MiSTer FPGA Documentation

Useful Snippets

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:38:53 +0000

Here are some useful snippets of hdl as used throughout the MiSTer project with sources linked for reference.

Simple Pixel Clock Divider Using Clock Enab...

Savestates

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:34:36 +0000

In order to facilitate the dynamic saving and loading of savestates, MiSTer defines a special API specifically for fast restore and resume. Enabling the save...

Other Cores

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:25:20 +0000

Here is a list of the console cores that are in the MiSTer Github Repository. boot.rom is synonymous with boot0.rom.

| Core Name | Systems | /games/...

Compiling for MiSTer

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 22:56:24 +0000

MiSTer uses a combination of various compiled binaries in the finished product. There is a customized minimal Linux Kernel, a bootloader, a Main MiSTer binar...

MegaCD

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 22:07:15 +0000

The MegaCD core is a MiSTer project original core developed by srg320 (Sergey Dvodnenko){target=_blank} which aims to simu...

Video Scaling

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 22:45:06 +0000

MiSTer has a built-in scaler which converts the low-resolution video directly from the cores to a higher resolution with the added capability of using filter...

MRA Setnames

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 02:40:15 +0000

This is a list of the mra files and the setnames that are used for the mister.ini core exceptions.

| mra_filename ...

Video Modes

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 03:16:25 +0000

The #!ini video_mode INI setting supports several different methods of specifying the video mode.

Automatic Detection

If no #!ini video_mode setting ...

Core Components Where Used

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:23:09 +0000

This is a list of many recreated components used in various MiSTer FPGA cores.

AMI

POKEY Sound Chip

[Atari 5200 & 800](https://github.com/MiSTer-d...

Debugging (USB Blaster)

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:13:03 +0000

While developing the core, it's convenient to upload it through USB blaster(JTAG) port directly from Quartus. MiSTer supports USB Blaster and automatically r...

sys - arcade_video

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

Arcade video is used mostly in arcade cores. It has some useful helpers to optionaly turn on scandoubler (based on the ini settings), deals with rotation on ...

overview of emu module

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

On MiSTer the top level is inside sys/sys_top.v{target=_blank}. When writing or ...

sys - hps_io

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

HPS stands for Hard Processor System, or the ARM part of the MiSTer FPGA. The hps_io.sv file contains the hps_io module that talks to the MiSTer binary on th...

sys - video_freak

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

Video Freak is used to crop and scale the image.

Video Freak will take in the original VGA_DE_IN and output a new VGA_DE and VIDEO_ARX/VIDEO_ARY using the c...

sys - video_mixer

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

Video Mixer is used as a helper to provide a lot of the nice videos that the MiSTer framework supplies. This includes scandoubling, gamma, hq2x scaling, and ...

Porting Cores

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:47:49 +0000

MiSTer uses quite complex hardware, but thanks to open source, developers with different levels of hardware/software knowledge can develop for this platform....

PSX

Sun, 29 May 2022 05:42:23 +0000

The Sony Playstation (PSX) MiSTer core is the most feature-filled and heavily developed core thus far. Multiple controller options, automatic bios region swa...

Core Names

Thu, 19 May 2022 13:25:25 +0000

This is a list of the core repositories and the core internal names that are used for the mister.ini core exceptions.

| Repository URL ...

Core Default Resolutions

Wed, 04 May 2022 16:21:26 +0000

This is a chart that shows the default native resolution, frequencies, and pixel clock of each core upon startup. These values are not static and are only he...

CRT Configuration Table

Mon, 02 May 2022 15:22:23 +0000

Here's a table that shows you what options correlate to what video connection, to make it a bit easier to decide what you need in order to connect to your CR...

Useful Snippets

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:38:53 +0000

Here are some useful snippets of hdl as used throughout the MiSTer project with sources linked for reference.

Simple Pixel Clock Divider Using Clock Enab...

Savestates

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:34:36 +0000

In order to facilitate the dynamic saving and loading of savestates, MiSTer defines a special API specifically for fast restore and resume. Enabling the save...

Other Cores

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:25:20 +0000

Here is a list of the console cores that are in the MiSTer Github Repository. boot.rom is synonymous with boot0.rom.

| Core Name | Systems | /games/...

Compiling for MiSTer

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 22:56:24 +0000

MiSTer uses a combination of various compiled binaries in the finished product. There is a customized minimal Linux Kernel, a bootloader, a Main MiSTer binar...

MegaCD

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 22:07:15 +0000

The MegaCD core is a MiSTer project original core developed by srg320 (Sergey Dvodnenko){target=_blank} which aims to simu...

Video Scaling

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 22:45:06 +0000

MiSTer has a built-in scaler which converts the low-resolution video directly from the cores to a higher resolution with the added capability of using filter...

