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kskunk

Member Since 1 May 2007
OFFLINE Last Active May 25 2012 9:34 AM

Posts I've Made

In Topic: Could the 7800's 6502C CPU run at 7.16mhz or 14.32mhz ?

Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:13 PM

View PostMath You, on Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:37 AM, said:

What if a new 7800 had a Sally and Maria chip that could both run at 2 or 3 times their current speed? Would it work or...
The answer also depends on what you mean by "would it work". For the library of 7800 games, a hypothetical overclock would mostly break them, at best showing no benefit at all. Only more more modern games are designed to scale up or down with CPU power, which is why overclocking can make a difference. Not so on older systems.

So, your overclocked 7800 wouldn't help existing games. But, like GroovyBee points out, you would probably need to use all new components and modern technology. This is not a mod, it's a new console from scratch. Somebody could write a special game to show off your new faster console, but it's not really a 7800 anymore...

Because of the design of the 7800, your best hope to add more power is probably by adding a faster processor that plugs into the cartridge port. A lot of systems have done this, starting with the 2600's 'Graduate', all the way to the Sega CD or 32X.

- KS

In Topic: Could the 7800's 6502C CPU run at 7.16mhz or 14.32mhz ?

Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:59 AM

View PostMath You, on Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:45 AM, said:

I was just reading about how the Atari 7800's graphics chip runs at 7.16mhz and was wondering if (in theory) the 6502C cpu could also run at the same speed or maybe twice the speed?
A big problem is the memory speed. The 6502 executes a LOT more memory accesses than most other CPUs. A 7.16MHz 6502 runs memory 4 times faster than a 7.16MHz 68000. This means the cartridge ROM and on-board RAM would need to be many times faster, which is not possible with the type of parts and bus used in the 7800.

If you wanted a much faster processor, you would need to build it into the expansion module along with its own local memory. This type of design would be more like Harmony's DPC+/ARM mode, where the 7800's 6502 would cooperate with a completely separate computer running with its own memory and peripherals.

- KS

In Topic: Is it true the prototype 2600/vcs used a 6502 and not a 6507

Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:46 AM

The "number of pins" is a substantial part of a chip's cost. With a tiny, high yielding, chip like the 6502, the number of pins can be the most expensive part of making the chip! Every pin you add increases the risk the part will fail, requiring costly rework or more likely just being trashed. This was especially true in 1977, when wire bonding technology was still primitive.

The 6502 was famous for costing $25, which is like $90 in modern money. I'm sure Atari got a better deal than that, but let's assume they got a 30% price cut for cutting off 30% of the pins in the 6507.

That's no small savings. Over the first couple of years, that kind of savings would pay the salaries of dozens of engineers.

- KS

In Topic: Compiling Virtual Jaguar 2.0.2 in linux

Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:22 AM

View Posttheloon, on Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:53 AM, said:

I've never compiled from source before. Is this amount of assumed knowledge (different argument order, hacking of code, etc..) typical?
It seems pretty common. On various projects I build, I have to patch for differences in my exact environment/build choices, or just fix bugs that slipped into the latest release. Usually, older/stabler builds have fewer problems. Cutting edge releases can be hit or miss.

After a while it's second nature.

- KS

In Topic: So this Jag thing

Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:08 AM

As long as you have the 64-bit edition of Windows, you should be able to run Battlesphere on your PC.

But, you won't see a picture unless you have a video card that supports CRY mode. Those are getting hard to find. (I'm willing to part with one for a fair price. PM me if interested.)

- KS

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