Overview Features Coding ApolloOS Performance Forum Downloads Products Order Contact

Welcome to the Apollo Forum

This forum is for people interested in the APOLLO CPU.
Please read the forum usage manual.
Please visit our Apollo-Discord Server for support.



All TopicsNewsPerformanceGamesDemosApolloVampireAROSWorkbenchATARIReleases
Documentation about the Vampire hardware

Cause of Sound and Graphic Bugs With Vampire V1200

FRAXINOUS Eric
(Needs Verification)
Posts 48/ 1
15 Apr 2020 17:47


I don't understand why a vampire V1200 which is globally an accelerator card with a very fast processor can cause several graphics bugs and sounds bugs on demos and games. None of the AGA chips are on the FPGA. Is a problem with timing between CPU and chipset can cause this?


Manuel Jesus

Posts 155
15 Apr 2020 19:25


Hi what game or app are you trying to run I can see if I get the same issue



FRAXINOUS Eric
(Needs Verification)
Posts 48/ 1
15 Apr 2020 19:27


You can try Nexus 7 demo. Some parts of the demo are missing.
  Bacteria Demo had a lot of graphic glitches too.


Manuel Jesus

Posts 155
15 Apr 2020 20:11


Ok team is playing around with the demos and tehy are running it ok. Some things to try, no whdload version, and try to boot without startup sequence. Another thing I have to do on my end is boot in the correct video mode for the demo as I have an NTSC machine.



Igor Majstorovic
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 406
15 Apr 2020 20:17


@FRAXINOUS Eric I have just tested both demos with first initial beta core sent with cards and with latest core (V1200x12_Gold212_r7389B). With both of them I don't see any single problem regarding Nexus7 and bacteria demos. Can you elaborate more what are you doing with more details and if possible save video.


Vito Leva

Posts 43
15 Apr 2020 21:21


igor majstorovic wrote:

  @FRAXINOUS Eric I have just tested both demos with first initial beta core sent with cards and with latest core (V1200x12_Gold212_r7389B). With both of them I don't see any single problem regarding Nexus7 and bacteria demos. Can you elaborate more what are you doing with more details and if possible save video.
 

 
  Hi as i said on topic "Vampire 1200 V2" WHDLoad Nexus 7 demo only shows the spiral, you can hear the music but it doesn't show the other animations (exchip+nocache enabled) on the latest core 7389B so i must confirm what said by @FRAXINOUS Eric.
WHDLoad Bacteria Demo runs fine instead (exchip+nocache enabled) a music demo with minimal graphic
effects....


Fabien B

Posts 23
15 Apr 2020 21:32


Vito Leva wrote:

     
        Hi as i said on topic "Vampire 1200 V2" WHDLoad Nexus 7 demo only shows the spiral, you can hear the music but it doesn't show the other animations (exchip+nocache enabled) on the latest core 7389B so i must confirm what said by @FRAXINOUS Eric.
     

     
      Tested also on my side (core 7389B). From Whdload (Exchip + nocache)  after the Shade cluster EXTERNAL LINK getting a black screen with only music in the background.
      If booting directly on the adf image from Gotek getting crash with vertical bars + only music in the background after the 3D jumping desk lamp EXTERNAL LINK   
  By the way I have also problem running demos on my Blizzard 68040 card so not probably something specific to the vampire but more related on coding of the demos + accelerator boards.
     


Vito Leva

Posts 43
15 Apr 2020 21:39


Fabien B wrote:

Vito Leva wrote:

       
        Hi as i said on topic "Vampire 1200 V2" WHDLoad Nexus 7 demo only shows the spiral, you can hear the music but it doesn't show the other animations (exchip+nocache enabled) on the latest core 7389B so i must confirm what said by @FRAXINOUS Eric.
       

       
        Tested also on my side (core 7389B). From Whdload (Exchip + nocache)  after the Shade cluster EXTERNAL LINK getting a black screen with only music in the background.
        If booting directly on the adf image from Gotek getting crash with vertical bars + only music in the background after the 3D jumping desk lamp EXTERNAL LINK   
    By the way I have also problem running demos on my Blizzard 68040 card so not probably something specific to the vampire but more related on coding of the demos + accelerator boards.
       

