New ppc board by Acube/A-Eon: A1222 "Tabor"

[OlafS3]

Nice board, although I don't like the price. It would be fantastic if it would be between 500 and 600 € instead, then it could be the entry system I suppose many of us are waiting for. Nevertheless a step into the right direction IMHO.

for 500 or 600 EUR you get much better hardware, it is even then vastly overprized. 1.2 Ghz in 2015/2016? It is a option for AmigaOS fans but outside this small circle there will be not much interest.

[OlafS3]

In reality if Hyperion and co cant get AmigaOS 4.x working with an acceptable performance with the majority of existing software do you think that the Tabor will go into production for the AmigaOS 4.x market ?

for the 4.x market not, at least not in big batches. Acube is selling embedded PPC devices so for them it might make sense even when AmigaOS software not runs acceptable.

[OlafS3]

"We sell boards also outside the Amiga market even if Amigans are the most of our customers."
Source: http://www.retroplanet.gr/content/interview-acube-srl-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%BE%CE%B7-acube-srl

do you really think they can earn their living with selling PPC devices to the few AmigaOS fans?

and if true then the processor choice is even more difficult to understand

[OlafS3]

Who has ever claimed that they are making a living from any of this?

From the same interview:
"Doing hardware on the current Amiga market is just impossible."

"The price is very small compared to the low volume of a production batch. We should have sold them at a higher price to get our investment back but we wanted to keep the price as low as possible for all Amigans. We also decided to build them entirely in Italy instead of China to better control their quality and also to give work to European companies."

Does this sound like people who rely on this to make a living or like individuals who work on this as a passion project (like pretty much anybody else in this community)?

so they sell the hardware as hobby? I do not know how is it in Italy but as long you do not have got lots of money by someone else you have to earn it. I assumed Acube is a hardware company earning their money by selling hardware and offering additional services.

[OlafS3]

Comment from Hyperion .

http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=40622&forum=2&start=460&viewmode=flat&order=0#770947

we will see what people report when AmigaOS runs on it

[OlafS3]

one news... despite different rumours AmigaOS is still not running on Tabor

FPU emulation is slow and not tested. They have plans for a better one later.

[OlafS3]

I done some quick browsing and found this news on:

http://www.software4embedded.de/node/9844

Quote:
15.10.2012 | 14:27 Uhr
Freescale Semiconductor introduced  four new devices for their QorIQ T1 and T2 families of 64-bit processor  families. The new processors are the T1040, T1020, T1022, and T2081. The  new Freescale devices are built on Power Architecture technology. All  of the parts are pin-compatible. They are ideal for entry-level to  mid-range networking, printing and security device applications. Samples  of the T1040 device will be available in the third quarter of 2013. The  other T1 and T2 devices will follow soon after.

That  statement was really only annoucement. What really happened is that T  series, T1022 samples were probably available more close to the end of  2013. So far we learned that it takes minimum about 2.5 years to develop  hardware like Tabor, so Tabor was probably one years already in  development when T series could be "considered" for a product.

If  we look what was Freescale CPUs were available as a option 2.5 years  ago, the logical choice is.... suprise.... P1022 ;-) All other P10xx CPU  options doesnt offer anything new. So the first next option would be to  use P2041 which is based on e500mc core with normal FPU (P2040 doesnt  have gigabit ethernet). But.... those are quad core CPUs... not really  low end suitable solution for low-end Tabor. The same story is valid  also for P3041.

These are the prices for P and T processor from the Freescale web page (for 1000 units):

P1022: US$30.13
P2041: US$129.06 (1.2 GHz)
P2041: US$161.89 (1.5 GHz)
P3041: US$137.66 (1.2 GHz)
P3041: US$181.70 (1.5 GHz)
T1022: US$43.07 (1.2 GHz)
T1022: US$51.68 (1.4 GHz)

So  P20xx is too expensive for low-end, T10xx was not available. Who would  really stop one year development because new CPU is around the corner!?  And when you do that, maybe new thing will arrive so you really never  release the product.

Also why integrate 64-bit processor when  there is no 64-bit support in OS, also why integrate quad core processor  when there is no multicore support in OS. There is no space for unsued  things in low-end product.

P1022 is a snapshot of present moment  when we can have Tabor as it is right now. Otherwise we wouldn not have  this board at all. All other options are in future development.

Tabor  is a very-low-end and low-cost AmigaOS4 (I hope also MorphOS) PPC  configuration which is affordable for every Amigan to buy. It is also  very powerfull because its faster that SAM460, dramatically faster if  second core will be soon in use. This very-low-end is recognizable if  you study the board further (only one PCIe slot, mini-ITX format, P1022,  everything else i integrated). So if CPU is different then we would  probably start asking about many other aspects of the board (for  example...why only one PCIe slot...etc.)

At the end this board is low-end with I hope very acceptable price. Its not something in the middle way to X5000 range.

Well all that is only my opinion.....feel free to correct...

------
Domagoj Ozanic (domagoj.ozanic@zg.t-com.hr)
Amiga WARP Organization http://www.amigawarp.org
A1200T Blue Thunder Tower (BTT) - AmigaOS 4.1 FE
BlizzardPPC 200 MHz / BVisionPPC / 256 MB RAM

Dramatically faster SOON with second core in use? :angry:

you have looked in your glass ball or wishful thinking?

[OlafS3]

Hve you seen this :

https://www.facebook.com/domagoj.ozanic.7/videos/490409714498579/

Guy with Tabor running Quake Dark Places 4x same time

Linux...

it does not prove how useable it is when installing AmigaOS

[OlafS3]

I have a feeling the Tabor will be cheap and affordable, especially after I re-listened to Trevor's speech at Amiwest last year. In that speech he said that they've made a big number of boards and that they would be low in price. Trevor then said that with an increase of new users, they would see more software sales. These sales would cover the losses on the boards. So my guess is £299 for the motherboard and £399 for a setup with RAM and GFX-card. Hope I'm right. :cool:

700 Pound are 821 EUR, then add tax and transport costs then price is more than 1000 EUR... cheap is relative

[OlafS3]

You got me totally wrong. I said:

- 1 x motherboard: £299
- Bundle: 1 x motherboard with RAM and gfxboard: £399

ok...

we will see

[OlafS3]

I wonder what would happen if people started cloning the boards. They are selling them at cost, so they shouldn't be upset. As long as users can buy a separate license for amigaos 4 of course.

 Why should anyone clone this board?