From: "Stefan Berg" <sgberg@raisin.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Need advice on accelerator (030/xx or 000/14).
Organization: Computer Science, Indiana University
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 09:58:44 -0500

Since I have my Supra modem, my usenet node has become more and more
busy, slowing down quite a bit sometimes (not fault of Supra, but
of the increasing load :). In short, I would like to increase the
speed of my computer, for the best price/performance ratio.

My system is:
Amiga 500
68010 processor
PAL/NTSC Switchable
all ECS chips
KS 2.04 (1.2, 1.3 switchable)
1MB Chip Mem
GVP Series II with 52MB Quantum (maybe a 120MB soon)
     + 8MB Fast RAM (2x 4MB SIMMS, one is 70ns, the other 80ns)
Supra V.32bis
1084 Monitor
AMAX II Emulator

Option 1: AdSpeed
It only costs about $170 and gives me 2x speed. That is not so bad,
but compared to an 030 it has some bad sides. I don't get an MMU and
Math coprocessor. That means VM and UNIX are not possible with this
option. Furthermore I have to degrade from an 010 to 000 (no Vector
Base in FastMem possible, etc...). I also heard there are some
problems with KS2.04? Will this enable me to run my Supra at full
speed without a big degradation in Computer speed?

Option 2: 030 Processor
I heard, that the MMR does *not* work with DMA to its RAM. So I have to
force my GVP to use its slow 8MB Fast RAM instead. If this affect my
HD read/write speed, than I'm not too happy with it. Then there is the
VXL 030. I think it is available for about $300 to $400, which is still
acceptable. Does it have a build in MMU? I heard somewhere, that it
uses the 68EC030. How much would a MMU version of it cost?

I really like the idea of an 030, because it enables me to do things
like VM and other neat stuff. The *real* problem I have with it, is
that memory is *incredible* expensive. I saw 2MB for $200!!! I got
my 8MB SIMM RAM for $250! Isn't it possible to simply use my old
SIMMs in the VXL? Or are there any other alternatives? I really use
a lot of RAM on my Amiga, but I cannot afford to pay an additional
$800 to get my 8MB of Fast RAM. Sure... I still will have my old
8MB Fast RAM in the GVP, but I read that the 030 will work at about
a third of its max speed when working with 16bit Fast RAM. So there
is no point in getting the VXL without some Fast RAM.

One compromise would be to take the VXL with 2MB. Then I have a
total of 11 MB RAM. Can I somehow control which programs will run
in my fast 2MB fast RAM? i.e.... my RAM DISK should if possible run
in 16MB RAM. It still is a little expensive (>$500) though.

How expensive is RAM, when you buy it for the A3000? Do you also pay
$200 per 2MB? If somebody knows some good alternatives for me, please
let me know. As it looks right now, I probably cannot afford an 030.
If I could buy 8MB for $200, it might be possible for me. If I can
use my GVP RAM, then I would get the 030 right away! :) I'm not too
interested in getting the most out of the 030 (like using burst mode
or stuff... this only gives you a couple percent and is really expensive),
but on the other hand I don't want to pay $400 and get only a 3x speed
increase (when using no extra RAM).

Any ideas, comments, flames, money, accelerators, etc... welcome,

Stefan



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