HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: lassa@cbmvax.commodore.com (Paul Lassa)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Re: A4000/Alice
Date: 16 Oct 92 18:44:22 GMT
Reply-To: lassa@cbmvax.commodore.com (Paul Lassa)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <67688@cup.portal.com> DennyA@cup.portal.com (Denny Lee Atkin) writes:
>Hi. Some folks have been contacting me saying they've had problems
>determining from the manual what kind of SIMMs they need to purchase
>to expand the A4000. I'd like to put another 4MB SIMM in myself, so
>I'm curious too. But mainly I'd like to have an answer for folks...
>
>Can I get some specifics, maybe even part numbers, but at least a
>good, exact description of what kind of SIMMs you need? All I know is
>4MB, 32-bit SIMMs. They're 72-pins, right?

What you want is a 72-pin, 1MB x 32 SIMM with 80nS or less access time.
This provides 4MB total memory per SIMM.  These are available from 
several manufacturers.  I'll give you two examples, then you can take
your pick, or look elsewhere:

1. Order from a memory manufacturer such as Motorola.  The part number 
   you'll need is MCM32100-S80.

2. Order from a SIMM assembler.  They assemble the size you need (1Mx32),
   and they would give you a choice as to which brand of memory you want
   on them.  One such Vendor I know of is Centon, US, Ph# (603) 893-3350 
   Prices as of 10/92 are a little over US $100.

You CANNOT mix 256k x 32 (1MB)'s with 1M x 32 (4MB)'s when populating
the 4 available FASTRAM SIMM sockets on the A4000.  Choose one or the 
other, and set the SIMM SIZE jumper (J852) accordingly. Memory support
is available for up to 4 SIMMs, for a max of 16 MB.

>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Denny Atkin                | dennya@cup.portal.com          | "No matter where
>Editor                     | Portal, GEnie, and BIX: dennya | you go, there you
>COMPUTE's Amiga Resource   | CIS: 75500,3602                | are." - B.Banzai
>---------------=====<<<<< YES! COMPUTE _DOES_ COVER THE AMIGA! >>>>>=====------
-- 
Paul Lassa - Amiga Hardware Engineer	Internet: lassa@cbmvax.commodore.com 
Commodore-Amiga				uucp:	  {uunet|rutgers}!cbmvax!lassa
1200 Wilson Dr. West Chester, PA, 19380		- (see other side)
From: lassa@cbmvax.commodore.com (Paul Lassa)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Zorro III on Zorro II ?
Date: 12 Oct 92 20:03:04 GMT
Reply-To: lassa@cbmvax.commodore.com (Paul Lassa)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <1992Oct9.100733.5784@ousrvr.oulu.fi> eha@phoenix (Esa Haapaniemi) writes:
>One of my hardware friends told that on accelerated Amigas (GVP_Combo)
>it might be possible to get Zorro III cards used fully on Zorro II.
>Only small modifications to connectors and a cable to Combo. If that
>really is posible, have someone already done it, or should I give
>him an advice to forget it ?

There are two issues here.  ZorroIII cards must be specially designed to
*also* be able to speak ZorroII, and even then it must be at ZorroII
speeds.  Secondly, a few cables and connectors will not allow a ZorroII
bus to run the ZorroIII protocol.  ZorroIII protocol can only be spoken
by Fat Buster and associated support logic, as you will find on the A3000
and A4000 series, but NOT on the A2000.  You cannot upgrade the A2000 to
Fat Buster because they are very different chips (48 pin vs. 84 pin) and
the A2000 motherboard does not contain the wider bus and mucho control
logic to get the job done.  However, Dave designed Fat Buster to be able
to slow down to talk to ZorroII peripherals, so that the 3000 and 4000 
would be able to utilize your existing cards, yet still be able to speak
ZorroIII at blazing speeds.

>Esa Haapaniemi
>University of Oulu
>Finlan
-- 
Paul Lassa - Amiga Hardware Engineer	Internet: lassa@cbmvax.commodore.com 
Commodore-Amiga				uucp:	  {uunet|rutgers}!cbmvax!lassa
1200 Wilson Dr. West Chester, PA, 19380		- (see other side)
From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Is it silly to buy an A3000 now?
Date: 8 Oct 92 22:08:52 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <ym2asB3w165w@cybernet.cse.fau.edu> vidiot@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (Rankin Eric) writes:
> 
> I can't wait until I have the funds to purchase an Amiga 4000 with its 
> AGA graphics.
> 
> Eric
> 
> PS.  If I understand what my local C= dealer told me, there is a 
> video enhancer built into the ALICE chip (I think that's her name).  Is 
> this not correct?  (this question is not directed at you, Dan, I would 
> rather take advice from Bill Gates).

