New PSX core release (Patreon)

Hi Everyone,

as i'm working on the new system, PSX didn't received many changes over the last weeks, but after 5 weeks now it's still a list long enough to be worth a release. The full list of changes is at the end of the post.

This release includes one important new feature that blue1 implemented: using a PSX controller via SNAC now allows you to still use a virtual memcard on the same slot! You can decide now in the OSD if you want to use a real memcard or virtual memcard(saved on sdcard) when SNAC is enabled. 

How is that even possible?

The PSX uses the same wires of each controller slot for the controller and the memory card. Which device is accesses is only known when the first command is already send to both devices.

After exchanging some ideas in the discord chat, blue1 tried out one of them: 

In virtual memcard mode, the commands are send to the internal virtual memcard and to the real controller and memcard via SNAC. In case it's a memcard command the external memcard is deactivated before receiving any more commands than the initial activation and the virtual memcard takes over until the whole transfer is over.

Some tests with various games showed that this is indeed stable and can be used. It's a great achievement by blue1 again for everyone using SNAC.

Be aware that this new virtual memcard mode is the new default, as it can be understood as the compatibility mode that always works. If you are a power user who uses SNAC with real memcards, you only have to switch it on in the OSD and it will work as before.

Most of my spare time now goes to the new system I'm working on. I will post a full update about it the next days.

Have fun!

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new features:

- add option to use virtual memcard or real memcard when using snac (by blue1)

- add support for using a paddle as negcon steering axis and spinner for mouse

games affected by fixes:

- Turbo Prop Racing

- KKND

- All Star Tennis 99

- Love&Destroy

- all Code Monkeys video-puzzle games, e.g. Animal Football, Dalmatians, Dinosaurs

fixes/changes:

- GPU: allow full 512 pixel height and 1024 pixel width in framebuffer mode(480p hack now allows 512i->512p content)

- GPU: always generate 263 hblank timer signals per NTSC frame, even in interlaced mode

- CD: clean up CD command handling in respect to pending IRQ

- CD: add current sector time when going into pause

- CD: limit maximum seek time, even if seek was done while other command was still pending

- DMA: stretch CD DMA data transfer to real PSX values