The Sinclair QL Forum

Andrew wrote: Fri Nov 24, 2023 8:13 pm Will there be a SMSQE version for the FPGA ULA, that will allow the use of 16 colors?

It would be nice and the available colors will be more than 16 and I could make new graphic resolutions but I don't think there will ever be.
For now there is not a final version so it is too early to consider smsqe.
The sprites use 16 colors and one'll be able to plot in 16+ colors and make images with 16+ colors for games.
With sprites and the faster access and 2MB of ram one can "easily" make games with compiled basic or C as I demonstrated with the galaxians clone game (C68).

lliont wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 8:45 am

Andrew wrote: Fri Nov 24, 2023 8:13 pm Will there be a SMSQE version for the FPGA ULA, that will allow the use of 16 colors?

It would be nice and the available colors will be more than 16 and I could make new graphic resolutions but I don't think there will ever be.
For now there is not a final version so it is too early to consider smsqe.

Not even 8 colors work correctly under SMSQ/E, which would be closest to your 16 color mode.
So you'd need a completely new SMSQ/E screen driver and that is extremely unlikely to happen.
Better support the already implemented 256 color Aurora mode, if you want more than 4 colors with SMSQ/E.

Also keep in mind that SMSQ/E can not run on a QL, only the Miracle accellerator cards. And for a large screen area to be accessible, you'be be further restricted to SGC. The GC does not allow the required addresses to appear on the expansion bus.

So a 16 color or 32/64 color smsq/e won't run.
The goal of the fpga version is to provide the storage, memory, sprites, colors, more speed and a bit more sound so that QL existing applications run better and better games can be developed easier by anyone interested.

Who knows ( I don't, lol) maybe in the far future I'll implement a version with aurora compatible display.
The fpga ULA sees a 4MB address space shared with the FN CPU.

Hi,

The Super/Gold card uses their own CPU and Ram on the expansion board. The QL internal ram is disabled, except for the ROM port.

The QL operating system is copied to the Super/Gold Card memory map, which how SMSQ/E probably runs on a QL, see Marcel' article about the SuperGold Card boot sequence:

https://www.kilgus.net/2018/11/14/super ... -sequence/

This picture shows 2 new things,

1. It is a 640x350 @70 hz VGA output (this picture is from a small TV with vga input that I use for tests because it has many different inputs)
2. The speed index increased from 2.267 to 2.520

I use a little bigger fpga and implemented a true dual bus video ram so no cpu stolen cycles at all.
I generate a separate VSync for the ZX8302 at 50hz

The compromises are:
1. Second Minerva screen not supported now but maybe I'll fix that, maybe not.
2. The vga screen has quite wide borders (512 of 640 and 256 of 350 used)

I'll see what I can do about those issues but for now I have to fix the sprites to work with the new display method
The galaxians clone will run at a more decent speed now.

lliont wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 8:10 pm 2. The speed index increased from 2.267 to 2.520

Quite amazing without a much higher clocked CPU. Once you have reached 4, you get into Gold Card regions.

lliont wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 8:10 pm 2. The vga screen has quite wide borders (512 of 640 and 256 of 350 used)

What keeps you from using 1024 x 768? Clock frequency?

I tried 640x350 first because it was easier and to see how it looks, it is OK for me but I know it will bother some people so I'll try 1024x768, I was afraid that this will make the sprite engine synchronization with the screen more complicated now I think it's not difficult. I'll try it.

Now having seen 512x256 in both resolutions in a 21 inch TV I honestly prefer the 640x350, it looks finer.

Maybe in a 17 inch monitor it will look fine @1024x768

Here 1024x768 @60Hz (65Mhz)

Lets see now if I can make the sprite engine work with this

lliont wrote: Tue Dec 05, 2023 4:36 pm Here 1024x768 @60Hz (65Mhz)

Not bad, but you need a 4:3 monitor for retro computing.