Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Re: .0

I suspect that Commodore is releasing the new Agnus chip before releasing
the updates to any other chips.  Thus, one meg of chip memory doesn't
mean enhanced graphics modes.

I am not privy to any special source of information, but when Dave Haynie
gave a talk to a local user group, he did talk about the new graphics
modes briefly.  In general, the new graphics chip (what's its name) can
produce twice as many pixels as the current chip.  He seemed to indicate
it would support super interlaced modes of 800 lines (but he wasn't
sure about this).  One new graphics mode was 1280 by 200 (400 interlaced).
Commodore thought this mode would be good for video titles (the television
horizontal video signal is analog).  A 400 line non-interlaced mode is
supported.

The current graphics modes (including 400 line interlace) are supported.
(PAL modes are supported too.)

The new graphics modes run into two limitations.  First, the color registers
can't run as fast as necessary to allow a 4096 color palette.  In the
new graphics modes, the 4096 color palette is reduced to something like
64 colors.   Second, the new graphics modes do lots of cycle stealing
(which can slow down dramatically Amigas without fast ram).

The new display chip is programmable for 50hz or 60hz (no more PAL
versus NTSC chip).  Commodore is thinking about standardizing on a
640 by 480 "productivity" mode.

However, to use the new chip (or is it just the new graphics modes)
you need Kickstart 1.4.

Ok Ok! I can't wait!

So when is this stuff around? (New AGNUS, New DENISE, WB/KS 1.4) 
and how much wil it all cost!?!?!?


John (who loves windows, but hates running out of chip ram)

    On this week's Computer Cronicles it was stated that CMB has released
    it's new AGNUS chip.They made mention of 1 meg of chip ram for
    graphics.I went to System Eyes an Steve said he had the chip in
    his 2500.He had no release date,and said it would not be a inexpensive
    item.I am looking forward to it though.Even without any new graphic
    modes,1meg of chip ram sounds great to me.
    								bill
    

    Randy saved me again a lotta typing, so I just fill in some more
    infos:
    
   1.  The new Denise (and maybe Gary) aren't finished yet. So you won't
    see the new modes until they get released and that only be with
    KS/WB 1.4, which is due in late '89, early '90.
    
   2. The current version of the "Obese" Agnus has at least one bug,
    which shows only in PAL screens. CBM knew about this one, so MAYBE
    the officially sold units have a fixed version. Someone with access
    to such unit should post or mail me the revision of the Agnus chip.
    
   3. It's sure great to have one meg of ChipMem. I got my obese Agnus
    at the European DevCon 3 months ago and I don't know how I did without
    it...
    
    The price for the new Agnus should be pretty low (~$50), the complete
    Enhanced Chipset will be somewhat more expensive.
    
    Cherio,
    
    -	<CB>
    The Software Brewery 
     

    Re .1 .4
    
    I'm pretty sure that there will be no super interlaced mode (800
    lines) with the current design of the new Denise. However these
    babies are still under construction, so maybe...
    
    And I'm really sorry for all my typos...
    
    Cheerio,
    -	<CB>
    

    So what does this mean to the B2000 owner?
    
    If I pop one of these in, will I wind up with 1.5 megs of memory?
    
    Randy
    

    On a unexpanded B2000 it will simply mean that the blitter can now
    access 1 Mb of chip RAM.  Right now it only can access 512K of the
    1 Mb which comes on the B2000.  You may have noticed programs
    like Dpaint can run out of graphics (CHIP) memory even when you have
    loads of free memory showing up on the workbench title bar.  Doesn't
    add any memory to your system.
    
    Does adding the chip to the A500 make the memory on the A501 chip memory?
    Has there been any news from Commodore about supporting the A1000?
    
    Just curious as I've got a B2000.
    
    - steve

    Re. .6
    
    Nah, were would that 512KB come from???
    
    Right now an off the shelf B2000 has (had?) 512KB of ChipMem and
    another 512KB of pseudo FastMem (also called SlowMem, because it
    is refreshed by the Agnus like ChipMem). 
    If you pop an obese Agnus in your system (which isn't an easy task
    without the proper chip puller) AND make the right jumper settings
    you will wind up with one Megabyte of !contigounus! (sp???) ChipMem.
    This will really make multitasking several graphic/sound programs
    easy (given that you have some FastMem where the actual code should
    be loaded).
    BTW, the obese Agnus also has a number of new registers and will
    allow 32000 bits wide Blits (as oposed to 1024 right now).
    
