Upgrading Blizzard 2040 to 2060

[Iznougoud]

Does anyone have experience of upgrading the Blizzard 2040/60-board from 040 to 060-standard? Technically there shouldn't be a problem, but I can't seem to find any info on whether the PAL-circuit should be replaced as well in the process. If so - an upgrade isn't an option, not since Phase5 disappeared anyaway.

[Zetr0]

@Iznougoud

Hello there,

I believe there is a chap on www.amiga.org that upgrades these cards, his name is Per Gunnar, Although he mainly upgrades Apollo 040 cards to 060 I do believe he has performed many Blizzard 040 cards too.

good luck on your upgrade... I have to say that there is no substitute for an 060 its a wonderful CPU for an Amiga


[edit]

Sorry about that, I had the cards confused with something else... there is more info here

[Boot_WB]

Originally Posted by Iznougoud

Does anyone have experience of upgrading the Blizzard 2040/60-board from 040 to 060-standard? Technically there shouldn't be a problem, but I can't seem to find any info on whether the PAL-circuit should be replaced as well in the process. If so - un upgrade isn't an option, not since Phase5 disappeared anyaway.

I'm guessing that you got this info from this page.
Since (s)he also mentions this question for the Cyberstorm mk2 (which certainly does not require any firmware upgrade when moving from 040 - 060) I would suggest not.
Also, as the blizzard PPC and 1240 boards do not require any firmware upgrades this adds weight to the assumption that there will be no need to upgrade any PALs.

I'd recommend asking FrankBrana for confirmation over at Amiga.org, who seems to have carried out this upgrade himself.

Regards



Rich

[Iznougoud]

Yes. I've been talking to Per-Gunnar over the phone, and he assumes that it should work. He's got no way of knowing for certain though, since he's never upgraded this specific card (2040) before. So the assumption is based on his experiences with the 1240-cards, as well as yours. And mine. I would very much like to get confirmation before sending it away though. I'll see if I can get hold of FrankBrana.

And I don't know how 'nice' a 060-CPU actually is in an A2000. This is more a result of me not being happy with the 040, which I find somewhat dodgy as compared to my previous 030/50

[Zetr0]

@Iznougoud

I have to say that an 060 is sublime, but then i do have two of them , I also have an 030 accelerator too, and thats a very good bit of kit i have to say.. but I just LOVE my 060's

another person whom you could ask is JJB Amiga Center France, a great bloke to deal with, totally up front of what can and cannot be done, and wont mess you about. i would certainly rate his service VERY HIGHLY

[AMIGAZ]

Originally Posted by Iznougoud

Yes. I've been talking to Per-Gunnar over the phone, and he assumes that it should work. He's got no way of knowing for certain though, since he's never upgraded this specific card (2040) before. So the assumption is based on his experiences with the 1240-cards, as well as yours. And mine. I would very much to get confirmation before sending it away though. I'll see if I can get hold of Frank Brana.

And I don't know how 'nice' a 060-CPU actually is in an A2000. This is more a result of me not being happy with the 040, which I find somewhat dodgy as compared to my previous 030/50

Fredrik, if it works please give me a buzz since I have a Blizz 2040 in my A2000 too

[Iznougoud]

I'll keep you in mind. If I remember it correctly, you weren't too happy with your 040 either..

[AMIGAZ]

Originally Posted by Iznougoud

I'll keep you in mind. If I remember it correctly, you weren't too happy with your 040 either..

Nah, slow and buggy




Think mine didn't report an MMU or was it FPU either like yours?

[Iznougoud]

Mine reports both MMU and FPU, but in a somewhat strange manner. The MMU is described as "alien" , and the FPU (according to Xopa) can't hold it's math, and mis-calculates .

Then again, what's to be expected from used Macintosh-CPUs?

[Boot_WB]

Originally Posted by AMIGAZ

Nah, slow and buggy




Think mine didn't report an MMU or was it FPU either like yours?

From amiga.resource.cx:

Blizzard 2040 ERC boards with SN# A400001 - A400094 were delivered with a defective DiagROM

• the 68040 processor is recognized as 68LC040 or 68EC040
• boards with these serial numbers had to be sent back to Phase5 to obtain a new DiagROM set including a new SCSI driver

[AMIGAZ]

Originally Posted by Boot_WB

From amiga.resource.cx:

Blizzard 2040 ERC boards with SN# A400001 - A400094 were delivered with a defective DiagROM

• the 68040 processor is recognized as 68LC040 or 68EC040
• boards with these serial numbers had to be sent back to Phase5 to obtain a new DiagROM set including a new SCSI driver

lol, guess it's too late to replace that DiagROM?

One of my Cyberstorm MKII is also affected with bugs, it's one of those early models that doesn't work in an A3000

[Boot_WB]

Originally Posted by AMIGAZ

lol, guess it's too late to replace that DiagROM?

One of my Cyberstorm MKII is also affected with bugs, it's one of those early models that doesn't work in an A3000

You could always try, but they might be expecting payment in Deutchmarks

[Iznougoud]

I sent a private message to FrankBrana, asking about this, on www.amiga.org some time ago, but he doesn't seem to answer for whatever reason. So I guess I'm on my own. This might prove exciting.. :P

[Boot_WB]

I think it's worth waiting a bit longer for a reply if you want the reassurance of someone who's done this before. He's probably not replied yet, because he's not been logged on to Amiga.org since 20th May so won't have got your PM yet.

Regards


Rich

[Iznougoud]

I figured as much. Then again, I can't be too sure as to when he will log on - but I'll keep a sharp eye on www.amiga.org for the next couple of days

[Damion]

Might be worth keeping the FSB at 1/2 CPU speed ('040 setting), and go for a nice overclock with a Rev. 6 '060. SCSI is clocked separately, another nice thing. 90+ MHz may be a possibility.

[Iznougoud]

Possibly. But what I'm looking for in a 060 is cool and stable performance, rather than performance above and beyond specifications. So I think I'll keep it at stock after all.

Out of curiousity though: The 680xx-CPUs doesn't, as far as I know, have an FSB as such - that is, their internal and external speeds are the same. So there shouldn't be any multipliers to work with. Exactly what is it you're referring to when you're mentioning the FSB?

[Damion]

Originally Posted by Iznougoud

Possibly. But what I'm looking for in a 060 is cool and stable performance, rather than performance above and beyond specifications. So I think I'll keep it at stock after all.

Out of curiousity though: The 680xx-CPUs doesn't, as far as I know, have an FSB as such - that is, their internal and external speeds are the same. So there shouldn't be any multipliers to work with. Exactly what is it you're referring to when you're mentioning the FSB?

You're right, "FSB" was bad terminology (probably should have said "memory bus" or "internal/external".) 68040 external bus is 1/2 CPU speed, hence the 80 MHz oscillator on the 2040 card. Cool thing would be 68060 at 80 MHz, without stressing the rest of the card. At least, this is my plan... as soon as I find a 2040 card. :P

[alexh]

The RAM wont work at 80MHz

[Damion]

Originally Posted by alexh

The RAM wont work at 80MHz

Exactly, but it would work at 40.

E.g., on the Apollo card there is a CLK jumper -- the 060 can run at 80 MHz, the RAM runs at 40. (And I agree, I've found very few 72-pin SIMM modules that will run at 66 MHz, let alone 80.) I'm not certain what sets this on the 2040 card, looks to be a pad under the CPU...? I bet PG would know.