MRA Setnames

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 02:40:15 +0000

This is a list of the mra files and the setnames that are used for the mister.ini core exceptions.

| mra_filename ...

Video Modes

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 03:16:25 +0000

The #!ini video_mode INI setting supports several different methods of specifying the video mode.

Automatic Detection

If no #!ini video_mode setting ...

Core Components Where Used

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:23:09 +0000

This is a list of many recreated components used in various MiSTer FPGA cores.

AMI

POKEY Sound Chip

[Atari 5200 & 800](https://github.com/MiSTer-d...

Debugging (USB Blaster)

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:13:03 +0000

While developing the core, it's convenient to upload it through USB blaster(JTAG) port directly from Quartus. MiSTer supports USB Blaster and automatically r...

sys - arcade_video

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

Arcade video is used mostly in arcade cores. It has some useful helpers to optionaly turn on scandoubler (based on the ini settings), deals with rotation on ...

overview of emu module

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

On MiSTer the top level is inside sys/sys_top.v{target=_blank}. When writing or ...

sys - hps_io

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

HPS stands for Hard Processor System, or the ARM part of the MiSTer FPGA. The hps_io.sv file contains the hps_io module that talks to the MiSTer binary on th...

sys - video_freak

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

Video Freak is used to crop and scale the image.

Video Freak will take in the original VGA_DE_IN and output a new VGA_DE and VIDEO_ARX/VIDEO_ARY using the c...

sys - video_mixer

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:09:46 +0000

Video Mixer is used as a helper to provide a lot of the nice videos that the MiSTer framework supplies. This includes scandoubling, gamma, hq2x scaling, and ...

Porting Cores

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:47:49 +0000

MiSTer uses quite complex hardware, but thanks to open source, developers with different levels of hardware/software knowledge can develop for this platform....

PSX

Sun, 29 May 2022 05:42:23 +0000

The Sony Playstation (PSX) MiSTer core is the most feature-filled and heavily developed core thus far. Multiple controller options, automatic bios region swa...

Core Names

Thu, 19 May 2022 13:25:25 +0000

This is a list of the core repositories and the core internal names that are used for the mister.ini core exceptions.

| Repository URL ...

Core Default Resolutions

Wed, 04 May 2022 16:21:26 +0000

This is a chart that shows the default native resolution, frequencies, and pixel clock of each core upon startup. These values are not static and are only he...

CRT Configuration Table

Mon, 02 May 2022 15:22:23 +0000

Here's a table that shows you what options correlate to what video connection, to make it a bit easier to decide what you need in order to connect to your CR...

PSX

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:09:16 +0000

The Sony Playstation (PSX) MiSTer core is the most feature-filled and heavily developed core thus far. Multiple controller options, automatic bios region swa...

INI Settings

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:42:14 +0000

The MiSTer.ini configuration file{target=_blank} contains global settings and is capabl...

Debugging (USB Blaster)

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:50:44 +0000

While developing the core, it's convenient to upload it through USB blaster(JTAG) port directly from Quartus. MiSTer supports USB Blaster and automatically r...

Advanced Networking

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:52:51 +0000

There are multiple advanced networking features that the MiSTer can utilize. Here we will go over quite a few of them.

Network access

MiSTer board can be...

Transferring Games

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 18:03:40 +0000

To play games on the MiSTer you will need to transfer them to your MicroSD. There are other ways to load games, like over a NAS or using USB drive, but for n...

Computer Core Networking

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:10:11 +0000

There are many computer-core specific features and functionality to go over. Here are a few:

Computer core Internet and console connections

Starting from...

Compiling for MiSTer

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:45:49 +0000

MiSTer uses a combination of various compiled binaries in the finished product. There is a customized minimal Linux Kernel, a bootloader, a Main MiSTer binar...

Controllers

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:07:09 +0000

MiSTer has support for a wide variety of input devices. It also has options to configure these devices to fit your needs in addition to several quality of li...

FAQ

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:12:13 +0000

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that you may have. If there is anything missing here, feel free to contribute by editing the page on github using th...

Hotkeys

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 04:48:36 +0000

Here's a reference of the hotkeys you can use with the MiSTer. Hotkeys are useful at saving time and there are some hotkeys which do things you can only do w...

Troubleshooting

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:35:51 +0000

The MiSTer FPGA's correct DIP switch configuration on the DE10-Nano

If your keyboard doesn't work or something else low-level hardware related doesn't wo...

Addon Boards

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 02:45:10 +0000

![MiSTer FPGA Sandwich Punk Style Art by hewhoisred](img/misterpunk.png){ align=center width="400" }

Artwork by Hewhoisred<...

Using Your CRT With MiSTer

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:09:03 +0000

There are a few different ways you can use your MiSTer with a classic CRT display. The two main methods are either using the VGA port on the Analog IO board ...

