Can just one high-end real AGA Amiga run ANY Amiga prod?
category: general [glöplog]
I would think there'd be compatibility issues that would have to be resolved with KillAGA and Make060 and so on, and then there's the trouble with running A500 3D demos on an accelerated 680x0, depending on how the code was written, so I'm guessing it wouldn't be possible? In my own personal experience going from a real A500 to an A1200, it lead to some demos not working as I recall, but I don't remember which ones. And those were stock machines (well, my A1200 had an 85Mb HDD).
I know similar compatibility issues exist for MS-DOS, where memory configuration is the main hurdle, and the different versions of Windows for Win32 demos, but then no two PCs have the same hardware, for the most part, whereas the Amiga has a standard universal base config for graphics, sound, etc.
I know similar compatibility issues exist for MS-DOS, where memory configuration is the main hurdle, and the different versions of Windows for Win32 demos, but then no two PCs have the same hardware, for the most part, whereas the Amiga has a standard universal base config for graphics, sound, etc.
No, there's no Amiga setup that will run every single Amiga prod.
The short answer to your question is no. There is code that just works by coincidence (you wouldn't believe how stupid code in commercially sold games can actually be), then there are the different ROM versions that lead to interrupt code not working properly in case the coder wanted to be clever or just didn't know better. Some code doesn't enable the required DMA channels so you will only get a picture if you wait for the Kickstart picture to appear and there are many problems like this. I could actually go on for hours about the different problems you have to deal with on Amiga but I simply stick to the short answer: No, not possible.
@ britelite
@ StingRay
Thanks for the replies :)
I thought as much, I just thought I'd ask, optimistic as I was.
On WinUAE, I have six .uae configurations that represent different Amigas from low-end to high-end, and even then, a lot of the time, I have to modify even those for certain prods, so yeah, it's a strong "NO" to a single Amiga.
Oh, well :(
@ StingRay
Thanks for the replies :)
I thought as much, I just thought I'd ask, optimistic as I was.
On WinUAE, I have six .uae configurations that represent different Amigas from low-end to high-end, and even then, a lot of the time, I have to modify even those for certain prods, so yeah, it's a strong "NO" to a single Amiga.
Oh, well :(
"Some code doesn't enable the required DMA channels so you will only get a picture if you wait for the Kickstart picture to appear" <- good one :D
I wouldn't mind seeing a thread that lists all these common errors.
Self modifying code that does not do cache maintenance is a classic.
Using the upper 8 bits of an address to store data is another one. This practice continues to this day with storing various control bits in the top of 64-bit addresses (64-bit is so large thus solving the problem for all!!). Using the lower bits of an aligned address to store control bits is also a thing. Maybe in the future we can use middle bits to store something as well?
I wouldn't mind seeing a thread that lists all these common errors.
Self modifying code that does not do cache maintenance is a classic.
Using the upper 8 bits of an address to store data is another one. This practice continues to this day with storing various control bits in the top of 64-bit addresses (64-bit is so large thus solving the problem for all!!). Using the lower bits of an aligned address to store control bits is also a thing. Maybe in the future we can use middle bits to store something as well?
I'd also like to see a thread or article all about that.
