Newsgroups: bit.listserv.i-amiga
Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 17:08:24 HST
From:         Todd Mizomi <TODDM@UHUNIX.BITNET>
Subject:      Amiga 4000 Spec sheet

        'Kay folks, this is a long one...........

        For all the A/V (Amiga Video) people out there!

        This is all the information I have on the Amiga 4000, from the
spec-sheet I got from the dealer:

        The A4000 is unlike any computer to come out of Commodore.  It boasts
many new features, additions, and changes, the most significant of which
concerns its graphic display.  The A4000 is the first of a new line of Amigas
to utilize the AA (Advanced Architecture) graphic chip set that immensely
expands the Amiga's graphic potential.  The AA (usually called Double A)
chips are Alice, Lisa and Paula.  While Paula is essentially unchanged, the
other two are full replacements for the older Agnus and Denise chips.

A4000 Specifics
---------------

        The A4000 is also the first Amiga to be based on the 68040 processor.
 Interestingly, there is no CPU on the motherboard.  Instead, the A4000 CPU
resides on a plug-in card that is installed in the 200-pin processor slot.
This approach means that the 32-bit A4000 is completely configurable - at the
dealer level.
        While the initial version is a 25-MHz 68040, as processor cards
become available you will be able to buy (or upgrade to) faster 68040 cards,
custom CPUs or even future high-performance processors like the 68060.
        Internally, the A4000 has four Amiga Zorro II/III slots as well as
three PC/AT slots, although - as in earlier models - using some PC slots
precludes employing the Amiga slots in line with them.  As in the A3000, the
video slot is in line with one of the Amiga slots, an arrangement that will
encourage development of specialty video cards ( much like GVP's IV24
multimedia/video product ).
        The computer itself is a bit larger than the A3000, but not as big as
the A2000.  There is room in the A4000 case for two floppy drives and two
hard disks.  an external floppy connector is available for more drives.  In
addition, the front drive bay can accommodate a 5.25-inch disk device,
allowing you to mount large internal hard drives, CD-ROMs or other removable
media.
        Supplied as a standard feature is a 120MB IDE hard disk.  For those
who want access to SCSI devices, an optional 320 bit SCSI-II controller card
will be available.  Interestingly enough, the included floppy is a
high-density 3.5-inch drive that can read and write in either 880K or 1.7MB
modes, and can be used to read and write to standard MS-DOS formatted disks.
        Memory expansion in the A4000, like the A3000, allows a total of 18
megs of RAM on the motherboard--two megs of chip RAM and 16 megs of 32-bit
RAM.  You can add more memory via plug-in cards.  The base configuration of
the A4000 includes two megs of chip RAM and four megs of 32-bit RAM, although
this is subject to change.

AmigaDOS 3.0
---------------

        Taking advantage of all these hardware improvements and additions
requires new software.  Not surprisingly, the version of the Amiga operating
system shipped with the A4000 is a new release called AmigaDOS 3.0.  This is
an enhanced version of the recently released 2.1 OS, and it includes all the
2.1 features, plus support for the AA chips and their new color and
screen-resolution features.

What AA Means
---------------

        With the AA chips, you have many pleasant graphic surprises in store.
 The AA chip set features a full 24-bit palette, giving you access to any of
16,777,216 different colors.  You can create screens using from one to eight
bitplanes.  With eight, every screen can use up to 256 unique colors.  Most
importantly, there is no limit to the number of colors you can use in the
various screen resolutions.
        In addition, the new chips have their own eight-bit HAM display mode,
which lets you create images that use over 256,000 colors at once.  The AA
HAM mode has 64 base colors, which minimizes the fringing that often
accompanies HAM displays.  And, just like the standard color modes, you can
use the AA HAM mode with any screen, regardless of resolution.
        The A4000's AA chips offer all the standard Amiga NTSC and PAL screen
sizes supported in the original chips as well as the later ECS chip set.
These include the original displays of 320x200, 320x400, 640x200, and
640x400, with or without overscan.
        It also includes the ECS 640x480 and 640x960 Productivity mode and
1280x200 and 1280x400 Super Hires modes.  Double A chips go even further with
their Super72 modes, including a very nice 800x600 display.  And these
resolutions do not include the extra display area you get when you use
overscan modes.
        These new chips are so programmable that you can vary the horizontal
and vertical screen sizes in a wide variety of ways, thus making possible
many more exotic displays.

