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Cheaper MiSTer FPGA clones have arrived!

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Deleted member 151830

Jun 25, 2023
7,173

View: https://twitter.com/TakiUdon_/status/1784880189367103642

Same hardware, different SKU. Works with the default image from SORG.

Apparently they will also be making "consolized" versions as well as a handheld implemntation, too. You can pay $15 for an additional 128mb on the bare board.

Looks like the majority of the cost savings are coming from removing a lot of the redundant power chips?
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Source for Discord quotes

Super interested in picking myself up one of these now that they're going to be cheaper... But I think I'll wait a little bit longer to see what their pre-made "console" versions are like.

Wonder who's cloning the DE-10 Nano board in the first place though...?
 
LewieP

LewieP

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Oct 26, 2017
20,620
I've been on the cusp of getting a mister, for ages, but I'll be all over this if it comes to fruition.
 
lori

lori

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Oct 25, 2017
3,351
how are they this much cheaper...? the board alone before add ons is around 200, isn't it?
 
Shaneus

Shaneus

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Oct 27, 2017
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stopmrdomino said:
Apparently a lot of the cost in the board comes in power related stuff that is redundant for the usage of MiSTer
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I thought the cost was in the FPGA itself, but if it's only in stuff that isn't used... WOAH.

Could they build the SDRAM chips already into the board and save that too? Hell, even without that I would buy a second one anyway. I wonder if Retrocastle has anything to do with this? They did develop the mini-MD console and AIO boards for the MiSTer.
 
LewieP

LewieP

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Platy said:
what this one do that the others don't ?
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It would be around a quarter of the price. But seemingly functionally identical.

Shaneus said:
I thought the cost was in the FPGA itself, but if it's only in stuff that isn't used... WOAH.

Could they build the SDRAM chips already into the board and save that too? Hell, even without that I would buy a second one anyway. I wonder if Retrocastle has anything to do with this? They did develop the mini-MD console and AIO boards for the MiSTer.
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Yep including the SDRAM on the main board is one of the cost-saving methods being discussed.
 
OP
OP

Deleted member 151830

Jun 25, 2023
7,173
Shaneus said:
I thought the cost was in the FPGA itself, but if it's only in stuff that isn't used... WOAH.

Could they build the SDRAM chips already into the board and save that too? Hell, even without that I would buy a second one anyway. I wonder if Retrocastle has anything to do with this? They did develop the mini-MD console and AIO boards for the MiSTer.
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The SDRAM is soldered to the board now, yeah.
 
Santar

Santar

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I never saw much point in a mister because at least from the outside looking in it seems basically the same result as a emulator just that it's hardware instead of software this time. It's the same cycle that emulators had, start out buggy and end up less buggy. I mean it's fascinating that it's hardware based but the result isn't much different from emulators.
 
Lilly-Anne

Lilly-Anne

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Feb 14, 2024
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Does this mean we can finally get a Gameboy Advance SP FPGA console? Always held off on the Analogue Pocket because for me the SP is the absolute peak form factor👌
 
neonglow

neonglow

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Oct 25, 2017
1,071
Not sure which option to choose. Get the new board when it releases or wait for either the console or handheld versions. I'll probably have to wait for cost estimates of each option before deciding.
 
LewieP

LewieP

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Oct 26, 2017
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Santar said:
I never saw much point in a mister because at least from the outside looking in it seems basically the same result as a emulator just that it's hardware instead of software this time. It's the same cycle that emulators had, start out buggy and end up less buggy. I mean it's fascinating that it's hardware based but the result isn't much different from emulators.
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Also has the advantage of being much easier to connect to a CRT TV via RGB at 240p output than any modern PC/emulation device. Perhaps outside of Raspberry Pi, which would need additional hardware for that too.
 
TeenageFBI

TeenageFBI

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Santar said:
I never saw much point in a mister because at least from the outside looking in it seems basically the same result as a emulator just that it's hardware instead of software this time. It's the same cycle that emulators had, start out buggy and end up less buggy. I mean it's fascinating that it's hardware based but the result isn't much different from emulators.
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High end "emulation" with virtually no latency, low power draw, easily connects to CRTs, can connect to tons of original peripherals (if you're into that). It also allows for fun hobby stuff like the way it outputs a 240p signal on HDMI which can be used in a RetroTink 4K.

I have a PC that can handle high end emulation and I still like to use the MiSTer.
 
OP
OP

Deleted member 151830

Jun 25, 2023
7,173
Lilly-Anne said:
Does this mean we can finally get a Gameboy Advance SP FPGA console? Always held off on the Analogue Pocket because for me the SP is the absolute peak form factor👌
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Unfortunately I don't really see a way they shrink it down enough to make an SP form factor work. I'd assume something between Switch and Steam Deck size
 
construct

construct

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Jun 5, 2020
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i thought the story was the FPGA chips specifically are the expensive component and Intel subsidizes them so attract new talent?

tbh i always found that story too good to be true so i wouldn't be surprised either way
 
LewieP

LewieP

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Oct 26, 2017
20,620
Platy said:
Oh it has been a long while that I don't get news on this front !

