ZONA DE PRUEBAS

New features:

- Cirrus Logic SVGA chip based hardware graphics board emulation.
- Use graphics board in emulated Amix, Linux, NetBSD and others.
- Use native CyberGraphX, Picasso96 and EGS RTG software in emulation.
- Emulates following boards: Picasso II, Picasso II+, Picasso IV (flash
rom image required), Piccolo, Piccolo SD64 and EGS-28/24 Spectrum.
- Text mode is also emulated (Linux/NetBSD etc.. text console support)
- Based on QEMU Cirrus Logic emulation.
- SCSI tape drive emulation.
- Can install Amix without hacks.
- Both reading and writing supported.
- Works also with most backup software that supports tape drives.
- SLIRP user mode NAT emulation.
- A2065 and uaenet.device emulation without need for host side
extra drivers.
- 68020 cycle-exact mode emulation rewritten to better match real hardware,
accuracy improved, more improvements planned in future versions.
- Added GUI button that opens small disk image information window.
- GUI open log file and open error log buttons added.
- New WiX based installer.

Updates:

- Two new field based interlace options added, reduces interlace artifacts.
- Chipset emulation compatibility improved, more undocumented chipset
corner cases emulated.
- Game Ports panel input configuration improved.
- Built-in HRTMon and AROS ROM replacement updated to latest versions.
- Do not wake up all sleeping harddrives if loaded config has mounted
physical harddrives (or memory cards) that are not currently connected.
- SCSI HD and CD emulation compatibility improved.
- SCSI HD/CD/TAPE statefile compatibility improved.
- CIA TOD counting is now cycle-exact.
- 68020/030 cycle-exact/prefetch is fully compatible with FPU emulation.

2.6.x bugs fixed:

- Some OFS formatted hardfiles didn't mount.
- Wired XBox 360 pad (possibly others) missed input events.

Other bugs fixed:

- All Input panel events stopped working in some situations.
- RTG mode video recording display size fixed.
- Same game controller was inserted in both joystick ports if
loaded config file had non-existing controller in second port.
- Built-in lzx decompressor didn't always decompress last byte of file.
- CD CUE file parsing fix, some images had incorrect CD audio timing.
- Output panel crashed on some systems.
- Crash when system was reset if it caused immediate PAL/NTSC mode change.

Website : http://www.winuae.net/
Download : http://www.winuae.net/frames/download.html

- 68020 cycle-exact mode emulation rewritten to better match real hardware,
accuracy improved, more improvements planned in future versions.

No sabía que era posible conseguir cycle-accuracy en un emulador software. Pensaba que por temas del S.O. o de multitarea era bastante difícil conseguirlo.

¿Es posible que un emulador software funcione de manera idéntica, a nivel de ciclo, al de un emulador hardware (p.e. FPGA) o de una máquina real?

¿Por qué no?

Si tienes documentación que explique como funcionan EXACTAMENTE todos los componentes, suficiente empeño y es viable hacerlo con la potencia de procesador actual no hay mucho problema.

El límite es el esfuerzo que requiere un proyecto tan complejo.

Que la emulación sea "al ciclo" no significa que luego la respuesta sea en tiempo real. Lo importante es que al emular una serie de ciclos, todo se comporte exactamente igual: buses de memoria, comunicación con los distintos chips, entrada y salida, etc. Si luego no se "percibe" lo mismo porque Windows de por saco, eso no significa que la emulación no sea precisa. No sé si me explico

Vale, creo que ya lo voy entendiendo. La emulación puede ser exacta a nivel de ciclo (el resultado es idéntico al original), aunque no se garantiza el tiempo real (que ya depende del S.O., CPU, carga de trabajo, etc.). No había caído en la diferencia.

De todos modos, supongo que en un emulador hardware (FPGA, CPLD) debe ser más "fácil" conseguir la precisión a nivel de ciclo y el funcionamiento en tiempo real (si todo está bien programado), y en general, parece la opción preferible por ser más fiel al original.