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FPGAArcade Replay - Arduino MKR Vidor 4000

mkrvidor4000

With this library you can boot FPGA cores from FPGAArcade Replay framework, on the MKR Vidor 4000.
This gives access to 20+ different classic computers, consoles and arcade machines from the 1980s.


Prerequisites

  • Arduino MKR Vidor 4000
  • Arduino MKR SD Proto Shield or Arduino MKR MEM Shield
  • Micro-USB OTG cable (to connect Keyboard/Mouse)
  • Micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter (to connect a monitor / TV)
  • Some means to power the board when the USB port is in OTG mode:
    • a Micro-USB OTG cable, with separate power lead, or
    • a LiPo battery, connected via the JST connector, or
    • a 5V lead directly to the MKR pins
  • USB to UART serial console cable (for debugging via the MKR pins, but can also be used to power the Vidor)

How to install the library

Add this library to the Arduino IDE, either by using the Library Manager, or by manually installing it as a .ZIP.
Please consult the Arduino documentation for further information.

How to flash the Vidor

In the Arduino IDE, open up the example Replay_Boot (listed under menu File -> Examples -> FPGAArcade Replay MKR Vidor 4000). Proceed to Upload (under menu Sketch) to flash the Replay firmware (make sure the MKR Vidor 4000 is connected via USB).

How to load an FPGA core

When the firmware starts up, it looks for replay.ini on the SDCARD.
If there is no SDCARD, or if it fails to find the .ini file, the firmware will display a red/green checkered background, and a warning message:

no_sdcard

Prepare the SDCARD by FAT32/exFAT formatting it, and copy the contents of the loader core archive to the root of the SDCARD.
Typically these files would need to be copied over:

Archive:  loader_V4_20210531_2203_3676175.zip
 Length   Method    Size  Cmpr    Date    Time   CRC-32   Name
--------  ------  ------- ---- ---------- ----- --------  ----
  414720  Defl:N    21188  95% 03-16-2020 23:54 63dcda76  background.raw
 1244160  Defl:N   353138  72% 03-16-2020 23:54 780f21c2  background_rgb.raw
  510856  Defl:N    84471  84% 06-01-2021 00:03 d3037870  loader.rbf
  846200  Defl:N   744719  12% 03-16-2020 23:54 98dd5e2f  loop.pcm
    4051  Defl:N     1643  59% 05-27-2021 19:29 e0e19228  replay.ini
    4031  Defl:N     1632  60% 06-19-2020 21:23 aedf624d  replay_pal.ini
--------          -------  ---                            -------
 3024018          1206791  60%                            6 files

Insert the SDCARD in the SD/MEM Shield, and restart the Vidor.
If successful it should show something like this:

loader

Where to find additional cores

More cores can be found here : https://build.fpgaarcade.com/releases/cores/V4/

How to build from source

This repository only contains the pre-built library; the actual source code lives in the main source repository.

What's the MKR Pin Usage

Usage MKR (right) MKR (right) Usage
(not used) AREF +5V
(CTRL0) File I/O CS A0/D15 VIN
(CTRL1) OSD CS A1/D16 +3V3
NINA Reset A2/D17 GND
NINA CS A3/D18 RESET
FPGA I2S DIN A4/D19 D14 ARM Serial RX (debug)
FPGA I2S BCLK A5/D20 D13 ARM Serial TX (debug)
FPGA I2S LRCIN A6/D21 D12 I2C SCL
NINA Serial TX / BT HCI D0 D11 I2C SDA
NINA Serial RX / BT HCI D1 D10 SPI MISO
(CONF_DIN) Read-Direct D2 D9 SPI CLK
(not used) D3 D8 SPI MOSI
SDCARD CS D4 D7 NINA Ready / Serial RTS
EEPROM CS D5 D6 NINA GPIO0 / Serial CTS