#Warp Engine
15 messages in this thread
John,
Might I suggest the LW Textures example with med res low AA as a real
world-like benchmark that all Toaster users can easily relate to and test
their systems against.
wmc – via Autopilot!
The standard LightWave benchmark is the default LightWave Texture Examples
scene, with no AA settings and just Medium Res. An A4000 takes about 2:40
to render it, while a 28mhz 040 with real RAM performance is about 1:40.
These are rough numbers, but the benchmarks will help everyone involved.
Grant Boucher – Amblin Imaging
"It's hard to believe grown-ups do this for a living."
FWIW, I just tried the same scene on the 40MHz 040 from GVP (love that
multitasking! :^), and the rendering time came in at 1:13 for a 40MHz 040.
(Thanks for the numbers, I'd been looking for something to compare it
to.)
Erik Flom
Grant,
To add to the numbers: A2000, GVP GForce '040 33 Mhz, Burst, cache,
Fastrom, moved ssp – TextureExamples no AntiA MedRes = 1:13 (73 secs).
If anyone is interested I can run it on an A2000 GVP Series II '030 33 mhz
Fastrom, burst, cache as well.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
Thanks for the suggestion! After further thought, I may just give you
benchmark tests and leave LightWave testing to someone else.
Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
Boo Hoo, (sniff sniff)… I'm part of the "benchmarks are meaningless"
club. I mean, they are good to measure raw CPU power and can be tuned to
prove what you want. (Like the Mac User PPC benchmark tests show the PPC
blowing the Pentium away, and PC mag shows benchmarks where the Pentium
blows the PPC away.) So I always look for "real world test" that relate
to what I do with a processor. The fastest FPU in the world does little
if you run heavily disk bound tasks. And the reverse goes for "high speed
DMA channels".
I know I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. Its just that
all the Specmark BS means nothing to me I've done so well at ignoring it.
What does mean something to me is "how fast can it render scene x" Scenee
x, of course, being one that resides on my HD :^}
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
It's not that I don't want to do the "real world" tests with Toaster, it's just
that I don't know how to do it! Unfortunately, I am not a "Wave Rider" (i.e.
LightWave User). OK, OK! I am a depraved child! What can I say! ;-}
If you are interested in Scala "real world" tests. That I can do!
Regards,
John Chang aka "Waveless Wave Rider"
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
John,
Its easy, actually. All you do is hit the "3D" button on the switcher,
select "Scene", "Load Scene", select "TextureExamples" then hit the
"Render" button at the bottom left of Layout screen. Wait for it to
render and read the time off the lower right of the screen. Hit escape
(back to Layout screen from render screen) hit "Switcher", then go to the
option page and quit the Toaster.
But, it is unreasonable to expect yo to do it – I hope you didn't think I
was "laying a responsibilty on you". A real world Scala example would do
as well if you can give "before" and "after" warp numbers. I'm not real
familiar with Scala, but you do have some page rendering/transition
rendering actions in there don't you? That is similar enough to be
meaningful to me.
You know, I actually was hoping a while ago that the rumored Ami Laptop
would get off the ground. I thought Scala would be a good tool to work
demos and storyboards with customers and then just come back to the studio
and do the animations, put them into scala for the low-res sign-off review
before the final delivery render.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
The laptop… heck, even the set-top box, will probably need AAA. 3.3V CMOS
and all that stuff will probably make it viable. Couldn't do it with the way
the current Amigas were produced. Right Dale?
Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
Why would you need AAA for a portable or for a set-top box?
The problem with the current chipset is _battery-powered_ portables.
—
Dale L. Larson, Intangible Assets Manufacturing
Dale,
That's what I mean. It would be nice to have a DC powered laptop or notebook.
Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
Hello,
I own a small company that has been/is developing a hack to
allow you to turn your 4000 into a laptop.
We have been waiting for the emergence of a victor in the
battle for commodore to see what their plans were for the
Amiga before going ahead. You may have seen the earlier
thread I posted on the PAWS 3000 / 4000.
If there was enough interest generated I would more than
likely push it out to market. I will repost the specifics
below (prototype).
Also there is another company, I believe in the MidWest
that has several working prototypes on the shelf for an
Amiga Laptop for purchase but I believe they are awaiting
funding or permission to use certain patented items. If
that company is reading this thread please feel free to join
in and give specifics. Its always nice giving PR to each
other in such a niche market as the Amiga :).
Currently the PAWS 3000/4000 has the following specs :
Size : 14" x 14" x 4"
Weight : 10 pds (loaded)
Battery : Currently using Toshiba stock lasting an
Adverage of 1.25 hrs per.
Display : Two types available, however it is strongly
likly that Active Color will NOT be offered
due to cost. Other color options are being
explored.
Cost : Not finalized, but I intend to keep this
product accessable. Meaning profit will be
there but not so much to prevent the common
Amiga video user from getting one.
This kit uses your standard CPU components (Motherboard,
floppy,harddrives and cards). The kit comes with Laptop shell
that has keyboard, Screen, and power supply with one battery.
Trackball options both internal and external are being
explored. Apperance most resembles early laptops. Steel
gray is the current color with a fold in handle.
This product was meant for the 3000 or 4000 professional
who needs their Amiga on-site. Those people typically
don't want to cart around many pieces of hardware. The system
allows complete Toaster operations in the field with only
minimal baggage. There are adaptions to the prototype that
we are trying to provide a small video monitor as well to
replace the bulky 1084.
Please note all specs above are approximations to our prototype
which can change shape until final release.
Thanks
Shawn
Silent Paw Productions
Shawn,
Most interesting! We'll just have to wait and see if the new owners of the
Amiga technology are amenable to licensing.
Regards,
John Chang
Technical Support Manager
Scala, Inc.
Here Here!,
I wish they would just peek out and say "Hello, we are the
new owners and we are dedicated to the future of the Amiga."
Oh I guess they don't have to say that exactly but it would
at least be comforting 🙂
Shawn
Silent Paw Productions
For anyone who has been wondering about the Warp Engine's speed ratings, I
will be uploading a AIBB 6.5 log file for the Warp Engine in the AmigaUser
library.
// John (Speeding on the Information Superhighway)
\X/ Mercury@ins.infonet.net