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- Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc
- Path: sparky!uunet!mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx!dmacphee
- From: dmacphee@nyx.cs.du.edu (Don mac phee)
- Subject: Re: The Amiga 1200 Specs - From CBM
- Message-ID: <1992Nov9.035930.24493@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>
- X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
- of Denver for the Denver community. The University has neither
- control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
- Sender: usenet@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu (netnews admin account)
- Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
- References: <1992Nov6.172045.8271@nynexst.com> <1992Nov6.204037.4507@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> <1992Nov8.183905.14173@nynexst.com>
- Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 03:59:30 GMT
- Lines: 93
-
- 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... :)
- --
- Amiga /s/ Donald Mac Phee \\\ agimA Should the message regarding whether
- 2000 /s/ Rpg110@Uriacc.Bitnet \\\ 0002 or not you want to post your rantings
- \Perot dmacphee@Nyx.Cs.Du.Edu \\\/// come AFTER you've written your flame?
- \XR/ Personal_09@Ecl1.Uri.Edu \XX/ 1 in 5 for Perot. Says something?
-