What Alice has is a mode that displays each video line, including sprites
twice to provide the basis of "application transparent" scan doubling.  This
is actually a bit tricky giving the details of the display hardware and
the exposure to mis-guided software.

For those who find this feature inadequate, you can still plug in a
display enhancer/flicker fixer board and de-interlace all of the pre-AGA
modes (except super-hires of course) and no doubt someone will come out
with a deluxe super display enhancer than handles 24-bits and/or super
hi-res, though it will be expensive.

This leaves some residual pecentage of users who want to use the video slot
for some other video toy and use one of those cheap VGA only monitors, but
since the two intents are somewhat mutually contradictory most of the real
application needs can be accomodated with the A4000.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
From: boberg@lysator.liu.se (Stefan Boberg)
Subject: Re: Is it silly to buy a
Organization: Lysator Academic Computer Society, Linkoping University, Sweden
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 15:29:36 GMT

Roger_Nordin@atb.bbs.bad.se (Roger Nordin) writes:

>> isn't needed as the 'wast array of applications that use Hires/Interlace'
>> get a nice non-interlaced DblPAL or DblNTSC screen.

>"Nice" - If a 27000+ pixels smaller screen if what you call nice, then fine. 
>I don't think anyone will call that an upgrade, though, when it comes to 
>working with most applications.

  I don't exactly think anyone will call it a `downgrade' either. It doesn't
make that much of a difference actually. You get prettier scrolling in DblPAL
than in deinterlaced PAL/Lace (MFR for instance looks very ugly when smooth-
scrolling on the A3000 because of the interlace).

>> Nope. An A3000 + 040 board is more expensive

>WRONG! You can get that for about $2500, the A4000 goes for $2800 or 
>whatever, mail-order. And you have to add they new flashy SCSI-II host 
>adaptor, which price is yet unknown, which even further increases the price

  "Have to"? I for one don't need SCSI. Anyway, in Sweden the prices are:

   A3000/25/105       17000:-        A4000/AGA/25MHz/120M HD    25000:-
   PP&S 68040          8000:-
                      ------                                    -------
                      25000:-                                   25000:-

  Which one is the cheapest? Both/none. Which one offers the best price/
performance ratio? Without doubt the A4000.

>> Why would you do that ? To impress friends with 256 color icons ?

>Is that what you use your computer for, or any other things for that matter? 
>Sorry, I would use it for my own personal pleasure. 16 colours for the 
>Workbench isn't unreasonable on the A4000. And then, a 16 colour dual-
>playfield picture would be nice. Eight bitplanes.

  You don't need to use dual playfield. There is NO reason whatsoever to
use a DPF screen to do WB backdrops. You are better off with a 5 bitplane
screen (=32 colors). WB3.0 has support for this.

>Already, the CHIP RAM of my A3000 can go as low as 400Kb sometimes. The A4000 
>would consume even more in my hands. More than 2Mb, in fact. How that is 
>supposed to be accompished...:)

  You change your (bad) habits. I always have more than 1M chipmem free in
my A3000. And still I run an 8-color WB with 8-color backdrop pictures in
both the WB window and in the drawer windows, a 4-color work screen, an 
editor screen (4 colors) and a terminal program (4 colors) most of the time.
No problems although 8MB would no doubt be better than 2MB.

> 2:203/602.0@fidonet \X/  Internet: Roger_Nordin@bad.se
-- 
Stefan Boberg - AP & EE student at Linkoping Institute of Technology, Sweden
 Author of LhA, ArjA and LhArcA. Co-author of Alien Breed, Project X ...
  EMail: boberg@lysator.liu.se, lha@augs.se           FIDO: 2:204/404.7
    UUCP:  {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!cbmehq!cbmswe!team17!boberg
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
From: schristo@cc.curtin.edu.au
Subject: CD-ROM Mountlist entry
Organization: Curtin University of Technology
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 06:25:34 GMT

I am trying to manually mount a CD-ROM drive on my A3000. I need to know what
figures to put in the mountlist entry. I.e. Tracks,cylinders,sectors,etc.
If you can help mail me as soon as possible as this is quite important.
 

