alt Hacker NewsYes that is really impressive.
Still it was done with 50% more memory, 1/3 of resolution and not implementing the whole game features.
Yes that is really impressive.
Still it was done with 50% more memory, 1/3 of resolution and not implementing the whole game features.
But with a fraction of CPU resources. Arduino Nano's Cortex M33 is overclocked at 135 MHz, while GBA's ARM7TDMI is running at mere 16.78 MHz.
ARM7TDMI takes 1-4 cycles to perform a simple 32bit x 32bit multiply, depending on the multiplier. I believe Cortex M33 takes just 1 cycle to do same. ARM7TDMI has no divide instruction and critically, no FPU that Quake requires.
GBA has only 32 kB of 0-wait state RAM (AKA internal working RAM). Versus 276 kB on the Arduino Nano.
GBA's 256 kB RAM block (external working RAM) has massive 6 cycle access time when loading a 32-bit value.
It's a true miracle someone managed to even get 1/3 of resolution on this weak hardware!