Vextreme and PiTrex differences

mikesk8 · October 22, 2022

Hi All,

I have been looking around and learnt there are basically two alternatives/replacements for VerFever: Vextreme and PiTrex. I found PiTrex to be a very interesting idea and have recently ordered one. However, there is also Vextreme and its unclear to me what are the differences between those two (apart from different tech architecture)?

Are those competing solutions? or complimentary ones?

Thanks,

Michal

gtoal · October 22, 2022

At the moment, complementary. The Vextreme hardware is almost identical to the Vecfever hardware but apart from one test by Malban, doesn't have any of the native arm execution that makes the Vecfever excellent, so it functions primarily as a multicart. Whereas the Pitrex is primarily an emulation engine and comes closer to the VF's emulation, but it isn't really a multicart, although it sort of gets the same effect, by emulating the Vectrex. It's all about the software. Both units have hardware that can do all the VF can do, but it would take a lot more software effort for either one to be equal to it. Both are hobby projects and neither has the manpower to dedicate to software improvements - expect them to come along over time as people work on them as and when.

mikesk8 · October 24, 2022

18 hours ago, gtoal said:

At the moment, complementary. The Vextreme hardware is almost identical to the Vecfever hardware but apart from one test by Malban, doesn't have any of the native arm execution that makes the Vecfever excellent, so it functions primarily as a multicart. Whereas the Pitrex is primarily an emulation engine and comes closer to the VF's emulation, but it isn't really a multicart, although it sort of gets the same effect, by emulating the Vectrex. It's all about the software. Both units have hardware that can do all the VF can do, but it would take a lot more software effort for either one to be equal to it. Both are hobby projects and neither has the manpower to dedicate to software improvements - expect them to come along over time as people work on them as and when.

Thank you for your answer. I assume then both will go towards the same direction in the future (multicart functionality + emulation). Interesting to see how those two solutions will grow. I have got VecMulti and just ordered PiTrex to explore new capabilities. I will be looking at Vextreme as well ;-)