Individual Computers - New accelerator cards for A600 & A1200

[alexh]

If you do thermal tests, please have a go with a HxC Stand Alone (SD) Floppy emulator unit fitted.

http://www.torlus.com/floppy/

I'm sure the guy would send you one and now there is no need for the LCD because it has a host application they are looking pretty cool.

[Schoenfeld]

Originally Posted by alexh

If you do thermal tests, please have a go with a HxC Stand Alone (SD) Floppy emulator unit fitted.

Sorry, that's not going to happen. I will do the thermal tests in order to have something on file for warranty cases where people make funny claims. In any case, I will not do tests with any foreign hardware, as I have no influence on their quality control, component sources or component tracking (I doubt that they have implemented any QA of that level).

If the user decides to combine certain pieces of hardware, my responsibility ends whenever I do not make that hardware. Only exception is the Amiga itself. I'm not liable for anyone else's hardware, so I don't spend time on testing. I'll do my thing, and I'll keep some safety margin. It's up to common sense of the user not to exceed those safety margins.

As always at the end of a working day: Results!
I noticed that the memory chips got pretty warm (over 40 deg. Celsius) and found that I have implemented the "automotive" refresh timing, which makes a lot more refresh-cycles than the "commercial" refresh requirements. I have now reduced to commercial timing, and the memory temperature came down to 37 degrees. In theory, memory performance should have increased, but it seems that the effect is below measurable threshold when using the bustest tool.

Like I wrote this afternoon, memory is now added to the system memory pool automatically on startup using Z3 autoconfig.

I also implemented a non-MMU Maprom function for $f8 kickstart (re-mapping to $40f80000) and it seems that performance is considerably higher than using an MMU. Could anyone verify this? Result looks really pretty, almost 6 MIPS out of this poor little 25MHz EC030!

Jens

[Khyron]

Originally Posted by Omolungo

I would like to keep my old good floppy drive inside the A600, an all in one machine

But we will see, for now I wish you a very good work

I agree, the compact/portable design of the A600 is what makes the system. If it gets to be the size of an A1200 then the A600's usefullness over the A1200 stops existing..
Most people I know use the A600 because it makes a nice "game console" for playing games on the living room TV, and it's able to run most of the more stubborn/older games (Kick1.3/68000), but it is missing the extra ram, and some more horse power for some games (Archipelagos, Virus, Frontier etc..)

I wouldn't mind taking a speed hit if it meant keeping the floppy drive internal.. and being able to switch the accelerator off to fallback to the 68000 would also be a very nice feature

[NovaCoder]

Originally Posted by Schoenfeld

The plan is to have ACA630, A603, Indivision ECS and a harddrive-replacement properly fixed in a closed A600 case with an external df0: and no soldering required.

Jens

Hiya Jens,

Yep it makes sense to ditch the internal floppy drive (which are next to useless now). I used my PCMCIA CF reader much more than my floppy drive

How about mounting a simple CF reader where the floppy normally sits? This way users can use the vacant floppy slot to stick their cards in and leave the PCMCIA free for other duties. I saw someone has already made such a board for the A500 (it's in this months Amiga Future mag).

Also with the 'hard drive replacement', any chance of creating a proper cradle/mount that will hold a hard drive or flash card securely?

[alexh]

Originally Posted by NovaCoder

How about mounting a simple CF reader where the floppy normally sits?

You can already do that and I'm 90% sure they already make kits for the PC so they will be cheap. However I don't think they would be any smaller than the floppy drive and so won't fit with Indivision ECS fitted.

[rockersuke]

I'm following with interest the results of those thermal tests. I particularly dislike the idea of dismembering my A600, whose internal floppy thing still works OK, but I desperately need the fast RAM to make it the perfect easily portable whdload machine to carry to retro-gaming parties.

That means, and I hope you, Zetro, are listening , that against all odds I'm still interested in certain A608 project, but my opinion could drastically change if the A600 accelerator is usable without removing the drive.

I'm keeping an aye on this!

--

[cv643d]

Very nice, already looking for an A600 to add these goodies.

A pin header for an on/off switch for the A600 card would be a nice thing, totally useless yes, but still nice

Nice work, I hope you make a million from the cards in December

[kolla]

The obvious thing to do would be to have a SD card slot right there on the acc board itself, and use an SD card as hard drive. I bet it would also be a heck lot faster than using the motherboard IDE controller, and heck... why not throw in a row of pins and a breakout board with another SD card slot to act as "floppy drive", to exchange ADFs with other devices, or just use image files on a card for the lot, like on MiniMig.

[Pyromania]

When are these cool cards coming out?

[stefcep2]

IMO, a stock A600 and A1200 are unfinished computers. Some form of RAM or CPU expansion is essential. I reckon the A600 cards will sell like hot cakes: small form factor, fast ram, PCMCIA, CF on the IDE interface and you have a great portable Amiga WHDload machine

[alexh]

Originally Posted by stefcep2

I reckon the A600 cards will sell like hot cakes: small form factor, fast ram, PCMCIA, CF on the IDE interface and you have a great portable Amiga WHDload machine

Depends if Zetr0 can get his ass into gear with his A608. The Fast RAM this card offers makes WHDload work much better and will be the best "value for money" upgrade for an A600. If he could produce them now at a good price I think they would be more attractive to cheapskates like me.

[rave]

Im exstatic!

Patiently sitting here waiting for the A600 version

I remember having a conversation with Jens about one a few years back, its awesome to see them closer to production now.

[Amigaman]

This is all great news. I am looking forward to being able to get one of these. Is there anywhere we can officially pre-order? A600/30 sounds cool. When are we going to get a A600/60? just kidding

[kolla]

Originally Posted by Amigaman

When are we going to get a A600/60? just kidding

Running at 66MHz? A666? Evil!

I'd buy it though, even if it would cost a fortune

[Amigaman]

Originally Posted by kolla

Running at 66MHz? A666? Evil!

Yeah we need a new badge "A666"

Jens; are you up for a challenge?

[Mick_AKA]

Cant wait for the day my A600HD may actually be useful for something!

[DyLucke]

When are these A1200 expansion boards coming to light? Could i pre-order one? Or will i need to wait 'till they come to light? How many boards are projected? Will these new ones be slightly faster than a Bliz IV? Or maybe it wouldn't be worth the change? I'm anxious. ^^

[Schoenfeld]

I haven't made the SD-Ram controller for anything faster than 25MHz/28MHz yet, so at this point, the Blizzard is faster. You cannot pre-order, the accelerators will be available before Xmas from my known resellers.

Many parts have arrived this week, most of them for the A600 version. The second prototype is assembled, but not yet operational (will do that tomorrow). The basic idea for the A600 is "angled":


The CPU will be covered with a heat-transfer pad:


A laser-cut aluminium cooler (4mm thickness) is mounted on top:


...and the mass-storage unit (here: CF card acapter) is mounted on the cooler:


The whole unit is then pushed on top of the 68000 processor, and held in place with two screws:


Indivision ECS on an A603 now fits, even with the CPU in a socket. The A603 is at a slight angle and all components touch each other, but there is no short or anything dangerous:


...to be continued in the next post, as I may only upload 8 pictures per post.

[Schoenfeld]

...and more Indivision ECS fitting:


I have moved the mass-storage unit about 10mm to the back of the computer, so the keyboard still fits nicely:


And one more picture of the whole test-setup:


I will fire up the thing sometime tomorrow, close the case and make a few AIBB modules. If the temperature inside the case stays below reasonable temperatures, I'll keep it with passive cooling. Keep your fingers crossed!

Jens

[Omolungo]

Crossing finger, but for now: great work!

Three months to Xmas