I’d say this day is long overdue… the day when we are able to finally get our hands on an all-in-one, single-board MiSTer device. There have been different takes on the ‘consolized’ MiSTer over the past few years, but until now, they’ve all been some variation of a Cyclone V dev board + accessory boards and adapters. Well, not anymore! Heber (the company that brought us the original Multisystem, the MultiPi, and a slew of other retro tech products) has just started shipping evaluation units of their upcoming Multisystem 2.
As a recipient of one of these units, I’ve been able to spend some time with it and tear it down to take a closer look. And while it’s not perfect, there’s a lot that I like about this system. Here’s my top 3.
#3 – Improves on the MiSTer Ecosystem
Many of us that have been in the MiSTer ecosystem for a while have gotten accustomed to some of its quirks. But many of these little nuances have been addressed by the Multisystem 2. For example, there’s a full-sized SD card slot, accessible in the front of the console. You no longer have to worry about inserting a tiny microSD card while praying that you don’t miss the slot and send your card into the Bermuda Triangle of your MiSTer case. Another example is the cartridge-based SNAC architecture, which is a sturdier improvement over the traditional method of connecting a chain of SNAC boards so long that it looks like the MiSTer’s hauling freight.
But alongside of those things, there are also some great electrical improvements – such as better-routed analog audio signals that clean up much of the noise on those connections. There are also multiple failsafes, with self-healing fuses, over-voltage protection, and clamped IO lines. You can tell that Heber took the lessons they learned from their first Multisystem release and put those into the Multisystem 2.
#2 – Made with High Quality Parts
If you’ve watched any of the “Inside the…” videos on my channel, then you know how much I love a good tear-down. And nothing brings more joy to heart than to see a thoughtfully-designed board that doesn’t skimp on using quality components. The Multisystem 2 lives up to this expectation by using genuine, good quality parts. For example, the FPGAs I’ve seen on some devices look like they may have been pulls from other systems. But Heber sources their Cyclone V SoC chips directly from Altera. In addition to that, they’re also using 166MHz Alliance memory chips, which is a reliable and reputable brand used by the MiSTer community for years.
They also use a chip that I was surprised to see, because I don’t think I’ve seen it on any other consoles that I’ve torn down. You see, the MMS2 requires several different clock signals in order to drive all the components on the board. But instead using multiple oscillators like most systems, the Multisystem 2 uses a Texas Instruments CDCE937. This neat chip is a programmable clock generator, which takes a source clock signal from the MMS2’s 24MHz oscillator, and uses PLLs to generate up to 7 different clock signals for the board to use.
#1 – Designed with Hacking and Expansion in Mind
The top thing that I love about the Multisystem 2 is that it stays true to the hacker spirit of the MiSTer project. Heber has well-documented the cartridge port on the top of the analog(ue) version of the console, and has even open-sourced a template that you can use to design and sell your own expansion cartridges. And they’re not only permitting it via the license, but they are actively encouraging people to do so.
In addition to that – if you pop off the side panels, you’re rewarded with access to an array of ports and connectors. One of the more interesting ones is the huge 50-pin connector on the right side, which breaks out several of the pins directly attached to the FPGA. In addition to making the standard pins available (such as the Arduino header), this connector also breaks out additional previously-inaccessible FPGA pins. It’s the perfect place to attach an expansion side car if you want to create an accessory board to expand the MMS2’s capabilities. I’m really looking forward to seeing what folks in the community do with these previously inaccessible I/O pins.
It’s Not All Roses
Yes, there are a lot of positives about the Multisystem 2, but just like any system, there are also some things that could be improved. The main one that sticks out for me is the lack of SNAC compatibility. Even though Heber provides a better SNAC implementation through the cartridge system, they’ve completely removed the standard USB-based SNAC port. So, if you’re like me and have a box full of SNAC adapters that you’ve already purchased, you can’t use them with the MMS2 out of the box.
Overall, though, the Multisystem 2 is a great consolized MiSTer implementation – and if you’re a first-time MiSTer owner (or even a second- or third-timer), I would recommend it over many of the other MiSTer setups available today. But the biggest competitor to the Multisystem 2 is undoubtedly RetroRemake’s SuperStation One, which is set to ship later this calendar year. I do have to admit that I’m a little dubious about those plans, considering the world economic climate and some of the late stage design changes I’ve seen from R2 recently – coupled with the fact that, unlike the MMS2, us reviewers haven’t yet gotten our hands on it. Regardless, I think we’re in store for some interesting times in the retro FPGA gaming scene over the coming months.
To dig more into my thoughts and examination of the Multisystem 2, be sure to check out my in-depth video – Inside the MiSTer Multisystem 2. There, I’ll take you through a more thorough analysis of the board design, look closer at the Zaparoo NFC launching capability, and even walk you through the installation of the screen add-on!