WTB: Cyberstorm PPC

[magnetic]

Iggy

Ok buddy, you should start taking pre orders too

[Jeff]

While I appreciate the "impossible challenge" just as much as the next person let me understand the reasoning. The end result in such a board is what, to run OS4 correct? If so we already have expensive options for that available now. The only other reason I can think of is to run 3.x PPC software. I didn't try any of these apps when I had my CS-PPC and Blizzard-PPC. Is there some killer app worth all this time and effort that won't run on the currently available options?

I really am just curious, not just trying to start something.  It seems like all the work has already been done for some years now.

[Iggy]

Iggy

Ok buddy, you should start taking pre orders too

No, my company actually produced the hardware we offered and we never took advance orders.
Besides, I didn't say I wanted to produce these.

I just want to find out how they were designed.
Difficult, not impossible.

Problem one, though. No new 604e processors. NOS yes. But only the 603e remains in production. Even e300 cored products like the 5200B (used in the Efika) are labeled as "not recommended for new designs".

[HammerD]

We don't need Ralph's help with this.

And I agree that an FPGA 68K core may be an attractive option. As would a different PPC processor (the Phase5 card uses a relatively slow one - a 603e isn't it?)

604e in the Cyberstorm, 603e in the Blizzards.

For a new board:

FPGA for 68K (to boot the system and run OS 3.9)
PPC SoC like the CPU in the SAM 460
RAM on-board
SATA on-board
Video on-board (if you can fit it like Sam 460)
USB and LAN on-board

Basically a computer on a cpu card.

Then i would buy it ;-)

[Iggy]

While I appreciate the "impossible challenge" just as much as the next person let me understand the reasoning. The end result in such a board is what, to run OS4 correct? If so we already have expensive options for that available now. The only other reason I can think of is to run 3.x PPC software. I didn't try any of these apps when I had my CS-PPC and Blizzard-PPC. Is there some killer app worth all this time and effort that won't run on the currently available options?

I really am just curious, not just trying to start something.  It seems like all the work has already been done for some years now.

Thanks for the open question, Jeff. Additional scepticism I don't need right now.
Actually, the only point would be to expand original 3000 and 4000 Amigas.
From a practical viewpoint, this would not even require Phase5 compatibility.
The only advantage to PowerUp compatibility would be the ability to run AOS4.1 and MorphOS 1.45 immediately without new ports.

As a current MorphOS user (and someone with an interest in OS4) I can easily see your point. I've been encouraging legacy users to move to NG platforms for years.
This entire exercise is to intended to be practical. Paying over $1000 for a 200Mhz accelerator for your A3000/4000 isn't practical either.

So I looking at options that would slightly increase performance and at least halve the price. About a 400Mhz PPC and 256MB of RAM.

[Iggy]

604e in the Cyberstorm, 603e in the Blizzards.

For a new board:

FPGA for 68K (to boot the system and run OS 3.9)
PPC SoC like the CPU in the SAM 460
RAM on-board
SATA on-board
Video on-board (if you can fit it like Sam 460)
USB and LAN on-board

Basically a computer on a cpu card.

Then i would buy it ;-)

Thanks for the input HammerD.
I like the idea of an SoC too. I already dug out the specs on the 5200B and will look at more capable chips (the only advantage to the 5200B is that its e300 core is 603e compatible).
I'll talk to a few people about the FPGA. This may be the right direction to pursue (but obtaining a '060 compatible core would be the main problem).

Two parallel avenues to explore now. Phase5 PowerUp compatible (but enhanced) and totally new. Let see what makes sense.

BTW - Looking at the size of the processor card your ideas seem possible. Video might have to be an add on (but then it was on the Cyberstorms as well). With an SoC everything else should fit.

[Jeff]

I like the ideas being discussed in this thread. Projects/Products are sometimes born from threads like this, IE Minimig, ect. It would be great to have a board like NatAMI, Minimig, FPGA Arcade, Jens Clone-A, PC with UAE, or with an 060-PPC option board so such a substantial investment in time and money wasn't relying on such old and dying machines. Don't get me wrong, I love my classic machines - they just aren't getting any newer:)

[Mizar]

No, my company actually produced the hardware we offered and we never took advance orders.
Besides, I didn't say I wanted to produce these.

