Blizzard 1230 or 1260

[gklinger]

Hypothetical: You've got an Amiga 1200 and your primary use is gaming and most of that (99%) is done with WHDLoad. You've got a Blizzard 1230 with a 68030 @ 50MHz and a Blizzard 1260 with a 68060 @ 50MHz sitting in front of you. Money is not a factor. Which do you choose to use and why?

I'm asking because I find myself in this position. Obviously the 1260 is faster but that doesn't seem like a factor for gaming and I've been told that the 1230 is more compatible although I'm not aware of any specific games not running with a 68060. So far the only reason I can come up with for using the 1260 is the silly, old bigger is better thing.

[rkauer]

I prefer the 060 for other things than games. Some demos only run in a better processor than a 030. MP3 music also need something better than a 030.

Compiling in a 030 is an act of masochism. Diddle for instant messaging/IRC/web surfing.

And there is some few games who demands the superior CPU too. Quake is one of them. Total Chaos is another.

Think about.

[BippyM]

060 is overkill for 95% of games, so the 030 is the CPU of choice!

Less compatiblity issues

[musashi5150]

If you are just playing games (not demos or anything else) then go with a 1230. You'd just be throwing money away buying something faster.

[killergorilla]

Originally Posted by bippym

060 is overkill for 95% of games, so the 030 is the CPU of choice!

Less compatiblity issues

99% more like!

i'd get the 030 no question.

[DDNI]

030 is adequate for WHDLoad gaming. An 060 is also adequate for gaming AND it gives you scope for fiddling in more demanding Amiga pursuits.

I have run 040 and 060 processors with WHDLoad I dont ever recall pulling my hair out over incompatible games...

[musashi5150]

Originally Posted by DDNI

I have run 040 and 060 processors with WHDLoad I dont ever recall pulling my hair out over incompatible games...

Graham does sometimes with his 040. Particularly with Apidya IIRC

[StevenJGore]

I was trying to decide between an 030 and 060 myself a few weeks ago, and then I noticed an Apollo 1240/40 on eBay that was finishing in the early hours of the morning and didn't have many bids. Thought it was worth a shot.

I won it for £82 and it's a fantastic board. I reckon it's the best balance between the compatibility of the 030 and the speed of an 060. It's extremely stable too, although I have added a much better heatsink and fan than what it came with. Also, it would appear to be about 20% faster than a Blizzard 1240/40 for some reason.

Bizzarely, I'm using 68040.library for a Blizzard 1240, in case anybody is wondering. It's the fastest and most stable. Haven't noticed any issues with WHDLoad games yet.

Steve.

[TheCorfiot]

Hi Steve

I've got an Apollo 1240
Where did you download the 68040 Blizzard Library from Please.

I'm asking as I have had a few compatibility issues using WHDLoad with the Apollo & wonder if changing the LIBS may help.
IDEFIX also fails during Bootup quite often, When the system boots though it is stable

BTW for Games use 030 anyday, which I have fitted in my gaming A1200
Never had a single WHDLoad issue with it.

TC

[Graham Humphrey]

Originally Posted by musashi5150

Graham does sometimes with his 040. Particularly with Apidya IIRC

Oh yes, well remembered Quite a few games have problems actually, but then there are many that work fine too, so I guess DDNI has got lucky by cunningly only playing games that aren't affected

(Which reminds me - I really must update my WHDLoad '040 compatiblity problems thread soon...)

When I had an '030 I rarely had problems at all...

[Jope]

I'd say 030.

If you only plan on WHDLoad use, the 060 is indeed less compatible.

Spending money on an 060 was a good idea back in 1998.. These days the gap between current platforms and the Amiga is a lot wider.

[Zetr0]

Hmmmmmmm

hmmmmmmmmmm

I have 2 060's 1 040, 1 030...

for Gaming.... an 030 with 16/32MB of fast is sublime!!!! if you want to run Doom / Heretic and 3D shooters then 060 baby!

an 040 is as compatible as an 060 in so far as games go, the beauty of the card is you can turn everything OFF, from superscalar, all the cache pipes etc the works...

