Introducing ACA 1221 Low Cost Accelerator At AmigaKit.com - Page 22

Schoenfeld · 31 May 2016, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by traal

So instead of preconfiguring it with the fewest options, preconfigure it with the most options?

Why not make it more like ordering a computer online: let everyone configure it however they want at the time of purchase? It would save buyers from needing to pay more money again later to finally get what they want. I think people are resentful when they have to pay twice like that.

I haven't made a decision yet. From what I found so far, all E13G CPUs work fine @42MHz (even the 16MHz-rated ones!), so I might as well enable that "always" and treat it like will treat that frequency of the ACA500plus: Have it always available, but don't guarantee it.

For the ACA1221EC, this would mean you pay for a 28MHz accelerator, and if it works at 42: Good for you.

For the ACA500plus, you'll pay for a 14MHz accelerator. If it works at 21, 28 or 42: Good for you.

If the higher frequency doesn't work, it's just bad luck. However, I do have to make a difference for those accelerators that use a CPU with a mask that is known to "not like" overclocking. I'll have to sell these cheaper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by traal

Have you considered the 68EC030? I think it has the full 32-bit address bus so it won't be limited to 16 MB.

The 68EC030 has the full address space, that's correct. It lacks the MMU, though, so Linux-68k folks would not be happy.

When I did my very first A1200 accelerator, the ACA1230, I had lots of EC030-25 and developed the MapROM feature, so lack of MMU doesn't hurt that much. I do have a few EC030's left in stock, but the majority of CPUs I have includes the MMU. You don't save much money on EC030 versus full-030. It's mainly a matter of availability, not of price. I found a nice stock of brand new 68030 (partly Motorola, partly Freescale), which is why I have taken the time to improve the ACA1233 one more time.

Jens

Lord Aga · 31 May 2016, 23:08

Why not keep the proven and affordable model of ACA1221 ?

Pay little for the basic card, and later save up and pay for the upgrades.

dirkies · 31 May 2016, 23:28

He said the cpu's used in the 1221 are short in supply so need for an alternative cpu.

traal · 01 June 2016, 00:17

Then I guess the next step up from a 68020 is either a full 68030 or the 68LC040.

Lord Aga · 01 June 2016, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirkies

He said the cpu's used in the 1221 are short in supply so need for an alternative cpu.

No no, you misunderstood. I meant the paying model not the card model

dirkies · 01 June 2016, 10:10

Ah ok

I also like the model iComp introduced by unlocking functionality using licence codes. Maybe they should do the same with the Vampire

SKOLMAN_MWS · 01 June 2016, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by traal

Then I guess the next step up from a 68020 is either a full 68030 or the 68LC040.

"68LC040"

Better to produce cards without CPU with saucers under CPU 040 or 060. CPU each user can buy yourself.

eXeler0 · 01 June 2016, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKOLMAN_MWS

"68LC040"

Better to produce cards without CPU with saucers under CPU 040 or 060. CPU each user can buy yourself.

This is not a new idea. The response is usually that this would make support for the product very hard.
As the guy who gives you warranty and support on the product, how do you deal with the part where you have no idea about what CPU the user tries to install..

And the response to *that* is usually, "he but how can Motherboard makers sell mobos with empty sockets"...
And then the debate dies without getting anywhere :-)

In short, if Jens *wanted* to, he could of course...

Skickat från min HTC One via Tapatalk

demolition · 01 June 2016, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXeler0

And the response to *that* is usually, "he but how can Motherboard makers sell mobos with empty sockets"...

They probably factor in a larger amount of replacements and have a more substantial support organization in place. IComp is too small to have a big support organization, so he needs to avoid the situation as much as possible in the first place.

Lord Aga · 01 June 2016, 16:03

That is a rational decision and I support Jens in this one.

Just imagine the number of "I gots me a brand new 68060 CPU for 3 dollars from Chinas and it don't work with your kard" emails.

eXeler0 · 01 June 2016, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Aga

That is a rational decision and I support Jens in this one.

Just imagine the number of "I gots me a brand new 68060 CPU for 3 dollars from Chinas and it don't work with your kard" emails.

Exactly...

Skickat från min HTC One via Tapatalk

Schoenfeld · 07 June 2016, 09:54

At 42.56MHz, the ACA1221EC is really a fun card. I don't know if any other '020 accelerator before has offered this kind of speed. Table not yet fully populated, but it gives an idea about what to expect:
http://wiki.icomp.de/wiki/ACA1221#ACA_12xx_Benchmarks

Jens

idrougge · 07 June 2016, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schoenfeld

ACA1221 is discontinued due to "no more CPUs in stock".

What about the Tekmos 68020?

Schoenfeld · 07 June 2016, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by idrougge

What about the Tekmos 68020?

Checked that quite some time ago already: Way too expensive. The one and only reason why the ACA1221 was so cheap was the low price for the CPUs. I've bought them as "scrap metal with impurities" (if that's the right translation - you probably get the idea).