I just want to find out how they were designed.
Difficult, not impossible.

Wow, I didn't know there were electronic engineers with their own company here!    If you're going to figure how to create a new PPC accelerator for A3000/4000 Amigas, why not produce and sell some?  And how about some for the 1200 also?

[HammerD]

Thanks for the input HammerD.
I like the idea of an SoC too. I already dug out the specs on the 5200B and will look at more capable chips (the only advantage to the 5200B is that its e300 core is 603e compatible).
I'll talk to a few people about the FPGA. This may be the right direction to pursue (but obtaining a '060 compatible core would be the main problem).

Two parallel avenues to explore now. Phase5 PowerUp compatible (but enhanced) and totally new. Let see what makes sense.

BTW - Looking at the size of the processor card your ideas seem possible. Video might have to be an add on (but then it was on the Cyberstorms as well). With an SoC everything else should fit.

If it's phase5 compatible it may work with MorphOS powerUP, WarpOS/PowerUP (68k), and AmigaOS 4.1 Classic...

060 in the FPGA is not really required, you could have a minimig cpu core in there...it will probably run pretty fast anyway with the more modern technology around it.  (unless the cyberstorm emu needs 060? - edit, I don't think so, since some of them shipped with 040's).

[Iggy]

Thanks again for the input today guys. Both from forum members here and elsewhere.
After examining what documentation I could find I've decided that Magnetic (amongst others) has made some good points.

So I'm NOT going to examine any Phase5 hardware to review the design of the CyberstormPPC. Thomas Dellert can keep his outdated designs.But that doesn't mean I have conceded to defeat in this.

More to follow in the next few days. I promise to sum this up better by Friday.

Goodnight
Jim

[magnetic]

Iggy glad you finally saw the light I would hate for you to take on an impossible mission...

many many times have semi serious ppl in the amiga community contempleted a new ppc card. Nobody has done it as its not worth the time and effort by a longshot.

btw why do you have this commdrscot in your sig?

[Franko]

Iggy glad you finally saw the light I would hate for you to take on an impossible mission...

many many times have semi serious ppl in the amiga community contempleted a new ppc card. Nobody has done it as its not worth the time and effort by a longshot.

btw why do you have this commdrscot in your sig?

Because unlike you the man is intelligent & has a sense of humour...

[Karlos]

I would have sold organs (not necessarily my own) for the BlizzardG4 back in the day. If only it had come to pass.

http://www.nutts.demon.co.uk/blizzg3.html

[Franko]

I would have sold organs (not necessarily my own) for the BlizzardG4 back in the day. If only it had come to pass.

I've never really looked properly at the PPC chip on my BlizzardPPC board (603) @ 2240Mhz but I've often wondered if it would be possible to replace the PPC chip itself with a faster one or even a 604, any ideas if that is possible...

[Karlos]

I've never really looked properly at the PPC chip on my BlizzardPPC board (603) @ 2240Mhz but I've often wondered if it would be possible to replace the PPC chip itself with a faster one or even a 604, any ideas if that is possible...

I don't think a 604 is a feasible upgrade due to pin/bus differences but people here have certainly upgraded the onboard 603 for a faster part. I've heard claims that over 300MHz has been achieved. The 750 (G3) *might* be feasible too.

Delshay and Statchu100 would be the people to ask about that.

[guest7146]

I've never really looked properly at the PPC chip on my BlizzardPPC board (603) @ 2240Mhz but I've often wondered if it would be possible to replace the PPC chip itself with a faster one or even a 604, any ideas if that is possible...

You can replace the 603 with a faster version - that's been done before and clock speeds >300MHz have been achieved.

However, unfortunately you can't replace the 603 with a 604.  I looked into this before, and if I remember correctly the reason you couldn't do it was because the 603 has configurable 64/32 bit bus size (and the Blizzard board is designed around a 32-bit bus size) but the 604 is 64-bit bus size only.

AH