A new overclocked core for the Nintendo 64 on the MiSTer FPGA platform has been developed, pushing the performance capabilities of the DE10-Nano hardware. This “Turbo Core” was developed by a MiSTer Discord user known as “Corn,” building upon the foundational work of original core developer Robert Peip (FPGAzumSpass).
Technical Specifications
- Clock Speed: The core increases the clock speed to 94 MHz, up from the previous 80 MHz turbo version.
- Hardware Limits: This core operates at the absolute upper threshold of the DE10-Nano’s hardware capabilities.
- Availability: The core is currently an unofficial release found within the N64 channel of the MiSTer FPGA Discord, rather than the official main repository.
Game Performance and Compatibility
The increased clock speed impacts games differently depending on their original programming and how they handle frame rate logic.
- Body Harvest: This title shows significant improvement. Originally prone to severe frame rate drops on stock hardware, it runs significantly smoother at 94 MHz, matching or exceeding the performance seen on other high-end FPGA implementations like the Analogue 3D.
- Super Mario 64 (60 FPS Patch): When using the 60 frames-per-second patch, the 94 MHz core provides a smoother experience compared to base hardware, though the patch itself remains prone to occasional freezing.
- Conker’s Bad Fur Day: While there are minor gains in specific animations, the game remains demanding and does not reach a consistent 60 FPS due to its complex late-generation N64 architecture.
- Hybrid Heaven: Performance is improved specifically in high-resolution modes, which were notoriously sluggish on original hardware.
- Beetle Adventure Racing: The racing gameplay benefits from higher frame rates, providing a more fluid experience during high-speed movement.
Observations on Stability and Audio
- Audio Fidelity: Despite the increased CPU clock speed, the audio remains at its correct pitch and tempo. The overclock affects components related to game logic and rendering rather than audio processing.
- Silicon Lottery: Stability varies between individual DE10-Nano boards. Some users may experience visual artifacts or “pixel noise” due to bandwidth limits or the specific tolerances of their FPGA chip at these high speeds.
- Fixed Frame Rates: Games with logic tied directly to the refresh rate do not see performance gains from this core.
Conclusion
The 94 MHz Turbo Core represents a milestone in MiSTer N64 development, providing a tangible performance boost for “heavy” titles that struggled on original hardware. While it is currently in a testing phase and requires manual installation, it demonstrates the continued evolution of open-source MiSTer FPGA development.
To see the above in action, check out the below video from Video Game Esoterica.