Skip to content
RetroBIOS

PUAE (P-UAE)

PUAE (P-UAE) emulates Commodore Amiga, Commodore Amiga CD32 and Commodore CDTV. It reads 29 files, 5 of them required: without a required file it does not start games. A required file is needed only by the machines that use it. Each file below cites the line of source code that reads it.

About this profile
Detail Value
Type libretro
Classification Community fork
Source https://github.com/libretro/libretro-uae
Upstream https://github.com/GnoStiC/PUAE
Version 5.3.1, stated in retrodep/sysconfig.h
Revision libretro/libretro-uae@7387937066b1
Profiled 2026-03-24
Profile YAML, JSON
Cores puae, uae
Systems Commodore Amiga, Commodore Amiga CD32, Commodore CDTV
Install this emulator's files

The installer finds your setup and its BIOS folder, then downloads only the files this emulator reads there and checks each one.

Open the Start menu. Type PowerShell and open it. Paste the line. Press Enter.

PowerShell
&([scriptblock]::Create((irm https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i.ps1))) --emulator puae
Platform details

  • rom_sizes:

    • ROM_SIZE_128: 131072
    • ROM_SIZE_256: 262144
    • ROM_SIZE_512: 524288

  • aros_fallback: yes

  • naming_conventions:

    • standard: kick{rev}.{model}
    • amiga_forever: amiga-os-{version}.rom
    • tosec: Kickstart v{version} rev {rev} ({year})(Commodore)({model}).rom

  • scan_prefixes: kick, amiga-os, KS ROM

  • source_ref: libretro/libretro-core.c:2650-2677

Technical notes

PUAE is a port of UAE (Unix Amiga Emulator) to libretro. It emulates the Amiga 500, 500+, 600, 1200, 2000, 4000, CD32, and CDTV. Kickstart ROMs are loaded from the RetroArch system directory.

AROS (open-source Kickstart replacement) is available as a built-in fallback when no Kickstart ROM is found. Compatibility is limited compared to real ROMs.

The core scans the system directory for files starting with "kick", "amiga-os", or "KS ROM". Each filename is matched against a table of known naming conventions: standard (kick*.A*), Amiga Forever (amiga-os-.rom), and TOSEC (Kickstart v.rom). The first valid match is used.

Default kickstart per model (automatic selection): A500, A500OG, A2000OG, CDTV -> kick34005.A500 (KS 1.3) A500+ -> kick37175.A500 (KS 2.04) A600 -> kick40063.A600 (KS 3.1) A1200, A1200OG -> kick40068.A1200 (KS 3.1) A2000 -> kick40063.A600 (KS 3.1) A4030, A4040 -> kick40068.A4000 (KS 3.1) CD32, CD32FR -> kick40060.CD32 (KS 3.1) CDTV (ext) -> kick34005.CDTV CD32 (ext) -> kick40060.CD32.ext

Extended ROM handling: CD32 and CDTV require an extended ROM in addition to the main kickstart. If the main ROM filesize is <= 512 KB, the extended ROM is loaded separately. Combined ROMs (main + ext in one file) skip the extended ROM search.

WHDLoad support copies kick33180.A500, kick34005.A500, kick40063.A600, kick40068.A1200 into saves/WHDLoad/Devs/Kickstarts/ for use by WHDLoad slave files. Also copies rom.key (Amiga Forever decryption) and WHDLoad.key (license) from the system directory.

ROM search order (libretro-core.c retro_config_kickstart):

  1. Exact filename in system directory
  2. Amiga Forever naming (amiga-os-*.rom)
  3. TOSEC modified naming (with [!] suffix)
  4. TOSEC naming (without [!] suffix)

The CAPS library is opened at run time on the first IPF image, from system/capsimg.so (capsimg.dll on Windows), then by its bare name through the loader search path. Android builds look only in the RetroArch cores directories. Without it IPF images are refused with a message and every other format works (sources/src/caps/caps.c:37-41, 71-96, 467-487).

Data files are read from system/uae_data/, or system/uae/ when uae_data/ does not exist (libretro/libretro-core.c:746-751). The "Floppy Sound Type" option picks the floppy drive samples embedded in the core (internal, the default) or the external A500 or LOUD set from that folder (libretro/libretro-core.c:1871-1885, libretro/libretro-core.c:4174-4202). Each sample is drive_<click|spin|spinnd|startup|snatch>_<set>, with .wav appended when the bare name does not open. When none of the five opens, floppy sound is turned off for that drive (sources/src/driveclick.c:77-104, sources/src/driveclick.c:200-235). The same folder is scanned for files ending in rom, offered as cartridge images by the Cartridge option.

