Got hold of an A4000/040, but...

SilentBob · 23 November 2003, 16:43

When I fired up Xtreme Racing and Breathless to check the difference in speed from my A1200 with a Blizzard 1230-IV 50 MHz card, I discovered both games ran -slower- compared to the 1200. Screen redraw in system apps sometimes seem slower on the 4000.

I then remembered that back in the days, someone told me that the memory subsystem of the 4000 was badly designed, so the CPU couldn't run at optimum speed when using a A3640 '040 card (Which is what the 4000 has installed). I might be remembering wrong tho, it was a long time ago.

Any tips?

cv643d · 23 November 2003, 23:31

Have you got fast mem or only the 2mb chip mem. I think it runs slow if you havent got any fast mem, check the 72 pin simm slots, if you only have one Simm then you only have chip mem.

SilentBob · 24 November 2003, 12:58

Yeah, forgot to mention that, I have 2 MB chip and 16 MB fast. Checked the memory, it's working fine.

Benchmark apps show speeds that are consistent, but as I said, 3D games run slower than the 030-50 MHz A1200.

The heatsink on the 040 is searing hot, though, even with the case lid off. Is that normal? I almost burned my finger touching it.

I realize 040s run hot, but jeez...

kriz · 24 November 2003, 14:17

yeah 040`s gets VERY hot ... You got a 040/25Mhz ?

ant512 · 24 November 2003, 14:18

040s are the hottest-running 68k chips. Most 040 accelerators come fitted with fans.

Anyway, back to the question. Yep, Commodore messed up memory access on the A4000, so an 030 A1200 can be faster than an 040 A4000 in certain conditions. There's really nothing you can do about this other than buying an alternative accelerator.

SilentBob · 25 November 2003, 14:08

Yeah, I figured as much. I guess it's the only way to speed that sucker up is to yank out that 040 and put in something else.

What accelerator brands are recommended for the A4000? I am very happy with the Blizzard card in my A1200, so are the Blizzard cards for the 4000 of the same quality? It would be cool to go for a PPC one too though. Money is kind of a limitiation at the moment (with the Christmas shopping coming up and all)

Amiga1992 · 25 November 2003, 14:59

I wouldn't buy a PPC card unless you really need to. Besides being expensive they are tremendously unstable.

I would go for an 060 if the need for speed is that much (and for demos

), but you couldn't go wrong with the fastest 040 from Blizzard

adolescent · 26 November 2003, 07:31

I wouldn't agree that they are tremendously unstable. They're no worse than any 060 card out there. I would agree that they are out of my price range. Unless you really think you'll need the extra CPU just get a Cyberstorm Mk3 060 and overclock if needed. BTW, there are no Blizzards for the A3000/A4000, only Cyberstorms. My Cyberstorm Mk2 060/66MHz is more than enough and is much faster than my Blizzard 060/50MHz equipped A1200.

FromWithin · 26 November 2003, 16:37

I've got a CyberstormPPC. Never had any stability problems whatsoever. Maybe the A1200 card were more ropey, but I've never heard a bad thing about the Zorro boards.

For the record, the only thing I've used the PPC for was for WIpeout 2097. That's it. Nothing else at all. I'm sure just the 060 would do you fine.

OSH · 28 November 2003, 15:34

I have Apollo 1240/25. It is VERY unstable. I had much problems with memory, power, strange crashes, red/yellow screens on startup, and more...
I wouldn't my Amiga not expanded, because it's too expensive. I buy better Pegasos (I or II).

23 November 2003, 16:43	#1
SilentBob Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norway Age: 49 Posts: 246	Got hold of an A4000/040, but... When I fired up Xtreme Racing and Breathless to check the difference in speed from my A1200 with a Blizzard 1230-IV 50 MHz card, I discovered both games ran -slower- compared to the 1200. Screen redraw in system apps sometimes seem slower on the 4000. I then remembered that back in the days, someone told me that the memory subsystem of the 4000 was badly designed, so the CPU couldn't run at optimum speed when using a A3640 '040 card (Which is what the 4000 has installed). I might be remembering wrong tho, it was a long time ago. Any tips?

