From: dmacphee@nyx.cs.du.edu (Don mac phee)
Subject: Re: The Amiga 1200 Specs - From CBM
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Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 03:59:30 GMT

In article <1992Nov8.183905.14173@nynexst.com> clare@nynexst.com (Clare Chu) writes:
>
>  I saw that!  I'm tempted but my husband isn't.  He keeps going on
>  about the 25 MHz versus the GVP's 40MHz.   Isn't there a technicality
>  about 16-bit versus 32-bit RAM?

  Just FULL of questions... :) I'll try to answer them concisely.
  The EC030 used in GVP's board doesn't have an MMU. This is a very
minor consideration for 99% of the users out there, but it WILL stop you
from running any Unix, or other Virtual memory hack.
You also are limited to 8 Meg of Ram. In addition the SCSI and expansion
RAM are unavailible in 68000 mode.

>  The A3000 also has 2 Mg Chip RAM,  am I correct?

 True. The A500, nor the 530 have this. It is availible to the 500 via
the DKB hack.

>  Does it have a 32-bit bus from the CPU to the Chip RAM?

 It is accessed as if it were 32-bit. But is 16-bit.

>  If so, then the A500, only having 16-bit bus running at 40MHz would
>  only be 5 times faster than the A500 running at 7, instead of 10
>  like the GVP ad claims.  They're probably only talking about stuff
>  coming from the 32-bit RAM to the 68E30.

 When and if you access ChipRam, you will cripple your performance in 
this respect. All specs are open to broad interpretation. :)

>  Now he's talking about getting a $630 Hi-Q tower to make the A500
>  into an A2000 so he can expand.  His premise is "I don't want to
>  buy a new computer."  I figure adding the $630 + the GVP $1100
>  would just about get me an A3000 with a larger HD than the default.

 The Hi-Q *IS* buying a new computer. And your not quite at A3000
performance. Zorro3 is not availible, you only have 1Meg of chipram,
The SCSI controller is locked out in 68000 mode, and so is the
expansion RAM. But other than that.... an A3000.  :)

>  If I don't need a new monitor for the A3000, i.e. I can still use
>  the 1084S (for now), then I'll probably win the argument IF I
>  can show that the A3000 will run as fast as the GVP 530 from chip
>  ram (does the A3000 have a math coprocessor 68882 installed?).

 You are allowed to use the 1084S on ALL Amiga models. The A3000
will run faster than the A530 in chipRam access. I don't remember
if the A3000 comes with an FPU socket.

>  An A500 (1/2 Meg chip, 1 Meg Agnus not enabled) + GVP 530 +
>   (optionally) HiQ Tower (to eventually get the PhonePak, ibm, etc)
>   +A600 + 2 1084S monitors
>
>   or
>
>   An A3000 25MHz (at the low price of $1500) + 1960 monitor (not needed right
>   away) and eventually give our 2 year old the A500 and 1084S monitor.
>  (keeping the A500 game compatible, and using the A3000 for serious
>  stuff).

 I never knew you were setting up your own network! :)

 I have similar problems. I have a 2000 that is fairly unexpanded.
I'm looking to move into the new AGA line-up. (This is for pure
enjoyment.)

 To expand my 2000 to near 4000 levels would cost me more than throwing
the 2000 away, and buying a 4000. I will be able to afford the 4000 in
the near term. (Perhaps the 4000T.) I consider the 600, 2000, and 500
to be write-offs. C= has not offered an expansion path for earlier
owners, nor has one been offered on the third party level. C= seems to
be egging users into the new line to ease software and hardware
support.

 The 3000 is a more logical choice than the HiQ GVP combo. It's 
supported in both hardware and software. It has all of the features
of the 4000 save for 040 and AGA. Most of the AGA features (2M Chip,
sound, and maybe the DSP option) are availible to 3000 owners. The only
conlsolation is you might not get AGA color.

 PhonePak, and the IBM emulation will work with the 3000. The 3000
has SCSI. With Degrader, you can eliminate 90% of the incompatibility
problems with 68000 only games. The Rom tower in the 3000 allows you to
fallback to 1.3 to eliminate the OS compatibility.

 You have my recommendation. Listen to everyone else, and sit down over
a pizza with your husband. Remember, *YOU* have to live with him when
your feet are cold. I don't... :)
--
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