Working Natami Prototype

[Paul_s]

Originally Posted by asymetrix

it would only be temporary as parts will get unavailable and no new cases are being made.

here is more info about the changes : a quote about the DDR
natami is futureproof, faster and cheaper FPGAs will come :-)

remember the estimated performance for Natami is x150 - x200 cpu speed of an A600 and a x50 DMA performance.

But one must code a program to fully take advantage of the new features.

But all I want to do is play Superfrog Why should I pay £500+ for that?!

What I meant with the updated motherboard is a drop in replacement... so cases wouldn't be an issue

[moijk]

Originally Posted by TheCyberDruid

Ah, well I know quite a few people that aren't really interested in it and would consider themselves classic Amiga users. Guess it's mainly because they haven't done much yet.

The speed of the project isn't impressive, but they are progressing. Can't complain on that. I can contain myself when it comes to excitement as well, but I'm still excited about the project entering a stage where the product can be demoed in its alpha stage. It spurs more confidence than just the typical rabid fan on the natami board does.

[moijk]

Originally Posted by Paul_s

But all I want to do is play Superfrog Why should I pay £500+ for that?!

What I meant with the updated motherboard is a drop in replacement... so cases wouldn't be an issue

I play superfrog very well on my 40 quid cd32.

[desiv]

Originally Posted by alexh

You're dreaming. MiniMig with ARM board and 4Mbyte RAM costs £250. Natami is a doubly expensive PCB, doubly expensive FPGA, 10x more expensive CPU so if it stays similar to what it is now you can expect the price for NatAmi to be in the £500+ mark.

I wasn't dreaming, I just have no idea what Natami will be priced at...

You're right tho, at those prices, even the minimig with AGA will possibly be too expensive for the Amiga retro-masses..
Not that they won't be able to sell a batch or 2, but...

If they (whomever "they" is) can get an Amiga 680x0 replacement out around £150 to £200, there would be a larger (not PC or Mac, but larger :^) market. But, beyond that price point, you're getting into the hardcore Amiga fan with more disposable cash.
I still think people will spend more on a "new" 680x0 Amiga than what is on e-bait or ?. But not that much more..

IMHO

desiv

[TCD]

Originally Posted by moijk

It spurs more confidence than just the typical rabid fan on the natami board does.

Just stated that for me there's not much to be excited about (especially given they are 2 years overdue already). Guess if Jens Schoenfeld will ever announce something alike, it'd already have passed the alpha phase And yes, I blame it on Gunnar

[daxb]

Originally Posted by TheCyberDruid

Just stated that for me there's not much to be excited about (especially given they are 2 years overdue already).

That is the main thing IMHO. It is difficult to belive more. Maybe Natami is buyable next year or 2015 or 2020 or ... Until you can`t buy there is nothing.

[NovaCoder]

I'd pay maybe $400 for a drop in 030 replacement (with flicker fixer etc), maybe $600 for a super-duper 060 based AGA+ motherboard. Any more than that I'd just buy a SAM Flex (or an X1000).

[Smiley]

It's not like anyone has put deposits down for a Natami or anything Quit complaining it's actually one of the few interesting hardware projects with a very unique goal.

I think it's an awesome project. I mean if it ever does go to retail I won't be able to afford one but hey it's interesting nontheless.

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Smiley

Quit complaining it's actually one of the few interesting hardware projects with a very unique goal.

Yes, yes and now it has a working prototype that doesn't feature any of the 'unique goals'. Woohoo! Don't hype it and then you don't get that many complains If they ever get their 'SuperAGA' and '68070' done, I'm sure we'll all stand in awe

[alexh]

Originally Posted by desiv

If they (whomever "they" is) can get an Amiga 680x0 replacement out around £150 to £200, there would be a larger (not PC or Mac, but larger :^) market.

They can't. The 68060 will remain many, many times faster than any (acceptably priced) FPGA implementation for years to come.

They can do the ground work on a full 680x0 core for an FPGA in the future (8-10+ years) but nothing commercially right now.

[moijk]

Originally Posted by NovaCoder

I'd pay maybe $400 for a drop in 030 replacement (with flicker fixer etc), maybe $600 for a super-duper 060 based AGA+ motherboard. Any more than that I'd just buy a SAM Flex (or an X1000).

You can't get a a4000 board with a 060 for $600. Heck, even a new 060 processor alone is half that. (freescale). And the SAM Flex/X1000 has a different arcitecture, and if all I want is beeing different I'd just get a mac mini g4 and run MorphOS.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by moijk

Heck, even a new 060 processor alone is half that. (freescale).

That maybe, but no-one buys new ones. Everyone (?) buys reclaimed ones from old telecoms equipment for ~$60 each

In the UK you can get a full A4000 inc case & PSU for ~$200, the 060 for ~$60 but it is the CPU slot (a3k/A4k) 060 accelerator cards themselves which costs the bucks.

You can get an A1200 + 060 for well under $600.

But we are not really comparing apples with apples. Any new board is going to have some advantages over classic hardware. Form Factor for example, the one redeeming feature of MiniMig v1.1 PCB.