X-Surf 3CC Network Card, Clock Ports, USB?

[InTheSand]

Hi,

Has anyone here tried the following combination?
1. Amiga A3000 or A4000
2. X-Surf 3CC network card
3. Subway USB (clockport version)

My question is basically: will the Subway USB work if it's plugged into one of the clockports on the X-Surf network card?

I have an A3000D to which I'd like to add Ethernet and USB. Seeing as Zorro-based USB cards are no longer available and that the X-Surf provides its own clockports, would this be the way to go, or would there be some hardware or software conflict preventing this?

 - Ali

[amiga4001]

I had a x-surf which I used one clockport for a silversurfer that worked allright.
But think you be better of with buying yourself a mediator solution.
The mediator is expensive but the x-surf also and so is the subway usb.
Plus you have the benefits of a cheap graphic card and a very cheap ethernet solution.
And not to mention the spider which speed is actually awesome.

[InTheSand]

Hi,

Thanks for your comments - I've been thinking about a PCI-based busboard of some sort... But I was trying to keep the A3000's appearance "as is" without having to re-case it. Plus, shipping of an Amiga-specific case would cost lots of $$$ to New Zealand!

I already have a CyberVision graphics card, so that wouldn't be too much of an issue, but I am running on a stock 68030 at the moment, so I guess that'd need to be upgraded before potentially getting a PCI busboard.

Is the Prometheus worth looking at? This works out at roughly the same cost with a Spider as the X-Surf plus Subway.

 - Ali

[patrik]

@InTheSand:

You can still buy the USB Zorro2 card Algor PRO from Guru Meditation and the Algor (512kB flash instead of 1MB) from GGS-Data.


/Patrik

[platon42]

> You can still buy the USB Zorro2 card Algor PRO from Guru Meditation and the Algor (512kB flash instead of 1MB) from GGS-Data.

I think I'm starting hallucinating, I was sure it said "(without flash)" before I logged in ;-)

(heh, and after checking the back button, I *am* sure

[platon42]

> My question is basically: will the Subway USB work if it's plugged into one of the clockports on the X-Surf network card?

Yes. (Provided you don't burn the Subway to death by plugging the cable the wrong way. I've seen too many of them die that way and it's not desirable. Double and triple check before connecting!)

> I have an A3000D to which I'd like to add Ethernet and USB. Seeing as Zorro-based USB cards are no longer available

Some dealers (see other posting) still might have some (Algors that is). The Algor can also be fitted with the additional Norway Ethernet module, but this extension is probably a bit rare by now.

[InTheSand]

@Patrik: thanks for the info... The GGS prices almost made me give up on the idea until I realised they were in SEK!  :-D

 - Ali

[patrik]

@platon42:

Aye, definately no hallucinating on your part, I misunderstood the difference between PRO and non-PRO and posted exactly that which I later edited.


/Patrik

[InTheSand]

@Platon42: Thanks for your info too.

The Algor and Norway module would seem the best route, but you're right, the Norway appears to have sold out everywhere.

As long as the X-Surf and Subway work together, this seems an OK way to go as both are widely available.

One other thing, my A3000 also has a Catweasel in it, presumably this won't cause any problems and the Zorro cards will auto-negotiate nicely with each other?!

 - Ali

[amiwalker]

I have both the Subway USB and the CatWeasel-ZorroII S-Class in my A3000D

Both work just fine!!

The Subway is hooked up to the X-SurfII

The Subway USB hardware and software were quite easy to install.

The only problem was to correctly identify which part of the clockport on the X-SurfII was pin "0"

Once installed, all works just fine with no problems!

[InTheSand]

@AmiWalker:
Fantastic! That's what I wanted to hear!  :-)

I guess I'll be placing an order soon then! Any hints on how you identified the X-Surf's clockport's pin zero?

 - Ali

[patrik]

@InTheSand:

Btw, the Algor is most likely faster and definately takes less cpu-cycles per transferred data because of its Zorro2 interfaces versus the clockport interface of the Subway. Plus the USB-stack can be loaded from the flash on the Algor so it is available directly at boot.

The reason for me pointing this out is that the difference in price is not very big.


/Patrik

[InTheSand]

@Patrik: that's a good point...

I've got a Subway on my A1200 already and that's sufficiently fast enough for most of what I do.

However, given I have two spare ZorroIII slots on the A3000, I guess the Zorro solution is the better way to go...

OK, final question: are there any problems using a stock A3000D with all four Zorro slots filled?

If I go the fully Zorro route, I'll have:
1. Cybervision64
2. Catweasel S-class
3. Algor USB
4. X-Surf 3CC

All on the stock 25MHz 68030! I will hopefully be getting an accelerator as soon as I can find one at a reasonable price.

 - Ali

[amiwalker]

Firstly, follow this post for the correct location of pin "1" on the X-SurfII card.

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15823

I have in my A3000D the following Zorro cards working fine:

(listed top to bottom, YES it does matter!)

1. DKB 3128 with 128MB installed
2. Catweasel S-class
3. Spectrum 28/24 GFX card
4. X-SurfII

I also have Warpengine040/40 installed with 64MB ram.

The power supply is just about maxxed out though, especialy with the double sided ram and the DKB3128 card itself.

[amiwalker]

I will most likely be selling my A3000D system (including the Warpengine 040/40) after I receive my A1micro from SoftHut.

I am waiting for the boards to arrive at SoftHut now.

I will be sure to post it here before EBay.