#AGA Chipset-Upgrade?
10 messages in this thread
Question… will the AGA chip set be available for 500/2000 owners to
upgrade to use the 256 color workbench and Workbanch 3.0? I am asking
because I am considering the upgrade to the ECS Denise but if there is a
new Denise chipset going to be available at some point down the line as
well as the new WB 3.0, then I'll just wait. I just bought 2.0 a few
months ago so I'm hoping for a new upgrade…
Thanks.
Jonathan…
Not from CBM. There are rumors that _maybe_ a third party board _might_
_someday_ be available to make the chipset available to A3000 or A2000
users… but it would have to be a very expensive proposition.
BTW, I believe that Denise has retired with the new AGA chipset, replaced
by Lisa…but I'm not positive about which of the ladies remain.
I think Agnus and Denise have retired. Alice and Lisa are the new ones.
Paula is still around and being put in new machines.
Thanks.
The new AGA chip set is not plug compatible, and probably can't be
made compatible through daughterboards. I don't believe there will be
versions for the current 500/2000 systems. The AGA's major feature is
that it is 32-bit wide with 32-bit wide CHIP access, which the 500/2000
don't have. The AGA would run at the same speed as the ECS on an Amiga
with 16-bit CHIP RAM.
The Agnus was replaced by an "ALICE".
Denise AND Amber, were replaced by the LISA. LISA, can do the de-lacing,
itself, and doesn't need Amber. I believe CBM calls it scan-doubling, &
screen promotion.
The PAULA, appears the same.
The AGA chips will boot in "ECS" compatible mode, selectable by either
a "pre-boot" menu like KickStart 2.04's, or (I believe) a command or pref
option.
If you want the new screen modes, go ahead and get the ECS Denise. It
will offer most if not all the same modes, but will limit the number of
bitplanes, and colors. You would also need a de-lacer.
Ron.
Ron, You're a gem! I already have Flicker-Free Video 2 on-board.
Question, though… I know in super hi-res mode, it is necesary to turn the
flicker off in order to prevent the "missing pixel syndrome" what can I do
then? I don't want to have to keep switching the cable on the monitor…
Thanks,
Jon
While the SuperHires could be flicker fixed, I don't think any of the
current flickerfixers do. They will loose every other pixel.
I have read that the Flicker-Free Video 2, will pass the Productivity
(VGA) modes for compatiblity, but I don't know about SuperHires.
Since the FFV-2, was updated to handle (or be more compatible) with the
new KS-2.04 screen modes, it should know what to do with a SuperHires
signal. (Either pass it, or convert it.)
I won't "fix" the Super72 mode, that can be generated with KS2.04, with
AmigaDOS 2.1. Most likely it will past it.
Super72 mode is 24-kHz by 72-hz, interlaced 800×600. It is faster than
NTSC/PAL's 15-kHz @50/60-Hz, and flickers less. It shouldn't look too
bad with the right palette. If you have a multiscan monitor that handles
24-kHz.
Ron.
JS> … I know in super hi-res mode, it is necesary to turn the flicker
JS> off in order to prevent the "missing pixel syndrome" what can I do
JS> then? I don't want to have to keep switching the cable on the
JS> monitor…
Well what I've done is install a switch to the jumper on the FFV 2 board,
to toggle it on and off. It should say in the manual what jumper to use.
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Thanks for your assistance!
Jon
I just read a transcript of a recent BIX conference, regarding the A4000,
AmigaDOS 2.1, and AmigaDOS 3.0. With some of the Engineers that develop
the hardware answering the questions. But regarding your question on
whether the AGA chip set will be available for A500/A2000 owners down the
line, the answer is a firm no from the C= developers. I would imagine C=
will be releasing a whole new line of AGA machines, from the low end to
the high end. Hopefully there will be a trade-up program to get everybody
onto the new chip-set. Also regarding your decision whether or not to
upgrade to the current ECS denise chip, I have it installed in my A2000
and I don't find myself using the new modes except occasionally the
Super-Hires interlaced screen, I just usually use a HiRes-interlaced WB,
of course I also have a flicker-fixer installed.
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