#EMulator for A500
19 messages in this thread
Hi, I've been considering some sort of IBM emulator for my A500. The 500
was purchased Jan. 1 of 1991. I was considering the ATOnce board, but the
local dealer I talked to told me a couple of things which I wasn't too sure
I liked. One was that it would cause problems with the Fat Agnus chip. The
second was it would not run some programs which wrote to screen memory.
now, the real question is I have seen references to a Supra product, which
I will assume is an emulator of some sort, what I'm interested in knowing
is just what kind of emulator is this, and will it fit in a 500? Thanks for
the help,
Randy
Randy,
The SUPRA is designed for the 500, as is the ATonce. ATonce has an adapter
board available for it to put in the 2000. Supra comes with RAM, ATonce
does not, and you will get support from SUPRA. I purchased my ATonce when
they first arrived, and got a beta test version of the 2000 adapter board
from Vortex before they announced they would produce one. I have had no
real serious problems with ATonce except that it will not work with my GVP
68030. ATonce support is poor, but I haven't needed it… yet.
If you have any questions about the limitations or capabilities of the
ATonce, eplex me.
ERIC
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Eric, thanks much for the reply! Now I need to find someone who has the
Supra product, so I can compare the two. Thanks again,
Randy
Randy, keep in mind that the biggest reason I chose the ATonce over
anything else is that is has an 80286 processor on it. The v30 (upgrade of
the v20, which is an NEC 8088 emulating chip) just can't handle the VGA
graphics, isn't as fast, and when you want to run windows, forget it.
Although the 12Mhz 286 in the ATonce may not seem like it is faster, try
running Desqview or Windows and watch the Supra product bomb.
ERIC
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Eric, thanks for the comments. Lots to consider here. :>
Randy pos
The ATonce runs at 7.2 MHZ not 12. And windows DOES run on the V30 (and the
V20 too I've done that on my XT BB) BTW the Supra product supports Mono VGA
just like the At once and the V30 in general is a faster chip than the
80286 and can run alot of the 80286 instructions as well.
BEN:Leigh's Computer's
Eric,
So what do you do, trip the GVP down to 68000 mode to use ATonce?
…Denny Atkin
No. Hardware override it and then install the ATonce.
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I have just purchased an ATonce PC/At Emulator for my Amiga 2000 and have
so far been unable to get the Emulator to work at all. I have a Commodore
2630 Accelarator Borad installed and a GVP 2meg ram/40meg hardcard
installed.
When I double click on the ATonce Icon the system ends up
rebooting or displays a FATAL LOAD ERRRO – 13. I have been unable to get
around this error so if you can be of any help it would be appreciated.
Thanks, AL.
I had the same problem. Play with the memory mode configurations. Once
you get the right setup, the problem will cease. Beware however, that the
memory mode setups given for the 500 are not the same for the 2000. There
are no memory mode configs for the 2000, you must map it out by hand and
figure out which one will work.
ERIC
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Thanks for the reply and will give it a try. I'll let you know how I make
out. Thanks, AJ
Supra now sells the PC Power Board. Theis board now consists of an 11 MHZ
(yes you read that right 11 MHZ) V30 microprocessor and phoenix bios. The
board goes in the trap door slot.
BEN:Leigh's Computer's
Ben, thanks for the info! 11 MHZ is quite good! (To me anyway! :>) Might
you be selling the board, and if so, for how much? How does the unit work
in the A500? Thanks for the info,
Randy
Yes we are selling it (but I'm at home so I don't have the price handy…
about $350). It plugs into the A501 slot underneath the keyboard and acts
like an A501 when not in use.
BEN:Leigh's Computer's
Ben, thanks for the info. If I understand Eric correctly the Supra product
runs as an 8088 system, is that correct?
Randy
As a VERY souped up 8088 on par with (and excells ) the 80286 those apps.
he mentioned should run with no problem (see my reply to his).
BEN:Leigh's Computer's
Ben, thanks.
Randy
Randall,
You should note that while the V30 is a souped up 8088, that's all it is. I
have had trouble running applications under windows that require a 286
while using both a v20 and a v30. If you need a 286 don't settle for less.
ERIC
– via Whap!
Eric, thanks. I do indeed need at least 286 power to run some of the items
I would like to deal with. Guess it's either the ATonce or maybe the Bodega
Bay and some other card.
Randy