General "Chunky to Planar" via "AKIKO" on AMIGA CD32 ?

[Nibbler]

Is that possible ? ( only AMIGA makes it possible )
I know only 2 Games/Programms that uses the AKIKO CHip
for C2P Conversation.

Those 2 programms are Gloom Deluxe and NEMAC4-Directors Cut.
Only those have the option to use the AKIKO,
and they run faster , thanks to that.

Not Mindblowing faster, BUT , faster.
So my question......

IS it possible to wright a tool to force C2P to the AKIKO chip ?

I love me some Scene Demos and some would benefit from this, i think
There are tools to "speed up C2P" but, none for the AMIGA CD32 Akiko.

MY CD32´s are all expanded, but still, it would be awesome to give the AKIKO more work to do

So, you wise amiga board community....
is this possible ? - i wanna know

greetings, Nibbler

[idrougge]

No.

[thomas]

All programs using the WriteChunkyPixels function of graphics.library should automatically benefit from AKIKO if it is present.

Of course all hardware-banging programs cannot benefit unless they are rewritten to do so.

[Nibbler]

Originally Posted by thomas

All programs using the WriteChunkyPixels function of graphics.library should automatically benefit from AKIKO if it is present.

Of course all hardware-banging programs cannot benefit unless they are rewritten to do so.

Sweet, thanks for the Infos Tom

graphics.library is "inside the CD32 Hardware" right ?
So, is the Cd32 graphics.library different from lets say another AGA Amiga ?
It must be, right ? ( sorry, i am Noob for that kind of things )

I am curious on how the Amiga Cd32 is different

to Quote you.......

Of course all hardware-banging programs cannot benefit unless they are rewritten to do so.

I am not 100% sure what you mean by " Hardware Banging Programs"
(Assembler stuff , down to metal programming ????????)

Anyway, so basicly you say, that more DEMOS using the Akiko Chip ?
Sweet, i never knew

But its still interesting to compare the speed Difference in the C2P Conversion with GLOOM.

Gloom Deluxe gives 3 options.
1) 020_01
2) akiko_1
3 blackmagic_1

1&3 are pretty much the same but Nr 2 Akiko is the fastest.

interesting stuff ... hmmm

anyway, HUGE thanks to you THOMAS ( you´re the greatest !! )
and any other infos on that subject would be very interesting reading material, i am sure

[Amigajay]

I did hear that Wing Commander and Microcosm used Akiko too, and not sure about it but Bump 'n' Burn too on some sections of track not sure how true that last one is.

[Nibbler]

Originally Posted by Amigajay

I did hear that Wing Commander and Microcosm used Akiko too, and not sure about it but Bump 'n' Burn too on some sections of track not sure how true that last one is.

Right, i almost forgotten that.
I never noticed that in W.C ,
because the Patch from Aminet makes it more Smooth .

Microcosm; heard of that, but it uses Akiko not for Chuny to Planar. ( but still

Never heard about Bump´n Burn uses Akiko, but who knows.

Thanks for all infos about CD32/Akiko n stuff

anyway, SYSINFO show me graphics.library V40.24

[thomas]

Hardware-banging means writing to hardware registers rather than calling operating system functions.

graphics.library is a part of AmigaOS. It usually resides in Kickstart ROM.

AFAIK the Kickstart ROM of a CD32 is the same as that of a A1200. I don't know how and by which module AKIKO is detected. It might be SetPatch or a part of the CD32 extended ROM.

Demos and games are candidates to be hardware-banging, demos even more than games. Many people think that to "get most out of the hardware" you have to program the hardware directly and ignore the operating system.

Only if you use the operating system you can automatically benefit from certain expansions. If you use the hardware without an operating system, you have to do all the detection and usage of expansions yourself.

[StingRay]

Well, Akiko doesn't really speed up c2p that much. And if you like to watch demos your CD32 most probably has fast ram and a faster CPU than a 020? And in that case the software C2P's run at copypeed anyway => no Akiko needed.

[Nibbler]

Interesting stuff Tom and StingRay , thanks.
I looked at a few CD32 Game-Discs ( all true AGA ) some had Setpatch, some didnt.
So, it seems Setpatch is not needed.

My Amiga CD32 hast Fastram and all BUT Akiko C2P is still faster in gloom deluxe.

That thing with Hardware Banging make sense now,
BUT on the other hand, FACTOR5´s Jullian Eggebrecht said in an Podcast...
" THE OS was in the way , so we turned it off to get the MAX out of it"

( he said that in that Podcast )
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT FOR EVERY FACTOR 5 FAN !!!!!!

http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/3/0/5/3056...4b52d9d05193e6

Enjoy this goodie !!!

anyway, i heard that there is a graphics library 40.25 that fixes some stuff,
even for the Akiko, is that true and where to get this ? ( aminet is down righ now )

[Amigajay]

Someone a few years ago did a test with Doom on CD32 with and without Akiko support, one was like 4fps the other using Akiko got around 6fps, so still around a 50% improvement so it still did something, and considering Commodore werent gonna bung some fastram in the CD32 the Akiko was still a welcome bonus.

[Nibbler]

Originally Posted by Amigajay

Someone a few years ago did a test with Doom on CD32 with and without Akiko support, one was like 4fps the other using Akiko got around 6fps, so still around a 50% improvement so it still did something, and considering Commodore werent gonna bung some fastram in the CD32 the Akiko was still a welcome bonus.

See

[Toni Wilen]

Akiko C2P design is too stupid. The end.

It should have been DMA based, Akiko contains CD ROM DMA controller, using it for C2P would have been proper Amiga-like solution.

[FOL]

Originally Posted by Nibbler

Interesting stuff Tom and StingRay , thanks.
I looked at a few CD32 Game-Discs ( all true AGA ) some had Setpatch, some didnt.
So, it seems Setpatch is not needed.

If, CD32 TM file is used, setpatch is not required as it tells CD32 to startup with AGA. Only when CDTV TM file is used, does it need setpatch to enable AGA setup.

[Nibbler]

More infos, thanks FOL

[FOL]

Originally Posted by Nibbler

More infos, thanks FOL

All this info is available in the Devkit for CDTV. They also mention a bug in the ROM's, that causes DMA to be disabled on boot and a file is needed to be run to re-enable it. Not really bothered as, stuff still works fine.