Source: libretro/libretro-core.h:140-245, libretro/libretro-core.c:5609-5777, libretro/libretro-core.c:6044-6093

Files

Section titled “Files”

29 files: 5 required, 24 optional. 9 have an HLE fallback.

In this collection: 28 in repo, 0 missing and 1 unsourceable.

Required

Section titled “Required”
FileStatus

kick34005.A500

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-130.rom, Kickstart v1.3 rev 34.5 (1987)(Commodore)(A500-A1000-A2000-CDTV)[!].rom, Kickstart v1.3 rev 34.5 (1987)(Commodore)(A500-A1000-A2000-CDTV).rom
  • Kickstart 1.3 rev 34.5 (1987). Default for A500/A2000OG/CDTV models. Also used by WHDLoad.
Source
required for Commodore Amiga in repo

kick40068.A1200

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-310-a1200.rom, Kickstart v3.1 rev 40.68 (1993)(Commodore)(A1200)[!].rom, Kickstart v3.1 rev 40.68 (1993)(Commodore)(A1200).rom
  • Kickstart 3.1 rev 40.68 (1993). Default for A1200/A1200OG models. Also used by WHDLoad.
Source
required for Commodore Amiga in repo

kick34005.CDTV

  • System: Commodore CDTV
  • Aliases: amiga-os-130-cdtv-ext.rom, CDTV Extended-ROM v1.0 (1991)(Commodore)(CDTV)[!].rom, CDTV Extended-ROM v1.0 (1992)(Commodore)(CDTV).rom
  • CDTV Extended ROM v1.0 (1991). Required as extended ROM for CDTV model. Main kickstart is kick34005.A500.
Source
required for Commodore CDTV in repo

kick40060.CD32

  • System: Commodore Amiga CD32
  • Aliases: amiga-os-310-cd32.rom, Kickstart v3.1 rev 40.60 (1993)(Commodore)(CD32).rom
  • CD32 Kickstart 3.1 rev 40.60 (1993). Main ROM for CD32 and CD32FR models.
Source
required for Commodore Amiga CD32 in repo

kick40060.CD32.ext

  • System: Commodore Amiga CD32
  • Aliases: amiga-os-310-cd32-ext.rom, CD32 Extended-ROM rev 40.60 (1993)(Commodore)(CD32).rom
  • CD32 Extended ROM rev 40.60 (1993). Required when main ROM is <= 512 KB (not combined).
Source
required for Commodore Amiga CD32 in repo

Optional

Section titled “Optional”
24 rows
FileStatusHash

kick31034.A1000

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-110-ntsc.rom, Kickstart v1.1 rev 31.34 (1985)(Commodore)(A1000)(NTSC).rom
  • Kickstart 1.1 rev 31.34 (1985) NTSC. A1000 only.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick32034.A1000

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-110-pal.rom, Kickstart v1.1 rev 32.34 (1986)(Commodore)(A1000)(PAL).rom
  • Kickstart 1.1 rev 32.34 (1986) PAL. A1000 only.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick33180.A500

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-120.rom, Kickstart v1.2 rev 33.180 (1986)(Commodore)(A500-A2000)[!].rom, Kickstart v1.2 rev 33.180 (1986)(Commodore)(A500-A1000-A2000).rom
  • Kickstart 1.2 rev 33.180 (1986). A500/A2000. Also used by WHDLoad.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick37175.A500

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-204.rom, Kickstart v2.04 rev 37.175 (1991)(Commodore)(A500+)[!].rom, Kickstart v2.04 rev 37.175 (1991)(Commodore)(A500+).rom
  • Kickstart 2.04 rev 37.175 (1991). Default for A500+ model.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick37350.A600

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-205-a600.rom, Kickstart v2.05 rev 37.350 (1992)(Commodore)(A600HD)[!].rom
  • Kickstart 2.05 rev 37.350 (1992). A600HD.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick40063.A600

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-310-a600.rom, Kickstart v3.1 rev 40.63 (1993)(Commodore)(A500-A600-A2000)[!].rom, Kickstart v3.1 rev 40.63 (1993)(Commodore)(A500-A600-A2000).rom
  • Kickstart 3.1 rev 40.63 (1993). Default for A600/A2000 models. Also used by WHDLoad.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick39106.A1200