Useful Links

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:26:53 +0000

Here's some useful links for experienced and new developers:

MiSTer FPGA Tutorials

[Alanswx's MiSTer Tutorials series](https://github.com/alanswx/Tutoria...

Video Configuration

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 15:00:47 +0000

Here's a description of some basic video customization features on the MiSTer. You can change your resolution, modify the framebuffer to reduce input latency...

Core Paths

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 02:00:09 +0000

The standard paths are of the form /media/fat/games/<CORE>, where <CORE> is the internal core name of the given system.

Pl...

MGL Files

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 04:26:44 +0000

MGL files are used as a custom method to load games directly from the MiSTer FPGA's Menu core.

They can be placed in the root of the SD card to show up in t...

Console Cores

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 01:46:43 +0000

Here is a list of the console cores that are in the MiSTer Github Repository. boot.rom is synonymous with boot0.rom.

| Core Name ...

Video Modes

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 14:29:35 +0000

The #!ini video_mode INI setting supports several different methods of specifying the video mode.

Automatic Detection

If no #!ini video_mode setting ...

Useful Snippets

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:38:53 +0000

Here are some useful snippets of hdl as used throughout the MiSTer project with sources linked for reference.

Simple Pixel Clock Divider Using Clock Enab...

PSX

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:09:16 +0000

The Sony Playstation (PSX) MiSTer core is the most feature-filled and heavily developed core thus far. Multiple controller options, automatic bios region swa...

INI Settings

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:42:14 +0000

The MiSTer.ini configuration file{target=_blank} contains global settings and is capabl...

Debugging (USB Blaster)

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:50:44 +0000

While developing the core, it's convenient to upload it through USB blaster(JTAG) port directly from Quartus. MiSTer supports USB Blaster and automatically r...

Advanced Networking

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:52:51 +0000

There are multiple advanced networking features that the MiSTer can utilize. Here we will go over quite a few of them.

Network access

MiSTer board can be...

Transferring Games

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 18:03:40 +0000

To play games on the MiSTer you will need to transfer them to your MicroSD. There are other ways to load games, like over a NAS or using USB drive, but for n...

Computer Core Networking

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:10:11 +0000

There are many computer-core specific features and functionality to go over. Here are a few:

Computer core Internet and console connections

Starting from...

Compiling for MiSTer

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:45:49 +0000

MiSTer uses a combination of various compiled binaries in the finished product. There is a customized minimal Linux Kernel, a bootloader, a Main MiSTer binar...

Controllers

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:07:09 +0000

MiSTer has support for a wide variety of input devices. It also has options to configure these devices to fit your needs in addition to several quality of li...

FAQ

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:12:13 +0000

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that you may have. If there is anything missing here, feel free to contribute by editing the page on github using th...

Hotkeys

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 04:48:36 +0000

Here's a reference of the hotkeys you can use with the MiSTer. Hotkeys are useful at saving time and there are some hotkeys which do things you can only do w...

Troubleshooting

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:35:51 +0000

The MiSTer FPGA's correct DIP switch configuration on the DE10-Nano

If your keyboard doesn't work or something else low-level hardware related doesn't wo...

Addon Boards

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 02:45:10 +0000

![MiSTer FPGA Sandwich Punk Style Art by hewhoisred](img/misterpunk.png){ align=center width="400" }

Artwork by Hewhoisred<...

Using Your CRT With MiSTer

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:09:03 +0000

There are a few different ways you can use your MiSTer with a classic CRT display. The two main methods are either using the VGA port on the Analog IO board ...

Useful Links

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:26:53 +0000

Here's some useful links for experienced and new developers:

MiSTer FPGA Tutorials

[Alanswx's MiSTer Tutorials series](https://github.com/alanswx/Tutoria...

Video Configuration

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 15:00:47 +0000

Here's a description of some basic video customization features on the MiSTer. You can change your resolution, modify the framebuffer to reduce input latency...

Core Paths

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 02:00:09 +0000

The standard paths are of the form /media/fat/games/<CORE>, where <CORE> is the internal core name of the given system.

Pl...

MGL Files

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 04:26:44 +0000

MGL files are used as a custom method to load games directly from the MiSTer FPGA's Menu core.

They can be placed in the root of the SD card to show up in t...

Console Cores

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 01:46:43 +0000

Here is a list of the console cores that are in the MiSTer Github Repository. boot.rom is synonymous with boot0.rom.

| Core Name ...

Video Modes

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 14:29:35 +0000

The #!ini video_mode INI setting supports several different methods of specifying the video mode.

Automatic Detection

If no #!ini video_mode setting ...

Useful Snippets

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:38:53 +0000

Here are some useful snippets of hdl as used throughout the MiSTer project with sources linked for reference.