weeks pet peeve:
Using "voltage" instead of "potential", which leads to inventing new words like "amperage" instead of "current" (I, measured in A) or possible "charge" (amperehours, Ah or Coulomb, C). Sometimes I don't even know what people mean.

@Darrin

I've been searching Google but the amperage is twice as much or more as the one you have for a five volt power supply and I don't want to suggest any model that would damage anything.

@Chuckt

you can't destroy anythng by using a too big psu. as long as the voltage is within spec.

And I seriously think the minimig should have a "4.5V to 9V regulated" spec rather than a "5V" spec.

_________________
This weeks pet peeve:
Using "voltage" instead of "potential", which leads to inventing new words like "amperage" instead of "current" (I, measured in A) or possible "charge" (amperehours, Ah or Coulomb, C). Sometimes I don't even know what people mean.

@Darrin

Some extensive testing! You managed to get further than me with Speedball 2 - I think I might give that another try.

I had the same problem with Cannon Fodder but didn't work out the disk swapping sequence - I'm definitely going to try that again - thanks for the tip

Don't forget to add your testing to the Minimig Wiki so your hard work doesn't get lost in this thread http://www.opencircuits.com/Minimig_Project

@olegil

OK, if it just uses the 5V as input to 3.3V regs, that'll do just fine. In fact, if Darrin's PSU is one of those unregulated things, it's quite likely putting out 5.5V - 6V anyway.

_________________
cheers
tony

Hyperion Support Forum: http://forum.hyperion-entertainment.biz/index.php

@Darrin

Quote:

OK, it's a bodge job and I'll admit it, but a $10 PC keyboard and half an hour is better than leaving a bare board on your desk.

True! I still find it staggering we can't get a custom case made for the community!! I definately will not be buying one until it's an 'all in one' package. There is enough faff sorting out the ROM image stuff!!!

_________________
"Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art."
John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios

@BigD

There is the wizard casing but it's not to everyone's liking...

http://tinyurl.com/5m57zn

@straycat


Argh! Stopped by Zone Alarm...spyware found on the site!

Never mind, I think I know which one it is.

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@All:

Cheers for the tips. SO I should be OK with this 4.5v supply then.

@Straycat:

It might have something to do with what ADFs you use. I had a Speedball 2 ADF that never worked on WinUAE and then I found one that did. Might be using a different ADF to you. Unfortunately, the corruption ruins the gameplay, but I have played a game against the computer and you can access the play stats screen with no problems.

I only played a couple of levels of Cannon Fodder because the constant swapping back to disk #1 from disk #2 for each stage was really annoying, but it did work (with the ADFs I'm using). Hopefully a muti-disk core might help if disk #1 can be left "in".

@ Big D:

I know what you mean. I didn't order my Minimig for a couple of months because I was waiting for AmigaKit to source some PSUs as I wanted to order them together. In the end I gave up waiting.

The files to put on the SD card are not as much hassle as you think. The "official" core is available from the ACube website while a quick google will find you the 60kHz core (and I think it's linked on Straycat's site too). As for the actual Kickstart, well I've upgraded all of my Amigas in the house to 3.1, but I have lots of ROM chips gathering dust on shelves. I'm not going to risk teh health of one of my Amigas by inserting a 1.3 chip into the mobo just to rip it and I can't be ####d to rip one from my AMiga Forever so I feel fully justitified in doing a quick Goodle and downloading one.

All in all, if you have a PC with a SD card slot then it will take you 15 minutes to download and copy over what you need for the Minimig:

#1: Format card to FAT16.
#2: Download core to card (configure jumpers as per jpeg if using 60kHz core).
#3: Download Kickstart to card and rename it.
#4: Copy over any ADF files.
#5: Shove it in your Minimig and switch on.

Having to make a custom case is a bit of a pain, but I can't see anyone producing cases cheaply as it would mean a bulk production and too many people have different ideas on what they want their case to look like. I'm all fingers and thumbs, and it took me less than an hour to bodge this one. Most of that time was cutting the keyboard cable and then joining the wires back together and making sure they were insulated (otherwise it would have been the 40 minute Minimig case).

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

Oh, and here's a quick update on my software testing:

