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Good news, microcomputing enthusiasts, the Atari ST is about to have its FPGA moment thanks to fans. Just like the recently released Commodore 64 Ultimate, the MiniST will use chips to mimic the original system's innards on a hardware level while allowing for modern perks like HDMI output and USB support. The catch? Well, it's a small-scale project that's aiming to make five units in the initial run.
In a post shared to the Facebook group "Atari ST and STe users", MiniST creator Dennis Shaw confirms that “all the materials are open source and can be freely obtained.” (via Tom's Hardware). Simply put, while you can try and acquire one of the five pre-built systems for "approximately 350 euros" (roughly $400), you can also 3D print a shell yourself (like this one by Beebox68k) and put together your own FPGA system using the same MiSTeryNano core.
FPGA systems are inherently expensive, even if they do help resurrect the best retro consoles and microcomputers without software emulation. The MiniST specifically uses a Tang Nano FPGA that, when paired with the aforementioned MiSTeryNano core, produces an extremely accurate “cycle exact 8 MHz 68000 CPU,” which should please perfectionists.
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Of course, the MiniST is a fan project rather than a big-scale production. “It takes an awful lot of time to print, sand, and paint them,” says Shaw, which helps explain why the initial run is limited to just five units. That is to say that if you've struggled to grab FPGA consoles like the Analogue 3D in the past, you'll have more of a fight on your hands with this Atari ST remake.
That's not to say you shouldn't try and grab one, as the MiniST sounds like the Atari equivalent of the C64 Ultimate. You're talking multiple TOS (The Operating System) ROMs, Yamaha YM2149 and STE DMA sound, Blitter chip replication, ASCI hard disk compatibility, and even physical MIDI in and out ports. The latter boon will be a godsend for old-school music production nerds, but if you're just looking to use this system to play old games, you'll be perhaps more interested in the USB keyboard and joystick support included.
While the MiniST might not be a massive comeback for the microcomputer, it does outline exactly what an ST remake should look like. Atari is very much in the business of re-releasing modern versions of its historic hardware, but the Atari 2600+ and even its Atari 400 Mini, made in collaboration with Retro Games Ltd, are emulation-based plug-and-play systems targeted at curious, casual players who either missed out on the OG systems or want something pretty for their shelf.
Who knows, perhaps Atari will officially reignite its old feud with Commodore and make an FPGA machine to rival the C64 Ultimate. Until that happens, though, we have heroic fans like Dennis Shaw making systems like the MiniST.
Looking for ways to play classic capers on the go? Swing by the best retro handhelds for emulation devices and more. You'll also want to check out the best gaming handhelds if you're looking to also play the latest Steam games AFK.
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