Efika 5k2

[Rodomoc]

I concur that the Radeon 9250 works with Efika 5200B system. I'll have to check exact manufacturer of my card but I got the AGP version, plugged it into pci-agp adapter supplied with the Efika and had zero problems.
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I have been running Efika/Morph for about 6 months now. Simply experimental so far but Morph a nice little OS. My next move will be to jump to Morph2.3.
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I have yet to register my Morph because I do not want my registration tied to the Efika board. I am holding out for eventual Mac Mini port of Morph and will register OS on the better machine.

[zylesea]

I concur that the Radeon 9250 works with Efika 5200B system. I'll have to check exact manufacturer of my card but I got the AGP version, plugged it into pci-agp adapter supplied with the Efika and had zero problems.
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I have been running Efika/Morph for about 6 months now. Simply experimental so far but Morph a nice little OS. My next move will be to jump to Morph2.3.
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I have yet to register my Morph because I do not want my registration tied to the Efika board. I am holding out for eventual Mac Mini port of Morph and will register OS on the better machine.

You will actually love 2.3. It is very stable now and the speed increased again. Also OWB runs much faster now and frees memory while running. usb works vey well for me, MSDs reach 900kb/s.
But some ppl report from usb probs still.
I like my Efika quite much, but it is also a bit special though.

[bbond007]

I saw this on Vesalia for not a big pile of money. Thought i buy one to test out MorphOS. Is it ok to use MorphOS on this one?

Link to what i thought i should buy http://www.vesalia.de/e_efika%5B4851%5D.htm

I got mine from Directron with the black metal case and the small power supply.

Anyway, I don't know if there is something wrong with mine, but the USB is totally unreliable. The mouse will freeze typically within 30 minutes. If you plug 2 mice in, typically one the unused mouse will work after the primary one freezes. Then it will eventually freeze  up as well. You can hotplug the mice to get it working again, but its not very usable.

The strange thing is media seems reliable if slow.

Next, even if the USB was working perfectly the 1.1 controller speed is really simply too slow...

the 400mhz CPU is fast enough to play most Divx movies at the proper frame-rate with the mplayer port. As long as you don't play from USB media that is.

The 128mb of ram really gives you about 105mb which is enough for most things.

I did upgrade to 2.2 MorphOS and still had the USB issues.

I guess I'll try 2.3, but to be quite honest, Amiga Forever + AmiKit on my Mac mini under Bootcamp is faster, more reliable and can run things requiring Paula/ECS/AGA..

i

[Rodomoc]

You will actually love 2.3. It is very stable now and the speed increased again. Also OWB runs much faster now and frees memory while running. usb works vey well for me, MSDs reach 900kb/s.
But some ppl report from usb probs still.
I like my Efika quite much, but it is also a bit special though.

I'm glad to hear that 2.3 is running very well. I'll have to get it running soon. As far as USB, I have trial and errored and run mouse with Efika USB port, on the hub I run keyboard and plug in thumb drives. For a while I ran a CDRW/DVDRW drive on USB hub. Ran very slowly. So I do not use anymore.
 
I have made a lot of inquiries into Efika design, Freescale 5200B Lite design, and 5200B technical documentation itself. My conclusion is that the 5200B on Efika will recognize 2nd IDE channel just fine. Freescale info indicates that ribbon cables can be used but with length limitation. So basically what I am going to do is convert the 44pin IDE on my Efika to standard 40pin and attempt running hard drive and CD drive. It would be good to get past this limitation. 5200B Lite board had std 40pin header and has no issues.
 
Other than this, my only complaint is no sound. I believe I have latest firmware but no go so this is a bummer.

[yakumo9275]

My conclusion is that the 5200B on Efika will recognize 2nd IDE channel just fine. Freescale info indicates that ribbon cables can be used but with length limitation. So basically what I am going to do is convert the 44pin IDE on my Efika to standard 40pin and attempt running hard drive and CD drive. It would be good to get past this limitation. 5200B Lite board had std 40pin header and has no issues.

good luck with that, you'll need it. do some searching on powerdeveloper forums. there is a reason why the drive plugs directly into the socket without ribbon cable... do not rely on what the freescale pdf's will tell you...

[amigadave]

Sound works fine on Efika with MorphOS2.1 to 2.3.

[gxenakis]

Hello,

Morph OS version 2.6 is out and I am considering getting an Efika since it has such a reasonable price. I 'have read in the forums that Efika can run Morph 2.5 but can it run 2.6? Has anyone tried this ?

One more thing, what I need in order to have Efika up and running:

• Efika
• Graphic Card
• Power Supply
• HD
• USB flash drive
• keyboard + mouse
• morph os key
• optional case

Thank you

[kolla]

Sure, 2.6 supports Efika. But I really thought G4 powermacs were cheaper and easier to find, and certainly much better machines in terms of CPU, RAM etc.

[gxenakis]

I got a minimig (4mb + arm ) and I having so much fun with it. That's why I am considering another small board, and morph os will a be a nice add on

[tone007]

• Efika
• Graphic Card
• Power Supply
• HD
• USB flash drive
• keyboard + mouse
• morph os key
• optional case

Really, that's alot to put together just to be stuck with 128MB of RAM when an old Mac will support gigs of it.  I used my Efika about twice before I got bored with it.

[Debaser]

Hello,

Morph OS version 2.6 is out and I am considering getting an Efika since it has such a reasonable price. I 'have read in the forums that Efika can run Morph 2.5 but can it run 2.6? Has anyone tried this ?

One more thing, what I need in order to have Efika up and running:

Shameless plug for my little site - but no doubt you will get some information. Grabbing the Efikabook from the 'files' section should help as well - furthermore http://www.efika.org is worth a look.

http://www.efikafoundation.com


If you have everything, and all you need is a $99 (USD) Efika board... um... It is a tough call - but I guess it is cheaper. Though good deals can be found for used G4 powermacs and though 2.6 works well with the Efika...I think you get a better experience with a powermac and Morphos.

[Templario]

Very difficult to install the MorphOS version in this motherboard, only via "Internet" or with one special pendrive that the Efika recognizes.

[Fingers]

Sure, 2.6 supports Efika. But I really thought G4 powermacs were cheaper and easier to find, and certainly much better machines in terms of CPU, RAM etc.

Indeed. I'd considered selling my Efika just recently, but now with 2.6 PowerMac support, it's made the Efika worthless! Hahahahaha

PZ.

[Fingers]

Very difficult to install the MorphOS version in this motherboard, only via "Internet" or with one special pendrive that the Efika recognizes.

Not hard at all. Download the file with some other computer & stick it on the USB drive, then install location, choose the USB drive instead of the internet.

PZ.

[gxenakis]

little disappointed by what you are writing. Is it really so unstable ?

[takemehomegrandma]

I got a minimig (4mb + arm ) and I having so much fun with it. That's why I am considering another small board, and morph os will a be a nice add on

A mac mini is almost just as small, and so much more powerful. And while e-macs and powermacs are bigger, they are just as cheap (if not cheaper) than the Efika. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a Mac G4!