The AGA Experience 2/agavol2.iso/software/pictures/powerpc/powerup.txt

Text File | 1996-02-06 | 10KB | 181 lines

Power UP
Amiga goes PowerPC

The innovation leap into the next decade of Amiga-computing

If you also rank among the Amiga users looking forward to tomorrow,
we are delighted to inform you that there is life for the Amiga after
the 68000 version

PowerUP
Amiga goes PowerPC

 Since it's foundation, phase 5 digital products year after year has
introduced new and significant innovations for the Amiga - in 1993
the Fastlane Z3, the first Zorro-III-DMA-Controller, in 1994 the
Cyberstorm 060, the worlds's first 68060 board for Amiga systems,
in 1995 the CyberVision64 and the CyberGraphX-software, which jointly
have defined a new standard in graphic capabilities on the Amiga or
the Blizzard board for the Amiga 1200, which in it's present 4th
generation is setting standards in respect of price and performance.
This success is based upon the experience of the engineering team,
which has been working with the Amiga for almost 10 years since the
introduction of the legendary Amiga 1000. phase 5 digital products
has now imported all it's expertise and know-how into a new sensational
project, the PowerUp-program which will provide the basis in 1996 for
taking the decisive innovation leap into the next decade of
Amiga-Computing: the PowerPC-RISC-processors will provide the Amiga
with a new and powerful heart.

68000 and then....

 The 68060 processor represents the state-of-the-art performance peak
of the 68k processors currently used in the Amiga; it is installed in
such products as the Cyberstorm 060/50, the Blizzard 1260 or the Blizzard
2060. Even though this processor features outstanding topical performance
and is the No. 1 choice for all Power users seeking to expand and
accelerate their system today, significant advance development with
this processor family is not possible, as the 68060 will be the last of
the 68k processors. Any increases of clock rates would only result in
marginal capacity increases.

Sufficient power ultimately is the only option.

 The Power-PC-RISC-processors provide a way out of this dead-end road
by bridging the gap between the 68k processors and the Amiga future.
With their enormous power performance at favourable prices and the
innovative energies of the producers Motorola and IBM which are
advancing the PowerPC architecture as alternative to conventional
PC processors, the PowerPC processor family provides the solution
assuring Amiga a position among the future high-performance desktop
workstations. And that's not all: by combining this new processor
generation with Amiga's unique features, this computer's performances
in numerous specific applications are fully developed and raised to
new heights. A number of PowerPC models in various performance classes
already obtainable as well as a wide range of future models even more
powerful in addition offer the right processor for each application and
price range. With a fast RISC architecture and their high
Floating-Point-Performance, the Power-PC processors today and in the
future are more than adequately equipped for the most demanding tasks
in the sectors of multimedia, 3-D, image processing, video processing,
rendering, and animation.

Hardware for the next millennium

 In mid-1996, the PowerBoards marketed by phase 5 digital products will
introduce two novel types of PowerPC processors as new heart for the
Amiga: MPC603e-processors with clock rates of 100MHz upwards will open
new performance dimensions in the lower price bracket, while MPC604
processors (also in the range above 100MHz) will be installed in accelerator
boards for professional utilization. 150MHz versions of these CPUs have
already been announced for 1996. In addition, more high-performance
members of the PowerPC family including the genuine 64-bit processor
MPC620 with clock rates up to 300MHz are being developed and will open
new performance dimensions in the near future. Next to utilization of
PowerPC processors, the phase 5 PowerBoards naturally will also feature
other state-of-the-art technical details. 64-bit memory expansion options
naturally are standard, just as much as a fast 64-bit local bus system
(with optional PCI-Bridge) which allows connection of both
favourably-priced accessories and high-performance expansions for the
PowerBoards. The PowerBoards offered by phase 5 digital products will
be offered in a number of capacity categories and price brackets depending
on the performance category between approximately US$ 700 and US$ 1500
initially for the Amiga 1200, Amiga 3000, and Amiga 4000 - naturally
with the outstanding quality, compatibility, and flexible expansion options
typical for phase 5 products. There is a wide variety of system software
described below as well as CyberGraphx 3.0 Native, which is included in
the phase 5 PowerBoard's scope of delivery.