Thanx in advance,
Matt Christou

----------tear along dotted line---------------------------------------------
 PSImail: psi%050529452300070::SCHRISTO
 Internet: SCHRISTO@cc.curtin.edu.au
 Bitnet: SCHRISTO%cc.curtin.edu.au@cunyvm.bitnet
 UUCP  : uunet!munnari.oz!cc.curtin.edu.au!SCHRISTO
----------tear along dotted line---------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
From: 22black@sol.cs.wmich.edu (The Bewildered One)
Subject: Re: C/A is not CBM. Re: The Real A4000 Argument. 
Organization: Western Michigan Univ. Comp. Sci. Dept.
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 04:05:25 GMT

From an article clearly saying that C/A is seperate from CBM.  

I could care less if it is C/A or CBM.  They are both commodore.  And the
idea of having 2 clear apart departments in a design and manufactureing is
the worst way of doing business.  Take a clue from the car companies.
All departments have to communicate and be as one.
                                              ^^^^

Martin
From: Aric.Caley@ofa123.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Avoid the Amiga 4000
X-Sender: newtout 0.02 Oct  1 1992
Date: 15 Oct 92  10:15:02

> Organization: Culberson Plaza.  (One Marconi Place, Inc.)
> From: dac@dacami.cmhnet.org (David Culberson)
> Message-ID: dac.04q3@dacami.cmhnet.org
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
>
> In article <1992Oct12.032423.12844@ra.msstate.edu>
> skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu (Skip Sauls) writes:
> > BTW, no one has said anything about the new hires and superhires
> sprites.
> > Can the mouse cursor be in one of these modes?  I hope so, as the lores
> > sprite has driven me crazy for years and is very pitiful looking
> compared
> > to the rest of the Workbench.
>
>  Oh!  It can (and does) be the same resolution as the screen.  The pointer
> I saw on the machine I used for a wonderful 3 hour period had a tiny
> pointer
> on a 640x480 workbench.  Very smooth, absolutely no jaggies!

YEah.  And sprites can now be upto 64 pixels wide.

In the mean time, there is a little program called "lacepointer" that will
double the vertical resolution of your pointer on interlaced screens.. makes
it look a lot nicer!

>
>            David
>
> --
> (- dac@dacami.cmhnet.org  -  cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!jcnpc!dacami!dac -)
> (- David Culberson - Site available for BMS transactions! - DUUCP 1.16 -)


--- Maximus 2.00
From: mlelstv@specklec.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de (Michael van Elst)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: New Amiga(s) Expansion/Future
Date: 15 Oct 92 16:57:00 GMT
Organization: Max-Planck-Institut f"ur Radioastronomie

In <1bi71rINNste@function.mps.ohio-state.edu> vidynath@function.mps.ohio-state.edu (Vidhyarath K Rao) writes:
>I use the 500 with 2M fast ram, and two floppies. It is very easy to add
>a hard disk if need be. I have asked several times on the net, but no
>one has said categorically that I can add fast ram *and* other stuff
>to the 600 via the PCMCIA at the *same* time. Till I see such a statement
>made by some one from CBM, 600 is not a replacement for a 500.

What other stuff ? You have an A500 with fast mem, floppies and a possible
HD. Now, the A600 has the same: Fast RAM via PCMCIA, floppies and an internal
HD. Why isn't it a replacement then ?

Regards,
-- 
Michael van Elst
UUCP:     universe!local-cluster!milky-way!sol!earth!uunet!unido!mpirbn!p554mve
Internet: p554mve@mpirbn.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de
                                "A potential Snark may lurk in every tree."
From: skinner@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Skinner Tom)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: wanted amiga accelertor!!
Summary: wanted amiga accelerator
Keywords: amiga
Date: 9 Oct 92 15:43:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.Bvv2D2.5z3
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

I want to buy an amiga accelerator .. so if you have one forsale please email
me.. i want to buy one within the next 3 weeks...

		thanks alos
		Tom
				skinner@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
From: brianc@iastate.edu (Brian J Cerveny)
Subject: Re: Avoid the Amiga 4000
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 05:21:25 GMT

In <1bg0avINN6p4@huon.itd.adelaide.edu.au> jpotter@sirius.ucs.adelaide.edu.au (Jonathan Potter) writes:

>That's not strictly true. Promotion will only be applied to screens that
>open using the 2.0+ functions using tag lists. Anything written before
>2.0 will not be promoted, but this does not mean it was not well written
>software.

I quote from an excellent article recently posted by Michael Sinz:

>As George has said above and we have said before, 99% of the software will
>be promoted to non-flickering modes if you select that option in preferences.

>Now, how does this impact current software?

>Well, software that is pure 1.3 code (no 2.0 features are used) will always
>be promoted as in pre-2.0 days there was no way to define the video monitor
>(scan rate) that you wanted to open your screen in.