    -	<CB>
    

    Re.: .7
    
    Yeah, the A501 memory is the same as the SlowMem 512KB in the B2000,
    so no problem using it for 1 Mb of ChipMem.
    
    While the are NO (and I mean zilch) activities from CBM to bring
    this support to the A1000, the problem will probably be solved by
    a third party product (or should I say kit?). This will definitivly
    include some soldering to wind up with the missing address line
    and RAM support.
    
    -	<CB>
    

I just picked up a new B2000 within the last month or so.  I'm interested in
finding out if I've got the new Agnus chip.  How can you tell?  Revision number
on the motherboard?  Numbers on the chip?

MachII still says I have 1/2 meg chip ram and 1/2 meg 'fast' ram.  Of course,
that may or may not mean anything.  If Commodore's been shipping the new Agnus
for any length of time, I MAY just have the new chip. I think the unit I got
had just arrived at the dealer a week or so before I picked it up.  


					John

    You do not have the new chip. If you did, Mach II would tell you.
    
    Paul

    RE: .10  .11
            
    You can tell if you have the new Agnus by  
    a) The revision of the motherboard, if it's > 6.? your chances are
    quite good.
    b) the number on the Agnus itself. I forgot right now if its 8371
    or 8372 but I'll tell you folks tomorrow.
    
    And Paul, whatever memory display programs tell you doesn't mean
    that you don't have the chip. It could mean that the chip just isn't
    enabled (jumpers...).
    The 6.1 revision motherboards ie. come with the obese Agnus, but
    have it disabled...
    
    -	<CB>
    

    Re: .10
    
    The rev # of the obese Agnus is 8372.
    So if you have this (or a higher revision :-), welcome to the club.
    :-)
    
    -	<CB>
    

    
    I've got a Uk A500 if it has this Obese Agnus chip how do I set
    the jumpers to enable it ..
    
    			Pete

    Re. .14
    I dunno :-)
    Nah, I only did this on my B2000 some months ago, so I really can't
    tell ya for sure, and those #@!? CBM support folks don't anwer their
    phone today!!!
    So first find out if you have, and to do so you'll have to void
    you warranty by opening that sucker. 
    If you have an 8372, locate all jumpers and soldering bridges in
    your A500 and note their id's (ie. J101). Then post your results
    here.
    If your findings correspond with my knowledge :-), I'll let you
    know how to enable the chip.
    However I'll try to find someone here at CBM who knows for sure!
    
    Regards,
    
    -	<CB>
    

Re: .13, .14

Be careful, I've been told that in later revisions of the B2000 that
Commodore removed the jumper for one meg of chip ram, and instead
require that you cut a trace on the mother board!

Do you really want to do this yourself?

    Re: .16
    
    I have to second Randy here, do this only if you're confident about
    it.
    If I'll post any modification procedures, it will only be if these
    have been verified by CBM (German HQ).
    And since regardless of the motherboard rev. the modification includes
    cutting traces and/or soldering, which will void any remaining
    warranty.
    
    -	<CB>
    

    Guys .. let's make a deal. Whoever finds a dealer locally that is
    selling the Fat Aggie ... put a note here with location and price!!
    

Well, even though I've got a 'new' A2000, it looks like I'm not one of the
1-meg-chip-ram brotherhood.  My motherboard is Rev 4.5, and my 'slightly
overwight Agnus' is numbered 8370.  Guess my 'new' unit had been sitting in a
warehouse for quite some time.  Kind of odd that it came with Kickstart 1.3 and
the Workbench 1.3 documentation.  The dealer said that this was the first unit
he'd gotten with 1.3 documentation in the box.

Hmm... I wonder if I'll have to have a trace cut to upgrade my board for the
new chips.  That could be kind of tough.  Our local dealer has just gone out of
business.  So much for buying my new machine locally so I'd have the benefit
of local service.  

You know, that really irritates me.  Maybe I should take the unit
back to him and claim I want a new replacement.  It hasn't been 90 days yet. 
Does anyone know if he's still liable for the 90 day dealer service warranty
even though he's gone out of business?  Part of what sold me on paying extra to
get it locally was that he'd be there in case I didn't like it.  Seems like
he should be held to his promises, even though he's not selling Amigas anymore.


					John