The full program

 The phase 5 digital products PowerUp program is concerned with development
of a PowerPC solution suited as complete and convenient upgrade of existing
Amiga systems based upon 68k technology. In addition to development of
high-performance hardware for various Amiga computers, it thus also
encompasses adaptation to the new PowerPC processors. A team of experienced
system programmers is involved in realization of these necessary phases;
it is developing an image of the Exec and Multitasking function of the
Amiga-OS into PowerPC native code. This image - fully compatible to the
previous Amiga Exec - as lowest level and supported by the superior 68k
emulator will allow utilization of the existing operation system versions
3.0 and higher. Native coding of the important Exec and Multitasking
functions will guarantee a high level of performance from the very beginning.
The remaining operation system functions are initially generated in the fully
compatible emulation and are optimized as required in following versions via
new function libraries on the PowerPC native code.

CyberGraphx 3.0 Native

 In order to avoid an essential performance bottleneck from the very
beginning, a new version of the popular CyberGraphX software will be
developed in the scope of the PowerUp project. It will be available as
PowerPC native code and thus will considerably accelerate the entire
graphical output on graphic boards or also (a new feature for version
3.0 and higher) via the AA chipset of the Amiga 1200 and the Amiga 4000.
As the high demands on graphic output in today's multimedia applications
requires a major share of the computer performance, this version of
CyberGraphX adapted to the PowerPC processors will immediately provide
for massive performance increases and a high utilization rate of the
PowerPC processors' RISC performance. In addition, CyberGraphX functionally
will be expanded by new interfaces for 3D applications and multimedia
allowing utilization of a new generation of applications on the Amiga.
The availability of powerful 3D routines and multimedia functions for
audio and video independent from hardware will allow software producers
to generate programs at extremely low costs which are operable on a wide
variety of computer configurations. This considerably increases the
system's attractivity and will result in a record demand for high-quality
applications and for games of the next generation.

We are not alone

 Already at commencement of the PowerUp project, a large number of leading
software producers, among these Almathera, Maxon Computer, ProDad, and
Softwood, to name just a few, plans to actively support the PowerUp
project by adapting their high-performance programs to the new PowerPC
processors. The anticipated support by additional software producers will
provide for a wide range of extremely capable native software already at the
time the PowerPC accelerator boards are introduced to the market.

 In the scope of the PowerUp project, phase 5 digital products has
already initiated far-reaching measures to support software producers
on the Amiga market. Evaluation boards enabling software development
on the Amiga under a PowerPC processor will already be available in early
1996 for established and new commercial developers. Software tool for
development systems are being prepared by phase 5 digital products and
partner companies. Commercial developers will be provided full support
by phase 5 digital products; development of strategical applications also
is supported in direct cooperation with Motorola.

Secure your investments

 But what can today's Amiga users do, who desperately need more power
for their applications and cannot or are unable to wait between six and
eight months until the new processor board generation is on the market?
Here, too, phase 5 digital products has thought of it's users' demands
and therefore offers appropriate upgrade solutions: all customers who
have purchased a 68k acceleration board from phase 5 digital products
after September 1, 1995 will be made special upgrade offers for purchasing
one of the new PowerPC acceleration boards* upon submission of a copy of
their retail dealer's purchase receipt. A more extensive trade-in program
is planned for owners of higher-price-bracket 68060 boards, which will
facilitate conversion to the PowerPC generation. phase 5 thus already
today provides the opportunity to utilize a 68k accelerator for required
additional performance and at the same time to invest into the future.
We won't leave you out in the cold.

  *The upgrade program is available to all registered initial users who
have purchased a 68k turbo board from the phase 5 production through
authorized retailers or directly from phase 5 digital products. Purchasers
of used appliances are exempted from this offer.

Just dreams of the future?

 Yes - but of the near future. Already in full operation today and
supported by massive investments, the PowerUp program will result in
PowerPC based accelerator boards for various Amiga computers by mid-1996.
phase 5 digital products is one of the leading and best established
producers on the Amiga market; it's capabilities and innovative energies
give you the security of purchasing state-of-the-art and proven technology
for your Amiga's future...