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-300-a1200.rom, Kickstart v3.0 rev 39.106 (1992)(Commodore)(A1200)[!].rom
  • Kickstart 3.0 rev 39.106 (1992). A1200.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick39106.A4000

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-300-a4000.rom, Kickstart v3.0 rev 39.106 (1992)(Commodore)(A4000)[!].rom
  • Kickstart 3.0 rev 39.106 (1992). A4000.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

kick40068.A4000

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Aliases: amiga-os-310-a4000.rom, Kickstart v3.1 rev 40.68 (1993)(Commodore)(A4000).rom
  • Kickstart 3.1 rev 40.68 (1993). Default for A4030/A4040 models.
Source
in repo HLE fallback-

rom.key

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Amiga Forever ROM decryption key. Copied to saves/WHDLoad/Devs/Kickstarts/ for WHDLoad.
Source
in repo-

WHDLoad.key

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • WHDLoad license key. Copied to saves/WHDLoad/L/ for registered WHDLoad use.
  • Not collectable: per-user signed registration key, never distributed generically, WHDLoad free since v18.2 (acknowledged gaps)
Source
unsourceable-

WHDLoad.prefs

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • WHDLoad preferences. Copied to saves/WHDLoad/S/ when present.
Source
in repo-

capsimg.so

  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • Linux, macOS and Android builds. Opened on the first IPF image. Android reads it from the RetroArch cores directory only.
Source
in repo-

capsimg.dll

Source
in repo-

drive_click_A500.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_click_A500.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • A500 set, head step. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_click_A500.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 6c5b44c1a2bc

drive_spin_A500.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_spin_A500.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • A500 set, motor with a disk. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_spin_A500.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 7401f854a75f

drive_spinnd_A500.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_spinnd_A500.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • A500 set, motor without a disk. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_spinnd_A500.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 f9d954879fee

drive_startup_A500.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_startup_A500.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • A500 set, motor start. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_startup_A500.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 aebeacc7e7bc

drive_snatch_A500.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_snatch_A500.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • A500 set, disk insertion. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_snatch_A500.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 1a4b2d625491

drive_click_LOUD.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_click_LOUD.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • LOUD set, head step. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_click_LOUD.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 b64bee23f356

drive_spin_LOUD.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_spin_LOUD.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • LOUD set, motor with a disk. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_spin_LOUD.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 56d8e36a2f04

drive_spinnd_LOUD.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_spinnd_LOUD.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • LOUD set, motor without a disk. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_spinnd_LOUD.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 43ab05c6d969

drive_startup_LOUD.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_startup_LOUD.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • LOUD set, motor start. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_startup_LOUD.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 743b4b9f0ca6

drive_snatch_LOUD.wav

  • Path: uae_data/drive_snatch_LOUD.wav
  • System: Commodore Amiga
  • LOUD set, disk insertion. Hashes are those of sources/uae_data/drive_snatch_LOUD.wav in the core repository.
Hashes and source
in repoMD5 40cdf89f35b6

Profile data

Section titled “Profile data”
Model kickstart map

  • A500:

    • kickstart: kick34005.A500
    • ext: none

  • A500OG:

    • kickstart: kick34005.A500
    • ext: none

  • A500PLUS:

    • kickstart: kick37175.A500
    • ext: none

  • A600:

    • kickstart: kick40063.A600
    • ext: none

  • A1200:

    • kickstart: kick40068.A1200
    • ext: none

  • A1200OG:

    • kickstart: kick40068.A1200
    • ext: none

  • A2000:

    • kickstart: kick40063.A600
    • ext: none

  • A2000OG:

    • kickstart: kick34005.A500
    • ext: none

  • A4030:

    • kickstart: kick40068.A4000
    • ext: none

  • A4040:

    • kickstart: kick40068.A4000
    • ext: none

  • CDTV:

    • kickstart: kick34005.A500
    • ext: kick34005.CDTV

  • CD32:

    • kickstart: kick40060.CD32
    • ext: kick40060.CD32.ext

  • CD32FR:

    • kickstart: kick40060.CD32
    • ext: kick40060.CD32.ext
WHDLoad kickstarts
  • kick33180.A500
  • kick34005.A500
  • kick40063.A600
  • kick40068.A1200

Next steps

Section titled “Next steps”
.

Maintained by Abdess on GitHub. Report a problem.

Packs from release v2026.10.10, .

MIT for the tooling and metadata. BIOS and firmware files are third-party system software, preserved for personal backup, archival and interoperability.