The Third Party Preview
-----------------------

        As you might expect, Commodore has been keeping its developers
informed of these new hardware changes, and many of them have been hard at
work developing new products as well as upgrading existing ones to take
advantage of the new graphic features.  For a look at the companies and the
new products that will support AA machines, see the November '92 issue of
AmigaWorld.

Where Do We Go From Here?
-------------------------

        The A4000 represents not just another new machine from Commodore, but
is the parent of a new line of Amigas.  Expect more Double AA machines to
follow, with configuration designed to fit into various price ranges.
        The A4000's new graphics capabilities will be a boon to artists and
multimedia producers alike.  Desktop videographers will appreciate the
standard photorealism images can now use.  Game developers should have a
field day with the color, speed and resolution Double A provides--and so will
the rest of us!

************************************************************

        In the November '92 issue of AmigaWorld, Senior Editor of Technology
Lou Wallace takes an in-depth look at the Amiga 4000 and discusses:

        *the impact of the A4000-specifically, the new AA chip technology-on
the future of Commodore computing.
        *whether AmigaDOS 3.0 will be available for owners of existing
Amigas.
        *what new products will become available for the A4000.
        *how the new AA chips give you not only improved color resolution,
but also enhanced performance of the graphics, increased chip speed and
improved sprites.
        *key features of the new AmigaDOS 3.0 operating system.
        *what upgrade paths to the AA chips are available to owners of
existing machines.
        *what the A4000 means to animators, game players, graphic artists,
multimedia producers and desktop videographers.

        Wallace answers these and other questions in the November '92
AmigaWorld. You won't want to miss this issue to find out if the A4000 is THE
machine that Amiga users and developers have been waiting for.

------------------------------------------------------------
A4000 Specifications:

25-MHz CPU
Base machine includes 2MB chip RAM and 4MB 32-bit RAM
Up to 18MB RAM on motherboard, additional RAM via RAM cards (to 1.7GB)
Upgradable CPU via 200-pin slot
120MB IDE hard disk
880K/1.7MB internal floppy
Supports four internal disk drives (two FD and two HD)
Four ZORRO II/III expansion slots
Three PC/AT expansion slots
Video-expansion slot
Full 32-bit system architecture
16.8-million color palette
Up to 256 simultaneous colors, plus 256,000 colors using HAM display mode
Advanced Architecture (AA) Graphic Chip Set (Alice, Lisa and Paula)
Programmable display resolutions include 640x480,640x960,1280x400 and 800x600
Video overscan modes supported
All color modes available in all display resolutions
Flicker-free interlaced modes
AA chip set backward compatible with earlier ECS chip set.
------------------------------------------------------------


        Whew!   Well folks, that's what I have so far on the A4000.  This was
copied verbatim from the spec sheet. From what I see here, Commodore finally
pulled their heads out of you know where and did it right: producing an Amiga
that kicks butt! (IMHO)  :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-)

        P.S. I recently sold my Amiga 2000 (yes, I'm still kicking myself)
and am trying to decide what to get next.  I could get a 486/33MHz PC
Compatible w/ SuperVGACard&Monitor, SoundBlaster,130MegHD,4Meg RAM for $1750
(Blasphemy! Yes, I know, but all the really cool flight sims & controllers
like the Thrustmaster are only available for PCs!)
        Or I could get an A3000 and upgrade to the AA chipset (I hope), or go
with the A4000 (which I just found out the prebook price for the CPU only is
$3150).  Any suggestions?  I miss my computer! (I wish I had known about ftp
and this list when I HAD my computer!!!!!!)



***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***---***
 Todd K. Mizomi                     toddm@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu
 UHMCCTV Coordinator                (808)956-9726
 Wong AV Center, Sinclair Library   FAX (808)956-5952
 2425 Campus Rd.
 University of Hawaii at Manoa      "Amiga 4000...The Power To Crush
 Honolulu, HI 96822                 The Other Guys!"
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU