T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
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4085.1 | one person's experenice | RGB::SCOTT | | Wed Sep 05 1990 12:05 | 28 |
| > Just moved over to an A2000 from an Atari STe and was wondering if
> there is a memory board that allows the use of SIMM cards on the 2000?
> The cards are populated with 1Mb * 1 chips, hence 1Mb per card ?? Is
> this possible ??
Yup, it is. Several vendors sell such a card; the one I have
is pretty standard - the MicroBotics 8up! card. It allows the
use of either 256k or 1mb SIMMs, 150ns or better. Get an
amiga magazine for the latest and greatest prices.
> Also, can I attach a '030 card to the A2000 (board rev 4.0) and a
> flicker fixer??
Again, yes. I've added a GVP acellerator card, which also has
local 32 bit wide memory. It's important to have local memory,
otherwise you will not see much improvement in speed. (This is
from personal experenice). You might check out the for-sale note,
as I believe the guy I bought mine from might have another one
for sale. (Just make sure he sends you the mounting brackets :-)
My A2000 rev is 4.3, don't think 4.0 should be a problem. Anyone
else have any info?
The flicker fixer is an easy upgrade. Note that you will need
a multisync monitor. Also note that you'll need the genlock
upgrade, if you plan on using a genlock and the flickerfixer
at the same time. (Something which surprised me!)
|
4085.2 | get out the checkbook | LEDS::ACCIARDI | Larger than life, and twice as ugly | Wed Sep 05 1990 12:23 | 25 |
|
By the way, I've seen FlickerFixers for sale for as low as $375 from
Safe Harbor Computing (see AmigaWorld ad).
As I've said many times before, the FF is the best money I ever spent
on a computer. The display is superior to any computer or workstation
around. All those little scanlines just dissappear!
Re: Accelerators etc...
If money is an issue and you don't need 25 MHz 030 performance, I'd
look around for a deal on a used Commodore A2620 board, which has a 16
MHz 68020/68881 and an MMU to allow you to run UNIX (or AMIX). The
2620s are selling used from $700-800, which is a pretty good deal for
what is essentially an entire 32 bit computer. The performance is
about 4X a basic Amiga, with floating point of course being many times
faster. As many people upgrade to A3000s and A2630s, the A2620 is a
good alternative for cheapskates.
I'd also make sure to upgrade your Agnus chip to the Fat Agnus. This
will increase your display memory from 512K to 1 MB, which is
practically a necessity these days. Cost is approx $100.
Ed.
|
4085.3 | More of the same! | COMICS::HOGGAN | No, I am not kidding !!! | Wed Sep 05 1990 13:14 | 13 |
4085.4 | Can't help with UK prices, but... | RGB::SCOTT | | Wed Sep 05 1990 14:19 | 24 |
4085.5 | Oh, my head! | COMICS::HOGGAN | No, I am not kidding !!! | Wed Sep 05 1990 14:46 | 14 |
| hi,
Looks like a can of worms about to be opened, but.....
The reason that I said I wanted an '030 board that I naturally assumed
that it would outstrip the '020 - is this the case? It seems that many
people have them (A2620 etc...) So, THE QUESTION IS 'what advantages
would the 030 offer over the 020 boards?
Would the 020 board work on the rev4.0 A2000 boards? I've read most of
the notes I could find and have become slightly(!) confused about it
now. I think I'll go and lie down.
Dave.
|
4085.6 | MIPS | WHAMMY::SPODARYK | Scaring the pedestrians... | Wed Sep 05 1990 17:51 | 27 |
| >So, THE QUESTION IS 'what advantages would the 030 offer over the 020 boards?
Speed, MIPS, whatever you prefer to call it.
I've had a A2620 for about a year now, and I've been considering going
up to a '030 board. However, I decided that I really didn't need the
extra juice right now. The 14Mhz '020 is 4+ times faster than the stock
Amiga, and the 68881 is probably 10 times faster for floating calculations.
It's in the same general ballpark as a VAXstation 3100 (m30) and a PS2/70
(with a 25Mhz '386), so it's no slouch.
If you're in a hurry for power, get the '030. If you need a decent
increase, get the '020. For ~$800 you'll get an extra 2M + quadruple
your CPU power.
With the '040 boards on the horizon, I'll keep using my '020 and consider
upgrading at a later date. That's providing that I find a need for it.
Of course there's the argument that when the '040 boards come out the
'020s will really drop in price...
my 2 cents,
Steve
* It sure is nice to have a machine that can run a great windowing UI
without needing mega CPU and memory.
|
4085.7 | Are you sure you want 16-bit wide memory? | TENAYA::MWM | | Wed Sep 05 1990 18:31 | 14 |
| If you're going to an accelerator card, you might want to reconsider buying
a seperate memory card. The Zorro II memory cuts processor speed by a factor
of two to three if you're waiting for it. You might want to sell the SIMMs
and put the cash towards 32 bit RAM, or check on accelerator cards that use
SIMMs (such do exist). Of course, you may want Zorro II ram for the times
when you're not using the accelerator.
For inexpensive accelerators, try the Imtronics Hurricane cards. I think you
can get a _new_ '020 card with (unpopulated) memory subsystem for less than
$1000. The memory is either 256Kx4 or 1Mx4 paged mode DRAMs, which means
you can buy cheap ($50/meg or so) or large (16Meg on board). They also offer
an upgrade to a 28MHz '030 if you decide you need more oomph or an MMU later.