Would I spend the kind of money that Tekmos wants, I could easily afford to buy 68030s (which I did earlier this year; ACA1233n in production already).

Jens

Boboo_SK · 17 June 2016, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schoenfeld

At 42.56MHz, the ACA1221EC is really a fun card. I don't know if any other '020 accelerator before has offered this kind of speed. Table not yet fully populated, but it gives an idea about what to expect:
http://wiki.icomp.de/wiki/ACA1221#ACA_12xx_Benchmarks

Jens

Yes surpassed, overlock Furia EC020 37,5MHz (Zero waitstate) look here:
http://eab.abime.net/attachment.php?...1&d=1466167418

Schoenfeld · 18 June 2016, 00:25

Nope, I didn't surpass yours (your benchmark shows higher performance despite lower clock), because my memory is SD-Ram at 85MHz. This clock speed is just over the edge of a timing trick that I'm using on my 80MHz memory controller, so I need to add one clock cycle in order to have stable memory.

In other words: I'd be faster if my base clock would be 80MHz (thus CPU would be clocked at 40MHz), but that would mean slower chipram access. My original intention was to only go up to twice the board speed, and I have chosen the crystal frequency to be 3 times that clock rate. At 28MHz, all times are pretty much ideal, but the board infrastructure just wasn't designed to run with a CPU speed of 42MHz. Just because I didn't expect a 68020 to go that fast :-)

Jens

DerSheriff · 18 June 2016, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schoenfeld

Jens

Hi Jens ,

how the work on the 1221ec is going? Any news about release? My vanilla A1200 is waiting for a good expansion

DerSheriff

Schoenfeld · 18 June 2016, 18:15

ACA1221ec will most likely go on sale by the end of the month.

Jens

DerSheriff · 18 June 2016, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schoenfeld

ACA1221ec will most likely go on sale by the end of the month.

Jens

That's great!

I missed the first ACA1221, went to order and was no more available. Hope to be able to get a 1221EC!!!

Thank you

Xebec · 24 June 2016, 11:59

Hi Jens! - I assume there is no way to 'flash' an ACA1221 from Rev 1.2 to Rev 1.3? It's some kind of hardware difference? I wanted to try 42 mhz ever since I saw how you divided out the mhz to get 17, 21, 28.. Thanks

07 June 2016, 09:54	#432
Schoenfeld electricky. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: out in the wild Posts: 1,256	ACA1221EC performance data At 42.56MHz, the ACA1221EC is really a fun card. I don't know if any other '020 accelerator before has offered this kind of speed. Table not yet fully populated, but it gives an idea about what to expect: http://wiki.icomp.de/wiki/ACA1221#ACA_12xx_Benchmarks Jens Attached Thumbnails

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31 May 2016, 23:08	#422
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	Why not keep the proven and affordable model of ACA1221 ? Pay little for the basic card, and later save up and pay for the upgrades.

31 May 2016, 23:28	#423
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	He said the cpu's used in the 1221 are short in supply so need for an alternative cpu.

01 June 2016, 00:17	#424
traal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14	Then I guess the next step up from a 68020 is either a full 68030 or the 68LC040.

01 June 2016, 10:10	#426
dirkies Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Belgium Age: 51 Posts: 1,296	Ah ok I also like the model iComp introduced by unlocking functionality using licence codes. Maybe they should do the same with the Vampire

01 June 2016, 16:03	#430
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	That is a rational decision and I support Jens in this one. Just imagine the number of "I gots me a brand new 68060 CPU for 3 dollars from Chinas and it don't work with your kard" emails.

18 June 2016, 00:25	#436
Schoenfeld electricky. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: out in the wild Posts: 1,256	Nope, I didn't surpass yours (your benchmark shows higher performance despite lower clock), because my memory is SD-Ram at 85MHz. This clock speed is just over the edge of a timing trick that I'm using on my 80MHz memory controller, so I need to add one clock cycle in order to have stable memory. In other words: I'd be faster if my base clock would be 80MHz (thus CPU would be clocked at 40MHz), but that would mean slower chipram access. My original intention was to only go up to twice the board speed, and I have chosen the crystal frequency to be 3 times that clock rate. At 28MHz, all times are pretty much ideal, but the board infrastructure just wasn't designed to run with a CPU speed of 42MHz. Just because I didn't expect a 68020 to go that fast :-) Jens

18 June 2016, 18:15	#438
Schoenfeld electricky. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: out in the wild Posts: 1,256	ACA1221ec will most likely go on sale by the end of the month. Jens

24 June 2016, 11:59	#440
Xebec Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Philadelphia, USA Posts: 67	Hi Jens! - I assume there is no way to 'flash' an ACA1221 from Rev 1.2 to Rev 1.3? It's some kind of hardware difference? I wanted to try 42 mhz ever since I saw how you divided out the mhz to get 17, 21, 28.. Thanks

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