So how do I buy this magical MiSTer and how much will it set me back?  How do I put things on it?  What are my resources?  Can I pay someone else to set it up for me?

Buy the hardware, I'll set up everything you need to be able to roll. 

https://misteraddons.com/

Under $400 fully loaded. You can START on basic cores for less than $150. The MiSTer is really the platform you install - the base device, a Tessaric DE10 Nano, is available on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/Terasic-Technologies-P0496-DE10-Nano-Kit/dp/B07B89YHSB/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2WNQMITIKLVHO&dchild=1&keywords=de10+nano&qid=1610742723&sprefix=de10+n%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-2

I've built both of mine by buying the board from Amazon and the case, IO card, USB hub and memory from other vendors. 

You just copy things onto a fat partition on a MicroSD card and slide it into an SD slot. The OS image and storage media is basically a lot like a Pi - but there is no Linux or emulator software between the hardware and the code - you end up running a native bare metal machine and your roms and floppy and hard drive images execute directly on that. 

No abstraction. Less PARTS to tweak and configure. 

Fri Jan 15 2021 12:37:15 MST from TheDave

So how do I buy this magical MiSTer and how much will it set me back?  How do I put things on it?  What are my resources?  Can I pay someone else to set it up for me?

Fri Jan 15 2021 13:34:31 MST from ParanoidDelusions

Buy the hardware, I'll set up everything you need to be able to roll. 

https://misteraddons.com/

Under $400 fully loaded. You can START on basic cores for less than $150. The MiSTer is really the platform you install - the base device, a Tessaric DE10 Nano, is available on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/Terasic-Technologies-P0496-DE10-Nano-Kit/dp/B07B89YHSB/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2WNQMITIKLVHO&dchild=1&keywords=de10+nano&qid=1610742723&sprefix=de10+n%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-2

I've built both of mine by buying the board from Amazon and the case, IO card, USB hub and memory from other vendors. 

You just copy things onto a fat partition on a MicroSD card and slide it into an SD slot. The OS image and storage media is basically a lot like a Pi - but there is no Linux or emulator software between the hardware and the code - you end up running a native bare metal machine and your roms and floppy and hard drive images execute directly on that. 

No abstraction. Less PARTS to tweak and configure.  

Fri Jan 15 2021 12:37:15 MST from TheDave

So how do I buy this magical MiSTer and how much will it set me back?  How do I put things on it?  What are my resources?  Can I pay someone else to set it up for me?

 

So if I buy one device I can have several "cores" that each act as a different machine?  Or do I need a different Tessaric for each machine?

Do they emulate the lag from too many sprites on screen at once?  I find that amusing but would like to avoid it.

You buy one - it is a dozen console cores, a dozen PC cores, and a dozen arcade cores. Maybe more. You just switch from core to core. The Field Gate Programmable Array reconfigures itself, at the hardware level, to mimic the circuit gate logic of the original hardware - and can do it countless times. It is volatile - When you shut down, the gates all reset. But you just boot it and load the core you want. Game Boy? Got that. NES. Sure. SNES? Yup. Genesis? OK. Donkey Kong. I mean, real fucking arcade Donkey Kong? Why not. Xevious and Pac Man and Frogger and Ms. Pac Man too. Amiga? C64, Atari 8 bit... 

Everything from the Atari 2600 to a PC 486. It'll clone 'em all. One of em. Thousands, probably tens of thousands of dollars of retro equipment. In one little box. 

I mean... I run *Windows* on mine. Windows 98... but still... fuckin' WINDOWS. All my other machines on my network go, "Oh look... a real old Intel machine! Let's talk to it!" You could get a virus. :) 

Are you in Phoenix? Do you want to demo it before you commit? 

And um... yeah... in general if the original hardware couldn't handle something and would bog down - this will do it *completely* faithfully. So... if you learned to compensate for the lag - your muscle memory will work perfectly on MiSTer. 

But, sometimes the cores will have features to basically run "overclocked" or other fixes for original hardware limitations. Because generally speaking, the DE10 isn't breaking a sweat synthesizing (not EMULATING) these old 8 and 16 bit machines. The most recent cores have it at the edge of its ability. The 486 core is bumping on the ceiling. But like a Gameboy Advance... that is easy. A C64 is easy. An Amiga, it is capable of being a super fast Amiga that would cost you $3000 to build. 

It is fuckin' Harry Potter magic. They're so popular because they're SO much better than emulation. Basically a couple of years ago, there will still some guys going, "$350?!? That is stupid. My Pi can do the same thing for $80!"

I don't see ANYONE trying to have that argument anymore. Pi is cool because it is cheap - and actually has the horsepower to emulate some hardware MiSTer can't recreate. But MiSTer is more accurate and authentic, across the board. 