Not exactly what you said, is it, Jon?
-- 
   // Brian J. Cerveny (brianc@iastate.edu)
 \X/  Disclaimer:  The views expressed above are my own.  So there.

"If the founding fathers were alive today they'd be spinning in their graves."
From: johnl@SDFSERV.hac.com (John Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Prac. Periph. Modem and CTS/RTS
Keywords: RTS/CTS
Date: 13 Oct 92 22:53:31 GMT
Organization: Hughes Aircraft Company, El Segundo, CA

In article <BvzDzB.H6q@rahul.net> harlock@rahul.net (Mike Harlock) writes:
>In article <boing.718781735@mcl> boing@mcl.ucsb.edu (Geff Hanoian) writes:
>>	HELP!!!!!!  I haven't gotta clue what this means.  I've just
>>	purchased a 14.4k Prac. Periph. modem and it's telling me 
>>	that my amiga doesn't have CTS/RTS.  I think?  Here's the
>>	man page from the manual on the test sequence:
>You need terminal software that supports CTS/RTS Hardware flow control.
>JrComm has a setting for a CTS/RTS handshake.  (In fact, I HAVE to use flow
>controll otherwise I have big connection problems at 9600)
>I have a PP9600SA modem.  
>  it has nothing to do with the cable you are using.

Weeelll, it might.  The cable must carry pins 4 and 5 as well, not just
2, 3 and 7.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The crew faces deadly GURUs!  Next time on AmigaDOS: The Next Generation.
	+--------+			John Lee
	| HUGHES |
	+--------+			Internet: jhlee@hac2arpa.hac.com	
The above opinions are those of the user and not of those of this machine.
From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: upgradability of the A4000
Date: 16 Oct 92 07:45:32 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Keywords: 4000

In article <Bw6MFt.CB0@rice.edu> kopnicky@owlnet.rice.edu (Lyle Warren Kopnicky) writes:
> A question to those at Commodore: apparently, you guys designed the A4000
> to be as upgradable as possible.  So what exactly can be upgraded by
> changing the card in the CPU slot?  Can more chip RAM be added?  New
> graphics chipsets?  Sound chips?  Obviously a new processor can.  What
> else?

It basically allows adding a different processor as long as it talks or
can be translated to the protocols supported by the motherboard ASICs
and whatever you care to glue on that processor local bus.

You could stick a processor, processor + cache or processor + real fast RAM
on there, or processor/coprocessor/DSP combination.  The only real constraints
are that it has to run the system software and fit with the space / power /
cooling constraints supported by the system design, and there really isn't
much in the way of provision for I/O cabling.

> 	Basically, what I would like to see from Commodore is a version
> of the A4000, still with 2MB chip RAM, but upgradable to 8MB on the
> motherboard, and everything else the same.  Is it reasonable to expect
> such a thing within, say, 9 months?

I think we've answered the 8MB chipram question (NO) several times lately.
As to what you might be able to get in 9-months, we don't talk about the
future, though CBM executives did make some statement about future directions
in the World of Comodore presention...


-- 
George Robbins - now working for,     work:   to be avoided at all costs...
but no way officially representing:   uucp:   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
Commodore, Engineering Department     domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com
From: "jeff ruck" <jeff.ruck@channel1.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: future amigas
Date: 15 Oct 92 09:54:31 EST
Reply-To: "jeff ruck" <jeff.ruck@channel1.com>
Distribution: comp
Organization: Channel 1 Communications

-> I myself feel that RISC chips are silly, in a way.  Of *course* you

I completely *disagree*.  You should keep an open mind about RISC, and
learn a little more about it before making such a statement.

-> can do more instructions in a second, but it takes more instructions
-> to get the same amount of work done, because instructions have been

The number of instructions used is just a side-effect of the technology.
RISC strives for performance.

-> eliminated.  However, I think that if Motorola decides to produce a
-> RISC chip (which the 68060 may be), then they will make all effort
-> possible to make it as compatible with the 68040 as it can be.

To the best of my knowledge *any* future chip in the 680xx family will
be a CISC design.  Otherwise, Motorola would change the family name.  At
least in my mind this is intuitive.  For example, take the 88000 family
and build on it.

-> Commodore doesn't NEED to look to someone other than M. for a RISC.
-> They should also experiment with parallel processing, if possible.

I think you're discussing different designs too "loosely".  There are a
lot of RISC processor manufacturers so C= naturally would be reluctant
to see what the market has to offer (assuming there is no "deal" with
DEC).  It is only a matter of time before RISC designs replace all
existing CISC designs.  RISC is for computing in the 1990s.

