#Links
10 messages in this thread
Hey Jim… Thanks. You were right. When I use the normal AGA video
mode, Links works great! Thanks again for the help.
But I was still curious about the 486 video. I was just wondering since
the video for the Mac emulation is a little slow without a video board,
will the 486 be the same way?
I was considering adding a video board to my 4000 to speed up the emulator
video. Which board do you find works best with Emplant?
Thanks.
-=Andrew=-
The MAC's normal video mode is 640×480. VGA is 320×200, so there is less than
1/4 of the data to manipulate, meaning that at very least, the video will be 4
times faster… also, in 320×200 mode there is VERY LITTLE DMA contention,
which is the single most limiting factor of the Amiga's video.
In 16 color (CGA/EGA) mode, the PC's video is in Planar format (like the
Amiga's) so no conversion is necessary… it's fast!
Let me see if I understood that last message there Jim (even thought
I hate to keep you from the 486 development I'm lacking in the
knowledge of video). You are saying that the VGA conversion for the
Emplant will be, at the least, 4 times faster than the Mac conversion
because of the lower resolution, right?
But what's this about DMA? Are you saying that the Mac has more DMA
that the Emplant has to deal with than the VGA will have? And what
about SVGA, will Emplant support that mode? And by the way, what the
hell is DMA… hehehehe.
Thanks for your time again Jim. Are you going to be able to take a
little time off after you get this 486DX out?
Still anxiously awaiting that package with the return address of UU
to arrive at my doorstep.
A 320×200 256 color screen has little DMA (Direct Memory Access) contention. A
640×480 256 color screen has 87% DMA contention.
DMA contention is where the CPU is held off the bus (made in active) while
video data is updated on the screen. This happens 60 times per second. The
result is a loss (which can be severe) in CPU performance.
Yes, SVGA (640×480… just like the MAC display) is supported.
Jim, If I were to buy the Emplant and the 486DX upgrade, would the
only thing I would have to supply is DOS or another OS?
I have a stock 68030/25mhz with MMU and 68882. Is this enough to give
me full 486 speed?
I have the same configuration as you, and had just asked the same
question. I got a "YES". BTW, I called Utilities unlimited today,
they say 486 emulation wont be ready for another month. Now what did
they say a month ago…
Utilities Unlimited is not saying ANYTHING about ANY release dates. If
my people really are telling you 'a month', 'a week', etc. please get
their name so I can fire them….
It would be nice to have SOME idea of a release date Jim… People
seem to be somewhat anxious… I would love to order one, if I at
least knew about when it was coming.
Before you start "fireing" your people <g>, I'd like to throw my two
cents in. I called your order line a couple of days ago and ordered
the 486 emulation. I asked about a release date and was told that:
"There is a lot of pride here in what we do. We want our products to
be as good as they can be. Our tech staff are working very hard so
that you won't have to deal with possible problems down the road." I
was impressed with that response. The lady seemed honest and sincere
in her reply to me. I wanted a FIRM ship date, and though I didn't
get one, I also got the feeling that when I finaly do get the 486 emu
it will be a quality product.
I dont know who said it, nor would I want to get someone fired, but
that is *REALLY* what I heard. Your company obviously is being very
secretive about the 486 module. While I very much would like the 486
emulation right now, I'm not about to purchase something with no ship
date in sight. At least give us an approximation, you can't expect
people to place orders otherwise.