New Amiga motherboards from Jens

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by matthey

@Toni
Do you know which few Amiga HD controllers are DMA? I believe the CSMK3/CSPPC is. Perhaps the 3000 and 4000T SCSI as well?

24-bit DMA (Zorro-2/A500):

- All GVP Series II and any GVP combo accelerator that includes Series II SCSI (Series I is not true DMA)
- Commodore A590, A2091 (A2090 is also DMA but it has issues)
- Masoboshi MasterCard (DMA implementation quality is unknown). This is also IDE DMA capable. Possibly the only Amiga IDE DMA controller!
- (SupraDrive 2000 non-WordSync is DMA but it had bad implementation)

32-bit DMA:

- A3000
- A4000T
- A4091
- Phase 5 SCSI controllers (Blizzards and CyberStorms, FastLane)
- GVP combo accelerators based on 32-bit upgraded Series II DMA controller.
- WarpEngine (missed this. 53cxxx)

All SCSI controllers based on 53C7xx, 53C8xx are always true DMA. DMA controller is chip built-in. (A4000T, CSPPC etc..)

DMA does not have any "native" speed limit, it is controller, interface and memory bandwidth specific. EDIT: CPU upgrades rarely increase DMA controller speed because limit is DMA controller hardware, not CPU. (vs PIO controllers).

[mjnurney]

from my chat with Jens after his announcement he said they will be drop in boards to replace dead motherboards - he does not want people gutting working Amigas.

He did not mention any specific new features other than it will be an enhanced and modern version of the Amiga 500 / 1200

mike.

[pandy71]

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

All SCSI controllers based on 53C7xx, 53C8xx are always true DMA. DMA controller is chip built-in. (A4000T, CSPPC etc..)

DMA does not have any "native" speed limit, it is controller, interface and memory bandwidth specific. EDIT: CPU upgrades rarely increase DMA controller speed because limit is DMA controller hardware, not CPU. (vs PIO controllers).

53C7xx (not), 53C8xx are PCI chips and AFAIR Amiga have no PCI (not sure if PCI<>Zorro is made in fully 'DMA' like way).

Most DMA SCSI in Amiga use original CSG chips as MC68K bus was not so popular on SCSI IC's market (so most of pre PCI DMA capable SCSI are focused on x86 bus).

And yes, i agree - DMA controller emulate CPU (from BUS perspective) so it is limited in same way as CPU.

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by pandy71

53C7xx (not), 53C8xx are PCI chips and AFAIR Amiga have no PCI (not sure if PCI<>Zorro is made in fully 'DMA' like way).

Yeah, 53C7xx series were used in non-PCI Amiga boards (4000T, 4091, WarpEngine, CSMK3,CSPPC, possible others). I confused with 815 which is in DKB Wildfire's PCI bus.

[jbenam]

Exciting news! Maybe after the C= chips run out it'll finally be the right time for Jens to unveal the results of project Clone-A?

[Mrs Beanbag]

it would be neat if the A1200 motherboard would also be able to fit in A600 case (it's only one joystick port that stops it)

[Predseda]

Originally Posted by Mrs Beanbag

it would be neat if the A1200 motherboard would also be able to fit in A600 case (it's only one joystick port that stops it)

A1200 in compact case is my dream machine You wouldnt be able to fit turbocards, though.

[Lord Aga]

Originally Posted by Mrs Beanbag

will they be in the original form factor?

I imagine they will be 3mm wider, with integrated secret cameras just so Jens could watch us struggle

A600 size might not be the problem, but the keyboard would be.

[Mrs Beanbag]

Originally Posted by Lord Aga

A600 size might not be the problem, but the keyboard would be.

it's been done! why C= chose not to make the connections the same on both is a mystery, but it only requires swapping a couple of lines AFAIK. An adapter would be fairly simple. Or Jens could put both ribbon sockets on the board like he does on his Keyrah.

[Lord Aga]

Yeah, that could work But it seems like too much work. My guess is that Jens would want this as simple and as compatible as possible.
Maybe in a next wave of smaller FPGA replacement boards. With tiny - put anywhere you like - form factor, and breakout cables for ports.

[Predseda]

Okay, and now: who will make new, show-white A1200 cases?

[Jope]

Where's that MicroATX or maybe even Mini-ITX AGA Amiga board I'm dreaming about? The world hasn't run out of A1200 motherboards yet.. :-)

[Predseda]

Originally Posted by Jope

The world hasn't run out of A1200 motherboards yet.. :-)

Man, it is closer than it appears. Even non-functional Channel Z mobos are going more and more expensive!

[jbenam]

Okay, you guys got me drooling at the idea of an A1200 A600-sized motherboard... About the keyboard adapter, it'd be nice to have something that would take care of the absent numpad as well.

Pretty please for the ultimate Amiga, Jens?

I still remember my frustration when playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I couldn't enter the damn van since you needed the 0-key on the numpad!

[Amiga1992]

Yeah man, A1200 in an A600 case would be a reason to start using an A1200 again.
But you have to think that pretty much most expansion port cards would make the unit not fit in an A600 case. So I don't tihnk he would do something that could potentially hinder the A1200's full operation.

[spudje]

It would be nice indeed if Jen's initiative and the brainstorming on new cases in this thread can be combined...
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?...ght=a1200+case

[Jope]

C'mon guys, it's still 6 months away. :-)

[Mrs Beanbag]

i meant to try making a new Amiga keyboard with Cherry MX switches but still haven't got round to it yet

[demolition]

Originally Posted by Mrs Beanbag

i meant to try making a new Amiga keyboard with Cherry MX switches but still haven't got round to it yet

Hey, I had the same idea recently since I got a KB for my PC with Cherry MX switches. Leave it alone.

Actually I thought about making one for the C64. Shouldn't be too complicated. Mounting and cabling would be a little more tricky on the Amiga and the 64 needs a better KB more than Amigas.

[jbenam]

Originally Posted by Akira

Yeah man, A1200 in an A600 case would be a reason to start using an A1200 again.
But you have to think that pretty much most expansion port cards would make the unit not fit in an A600 case. So I don't tihnk he would do something that could potentially hinder the A1200's full operation.

Well, the good thing about newer technologies is that we could pretty much make the motherboards a LOT smaller than they were, thanks to smaller SMD components and newer, more integrated ICs

I think it should be possible to get an A1200 edge connector with enough space left where the good ol' A600 expansion door is