You can read all my tests on WHDLoad demos with problems on other topic named "Vampire 1200 V2"



Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6197
16 Apr 2020 22:30


FRAXINOUS Eric wrote:

You can try Nexus 7 demo

   
Maybe "NEXUS 7 DEMO" is not the best testcase?
The demo has bugs and contains illegal instruction encodings that are not defined. The demo does depend on the CPU to ignore the wrong encodings. A good CPU which detect these error might through GURU on it and not execute it.

I think a broken program should not be used a test.


FRAXINOUS Eric
(Needs Verification)
Posts 48/ 1
17 Apr 2020 19:12


You're right, but a lot of amiga software has already been written (with some bugs). I think the better the compatibility, the better is. The Blizzard 1230 Mk IV is the best 68030 accelerator for A1200 not only for its performance, but also for excellent compatibility with games, demos and software.
But, you're right: i need to forget a little the Nexus 7 demo :)
Thanks :)


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6197
17 Apr 2020 19:50


FRAXINOUS Eric wrote:

You're right, but a lot of amiga software has already been written (with some bugs).

Actually this is the first and only Amiga demo with such bugs I know.



Vojin Vidanovic
(Needs Verification)
Posts 1916/ 1
17 Apr 2020 20:08


FRAXINOUS Eric wrote:

      I don't understand why a vampire V1200 which is globally an accelerator card with a very fast processor can cause several graphics bugs and sounds bugs on demos and games. None of the AGA chips are on the FPGA. Is a problem with timing between CPU and chipset can cause this?
     

     
      Mostly because inserting 030-060 accelerator would also cause most of similar incompatibilities. Some are linked to code that works only on 00-020, cant handle some newer feature (like cache) etc. WHDLoads mostly correct those and are recommended way of using software made before 040-060. Some were not made to be run from WB at all etc. Its best to read demo requirements and "downgrade" to same version of OS, KS as much as possible OR hunting does WHDSlave exists for a demo (not always a case). 040-060 RTG demos runs 100% and are recommended.
   
    Demos are even more sensitive category then games, as they used a lot of tricks and abusing CPU specifics to achieve its goals.
     
      There are certain situations where "timings in FPGA" cant cause small problems, but if reported, these get corrected with future core releases.It seems to me this is exactly the case here and you can find such troubles reported in other thread. Heads up, it gets fixed in future iterations and V1200 is "young beast". V4SA owners have even more trouble, as its younger and more complex.
     
      In other words, dont be afraid to report exact problem stressing the core version and regularly update cores. When reporting say OS, KS, Vampire, core, resolution and any contributing factors, like people describe, make a video and try to make bug reproducible so it can be tracked and fixed.
 
 
igor majstorovic wrote:

  @FRAXINOUS Eric I have just tested both demos with first initial beta core sent with cards and with latest core (V1200x12_Gold212_r7389B). With both of them I don't see any single problem regarding Nexus7 and bacteria demos. Can you elaborate more what are you doing with more details and if possible save video.
 

 
  Try updating same core as Majsta and retesting.
  EXTERNAL LINK v1200 B core


FRAXINOUS Eric
(Needs Verification)
Posts 48/ 1
31 May 2020 10:18


I've found another problem: the sound and animation aren't in constant time. Sometime the music and animation are faster than usual and sometime slower. I've noticed the problem on "The secret of the monkey Island". Switching to "turtle mode" doesn't help.


Vito Leva

Posts 43
31 May 2020 22:28


I have tried Monkey Island 1 on latest unofficial core on V1200 (rev7565) and the game loaded from WHDLoad with no option enabled works perfect in graphic and sound/music (i have also upload a video on slack).
Maybe you are using a non updated version of the game from WHDLoad archive or you are using an oldest core on V1200.
Bye.


FRAXINOUS Eric
(Needs Verification)
Posts 48/ 1
31 May 2020 23:09


Where did you get this core? I've an older one.


Vito Leva

Posts 43
01 Jun 2020 18:45


I have tried also on 7389B official core and i have no graphic no sound/music issue on monkey island 1 on WHDLoad without selecting any option or enabling nocache in expert mode.
Bye.


FRAXINOUS Eric
(Needs Verification)
Posts 48/ 1
01 Jun 2020 20:01


You are right. I have an A2000 with a vampire V500 v2+ and Monkey Island works great on Coffin. Something is wrong with my Workbench installation A1200 (custom installation). But, I do not know what ...

posts 17