1943 Battle of Midway – Works.
Addams Family – Theme music plays and then locks up with a black screen. Drive light keeps flashing.
Alien Breed - Problem. Works, but main player sprite is invisible.
Alien Breed Special Edition – Locks up with a black screen after the advertisement for Super Frog.
Alien Breed Tower Assault – Guru Meditation 00000000.80006130
Alien Syndrome – Works.
Arkanoid – Works.
Barbarian (Palace) – Works.
Barbarian (Psynosis) – Locks up with a blank screen after “crack” intro.
Barbarian 2 (Palace) – Works.
Barbarian 2 (Psynosis) - Locks up with a black screen.
Bard’s Tale 3 – Works, but need to write to disk to save progress.
BattleChess – Works.
Battleships – Works.
Better Dead Than Alien – Works.
Bubble Bobble – Works.
Cannon Fodder* – Problem. Works. When screen flickers black/blue between phases, insert disk #1, wait for flickering to stop and reinsert previous disk.
Cannon Fodder Xmas Edition – Problems. Works the first time, but after dying the game crashes when attempting to play again plus some graphics corruption on “barracks” when destroyed.
Carrier Command – Works.
Chasos Engine – Locks up after “crack” screen with a blank display, but the drive light keeps flashing.
Colonisation – Works (but is a utter #### when it comes to disk swapping!).
Defender of the Crown* – Works.
Deluxe Pacman – “Unable to load error code 212” when inserting disk.
Desert Strike - Reports a “fatal disk error”.
Detroit – Games starts and then keeps asking for Disk 1 even though it’s mounted.
Druid 2 – Works (but haven’t got a clue what I’m doing!).
Dune II, Battle for Arrakis – Needs to create a saved game disk, worked up to that point however saw some graphics corruption on the pointer. Couldn’t test any further.
Dungeon Master – Works.
Elite – Works.
Elite 2, Frontier – Works.
Faery Tale Adventure – Works, but I need to find the docs to get past the password copy protection.
Federation of Free Traders (FOFT) – Works.
Garrison – Works.
Garrison 2 – Works.
Gauntlet 2 – Works.
Gauntlet 3 – Works.
Hostages – Problem, works but timing is all to hell and soldiers get shot & killed as soon as they break cover.
It Came From The Desert 2* – Works. Hangs after intro with a black screen, press joystick fire button P2 to get “insert disk” prompt.
International Karate + - Works.
Into The Eagles Nest – Works.
Kick Off 2 - Works.
Lemmings – Works.
Lemmings 2 - Locks up after “crack” screen and performs a software failure.
Little Computer People* – Works (long pause after entering setup details to program running).
Lords of the Rising Sun* – Works (lots of disk swapping!)
Lotus Espirit Turbo Challenge – Works.
Marble Madness – Works.
Menace – Main sprite detection error which causes the shields to constantly run down as if the ship it being hit by the enemy.
Nitro – Works.
North & South – Works.
Oh No! More Lemmings – Works.
Pac-Land – Works.
Pacmania – Problem. Main spites OK, but background totally corrupted. Unplayable.
Persian Gulf Inferno – Works.
Phantasie 3 – Works, but needs to write to disk in order to save progress.
Populous – Freezes on first option screen, can’t move pointer.
Ports of Call – Works.
POW – Problem. Works, but very minor graphics corruption on left hand side of display.
Red Storm Rising – Works.
Rocket Ranger – Works.
Rodland – Problem, works except that the score and letters collected are not displayed on the play screen.
S.D.I – Works.
Settlers – Problem. Works, but control panel graphics are corrupted making it impossible
Shadow Dancer – Works.
Silent Service – Works.
Silent Service 2 – Works.
Silkworm – Works.
Sinbad and the Throne of the Falcon* – Works (lots of disk swapping!)
Speedball 2* - Problem. Works, but sound and some graphics corruption.
Star Fleet 1 The War Begins – Problem, Works and boots to WB1.2, but needs to write to disk. Hit “cancel” to continue game, however game will hang during setup due to inability to create a log file.
Supremacy – Works.
Syndicate – Locks up after “crack” screen.
T2 The Arcade Game – Works.
Team Yankee – Works.
Troddlers – Problem. Works but main player sprite is invisible.
Twintris – Problem. Corrupted extra text graphics over play screen.
UFO Enemy Unknown – Needs to write to Disk 3.
Uridium 2 – Works.
Walker – Locks up with a red screen after the “crack” intro.
Wing Commander – Doesn’t boot, perhaps it needs to be HD installed?
Wings – Works.
X-Out – Locks up after the “trainer screen” with a black display.
Xennon2 Megablast - Works.
Zaxxon – Works.
Zeewolf2 – Works.
Zombi – Works.

I have to take a break now as I need to mow the grass in the garden...

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@Darrin

Wing Commander – Doesn’t boot, perhaps it needs to be HD installed?

back in the day I ran Wing Commander off floppy disks.

_________________
Rage quited 29th May 2011

I picked up this Mac mini case (without mobo) from ebay: 31 euros - I'll use it for my minimig (MAC mini-mig).

The case is 145x145 mm and around 60mm high - the minimig is only 120x120mm - so there should be room enough to have all connectors (flat / custom connectors) hidden inside the case - and having them taken out through the backside (to change mice or other perphiral - the case has to be opened).

With som extra cutting in the backside I should be able to acces the menu-button and the flash card.

Because of the height it should be easy to have build-in speakers - and maybe some other "stuff"?? And to finish up the piece, the apple will be hidden by a boing ball sticker.

I'll put up some pictures when it's finished.

_________________
Maintainer of www.bigbookofamigahardware.com