Fri Jan 15 2021 18:19:47 MST from TheDave

 

Fri Jan 15 2021 13:34:31 MST from ParanoidDelusions

Buy the hardware, I'll set up everything you need to be able to roll. 

https://misteraddons.com/

Under $400 fully loaded. You can START on basic cores for less than $150. The MiSTer is really the platform you install - the base device, a Tessaric DE10 Nano, is available on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/Terasic-Technologies-P0496-DE10-Nano-Kit/dp/B07B89YHSB/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2WNQMITIKLVHO&dchild=1&keywords=de10+nano&qid=1610742723&sprefix=de10+n%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-2

I've built both of mine by buying the board from Amazon and the case, IO card, USB hub and memory from other vendors. 

You just copy things onto a fat partition on a MicroSD card and slide it into an SD slot. The OS image and storage media is basically a lot like a Pi - but there is no Linux or emulator software between the hardware and the code - you end up running a native bare metal machine and your roms and floppy and hard drive images execute directly on that. 

No abstraction. Less PARTS to tweak and configure.  

Fri Jan 15 2021 12:37:15 MST from TheDave

So how do I buy this magical MiSTer and how much will it set me back?  How do I put things on it?  What are my resources?  Can I pay someone else to set it up for me?

 

So if I buy one device I can have several "cores" that each act as a different machine?  Or do I need a different Tessaric for each machine?

Do they emulate the lag from too many sprites on screen at once?  I find that amusing but would like to avoid it.

Fri Jan 15 2021 18:54:08 MST from ParanoidDelusions

You buy one - it is a dozen console cores, a dozen PC cores, and a dozen arcade cores. Maybe more. You just switch from core to core. The Field Gate Programmable Array reconfigures itself, at the hardware level, to mimic the circuit gate logic of the original hardware - and can do it countless times. It is volatile - When you shut down, the gates all reset. But you just boot it and load the core you want. Game Boy? Got that. NES. Sure. SNES? Yup. Genesis? OK. Donkey Kong. I mean, real fucking arcade Donkey Kong? Why not. Xevious and Pac Man and Frogger and Ms. Pac Man too. Amiga? C64, Atari 8 bit... 

Everything from the Atari 2600 to a PC 486. It'll clone 'em all. One of em. Thousands, probably tens of thousands of dollars of retro equipment. In one little box. 

I mean... I run *Windows* on mine. Windows 98... but still... fuckin' WINDOWS. All my other machines on my network go, "Oh look... a real old Intel machine! Let's talk to it!" You could get a virus. :) 

Are you in Phoenix? Do you want to demo it before you commit? 

And um... yeah... in general if the original hardware couldn't handle something and would bog down - this will do it *completely* faithfully. So... if you learned to compensate for the lag - your muscle memory will work perfectly on MiSTer. 

But, sometimes the cores will have features to basically run "overclocked" or other fixes for original hardware limitations. Because generally speaking, the DE10 isn't breaking a sweat synthesizing (not EMULATING) these old 8 and 16 bit machines. The most recent cores have it at the edge of its ability. The 486 core is bumping on the ceiling. But like a Gameboy Advance... that is easy. A C64 is easy. An Amiga, it is capable of being a super fast Amiga that would cost you $3000 to build. 

It is fuckin' Harry Potter magic. They're so popular because they're SO much better than emulation. Basically a couple of years ago, there will still some guys going, "$350?!? That is stupid. My Pi can do the same thing for $80!"

I don't see ANYONE trying to have that argument anymore. Pi is cool because it is cheap - and actually has the horsepower to emulate some hardware MiSTer can't recreate. But MiSTer is more accurate and authentic, across the board. 

Fri Jan 15 2021 18:19:47 MST from TheDave

 

Fri Jan 15 2021 13:34:31 MST from ParanoidDelusions

Buy the hardware, I'll set up everything you need to be able to roll. 

https://misteraddons.com/

Under $400 fully loaded. You can START on basic cores for less than $150. The MiSTer is really the platform you install - the base device, a Tessaric DE10 Nano, is available on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/Terasic-Technologies-P0496-DE10-Nano-Kit/dp/B07B89YHSB/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2WNQMITIKLVHO&dchild=1&keywords=de10+nano&qid=1610742723&sprefix=de10+n%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-2

I've built both of mine by buying the board from Amazon and the case, IO card, USB hub and memory from other vendors. 

You just copy things onto a fat partition on a MicroSD card and slide it into an SD slot. The OS image and storage media is basically a lot like a Pi - but there is no Linux or emulator software between the hardware and the code - you end up running a native bare metal machine and your roms and floppy and hard drive images execute directly on that. 

No abstraction. Less PARTS to tweak and configure.  

Fri Jan 15 2021 12:37:15 MST from TheDave

So how do I buy this magical MiSTer and how much will it set me back?  How do I put things on it?  What are my resources?  Can I pay someone else to set it up for me?

 

So if I buy one device I can have several "cores" that each act as a different machine?  Or do I need a different Tessaric for each machine?

