FPU for A1200

barkingboy · 16 May 2004, 11:25

Hi,

I had the trap door off my A1200 earlier (probably for the first time in about 7 years) and noticed that my 8MB RAM board has an FPU socket on it.

The board does not contain any form of CPU upgrade. Just RAM / RTC.

I just wondered what FPU chip I can fit and what type of benefits / problems that might cause with games / apps etc.

Thanks.

RetroMan · 16 May 2004, 14:14

It depends on what kind of card it is, it may be a PLCC Type FPU or a PGA Type FPU that fits there ....

Games won´t have any problem with or without a FPU, but you won´t have any benefits with it either ....

Only apps that use mathematic librarys may use the FPU for calculation (like Raytracing for example) ....

barkingboy · 16 May 2004, 16:09

Thanks Retroman,

The board is a Marpet Developments M1207 and uses a PLCC socket for the FPU.

I am not sure which chip it would take, but I am guessing a 16mHz MC68881?

Anyway I guess unless I have a specific use for one then there is little point - although I might keep an eye open on eBay!

Amiga1992 · 16 May 2004, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroMan

Only apps that use mathematic librarys may use the FPU for calculation (like Raytracing for example) ....

Also 3D games. Anything that needs lots of mathematic calculations will benefit of an FPU. However I'm not sure how much of a benefit there is in using an FPU with a 68EC020.

RetroMan · 16 May 2004, 23:45

@barkingboy

FPU should allways be the same speed as the CPU is

@Akira

Well, it depends .... most 3D Games on Amiga do NOT use the FPU at all, since all scenes are pre-rendered or just plain 2D gfx in 3D look, only some newer 3D Ports of games really require a FPU (like Duke Nukem 3D for example)

Amiga1992 · 17 May 2004, 01:00

??
You saying that any polygon-based game like F-15 is pre-rendered? And isn't it all 2Dgfx in 3D-look?

I say any polygon-based thing would accelerate. It's maths innit. I remember people selling this kind of thing to play TFX with.

redblade · 17 May 2004, 02:12

I could never get TFX to run on my A1200/030@28mhz/688882@dunno what speed.

I don't know why, I ran snoop dos on it, and the damn thing wouldn't work, which sucked because it looked like a real nice game and you goto pilot a F1/17A stealth bomber.

Jope · 17 May 2004, 07:36

You guys must remember that the game needs to be prepared for the FPU for it to be of any use.

Most games don't use any OS libraries, but they do all their maths by themselves. If the author didn't incorporate any FPU aware routines in the game, it doesn't help at all.

Syko · 29 May 2004, 14:54

TFX has two versions, one version for no FPU, and one for FPU enabled. You need to use the right version for it to work properly.

The FPU version ran very nicely on my A4000 w/ Cyberstorm Mk II 040/40

Amiga1992 · 31 May 2004, 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

You guys must remember that the game needs to be prepared for the FPU for it to be of any use.

True dat. Thanks for the clarification.

spanner · 12 June 2015, 14:57

I know this is a old thread but didn't want to make another one to ask a queison.

I have a Memory Master 1200 / AlfaRam 1200 Memory Expansion Card.

It came with a FPU chip,I removed it to do some test the card without it and now when I put it in it stops my A1200 from coming on and makes the power suppy make a hi pich sound,anyone have this problem.?

Thanks in advance.

16 May 2004, 11:25	#1
barkingboy Zone Friend Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK Posts: 151	FPU for A1200 Hi, I had the trap door off my A1200 earlier (probably for the first time in about 7 years) and noticed that my 8MB RAM board has an FPU socket on it. The board does not contain any form of CPU upgrade. Just RAM / RTC. I just wondered what FPU chip I can fit and what type of benefits / problems that might cause with games / apps etc. Thanks.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS A1200 68030 32MB +FPU acceleratof	TheCorfiot	MarketPlace	1	06 February 2013 00:45
Upgrading A1200 Memory with FPU	fitzsteve	Hardware mods	2	16 September 2009 15:55
FS: Hawk Memory FPU RTC A1200 Expansion Card	tonyyeb	MarketPlace	9	28 October 2008 09:25
Good MP3 player for A1200 020/FPU	dkovacs	support.Apps	27	13 April 2005 20:58
A1200 with factory-installed FPU?	Amiga1992	support.Hardware	2	20 September 2004 05:50

16 May 2004, 14:14	#2
RetroMan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Germany Age: 51 Posts: 3,704	It depends on what kind of card it is, it may be a PLCC Type FPU or a PGA Type FPU that fits there .... Games won´t have any problem with or without a FPU, but you won´t have any benefits with it either .... Only apps that use mathematic librarys may use the FPU for calculation (like Raytracing for example) ....

16 May 2004, 16:09	#3
barkingboy Zone Friend Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK Posts: 151	Thanks Retroman, The board is a Marpet Developments M1207 and uses a PLCC socket for the FPU. I am not sure which chip it would take, but I am guessing a 16mHz MC68881? Anyway I guess unless I have a specific use for one then there is little point - although I might keep an eye open on eBay!

16 May 2004, 23:45	#5
RetroMan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Germany Age: 51 Posts: 3,704	@barkingboy FPU should allways be the same speed as the CPU is @Akira Well, it depends .... most 3D Games on Amiga do NOT use the FPU at all, since all scenes are pre-rendered or just plain 2D gfx in 3D look, only some newer 3D Ports of games really require a FPU (like Duke Nukem 3D for example)

17 May 2004, 01:00	#6
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	?? You saying that any polygon-based game like F-15 is pre-rendered? And isn't it all 2Dgfx in 3D-look? I say any polygon-based thing would accelerate. It's maths innit. I remember people selling this kind of thing to play TFX with.

17 May 2004, 02:12	#7
redblade Zone Friend Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Middle Earth Age: 40 Posts: 2,127	I could never get TFX to run on my A1200/030@28mhz/688882@dunno what speed. I don't know why, I ran snoop dos on it, and the damn thing wouldn't work, which sucked because it looked like a real nice game and you goto pilot a F1/17A stealth bomber.

17 May 2004, 07:36	#8
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	You guys must remember that the game needs to be prepared for the FPU for it to be of any use. Most games don't use any OS libraries, but they do all their maths by themselves. If the author didn't incorporate any FPU aware routines in the game, it doesn't help at all.

29 May 2004, 14:54	#9
Syko Now got GSX750F :)) Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Halifax UK Age: 59 Posts: 584	TFX has two versions, one version for no FPU, and one for FPU enabled. You need to use the right version for it to work properly. The FPU version ran very nicely on my A4000 w/ Cyberstorm Mk II 040/40

12 June 2015, 14:57	#11
spanner none Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: None Posts: 322	I know this is a old thread but didn't want to make another one to ask a queison. I have a Memory Master 1200 / AlfaRam 1200 Memory Expansion Card. It came with a FPU chip,I removed it to do some test the card without it and now when I put it in it stops my A1200 from coming on and makes the power suppy make a hi pich sound,anyone have this problem.? Thanks in advance.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)