CompuServe Thread

#flickerfixer vs. a2320

35 messages in this thread
#4662From: Andrew J. RichardsonOct 26, 1990 6:34 PM
does anyone know what, if any, advantages the new a2320 video card has over the microway flickerfixer? is there some extra support for the ecs and new graphics modes? i have an opportunity to buy a used flickerfixer and zenith flat screen monitor, so any comments on the monitor would be greatly appreciated, too. —Andrew
#4682From: Ben A LottOct 26, 1990 9:56 PM
The 2320 does scan doubling for lores (200 line) displays so there are no motion artifacts in these modes, unlike the FF. BEN Leigh's Computer's
#4721From: Mike SchillerOct 27, 1990 10:44 AM
Ben: what the heck are motion artifacts? -Mike Schiller In sunny Fort Lauderdale
#4770From: Ben A LottOct 27, 1990 10:23 PM
When high speed animation is happening, there is a ghost left by the moving object. That is an example of motion artifacting. BEN Leigh's Computer's
#4799From: Karl SparklinOct 28, 1990 9:11 AM
Ben, I would have thought that both the 2320 and the FF line-double the 200-line mode, which would mean that they both should have those artifacts. What am I missing? Karl
#4921From: Ben A LottOct 29, 1990 8:50 PM
the FF buffers two screens even on lo-res, that causes the artifacts. The 2320 only buffers 2 screens in interlace, and in 200 line mode jjust repeats the previous line again (so it still is at 60 frames per second). Woala no artifacts in lo-res(200 line mode). BEN Leigh's Computer's
#4812From: Andrew J. RichardsonOct 28, 1990 11:45 AM
Ben, i'm not familiar with motion artifacts in lores, could you explain it? —Andrew
#4922From: Ben A LottOct 29, 1990 8:51 PM
When Hispeed sprites, or anims run in 200 line mode they leave a ghost. BEN Leigh's Computer's ben
#4703From: Don Curtis/SYSOPOct 27, 1990 12:49 AM
AJ, A wider overscan mode, works with the new ESC chipsets, works with both PAL and NTSC machines, costs less. Don
#4813From: Andrew J. RichardsonOct 28, 1990 11:45 AM
Don, when you say it works with the new ecs, what does it do that the ff doesn't, which would make me want this product over the ff? if i use the ff instead, will i be limited in what new graphics modes i can use? —Andrew
#4880From: Don Curtis/SYSOPOct 28, 1990 10:16 PM
AJ, Read message 4534…that will give you a quick overview of the differences. Don
#5493From: Nick MurrayNov 7, 1990 10:44 AM
You cant switch between PAL and NTSC with the FF. Thats important if you like to use any European software (like those neat demos and games). Nick
#4918From: Leslie T. BartiromoOct 29, 1990 8:27 PM
Do you know anything about Flicker Free Video from ICD? I think they are very similar to the A2320.
#4931From: Don Curtis/SYSOPOct 29, 1990 10:49 PM
Leslie, I know nothing at all about it…sorry. Don
#4983From: Wayne ColeOct 31, 1990 12:41 AM
Leslie, I saw FFV at AmiExpo in L.A. It is a little board that is inserted under the Denise chip (i.e. remove the chip, plug the chip into FFV board and plug the board into the Denise socket.) It supports monitors with 9 pin connectors and is supplied with a 15 pin adaptor for VGA monitors. In NTSC it supports 832 X 480 lines and 832 x 568 in PAL. It supposedly presents no conflicts with any Genlock. I saw the display on it. Very nice. I asked if it was ECS compatible and they said yes. wmc
#5012From: Mike SchillerOct 31, 1990 6:47 PM
Wayne: One area of possible contention with FFV is if you plan on using DKB Software's MegAChip 2000 board to give your 2000 2 megs of chip ram. The board sits in the Agnus socket, and sits over the denise socket, so it'd be impossible to use both FFV and MegAChip 2000 in the same machine. I just sold my FF, and ordered a 2320 board from C= and as soon as I get it in, I'll pull the FF and deliver it to it's new owner. I think FFV is also slightly over priced. <IMHO> -Mike Schiller In sunny Fort Lauderdale
#5238From: Wayne ColeNov 3, 1990 11:55 PM
Mike, I think FFV's price was baseed more on the FlickerFixer price than on the engineering costs, parts and potential market (unless it was anticipated to be a market of less than 200 pieces or so…) but when there is only a little ccompetition you only need to beat them a little. Some people probably think it is worth the price to save the video slot. BTW, I keep seeing these messages about the 2320. Is there a file here that describes it? Also, thanks for the info about the FFV/DKB MegaChip physical conflict. Any possible workarounds like stacking sockets? wmc
#5287From: Betty Clay/SYSOPNov 4, 1990 6:49 PM
Wayne, Have you asked Dave Minnich about a description, etc., for the A2320? Since he is Commodore's representative here, he's sure to have the real information. GO CBMSER to find him. Betty
#5289From: ICD, Inc.Nov 4, 1990 7:02 PM
Actually, it is a very expensive board to make. It uses almost all surface mount components, many of which are, unfortunately, difficult to get at this time. Not that we should have a problem getting them; we just won't have much of a choice where to get them.
