Sonnet 7200 PCI programming

[grelbfarlk]

The 030 would probably work but I don't know of anyone who has tried that. Give it a shot if you can set things up with an 030. It actually is probably good since it eliminates a couple variables like 060.library, but introduces new ones like maybe it's too slow or 030+mediator is a really odd combo that few people have in the wild.

[jack-3d]

If you read my previous article about Sonnet on Amiga, HERE is follow up article this time with more action ;o)

[grelbfarlk]

It turns out that 46.12 version of the MMU.library is very crashy as well on the CSPPC. 43.14, older version from last year around May is better but still getting some crashes in Frogger, WES, MAME. With 43.14 Q2 runs indefinitely but Q1 will crash 5-10 minutes in.

Also during the install of MMU.library for the CSPPC it adds the Sonnet memory to the MMU-Configuration in ENVARC: with Copyback switch. Either commenting out this line or changing it to Inhibitcache helps stability as well.

Also it seems that the p5 configuration script sets the Voodoo system memory (2MB for me) to Copyback, this also makes WES not work (error of couldn't start PPC task). Setting it to CacheInhibit seems to help as well.

[DarrenHD]

Originally Posted by grelbfarlk

It turns out that 46.12 version of the MMU.library is very crashy as well on the CSPPC. 43.14, older version from last year around May is better but still getting some crashes in Frogger, WES, MAME. With 43.14 Q2 runs indefinitely but Q1 will crash 5-10 minutes in.

Also during the install of MMU.library for the CSPPC it adds the Sonnet memory to the MMU-Configuration in ENVARC: with Copyback switch. Either commenting out this line or changing it to Inhibitcache helps stability as well.

Also it seems that the p5 configuration script sets the Voodoo system memory (2MB for me) to Copyback, this also makes WES not work (error of couldn't start PPC task). Setting it to CacheInhibit seems to help as well.

Interesting, thanks. Well just an update: I put my 030 card in and the system booted, but obviously with all my 060 libs etc it didn't boot to workbench. So I installed a clean OS 3.9 BB2 on a different partition, then tried to get the mediator to work (which I couldn't). Fought with it for about an hour, but I just couldn't get it to boot to Workbench after the Mediator was installed.

I ran out of time so I think I will just leave it until my MK3 060 comes back.

[grelbfarlk]

New MMU library is running pretty stable now on the CSPPC with those changes to the MMU-Configuration, there are a couple apps that have problems but Warp3D is working well.

[jack-3d]

Wow Sonnet Crescendo 7200 G4 really exists and right now one is in the Amiga of the sonnet.library developer.

I am curious if G3 card could be converted to G4 then

[grelbfarlk]

Hedeon fixed some bugs with the 207 release and now the CSPPC is very stable with Thor's libraries, tested Q1, Q2, Amigenerator, WES, Mame, WarpSNES.

[jack-3d]

Just finished 3rd article this time focused on Warp3D stuff.

[Hedeon]

Can't wait for part 4 :-) I myself am not doing much atm. Although I'm looking into supporting another PCI board just for the fun of it. Need a modified Sonnet for that so it will probably won't happen before the summer.

[olav]

Hi again guys, I am finally getting the time and ready to set up my A4000 (after a recap) with the mediator and the sonnet..
I was wondering, would a "Big Ram" module in the zorro slot be of any conflict?

Also I was wondering if A1200 support is happening

Finally, I wonder if any of you have any opinion if Amiga OS 4.1 for Classic could run eventually, of course with some amount of patching...!

Thanks!

[jack-3d]

You will be probably first one who will test it. For me Bigram is useless in case you have any better accelerator with own Fast RAM (I mean anything better then A3630/A3640). What is you HW configuration then?

Anyway welcome to the club ;o)

As far as I know Mediator A1200 support is not happening.

[olav]

Thanks!
Well, I have this WarpEngine that supports up to 128 MB ram, I have not installed it and do not know the total amount is has right now..
I suppose the memory on the Sonnet would also become Fast RAM.. and max supported ram on the whole machine is maybe 384 MB?
Just inserted the WarpEngine now, excited to see the specs
It includes a SCSI controller so that gives the 4000D SCSI, very nice feature!

[jack-3d]

I would recommend to use only HW that is really needed. So if you have WarpEngine with 128 MB RAM then BigRam is useless, because you have enough memory for 68k part. Sonnet has its own SDRAM memory (192 MB usable) and mainly this SDRAM one is used by Sonnet to run the Sonned patched WarpOS programs and games. It means once you initiate Sonnet board, it add his 192 MB into the system (128 + 192 => 320 MB RAM).

[olav]

Thanks.
Just confirmed that the WarpEngine is working, beautiful board! However, seems like the scsi takes over DH0 and it will not boot from my IDE now as it is connected (!)
So still a mystery how much memory is on it... But what a great board.
Cant wait to have it up and running and with the Sonnet.

[grelbfarlk]

If anyone knows some way of getting Elbox to respond to technical questions please let Hedeon know the magic words.

[olav]

How about calling them? They did answer when I called a year ago to order my Mediator directly..

[starship]

Hi.
I have a4000 mediator4000di mk3
Radeon 9200(128mb), os3.9 bb4
Sonnet 7200 g3/500/1m 192mb populated.
A3660@60 mhz
Winsize and master jumpers are plugged, swap jumper unplagged.
I see my 100mb radeon memory on my workbench
Then click initsonnet program.
I got error that no supported vga card detected when I initialize sonnet.later ramlib error.
I am using pci.Library v11.
Plz help.

[jack-3d]

I will check Radeon today, but can you try to remove 64 MB from sonnet? I have also troubles when using Voodoo4 with Sonnet more then 128 MB populated.

[starship]

Hi jack
I tried 128mb on sonnet with two ram so same.
Later i removed 1 ram from slot again.
Now 64mb on sonnet and gives same error again.
What can I do? Plz help.
I dont have voodoo , only radeon9200(128mb)
Is it compatible with radeon9200(128)?

[starship]

On the mediator side it is down to up;
1. Logic board
2. 10/100 rtl ethernet card
3. Empty
4. Radeon 9200
5. Sonnet g3/500 rev.a