<mike
|
4085.8 | Sounds like good advice. | COMICS::HOGGAN | No, I am not kidding !!! | Wed Sep 05 1990 20:48 | 22 |
| Hi,
Re .7
I'm not sure about the SIMM's, I will certainly get an 020 or 030
board, so selling the 16 bit memory could be wise, BUT 32 bit memory
sure is expensive. I was under the impression that both 16 and 32 bit
memory could be used - you know 16 bit for the week and 32 bit for
Sunday best :-).. Seriously, I was thinking that I could put the
Kickstart and the libraries in the 32 bit and the rest in 16 bit -
giving a trade off between price and speed. Is this advisable?
I've tried to find a UK distributor for the Microbotics SIMM 8up board
- can anyone help?
Would a USA flicker fixer work on my UK A2000 (rev 4.0) - I have a
TAXAN multisync and would like to explore it to the full.
Thanks,
Dave.
|
4085.9 | TML matches Mail Order -- film at 11! | NSSG::SULLIVAN | Steven E. Sullivan | Wed Sep 05 1990 20:49 | 9 |
| re:.2
> By the way, I've seen FlickerFixers for sale for as low as $375 from
> Safe Harbor Computing (see AmigaWorld ad).
I was The Memory Location today and they had them for $375 too! Plus
Denise Extender and genlock upgrade.
-SES
|
4085.10 | chips & SIMMS don't know if they're in a 32 or 16 bit system | TENAYA::MWM | | Wed Sep 05 1990 21:16 | 26 |
| re .8
32 bit memory isn't different from 16 bit memory. The memory subsystem is
different (and may be more expensive), but after that, the memory itself
is the same.
The A3000 uses new, high-density chips (1Mx4), which are expensive. But
they're expensive whether you plug them into a 32 bit or 16 bit system.
The best price I've seen on them is $90/meg. On the other hand, the
low density version of those chips are cheap - I bought 4Meg of them
at $50/meg. That's 32-bit wide memory. The Imtronics memory board uses
256Kx4 dips, which should be slightly less expensive. If I recall correctly,
the GVP memory subsystem uses SIMMs, so you might be able to use the parts
you've already got (but they won't sell it to you without memory already
on it, and want $1200 for it).
The other catch is that 32 bit systems tends to have higher clock rates than
16 bit systems, so you have to by faster memory. I.e. - you may have
150ns SIMMs, and need 80ns SIMMs for a 32-bit system. But the local nerds
supermarket doesn't have anything slower than 80ns SIMMs, and those are
$50/meg.
In other words, check the price on memory on your accelerator before deciding
that you can't afford it.
<mike
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4085.11 | DMA problems? | COMICS::HOGGAN | No, I am not kidding !!! | Thu Sep 06 1990 08:17 | 10 |
4085.12 | | LEDS::ACCIARDI | Larger than life, and twice as ugly | Thu Sep 06 1990 11:24 | 18 |
|
The Commodore A2620 comes with a 16 MHz math coprocessor and a Motorola
Memory Management Unit chip, which is required to run the Unix
operating system. The A2620 also comes with 2 megs of 120 nS ram,
upgradable to 4 megs.
In addition, the A2620 allows you to boot your Amiga using the stock
68000 CPU in case you have a compatibility problem with some games.
This is not common, but some games, most notably from Psynosis, break
under a 32 bit CPU.
I believe the DMA problem you are referring to was a problem with
Commodore's own SCSI/DMA hard disk controller. This problem had
nothing to do with the A2620, nor did it affect the A2620's operation.
All in all, the A2620 is a superbly engineered accelerator card.
Ed.
|
4085.13 | New 020 boards a 2620 beater? | COMICS::HOGGAN | No, I am not kidding !!! | Thu Sep 06 1990 12:37 | 15 |
4085.14 | PAl and NRSC | MEO78B::MANDERSON | Photographers do it in darkrooms | Thu Sep 06 1990 12:39 | 12 |
| Re the Flicker fixer US/Uk question.
I rang Microway and was told there are two models - one for PAl and one for
NTSC.
Is a shame because the cheapones from the US are all NTSC and no use to me
ahh well
regards
k
|
4085.15 | New A2000 memory board | COMICS::HOGGAN | No, I am not kidding !!! | Wed Oct 10 1990 10:53 | 9 |
| Hi,
A bit of info: MES in Liverpool (UK) are about to release a A2000
memory board that allows the use of SIMM's - the same SIMM's as ued on
the Atari STe. Price quoted was #279.00 with 2Mb. Good news is that
they are selling the Microbotics 8-UP boards off cheap!!!!!
Dave.
|
4085.16 | How cheap is cheap? | SUBURB::MCDONALDA | Old Elysian with a big D.I.C. | Wed Oct 10 1990 13:46 | 9 |
| re: <<< Note 4085.15 by COMICS::HOGGAN "No, I am not kidding !!!" >>>
> the Atari STe. Price quoted was #279.00 with 2Mb. Good news is that
> they are selling the Microbotics 8-UP boards off cheap!!!!!
Any price quoted for the 8-UP board, and should I buy one for my 2000?
Needing more memory,
Angus
|
4085.17 | Cheap is less than before! | COMICS::HOGGAN | No, I am not kidding !!! | Thu Oct 11 1990 07:22 | 9 |
| Hi,
MES are selling the 8UP for #271.00 including P&P and VAT.
If you're interested, phone them fairly quickly as they only have a few
left.
Dave.
|