#5469From: Black Belt SystemsNov 7, 1990 1:10 AM
Having seen it at AmiExpo, I wish to back you up – it *is* a very nice piece of hardware. .Very professional and very neat, in the physical sense of the word. Good work. BBS->Williams.Ben[AA7AS]
#5481From: ICD, Inc.Nov 7, 1990 6:26 AM
Thank _you_. People sometimes don't realize that it would be a lot cheaper for us to make (and sell) if we made it a big card that plugs into the video slot. Doing those tiny, packed, surface mount things isn't easy.
#5544From: Black Belt SystemsNov 8, 1990 2:22 AM
Yeh, I know. :^) We make a PCB layout package, you know. BBS->Williams.Ben[AA7AS]
#5550From: ICD, Inc.Nov 8, 1990 6:24 AM
Oh, that's right, you do. 😉 Not just the board itself, though. If we could use DIPs instead of those little surface mount rascals that would be cheaper, too. Craig
#5322From: Leslie T. BartiromoNov 5, 1990 12:42 PM
I was really wondering how FFV compares to its competition. I have, and still use, ICD products (Atari 8-bit stuff) and I've had little problem with their products (stuff like a couple burned condensers after several years runninng a 24 hour BBS) and NO problem with the company. I trust their stuff but haven't tried any of their Amiga products. Is FFV actually on the market? Excuse the question, but, people are talking about The Toaster like it's been around for years and you still can't buy one!
#5355From: ICD, Inc.Nov 5, 1990 9:20 PM
FFV should be available for sale at the AmiExpo in Koeln this weekend. Craig
#5789From: Wayne ColeNov 11, 1990 12:27 AM
Leslie I believe FFV is available now. wmc
#5886From: ICD, Inc.Nov 11, 1990 10:02 PM
It is shipping in limited quantities now. Lots of backorders. Should take us a few weeks to catch up. Craig
#4992From: ICD, Inc.Oct 31, 1990 6:11 AM
That overscan number is what it is _capable_ of. It is won't produce images bigger than what the Amiga will, which is less. If you have any specific questions, ask away. Or leave me your address in email and I will send out some info. Craig
#5145From: Charles ConlowNov 2, 1990 5:34 PM
Craig: I REPlied before, but I think it got lost. The question was… I have an Advantage 2000 with a Quantum mounted on the card ( it came that way ). I ALSO have an external SCSI drive, but when attached to the pass-through at the end of the card, with the proper cable, the Advantage does not seem to recognize it. Hmmm… do I need to change jumpers or something like that? Weird, but I would appreciate some comments. Charles Conlow 74116,3067
#5148From: ICD, Inc.Nov 2, 1990 6:41 PM
You need to change the SCSI ID of one of the drives. Craig
#5153From: Charles ConlowNov 2, 1990 7:22 PM
Craig… Thanks for your reply and Mail, but… Do you ( or anyone reading this ) have any tips about how to go about this? Data… Advantage 2000 SCSI HOST ADAPTER, QVP 40 mounted on the card. Pass-through for SCSI at the rear. EXTERNAL SCSI Controller/Drive combo ( sold as C Ltd AM-24 ) which is in its own enclosure. What switch r junper should I alter? By the way, "SCST_LISTER" shows that a QVP exists on ALL device units (0 – 6) weird. Charles Conlow 74116,3067
#5194From: ICD, Inc.Nov 3, 1990 9:34 AM
What kind of controller is in the C Ltd box? Craig
#5347From: Daryl AndersonNov 5, 1990 8:22 PM
The Cltd AM-24 drive(s) were mostly Okidata 20MB clones of Seagate 225's with an Adaptec ACB-4000 ST506-SCSI converter. – da
#5346From: Daryl AndersonNov 5, 1990 8:22 PM
Charles I had an AM-24 myself until last week. The SCSI ID is set by the DIP switch(es) on the back of the drive. Most likely yours are all-three set to OFF which means SCSI unit 0 (zero), OFF-OFF-OFF is binary 000 which is (!) zero. If your other drive is set to zero as well (likely) you will want to config the AM-24 as 1 or some other ID. Set the leftmost switch to ON and you're SCSI unit 1 (OFF-OFF-ON is binary 001 which is 1). I am purposefully vague (sorry) about orientation for that "leftmost" (e.g. looking at front or back of the AM-24) 'cuz I forget which it is. If its not UNIT 1 you will have set is as unit 4 (ON-OFF-OFF is binary 100 which is decimal 4)… which should also work. Are you trying to run the Advantage controller AND the CLtd controller ? either one should be able to handle 2 (7 max) daisy-chained SCSI drives and having the two controllers on line could screw things up since the SCSI host(s) sometimes "grab" one of the UNIT ID's for themselves and may also conflict. I ran the Cltd controller, plus AM-24 together with my new Xetec controller OK, but… If my answers are unclear please clarify your complete Hardware config (500,1000 or 2000, etc) and I will try to followup. – da
#5323From: Leslie T. BartiromoNov 5, 1990 12:42 PM
I'm E-mailing my address. I look forward to reading about you Amiga products.