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Documentation about the Vampire hardware

Disable Vampire

Jamie Chapman

Posts 69
27 Sep 2020 09:46


Is there a key press that you can use to disable the  vampire like with accelerators.  If not is this something that could be added.  It would help with diagnose problems to  see if its amiga, other hardware, software , vampire etc


James Husted
(Needs Verification)
Posts 81/ 3
27 Sep 2020 10:36


you can enable "Turtle Mode" this will slow down the 68080


Sean Sk

Posts 488
27 Sep 2020 23:40


One way to disable the Vampire is to erase the FPGA using a USB Blaster and the Quartus II Programmer.


Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
28 Sep 2020 03:51


sean sk wrote:

One way to disable the Vampire is to erase the FPGA using a USB Blaster and the Quartus II Programmer.

That only likely works on the A600/A1200 as the original processor still exists on board. on A500/A2000 the 68000 is obviously removed.


Jamie Chapman

Posts 69
28 Sep 2020 20:54


sean sk wrote:

One way to disable the Vampire is to erase the FPGA using a USB Blaster and the Quartus II Programmer.

Bit extreme and long process for bug hunting


Sean Sk

Posts 488
29 Sep 2020 00:04


Jamie Chapman wrote:

Bit extreme and long process for bug hunting

As far as I'm aware, if you have a V600/V1200, it's the only way I'm afraid. With the V500 you have to take it out completely and put the original CPU back.


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
29 Sep 2020 08:11


First of all, please understand that turning the Vampire off is not a goal for us.

The 68000 CPU lacks many instructions and also many address modes which later 68020+ CPUs added and which are also supported by the 68080.

Many tools and programs require these instructions.
This means if you would then "replace" the CPU with an 68000 - your workbench will not just run slower - it will crash because the 68000 can not execute these instructions.

Our opinion is that a much better option is to keep the 68080 running to ensure that all programs can be executed without crashes and for programs which have issues with a fast CPU - to slow the CPU down.

posts 7