If you'd like to discuss this more closely, I'd be more than happy too.

 --Jeff

jeff.ruck@channel1.com
--
Channel 1 (R)   Cambridge, MA
From: doiron@starpt.UUCP (Glenn Doiron)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: dead!
Date: 8 Oct 92 12:31:23 GMT
Organization: 68K Software Development
X-NewsSoftware: GRn 1.16e (7/4/92) by Mike Schwartz & Michael B. Smith

In article <35537@cbmvax.commodore.com> grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins) writes:
> In article <Rob_Semenoff.0ine@saug.UUCP> Rob_Semenoff@saug.UUCP (Rob Semenoff) writes:
> > 
> >      My A500 has bit the big one! Luckily I have a A2000 too!. The problem
> > has been finding the problem. Here it goes..
> > 
> >      While making a new plug for the power supply the entire plug was
> > reversed. This immediatly killed my 500.
> > 
> >      We replaced the Cia's
> >      we replaced all the socketed chips ( tested them first on the 2000)
> >      we replaced all 256x1 memory chips.
> > 
> >      Now we get a solid green screen. The caps lock key flashes steady, and
> > the power led flashes 10 short - 1 long then resests. if any one has any
> > idea on what to do next please let me know!!!
> 
> A green screen means that you still have some problem in the memory area.
> If you've replaced all the memory chips and replaced/tested the Agnus and
> Gary chips, then I'd look at the address and data buffers
> 
> The flashing keyboard led means you've blown the keyboard micro or some of
> the associated circuitry on the keyboard.
> 
> Sure you couldn't pick up a used A500 for less $$$ and misery?

You've probably killed some PAL's on the motherboard, too.  My suggestion
to you would be to either send the sucker out for a motherboard swap or
junk it and get a 600HD.
 
Glenn Doiron
--
Amiga UUCP+
Origin:  uunet!starpt!doiron     (Organization:68K Software Development)
         BIX: gdoiron
** Not enough memory to perform requested operation.  Add 4 megs and retry.
From: orovner@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Oleg Rovner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: DMAfix, MMR, GVP (to Oleg Rovner)
Date: 7 Oct 92 08:03:45 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <copes.718433285@marsh> copes@cs.curtin.edu.au (Simon Cope) writes:
>
>If you already have an 030, then get a GrandSlam card.  It is faster than 
>the Impact ones, which I was told by a hacker only DMA onto an on card buffer
>then use the cpu to move it....Their 030 cards are better.  They can dma into
>the 32 bit ram on them.
>
I believe that that is only true for the GVP SeriesI, SeriesII is
real DMA. GrandSlam is still PIO, thus (according to IVS) avoiding
DMA problems (namely the ever-present problem of what to do with
left-over processor time while doing HD IO in a multi-tasking
system :-).
 Oleg


-- 
Libertarian in '92, nothing else makes sense.* orovner@ucsd.edu 
Just say NO to Bush/Quyale and Clinton/Gore! * oleg@crumpet.cts.com

Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
From: nilsco@ifi.uio.no (Nils Liaaen Corneliusen)
Subject: Re: A4000 graphics
Organization: Dept. of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 09:53:59 GMT
Originator: nilsco@fenris.ifi.uio.no


> >Fact: All old screenmodes will be shown with scanlines/flicker because the
> >the A4000 has no flickerfixer.
> 	Sorry, but you have not followed the discussion carefully
> enough.  This is NOT a fact.  Old screenmodes automatically get promoted
> to non-interlaced or scan-doubled modes.

Yep, and that is what I want to avoid. It is still a fact, though. The dblpal/ntsc
does not support full overscan and would be useless in some cases. I want all modes
flickerfree on the 4000, and that is not possible now it seems.

------------------------------------------------------------
INCLUDE "disclaimer.i"                     snail-mail:
Nils Corneliusen                           Heyerdahls vei 17
internet: nilsco@ifi.uio.no                OSLO, Norway
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
From: eyvind@Lise.Unit.NO (Eyvind Bernhardsen)
Subject: MB kill file...
Organization: Norwegian Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 22:06:13 GMT

I see a lot of people are putting MB into their killfiles...  I have a *better*
solution!  Yes!  Why don't the people who run c.s.a.a put him in THEIR killfile?
Or no, even better!  Why doesn't MB put himself into his own killfile for posting
messages?  Gee, I wonder why noone thought of this before...:)

-EB