Running AmigaOS in 2026: MiSTer FPGA vs Amiberry on Pi
AmigaOS 3.2.3 runs beautifully both on FPGA and on modern ARM boards, the question is which trade-offs you're willing to accept. Both approaches have their place, and the choice often comes down to what you're trying to do: run demos at perfect timing, or tinker with software at higher resolutions. If you're weighing up the hardware options themselves (Vampire V4, A600GS or MiSTer) rather than the OS, head over to the hardware comparison.
Two Roads to the Same Workbench
- MiSTer with the Minimig-AGA core, the most hardware-authentic option. Native resolution tops out around 800×600, with RTG (Picasso96) support pushing that up to 1080p. Timing accuracy and near-zero input latency make it the pick for demos and cycle-sensitive software.
- Amiberry on a Raspberry Pi, the flexible option. Running headless (no X11 desktop, straight from the console/KMS framebuffer) is the single biggest performance lever, the difference between a laggy desktop and a snappy 60fps Workbench.
- The HDF minefield, hard disk image files either carry an RDB partition table or they don't, and getting the geometry parameters (surfaces/sectors/reserved blocks) wrong produces the classic "Not a DOS disk in device DH0" error. Reformatting through HDToolBox from a fresh install is often faster than debugging geometry math.
- Picking a monitor, a 4:3 panel at native 1280×1024 (like an older NEC MultiSync 1970NXp) gives the most period-accurate Workbench experience; anything widescreen needs scaling compromises.
When to choose MiSTer
The MiSTer shines when timing accuracy matters. Demos that rely on cycle-exact raster effects, games that use custom hardware tricks, and software that depends on precise interrupt timing all benefit from the FPGA's hardware-level reproduction. The Minimig-AGA core also provides a more authentic floppy drive experience, including the characteristic drive sounds and seek times that software sometimes depends on for loading screens and copy protection.
When to choose Amiberry on Pi
The Pi is better for productivity and development work. Higher RTG resolutions make Workbench usable on modern monitors. The ability to easily swap between AmigaOS versions and hard disk images makes it ideal for testing software. And the lower cost means you can dedicate a Pi to Amiga development without tying up expensive FPGA hardware.
The compatibility question
Most Amiga software works on both platforms, but there are edge cases. Some demos use raster tricks that only work on real AGA hardware or the MiSTer's FPGA core. Some productivity software depends on specific accelerator card features that neither platform emulates perfectly. And the perennial question of Kickstart ROM versions, 3.1 for compatibility, 3.2 for features, applies equally to both setups.
Both setups now run side by side without any real winner, MiSTer for authenticity and demos, the Pi for tinkering and RTG resolutions.