exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

stephen_usher wrote: 10 Oct 2023 09:58 I need to work out how to read the VDP registers and the video RAM so as to read/write a bitmap image... Or just learn Noddy and sprite programming, or both.

The instructions for the VDP do seem pretty good. I might even give it a go at some point, just been speaking with Dave from the MTX forum about an MFX, so hopefully have that very soon.

PhilC wrote: 10 Oct 2023 10:02

stephen_usher wrote: 10 Oct 2023 09:58 I need to work out how to read the VDP registers and the video RAM so as to read/write a bitmap image... Or just learn Noddy and sprite programming, or both.

The instructions for the VDP do seem pretty good. I might even give it a go at some point, just been speaking with Dave from the MTX forum about an MFX, so hopefully have that very soon.

Yeah, the manual basically has a copy of the original Texas Instruments documentation.

The Falcon and Jaguar are back in storage and the MTX512 back in the house. I can't be bothered to put stuff in the loft tonight.

Oh, and I'm getting distracted by the Apple Mac IIci video to VGA... It needs a sync splitter so I'm thinking about making one using an LMH1980

The Memotech MTX512 with MFX is out of storage and still works. Just running the original ROM based demo program.

Look at all those lovely colours... It's a pity that resolution is only 256x192 pixels.

Hey, I didn’t know there was a rom based test program even.

stephen_usher wrote: 11 Oct 2023 19:00 The Memotech MTX512 with MFX is out of storage and still works. Just running the original ROM based demo program.

Look at all those lovely colours... It's a pity that resolution is only 256x192 pixels.


IMG_3392.jpeg

Video quality looks really nice.

PhilC wrote: 11 Oct 2023 19:07 Hey, I didn’t know there was a rom based test program even.

This is actually loaded from "disk", but it's a copy or the original promotional ROM Memotech gave to retailers and used at shows.

stephen_usher wrote: 11 Oct 2023 19:14

PhilC wrote: 11 Oct 2023 19:07 Hey, I didn’t know there was a rom based test program even.

This is actually loaded from "disk", but it's a copy or the original promotional ROM Memotech gave to retailers and used at shows.

Ah ok fair enough. I’m quite looking forward to playing with the MFX when it arrives and getting to know this MTX after wanting one for 40 years

rubber_jonnie wrote: 11 Oct 2023 19:08 Video quality looks really nice.

Yeah, it's the MFX emulating the TI VDP chip (snooping the bus for reads/writes to the original chip) and outputting to a VGA port at normal VGA refresh rates. The MFX can also emulate the original 80 column card for use with CP/M.

My MTX500 now has a board under the VDP which outputs to RGB, which looks just as good.