Merlin Graphics Card Driver Installation Problem

dir_marillion · 03 January 2009, 20:26

Hello,
I have recently bought a Merlin Z2/3 Graphics Card for my A2000. With the package I received a Merlin 1.4 disk driver, some Probench96 (3.0) disks and some addons disks.
The problem is that as the whole software guides are in German language, I am not sure what I have to install and what not.

I would like to install ClassicWB with AmigaOS3.1, or a simple AmigaOs3.1.

Is anybody here that could help me?

Thanks a lot

Jope · 03 January 2009, 22:00

Install Picasso96 instead..

Probench might be a bit faster, but there is no support and it is positively ancient.

Also be prepared for problems with the Merlin.. Consider doing the bus fix if all your GALs look the same (ie. no handwritten markings on any of the GAL chips)

This is the dude who designed the Merlin:
http://www.ingenieurbuero-riedel.de/merlin.htm

I used to have several, but I sold all of them. They are troublesome on 060 machines even with the fixes + GAL upgrade, and all my machines are/were 060.

Ing. Riedel still sells the upgrade chips, so it might be worth your while to do all the fixes to the board while you're at it. Not very difficult, just cut some tracks, solder some wires and swap a few chips.

I found a better version of the pdf in my email archives from the time when I was in email contact with the designer. He also mentioned that don't do the reset fix unless you have reset problems, as it was his experience that most customers made mistakes there.

I did both fixes to my cards, but I'm sure you know how difficult it is to be humble when you're so fabulous. :-P

http://pitsku.jope.fi:7175/merlin-e.pdf

zipper · 03 January 2009, 22:00

Why don't you install Picasso96?
- well, lost by seconds...

dir_marillion · 03 January 2009, 22:24

Hi,
I have installed the latest Picasso96 drivers and I have not video output, not even at 640x480 :-( I am not sure why.
Is the card incombatible with 040 too ? or Picasso96 need a special preference to work with Merlin ?

So, I tried Probench, which gives me video-output via it's testing resolutions tools. But the installation seems very tricky.

I will check the site of Riedel...

keropi · 03 January 2009, 22:36

bad choise those Merlin cards are... too tricky, I hope u got a nice deal on it!

dir_marillion · 03 January 2009, 22:47

I saw this card working into an Amiga 4000 with 040, not bad performance. It's just a little bit tricky as you said...

dir_marillion · 09 February 2009, 10:16

Finally Riedel did the fix and now the card is working great!

It's a very fast card! I think it's faster than CyberVision 64-3D.

keropi · 09 February 2009, 10:29

very nice

dir_marillion · 09 February 2009, 10:35

The fixes are important

03 January 2009, 20:26	#1
dir_marillion Randy Rhoads Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jupiter Age: 50 Posts: 116	Merlin Graphics Card Driver Installation Problem Hello, I have recently bought a Merlin Z2/3 Graphics Card for my A2000. With the package I received a Merlin 1.4 disk driver, some Probench96 (3.0) disks and some addons disks. The problem is that as the whole software guides are in German language, I am not sure what I have to install and what not. I would like to install ClassicWB with AmigaOS3.1, or a simple AmigaOs3.1. Is anybody here that could help me? Thanks a lot

03 January 2009, 22:00	#2
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,876	Install Picasso96 instead.. Probench might be a bit faster, but there is no support and it is positively ancient. Also be prepared for problems with the Merlin.. Consider doing the bus fix if all your GALs look the same (ie. no handwritten markings on any of the GAL chips) This is the dude who designed the Merlin: http://www.ingenieurbuero-riedel.de/merlin.htm I used to have several, but I sold all of them. They are troublesome on 060 machines even with the fixes + GAL upgrade, and all my machines are/were 060. Ing. Riedel still sells the upgrade chips, so it might be worth your while to do all the fixes to the board while you're at it. Not very difficult, just cut some tracks, solder some wires and swap a few chips. I found a better version of the pdf in my email archives from the time when I was in email contact with the designer. He also mentioned that don't do the reset fix unless you have reset problems, as it was his experience that most customers made mistakes there. I did both fixes to my cards, but I'm sure you know how difficult it is to be humble when you're so fabulous. :-P http://pitsku.jope.fi:7175/merlin-e.pdf Last edited by Jope; 03 January 2009 at 22:12.

09 February 2009, 10:35	#9
dir_marillion Randy Rhoads Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jupiter Age: 50 Posts: 116	The fixes are important Last edited by dir_marillion; 09 February 2009 at 19:25.

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03 January 2009, 22:00	#3
zipper Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: finland Posts: 1,839	Why don't you install Picasso96? - well, lost by seconds...

03 January 2009, 22:24	#4
dir_marillion Randy Rhoads Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jupiter Age: 50 Posts: 116	Hi, I have installed the latest Picasso96 drivers and I have not video output, not even at 640x480 :-( I am not sure why. Is the card incombatible with 040 too ? or Picasso96 need a special preference to work with Merlin ? So, I tried Probench, which gives me video-output via it's testing resolutions tools. But the installation seems very tricky. I will check the site of Riedel...

03 January 2009, 22:36	#5
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	bad choise those Merlin cards are... too tricky, I hope u got a nice deal on it!

03 January 2009, 22:47	#6
dir_marillion Randy Rhoads Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jupiter Age: 50 Posts: 116	I saw this card working into an Amiga 4000 with 040, not bad performance. It's just a little bit tricky as you said...

09 February 2009, 10:16	#7
dir_marillion Randy Rhoads Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jupiter Age: 50 Posts: 116	Finally Riedel did the fix and now the card is working great! It's a very fast card! I think it's faster than CyberVision 64-3D.

09 February 2009, 10:29	#8
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	very nice

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