I am yet to find a game that wont run with the 060 plugged in, (although some need to have the cpu throttled back... like Wing Commander LOL)

I would say the guys here are right 99.9% of just pure gaming then an 030 will see you very well indeed, but if you like to dabble with applications now and then, (like imagine / vista pro) or power gaming such like Doom (there is a nice version for the 030 btw... just not as good) or Heretic (i would say Quake, but realistically you need an RTG graphics card to actually play it LOL)

if you are into coding, then my esteemed Amigo rkauer is correct, compiling on an 060 is a wonderful experience, although sometimes i do miss the set the project to compile on a lowly 020 with 2mb chip, go away make a coffee, have a smoke and come back....

two things from that.... get an accelerator and quit smoking (smoke free 3.5 years )

a lot of people plumb for an 030 and then get an 060 on the back of that.... alas i did mine a little crazy... my first upgrade was an 8MB RTC with 33mhz fpu... wonderfull.... then i bought an 060 with 32..... then i bought an 040 Amiga off a friend... then an 030 Amiga off another friend.... then I bought a CSMk2 060 off eBay... (now has 128mb ram)

for what its worth.... an 030 would see you proud..... an 060 will see you that and more

[fc.studio]

I own a Blizzard 030/50 and I'm very happy with it. It's surely enough for WHDLoad games and pre-installed packs like ClassicWB and AmigaSYS.

Sincerly I fear a little about 040 or 060. I often read about configurations, library downloads and patches. Does these cards really need these to work?

[DJBase]

Originally Posted by fc.studio

Sincerly I fear a little about 040 or 060. I often read about configurations, library downloads and patches. Does these cards really need these to work?

At least a good 68040/060 library, everything else is optional.

Originally Posted by gklinger

Hypothetical: You've got an Amiga 1200 and your primary use is gaming and most of that (99%) is done with WHDLoad. You've got a Blizzard 1230 with a 68030 @ 50MHz and a Blizzard 1260 with a 68060 @ 50MHz sitting in front of you. Money is not a factor. Which do you choose to use and why?

1230 because its enough speed for most of the games and a 68030 has faster access to the mainboard (Chipset, IDE) compared to the 68060.

[DDNI]

Originally Posted by Graham Humphrey

Oh yes, well remembered Quite a few games have problems actually, but then there are many that work fine too, so I guess DDNI has got lucky by cunningly only playing games that aren't affected

(Which reminds me - I really must update my WHDLoad '040 compatiblity problems thread soon...)

When I had an '030 I rarely had problems at all...

Yup Mercenary 1 2 3 all work flawlessly

[Angus]

Originally Posted by gklinger

I'm asking because I find myself in this position. Obviously the 1260 is faster but that doesn't seem like a factor for gaming and I've been told that the 1230 is more compatible although I'm not aware of any specific games not running with a 68060. So far the only reason I can come up with for using the 1260 is the silly, old bigger is better thing.

I have very few problems with WHDLoad compatibility with my 1260, I'm struggling to think of any, apart from Shuttle.

But yes, the 1230 is probably the ultimate for compatibility.

Having said that though, generally speaking the 060 will run 3D games faster and smoother, and would tend to be a good choice for later Amiga games like Napalm, Exodus, etc.

Its not actually hypothetical for me because I chose to go the 060 route and haven't regretted it.

The 040 is a different story though and I would stay away from it as far as WHDLoad/game compatibility issues go.

[klx300r]

I'm in love with my Blizzard 030@50 man.. its so bloody stable in everything I throw at it and I can play games like Doom smoothly...the 060's have had too many compatability problems form what Ive heard over the years...now of course of I could get my hands on a 060 I'm sure I'd keep her too

[zipper]

The longest days ever were as my 060 card got fixed and I had to run on my backup 030.

[Shoonay]

030, compatibility over 1337nes for me

[TCD]

Yay, gklinger made an option just for me