What was the latest console/arcade that got in?
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Those listed ones are probably the biggest ones, and likely the ceiling of what this hardware can do in terms of major home consoles (I doubt Dreamcast would ever happen).

But there's things like OpenBOR just got a port, and Groovy Mister which lets you connect a modern PC to your mister for playing PC games on a CRT TV.
 
oni-link

oni-link

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How hard would it be to set one of these up with a CRT?

Can you do stuff like save states etc?
 
Red

Red

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Oct 26, 2017
14,773
Sure, but that's the first-five-minutes price. How much once they're all scalped?
 
Why would you do that?

Why would you do that?

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Oct 25, 2017
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New York City
Santar said:
I never saw much point in a mister because at least from the outside looking in it seems basically the same result as a emulator just that it's hardware instead of software this time. It's the same cycle that emulators had, start out buggy and end up less buggy. I mean it's fascinating that it's hardware based but the result isn't much different from emulators.
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I think the main draw of the MiSTer is that, if you use a real controller and a CRT TV, it has zero latency, just like the real system. In fact, you can even use real peripherals that require zero latency, like lightgun controllers. And if you use a USB controller and an LCD or OLED display, then the only latency will be from your controller and display.

Compared to playing games on most software emulators (e.g. lately I've been loving using the Ayn Odin, an Android handheld, for emulation), the MiSTer just feels soooo responsive and perfect in a way I've not experienced in a long time, and on a tiny device that takes next to no power to run.

I could use my desktop, load Retroarch or something, enable run-ahead emulation, VRR, exclusive full screen, and WASAPI exclusive mode with a tiny audio buffer, and get a very similar result. Or I can just use the MiSTer.
 
KC-Slater

KC-Slater

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Oct 26, 2017
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Could this be signalling that the price point/feasibility of a mini-Saturn from Sega is drawing closer?
 
alr1ght

alr1ght

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Oct 25, 2017
11,177
I guess it was bound to happen with Terasic continually jacking up the price. I'll remain skeptical of this clone until I see it in action.
 
AgeEighty

AgeEighty

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Oct 25, 2017
16,628
About time. If they're doing a handheld MiSTer then they absolutely have to match or exceed the Pocket in terms of screen specs.
 

Rahkeesh

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Jun 20, 2022
7,202
AgeEighty said:
About time. If they're doing a handheld MiSTer then they absolutely have to match or exceed the Pocket in terms of screen specs.
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This is stuff being made for the Chinese and import markets at fairly low prices, nothing like that is happening.

I'll settle for something substantially larger and 720pish for my home console games.
 
hikarutilmitt

hikarutilmitt

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Dec 16, 2017
13,874
I'd be down for building another. I moved mine to the office when I accidentally snagged a CRT back after Xmas, would like to be able to use it again in another room without moving it around.
 
ann3nova.

ann3nova.

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Oct 27, 2017
2,683
Santar said:
I never saw much point in a mister because at least from the outside looking in it seems basically the same result as a emulator just that it's hardware instead of software this time. It's the same cycle that emulators had, start out buggy and end up less buggy. I mean it's fascinating that it's hardware based but the result isn't much different from emulators.
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I was in the same mindset. Then I experienced the lower input latency. I'm hooked.
 
TuitionScriptBarrel

TuitionScriptBarrel

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Oct 25, 2017
2,199
This is great. I feel like my board has some issues with power (can't run barely anything USB off it) so I'd really consider picking up a $100 new model instead of spending hundreds on a new IO board/USB hub.
 
Hero_of_the_Day

Hero_of_the_Day

Avenger
Oct 27, 2017
20,888
Santar said:
I never saw much point in a mister because at least from the outside looking in it seems basically the same result as a emulator just that it's hardware instead of software this time. It's the same cycle that emulators had, start out buggy and end up less buggy. I mean it's fascinating that it's hardware based but the result isn't much different from emulators.
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I have gotten retroarch to where I want it. But, I like the simplicity of mister and can much more quickly get things looking the way I want.
 

atimbre

Member
Oct 25, 2017
486
filkry said:
This is great. I feel like my board has some issues with power (can't run barely anything USB off it) so I'd really consider picking up a $100 new model instead of spending hundreds on a new IO board/USB hub.
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Are you running the stock power supply or have you tried swapping out your current one? Just checking.
 
oni-link

oni-link

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Can a MiSTer do things like run PS1 games in a higher res, or it is just an "as close to perfect PS1 experience" vs software emulation?
 
LewieP

LewieP

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Oct 26, 2017
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oni-link said:
Can a MiSTer do things like run PS1 games in a higher res, or it is just an "as close to perfect PS1 experience" vs software emulation?
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I think there's a 480p option for PS1, which forces games into 480p, basically doubling the resolution, but I think that's about it. You're not going to be rendering games at 720p, 1080p or above.
 
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