CompuServe Thread

John, The Macrosystems Development Warp Engine solves many performance problems found in the A4000. The Warp is a replacement CPU module. Therefore, you can buy a version that has a 28, 33 or 40 MHz 68040 processor and replace the entire '030 module. Your existing 4MB 1×32 72-Pin SIMMs can be moved from the A4000 motherboard to the Warp's four SIMM sockets. Memory is now burstable and local bussed to the CPU, providing zero-wait state performance. Note that 70ns RAM or faster would be needed with the 33 or 40 MHz version of the Warp Engine to attain zero-wait state. You can enable wait state options if you are using slower RAM, however. Another nice feature is that you can mix different 72-Pin SIMMs on the Warp. For example, you can have (3) 4MB 1×32 SIMMs and (1) 16MB 4×32 SIMM installed, thus providing you with 28MB of Fast RAM. The Warp uses the NCR (now AT&T) 53C710 TolerANT SCSI-2 chip, like the one found on the Commodore (now manufactured and marketed by DKB) A4091. Since the SCSI controller is also local bussed to the CPU, you do not have the DMA problems associated with the A4091 and older Buster-9 chip. As you may know, the Buster-9's biggest problem was a defect in handling Zorro-III compatible cards, which the A4091 is. (It should be noted that the A4091 works fine with Buster-11 and Rev 3.1 '040 modules.) The 53C710, in the Warp design (full 32-bit DMA access), can achieve up to 5MB per second in the Asynchronous mode and up to 10MB per second in the fast Synchronous mode. Overall, the 40MHz version of the Warp Engine is 1.6 to 2 times faster (using 60ns RAM) than a stock A4000/040. We have several of the Warp Engines in use at our Scala Studios division and are used in our tradeshow equipment. We have several InfoChannel installations that also use Warp Engines. They have all worked admirably and reliably for almost a year now. If I were to redesign the A4000 motherboard, I would insist on adding the Warp Engine technology. Call your favorite Amiga vendor for availability. Regards, John Chang