EGS Spectrum
5 messages in this thread
Roy,
I'm interested in finding more about the GVP Spectrum/EGS board. I am
trying to decide between that, and a Picasso II. I know the GVP is
newer, and therefore there are no reviews except what I can glean
online. I would like workbench emulation of programs like ADPro,
Final Copy, and SBase Pro 4, and the emulation of the Picasso II was
reviewed positively in Amazing Computing, but the Picasso is a 16 bit
Zorro II (as I understand it). Have you been able to get faster
updates when the GVP is set for Zorro III, or hasn't your setup been
tested enough for you to say. GVP is a good company, and I might lean
in that direction even with less mature software because support
should be strong.
Any feedback you (or anyone else) can give me would be appreciated.
…………. Mark via AP 1.052
Unfortunately since I am not a reviewer but a user, I can not give
you a comparison of different graphics boards. I am also at a loss
to describe how the Spectrum EGS works in Zorro III mode, since it is
very difficult to acquire a revision 11 SuperBuster (the no longer
busted Buster), I am still running in Zorro II mode. The Spectrum is
VERY pretty, but it is something that the user has to get acclimated
to. I still find the 800x600x24 screen too flickery (atleast on my
particular A1950), although by decreasing the screen's dimension a
little helps alot!
A few programs don't take kindly to an EGS workbench clone on my
A3000/3.0 OS (Caligari, CanDo). It's a little disconcerting to find
that the screen shuffling gadget will only shuffle native amiga
screens or EGS screens, but not both (using amiga-m, though will
shuffle thru all screens). Presently my WB screen is configured as
1056×768 with DirOpus and FinalCopy on it (VERY NICE!). ADPro works
on regular amiga screens (but an EGS using update is being planned),
SBase seems to work fine (it opens in a WBClone-like screen). GVP
says that running Zorro III will speed up screen redraws, but I can't
even guess when I'm gonna be able to acquire a SuperBuster chip to
test this.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!
// ** Commodore **
\X/ -<Comment left to the reader's imagination>- -RSL-
Roy,
Thanks for the info. I ordered one for the A3000T that I ordered this
week. I'm a little disappointed that ADPro doesn't presently support it
directly, but a future upgrade is at least good news. When I get the
system, I'll probably have other questions.
I've been following your thread with your questions, as well. Has it been
established with certainty that Buster is the Zorro III culprit?
I know what you mean about being a reviewer. <g> It would be nice to
compare the Spectrum, Picasso II, et al directly. My local dealer is
helpful, but I don't think he can afford demoing 2 or three graphics
boards side by side just so you and I can choose. Hope I guessed well.
…………. Mark via AP 1.052
Mark,
Good luck with your Spectrum board. I'd REALLY like to know how things
work for you (and if you should have any problems, feel free to yell).
I'm sure that as time goes on more and more graphics intensive programs
will be designed to be EGS-aware. With C= dragging their $#*#! on a RTG
standard, EGS should become a standard to be respected.
My Buster condition is still up in the air. GVP has found busted
Busters in all of their U.S. A3000 models, but they describe their Buster
problems as screen flaws, not more subtle, functional problems. I have
decided to upgrade to a revision 11 SuperBuster (the fixed one), but
because of the 4091 debacle, and C= general poor supply inventory, it has
been impossible to obtain a new Buster. Without a new Buster I can't tell
for sure whats a Zorro III/II problem, and what's not. If/when I get a
new Buster, I will report on CIS what I find.
Good luck (to you and us all)!
// ** Commodore **
\X/ -<Comment left to the reader's imagination>- -RSL-
As I understand it, The Picasso-II (not the Picasso) is both Zorro-II and
Zorro-III, and contains a graphics coprocessor (does the GVP board have a
coprocessor?).
The board that has impressed me the most with specs/price is Merlin.
It has expandable VRAM, picture-in-picture, window-in-window,
RGB/Composite/SVideo out, superbitmap scrolling, 50MegaPixel/sec.
blitter, TV-Paint 2.0 (apparently not just the "Jr." version)… plus
realtime animation software and genlock & digitizer options.
The 2MB unit lists at $799. Sounds like a good deal.. I wonder if it
lives up to the promises.
-Chris