24 November 2003, 12:58	#3
SilentBob Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norway Age: 49 Posts: 246	Yeah, forgot to mention that, I have 2 MB chip and 16 MB fast. Checked the memory, it's working fine. Benchmark apps show speeds that are consistent, but as I said, 3D games run slower than the 030-50 MHz A1200. The heatsink on the 040 is searing hot, though, even with the case lid off. Is that normal? I almost burned my finger touching it. I realize 040s run hot, but jeez... Last edited by SilentBob; 24 November 2003 at 13:03.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A4000 040 overclock kit ?	droopy	support.Hardware	7	27 August 2013 11:36
WTB: 040 for A4000 Desktop	magnetic	MarketPlace	0	07 December 2010 01:42
WTB: 040 or 060 for A4000	MagerValp	MarketPlace	0	16 August 2009 19:46
[For Sale] A4000/040	RetroMan	MarketPlace	0	01 April 2004 01:15
alienbreed 3d re: a4000 040	torr	support.Games	10	09 August 2002 17:12

23 November 2003, 23:31	#2
cv643d Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 762	Have you got fast mem or only the 2mb chip mem. I think it runs slow if you havent got any fast mem, check the 72 pin simm slots, if you only have one Simm then you only have chip mem.

24 November 2003, 14:17	#4
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 41 Posts: 3,203	yeah 040`s gets VERY hot ... You got a 040/25Mhz ?

24 November 2003, 14:18	#5
ant512 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: California Posts: 965	040s are the hottest-running 68k chips. Most 040 accelerators come fitted with fans. Anyway, back to the question. Yep, Commodore messed up memory access on the A4000, so an 030 A1200 can be faster than an 040 A4000 in certain conditions. There's really nothing you can do about this other than buying an alternative accelerator.

25 November 2003, 14:08	#6
SilentBob Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norway Age: 49 Posts: 246	Yeah, I figured as much. I guess it's the only way to speed that sucker up is to yank out that 040 and put in something else. What accelerator brands are recommended for the A4000? I am very happy with the Blizzard card in my A1200, so are the Blizzard cards for the 4000 of the same quality? It would be cool to go for a PPC one too though. Money is kind of a limitiation at the moment (with the Christmas shopping coming up and all)

25 November 2003, 14:59	#7
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	I wouldn't buy a PPC card unless you really need to. Besides being expensive they are tremendously unstable. I would go for an 060 if the need for speed is that much (and for demos ), but you couldn't go wrong with the fastest 040 from Blizzard

26 November 2003, 07:31	#8
adolescent Powered by Motorola Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Age: 52 Posts: 1,065	I wouldn't agree that they are tremendously unstable. They're no worse than any 060 card out there. I would agree that they are out of my price range. Unless you really think you'll need the extra CPU just get a Cyberstorm Mk3 060 and overclock if needed. BTW, there are no Blizzards for the A3000/A4000, only Cyberstorms. My Cyberstorm Mk2 060/66MHz is more than enough and is much faster than my Blizzard 060/50MHz equipped A1200.

26 November 2003, 16:37	#9
FromWithin Music lord Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Liverpool, UK Age: 50 Posts: 630	I've got a CyberstormPPC. Never had any stability problems whatsoever. Maybe the A1200 card were more ropey, but I've never heard a bad thing about the Zorro boards. For the record, the only thing I've used the PPC for was for WIpeout 2097. That's it. Nothing else at all. I'm sure just the 060 would do you fine.

28 November 2003, 15:34	#10
OSH Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Poland Age: 43 Posts: 142	I have Apollo 1240/25. It is VERY unstable. I had much problems with memory, power, strange crashes, red/yellow screens on startup, and more... I wouldn't my Amiga not expanded, because it's too expensive. I buy better Pegasos (I or II).

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