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Anbernic RG ARC [D/S]

Overview

eMMC model with legacy bootloader is not supported.

Hardware

SoC CPU GPU
Rockchip RK3566 ARM Cortex-A55 (Quad-core) @ 1.8 GHz Mali G52
Display RAM eMMC Connectivity
4-inch 640*480 1 GB (S), 2 GB (D) LPDDR4 32GB (D) 2.4/5 GHz WiFi + BT

Software

Kernel GPU drivers Compositor Interface
Mainline Linux libmali (GLES 3.2) & Panfrost (GL 3.1/GLES 3.1) Sway Emulation Station

Tweaks

In Emulationstation system settings you find an overclock setting and undervolt options. The overlock option enables 2 GHz operation. While there are 3 levels of undervolting, where L1 is the least undervolt and L3 is the most undervolt. Undervolting can help performance in higher end emulators such as PPSSPP and Yabasanshiro standalone, due to less thermal throttling. As well as less battery drain on lower end emulators.

Obviously it can't be guaranteed that all specimens can undervolt and hence you may end up with a non-booting or unstable system. If this is occurs, the undervolting can be reversed by:

  1. Inserting the OS SD card into a PC.
  2. Open ROCKNIX partition, and go to the extlinux folder.
  3. Open extlinux.conf text file.
  4. Completely remove the line that starts with FDTOVERLAYS.
  5. Now your device will boot with stock voltages.

Features

Feature                 Notes
Storage ROCKNIX can be installed to the eMMC on the D model or run from an SD Card, and an second SD card can be used to store games
Wifi Can be turned on in Emulation Station under Main Menu > Network Settings
Bluetooth Supports bluetooth audio and controllers

Controls

RetroArch Hotkeys

Button Combo Action
SELECT+START (x2) Quit Game
SELECT+R1 Save State
SELECT+L1 Load State
SELECT+Y(NORTH) Open RA Menu
SELECT+X(WEST) Show FPS
SELECT+R2 Fast-Forward

Notes:

  • By default ROCKNIX will detect your controller and configure RetroArch hotkeys automatically. This is controlled by the "AUTOCONFIGURE RETROARCH HOTKEYS" option in the Settings > Controller & Bluetooth menu. While the option is enabled, RetroArch hotkeys will be overwritten by the above defaults each time RetroArch is launched. If this behavior is not desired that option can be disabled and your user-defined RetroArch hotkeys will be used instead.

Mednafen Hotkeys

Button Combo Action
SELECT+START (hold for 2sec) Quit Game
SELECT+R1 Save State
SELECT+L1 (hold for 2sec) Load State
SELECT+X(WEST) Show FPS
SELECT+R2 Fast-Forward
START+L1 Select disc
START+R1 Eject/Insert disc
START+D-Pad Left Decrease save slot by 1
START+D-Pad Right Increase save slot by 1
START+L2 Configure buttons on virtual port 1
START+R2 Insert coin

Notes:

  • By default ROCKNIX will expand the configuration file according to the first controller mednafen finds. This only happens when the config file doesn't exist (meaning the first time or if you manually delete it). After the initial expansion you are free to customize the controls.

Mupen64Plus-SA (Nintendo 64)

Button Combo Action
START Start
A A
X B
Z C Up
B C Down
Y C Left
C C Right
L2 Z
L1 L
R1 R
SELECT+START Quit Game
SELECT+R1 Save State
SELECT+L1 Load State
SELECT+X Take Screenshot
SELECT+A Reset Game

Notes:

  • Z and L button assignment can be changed directly in EmulationStation
    • Highlight the game and press Y(NORTH)
    • Select ADVANCED GAME OPTIONS
    • Set EMULATOR to MUPEN64PLUSSA
    • Then change INPUT ONFIGURATION
      • Default: L1 = L, L2 = Z
      • Z & L SWAP: L1 = Z, L2 = L

  • You can also create your own custom controller configuration and add it to /storage/.configs/game/configs/mupen64plussa. Then update INPUT CONFIGURATION to CUSTOM following the same steps as above.

  • The default mapping maps the Nintendo 64 joystick to the d-pad, by selecting custom input configuration in advanced game options it will map the Nintendo 64 d-pad to the Arc d-pad.

PPSSPP-SA (PSP)

Button Combo Action
START Start
SELECT Select
B(EAST) Circle
A Cross
Y(NORTH) Triangle
X Square
L1 L
R1 R
R2 Save State
L2 Load State
L3 Open Menu

Hypseus-singe (Daphne)

Button Combo Action
SELECT+START Quit Game
SELECT Coin
START Start
A Button 1
B(EAST) Button 2
Y(NORTH) Button 3

Notes:

  • To add/change mapping you can edit /storage/.config/game/configs/hypseus/hypinput.ini under [KEYBOARD] section by changing third number for a function from 0 (disabled) to a corresponding joystick value. You can identify joystick values by running jstest /dev/input/js0 over ssh.

  • For example the following would assign quit to L1 and pause to R1

    [KEYBOARD]
KEY_QUIT = SDLK_ESCAPE 0 5
KEY_PAUSE = SDLK_p 0 6

Global Hotkeys

Button Combo Action
SELECT+Vol + Brightness Up
SELECT+Vol - Brightness Down
START+Vol + Battery Status
START+Vol - WIFI Toggle

Notes

Installation

Download the latest RK3566 version of ROCKNIX from the button below and follow the instructions listed on the Install page.

Latest Version Latest Version

RG-ARC-D Users

You will need to wipe the Android partition to boot into ROCKNIX.

WARNING - This will remove Android completely from your device.

  • Install ADB on your computer if you don't already have it. How to Install and Use ADB, the Android Debug Bridge Utility

  • From power off and sd ejected, hold down power and volume down to get into Android recovery

  • Connect the device to your computer via USB using the "DC" port on the device.

  • Switch ADB into root mode using adb root - You may get a timeout error here, continue on anyway.

  • If you would like a backup of your Android partition, run adb pull /dev/block/mmcblk0 android.img

  • Get an ADB shell with adb shell

  • Wipe the Android partition: dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/mmcblk0 bs=4M This will take a few minutes and when it is done you will get an "out of space" message.

  • Exit the shell exit

  • Insert your ROCKNIX SD card, and run adb reboot

  • You should now be booting ROCKNIX!

Additional References