Blitter vs CPU in BLitz

carrion · 19 July 2018, 10:50

Hello fellow Blitz coders
Reading the thread about collisions, optimizations I started to wonder how much faster would be to use simply a CPU on 030 + Fast RAM A1200 rather than a bitter to paste a Bob?

I will do probably some tests myself but I wonder if you have any experience, ideas how to implement it or maybe even done that before?
Maybe there's a way to theoretically measure it somehow before coding it to check if it makes sense at all.

my question comes from and idea for a shooter game I dream to create one day but classic OCS A500 will be not enough I'm afraid.
But what to expect in terms of speed say on a machine like A1200 + 030 / 28MHz?

idrougge · 19 July 2018, 12:08

The Mildred library is made exactly for that.

E-Penguin · 19 July 2018, 18:10

I remember reading somewhere that at 030 and beyond, the CPU can move / modify memory quicker than the blitter. I don't recall the source. Presumably the vagaries of fast vs chip memory mean there are exceptions.

carrion · 20 July 2018, 14:55

@idrougge
I'll look into it

@e-penguin
I think I saw it here on EAB on other coding threads (I'm even sure and

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=87929

google also finds some threads at ADA forum. So after reading it I have some general idea, and looks like blitter is still quite fast if only A500 or A1200 are considered.

idrougge · 21 July 2018, 01:08

Blitter vs CPU was a recurring topic for the entire lifetime of the Blitz mailing list. It is archived on Aminet and I recommend it as reading for whenever you have some time. It's almost like a second manual.

carrion · 21 July 2018, 08:57

Any hint on how to find the right thread?
googling for "Amiga, Aminet, Blitz, mailing list" gives many lha packed discussions.

idrougge · 21 July 2018, 21:19

Unpack them and search through them.

19 July 2018, 10:50	#1
carrion Registered User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Warsaw area Posts: 152	Blitter vs CPU in BLitz Hello fellow Blitz coders Reading the thread about collisions, optimizations I started to wonder how much faster would be to use simply a CPU on 030 + Fast RAM A1200 rather than a bitter to paste a Bob? I will do probably some tests myself but I wonder if you have any experience, ideas how to implement it or maybe even done that before? Maybe there's a way to theoretically measure it somehow before coding it to check if it makes sense at all. my question comes from and idea for a shooter game I dream to create one day but classic OCS A500 will be not enough I'm afraid. But what to expect in terms of speed say on a machine like A1200 + 030 / 28MHz?

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19 July 2018, 12:08	#2
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,332	The Mildred library is made exactly for that.

19 July 2018, 18:10	#3
E-Penguin Banana Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Darmstadt Posts: 1,213	I remember reading somewhere that at 030 and beyond, the CPU can move / modify memory quicker than the blitter. I don't recall the source. Presumably the vagaries of fast vs chip memory mean there are exceptions.

20 July 2018, 14:55	#4
carrion Registered User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Warsaw area Posts: 152	@idrougge I'll look into it @e-penguin I think I saw it here on EAB on other coding threads (I'm even sure and http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=87929 google also finds some threads at ADA forum. So after reading it I have some general idea, and looks like blitter is still quite fast if only A500 or A1200 are considered.

21 July 2018, 01:08	#5
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,332	Blitter vs CPU was a recurring topic for the entire lifetime of the Blitz mailing list. It is archived on Aminet and I recommend it as reading for whenever you have some time. It's almost like a second manual.

21 July 2018, 08:57	#6
carrion Registered User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Warsaw area Posts: 152	Any hint on how to find the right thread? googling for "Amiga, Aminet, Blitz, mailing list" gives many lha packed discussions.

21 July 2018, 21:19	#7
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,332	Unpack them and search through them.

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