Do they emulate the lag from too many sprites on screen at once?  I find that amusing but would like to avoid it.

 

I'm in Mesa.  I don't have a car, I have a bicycle lol, but the end of the light rail line is a block south of me to that's easy to use.

I'm not worried about trying before I buy, as I trust your word on this completely.  You've proved you know what the hell you're talking about over and over.

So I buy the machine and then download cores and install them?  I have a couple of USB controllers already, and a Steam Controller that I got for $5 when they were getting rid of them.  I assume those will work with this, and I can get a proper arcade style controller later.

The worst part is the pandemic, right? I mean... I do have a car, and Mesa isn't really that far from Chandler. If you want to arrange to come over and check it out, just let me know. 

What you need it an electric bike or a Vespa or something like that. A 50cc Vespa will go 45 miles per hour and is bike-lane legal, no motorcycle license necessary. 

Yeah. What I would do is buy a 128 or 256 MicroSD and ship it to me. I'll image my SD onto your SD - and save you HOURS of setup and searching down and installing ROMs. Of course, one could argue that is one of the fun parts. 

Yup. Most USB dpads work fine. There are preferred controllers that have real low latency, and some that are frowned on because they suffer real high latency - but they'll almost ALL work to get you started. There is even a thing called the BlisterBox that will allow you to hook up original controllers to the MiSTer - giving you an even more authentic experience. I use everything from DIY 3D printed Sanwa arcade controllers to original Atari 2600 controllers, Logitech dPads... everything. 

Fri Jan 15 2021 23:38:20 MST from TheDave

 

 

I'm in Mesa.  I don't have a car, I have a bicycle lol, but the end of the light rail line is a block south of me to that's easy to use.

I'm not worried about trying before I buy, as I trust your word on this completely.  You've proved you know what the hell you're talking about over and over.

So I buy the machine and then download cores and install them?  I have a couple of USB controllers already, and a Steam Controller that I got for $5 when they were getting rid of them.  I assume those will work with this, and I can get a proper arcade style controller later.

Sat Jan 16 2021 11:14:24 MST from ParanoidDelusions

The worst part is the pandemic, right? I mean... I do have a car, and Mesa isn't really that far from Chandler. If you want to arrange to come over and check it out, just let me know. 

What you need it an electric bike or a Vespa or something like that. A 50cc Vespa will go 45 miles per hour and is bike-lane legal, no motorcycle license necessary. 

Yeah. What I would do is buy a 128 or 256 MicroSD and ship it to me. I'll image my SD onto your SD - and save you HOURS of setup and searching down and installing ROMs. Of course, one could argue that is one of the fun parts. 

Yup. Most USB dpads work fine. There are preferred controllers that have real low latency, and some that are frowned on because they suffer real high latency - but they'll almost ALL work to get you started. There is even a thing called the BlisterBox that will allow you to hook up original controllers to the MiSTer - giving you an even more authentic experience. I use everything from DIY 3D printed Sanwa arcade controllers to original Atari 2600 controllers, Logitech dPads... everything. 

LOL you're preaching to the choir on the electric bike.  A decent one isn't cheap and I've been putting my money into cambodian construction projects to improve the life of the girl I intend to marry.  When I have a little extra I'm definitely planning to do that but with covid going strong there's little incentive to walk out my front door.

I think we should definitely arrange a play date lol

You ever see those ghetto mopeds going down the street with a 2 stroke engine? I think they're pretty cheap. One of those "things I like about Arizona..." 

Sat Jan 16 2021 13:03:17 MST from TheDave

 

Sat Jan 16 2021 11:14:24 MST from ParanoidDelusions

The worst part is the pandemic, right? I mean... I do have a car, and Mesa isn't really that far from Chandler. If you want to arrange to come over and check it out, just let me know. 

What you need it an electric bike or a Vespa or something like that. A 50cc Vespa will go 45 miles per hour and is bike-lane legal, no motorcycle license necessary. 

Yeah. What I would do is buy a 128 or 256 MicroSD and ship it to me. I'll image my SD onto your SD - and save you HOURS of setup and searching down and installing ROMs. Of course, one could argue that is one of the fun parts. 

Yup. Most USB dpads work fine. There are preferred controllers that have real low latency, and some that are frowned on because they suffer real high latency - but they'll almost ALL work to get you started. There is even a thing called the BlisterBox that will allow you to hook up original controllers to the MiSTer - giving you an even more authentic experience. I use everything from DIY 3D printed Sanwa arcade controllers to original Atari 2600 controllers, Logitech dPads... everything. 

LOL you're preaching to the choir on the electric bike.  A decent one isn't cheap and I've been putting my money into cambodian construction projects to improve the life of the girl I intend to marry.  When I have a little extra I'm definitely planning to do that but with covid going strong there's little incentive to walk out my front door.

I think we should definitely arrange a play date lol