From: dcr3567@ultb.isc.rit.edu (D.C. Richardson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: 4000 review
Date: 14 Dec 92 15:48:14 GMT
Reply-To: dcr3567@ultb.rit.edu ()
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Originator: dcr3567@ultb

Amiga 4000 - The Review.

Synopsis
--------

I recently sold my trusty 2000 and ventured into the world of AGA. The
4000 is a wonderful machine with very few drawbacks.  If it came supplied
with a quality micro-switch based mouse, I'd be blissed. ($3500 for a
computer and you get a mouse that feels like an old Atari joystick??)

My only question is that when I reboot, the hard drive appears to lose
power for a second.  It knocks out, slows down, and then recalibrates
itself and spins back up.  So many spin-ups and spin-downs certainly can't
be healthy, are they?

Da Machine
----------

Although I was expecting Blaz.. sorry, BLAZEMONGER(tm) performance, the
4000 is not one to disappoint.  Coming from a 22 mHz '030 2000, CPU speed
isn't too much different.  AIBB 5.0 cites it at 2-3x faster than a
3000/25, more for FPU operations.  Numbers like 328x faster than a 500 for
the beachball render made me smile a bit, I must say. 

   The real power of the 4000 is in the streamlining of the entire system.
It just feels faster.  Granted, a DBLNTSC NO FLICKER 640x400x256 color
workbench slows to an absolute crawl (comprable to a 14 mHz AT '286 with
middling VGA card an Windows 3), but who needs a 256 color workbench?? 
Running at 16 or 32 or even 64 colors is quite snappy.  CPUBLIT might be
helping, too.

   3.0 is quite a step for AmigaOS.  Coupled with AGA and the 68040, this
machine really shines.  Recovering from a month of Amiga withdrawl, I
spent the last few days getting everything I can from Amiga.Physik.  While
downloading many megs to the hard drive (at 1600+ cps), I've been unpacking 
incoming things, running a MOD with DeliTracker, all on a Promoted 32
color hires Workbench.  This was with zero transmission errors... impossible
on my 2000.

   This is the main reason I like.. heck, love this machine. They really
did their homework on this one.

Ports
-----

Most things are well laid out as far as connectors are concerned.  The
only real complaints are in the placement of the keyboard connector (why
put it on the rear left when the cord goes to the right side of the
keyboard?).  A more serious complaint is in the placement of the mouse
connectors:  On the left side to the rear of the machine.  In order to use
a mouse, you must plug it in and route it around the back, past all the
other connectors, and to the right.  That is, unless they expected
everyone to be left-handed.

The Guts
--------

Using my X-Ray vision (wouldn't want to break that warrantee sticker), 
I picked apart the internals.  I was quite pleased. 2 Simple screws to
open the case, which is made of a heavy guage steel.

   Inside is a packed motherboard.  3 Simm slots open for fast memory.  A
3-pin connector for a future DSP board, PAL/NTSC jumper, ZORRO III
daughterboard, and '040 board.  It appears to be less dense-packed and much
easier to work with than my roommates 3000.  Available is a read 3.5"
bay, front 5.25" bay, and lower 3.5" bay.  The only troublesome one appears
to be the front 3.5" bay.  In order to get at it, you'd probably have to
remove the 5.25 and the 3.5" floppy first.

   The '040 processor card is fairly easy to get out. The '040 itself is
NOT surface-mounted (YEA!), and has a HUGE heat sink on it.  It's labeled
3640 board, so I'd assume it's compatible with the 3000 (looks like it is,
same connector).  The only interesting jumpers are one that says DO NOT
REMOVE, and another labeled 1MAPROM ENable/DISable (j400).  Anyone?

   The really interesting jumpers are on the motherboard, though.
      j213 - 2M/8M  CHIPRAM   (8 megs of chipram!?!?)
      cn404 - 3 pins (for DSP, as mentioned before)
      j975 - outlined bank of 6 jumpers.. no jumps though.  Anyone?
      j850 - 68020 [Huh!?!]
      j151 - 160/200 ROMSPEED, jumpered to 200.  I assume this is for the 
             33 mHz model when it arrives.. needs faster roms, 160 nS
      j100 - CLKS INT/EXT, jumpered to EXT (clock doubling processor, 
             a la DX2?)
      j352 - EXT/INT DF0:, jumpered for DF0:
      EXPANSION - Cut-out near the serial connector at the rear of the
                  computer.. looks like the perfect size for a SCSI
                  connector.

1960 Monitor
------------

This one was a compromise for me, as I didn't have $800 for a NEC 4FG or
high end Sony, but I didn't want a single sync VGA.  The picture is a bit
sharper than my DiamondScan, but appears to be rounded at the edges more.  
By messing with the controls, such as hitting the WIDTH NOR, the picture 
improves, yet the cost is a squashed picture.  I don't think there are many 
monitors which are sharper (Apples 14" Trinitron might be), but there are 
many with a higher "percieved quality".  For $500, it's a great buy.

Floppy Drive
------------

The drive is much better in terms of percieved quality than my old
gronkers.  It's a standard 2 speed Amiga drive that sits in the lower
right hand corner of the computer.  It's quiet and has an internal dust
flap.  

Pros:  Much better than on the 2000, does great job
Cons:  Located about 1 to 1/2 inch too low when a keyboard is placed
directly in front of the computer.  When inserting disks, the keyboard
gets in the way. NBD.

The drive is advertised as a 2 speed drive - no lie there - old speed and
painfully slow speed.  In order to work with HD floppies, they 1/2 the
speed.  VERY painful when walking away from a PS/2, but I try and avoid
floppies any way I can, anyway. 

Hard Drive
----------

Well, it is an IDE.  I'm sure they'll find a way to put SCSI in by
January, because it's really aching for it.  The plus is that I'll be able
to get SCSI-II soon, which should be able to keep up with the ZORRO III
bus.  Everyone has been complaining about this one, but I find it fast and
responsive, and haven't felt any CPU contention during the workout I've
been giving it.  

Keyboard
--------

Enhanced version of the very nice 3000 keyboard.  From what I can tell,
it's a standard limited lifespan membrane type.  The connector has been
changed (yea!) to a small PS/2 mouse-type connector.  It's great.

Mouse
-----

How can I say this...?  *** I HATE THE F***ING MOUSE *** ! ! !  Using this
mouse just reassured me that a bunch of the old timers who designed the 
2000 were ressurected for this one.  Instead of using the WONDERFUL 3000
mouse, they opted to use a nicely sculpted shell, with HORRIBLE insides.  
Besides roller squeek, which is bearable, THEY USED MEMBRANE BOTTONS!  
YIKK-O!  This mouse, like my first 2000 mouse is PAINFUL to work with.  
It probably has the same short life also... 

  PLUG ->   Folks, do yourselves a favor.  Contact DigiPrint and get a 
  PLUG ->   PC-BUS mouse adaptor and choose any mouse you like, PC's are 
  PLUG ->   great for that, at least.  Order direct for $12.95, or Creative 
  PLUG ->   sells them for $13.95.  Mine is on it's way.

Keylock
-------

Unlike 99.9% of all PC's I've seen, the 4000's keylock actualy DOES some
thing.  This one locks out all keyboard (uncluding C-A-A reboots) and
mouse movements.  It doesn't lock out mouse buttons (Why?), so you have to
be a little careful.  It doesn't physically lock the case, which I always
thought was a stupid idea anyway.  Useless, but it shows thought.


Daniel C. Richardson
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
Rochester Institute of Technology
dcr3567@ultb.isc.rit.edu