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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: SidVicious on March 14, 2005, 10:08:03 PM

Title: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: SidVicious on March 14, 2005, 10:08:03 PM
I'm now using Workbench 3.0. Is it worth it to buy i new ROM and Workbench 3.5 or 3.9. What's the best choise?
I have 50mhz Blizzard card with 68030 CPU,68882 FPU and 32mb EDO RAM and a extern AmiQuest Overdrive HD 4.2gb, everything in my little Amiga 1200.
Will 3.9 and 3.5 go much slower then 3.0? Is it realy needed to use a graphic card? Doez it make a big perforance kick when only using workbench? Right now, i'm mostly using MOD play programs and Deluxe Paint.
And what version of Kickstart is Kickstart ROM v. 39.106? (3.0 or 3.1?)
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: golem on March 14, 2005, 10:17:59 PM
It takes longer to load up and uses up more of your precious chip RAM to display the colour icons but it is truly worth it. You won't recognise your Amiga. I use 3.9 on my 1200 with no gfx card, 32Mb RAM and an 060 and it runs fine. An 030 should be fine as well.
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: TjLaZer on March 14, 2005, 11:46:27 PM
IMHO do not get OS3.5+ unless you have a large HD you want to use.  If you have a Graphics card it is very worth it!
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: swift240 on March 15, 2005, 04:24:37 PM
I use OS3.9 on my 1200 with Mediator and Apollo Turbo 40Mhz with 32 meg ram.  I find it fast as its only an 030.

There is an option in Prefs/WorkBench to go from "Graphics Memory" (chip ram) to "Other Memory" (fast ram)

There is altogether a lot of other stuff that you will find usefull that OS3.9 has got.

You wont regret getting OS3.9, better than OS3.5 by far.


Mike.
 :-)
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: lillPiP on March 15, 2005, 04:34:48 PM
OS3.9 is one of the best software-upgrades you can get for your Amiga! With your specs on your Amiga it will work great! OS3.9 is a must-have if you've got a upgraded A1200 (desktop or tower)!
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: Vincent on March 15, 2005, 04:37:50 PM
OS3.9 works fine on an 030/30 with 16MB ram (expect to have about 12MB free after loading WB - not including Chip tho ;-) ).

It's not too slow, and the ASyncWB tool is the best thing about the upgrade :-D
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: cecilia on March 15, 2005, 06:19:43 PM
When I got OS3.9 on my 2000 it increased the speed and worked better than the 3.1 or whatever i had before. I had no regrets.

i can't understand why anyone would wait!
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: Brian on March 15, 2005, 07:42:40 PM
WB3.9 will be slower than OS3.0 but it's not too bad. I wouldn't recomend it for a 020 user but anything above 030/25 will be fine. Glowicon does eat more graphic/chip mem but it's ok looking in 16/32 colors and you can go for the option of haveing graphic using fastmem to save some precious chipmem if you don't use a graphic card.

Only reason I use OS3.1 on my A1200 is cause I have 3.9 on both my A4000 and I want to have a bit of a varraity... also my A500 and A600 uses WB2.1... hmm... need to get something to run WB1.3 though, even if I don't like it a hole lot.

ROM39.106 is 3.0... But as you have a Blizzard turboboard you can use blizkick to softkick ROM3.1 in your machine if you like.
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: keropi on March 15, 2005, 08:57:36 PM
install 3.9 ... It really worths it!
I used to run it on my 030/28 8MB 1200 (before it went 060 and now ppc) nad it was excellent!
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: SidVicious on March 15, 2005, 08:59:04 PM
How do i softkick 3.1?
I'll go and buy version 3.9 as soon as possible then. Sounds great! Does it work fine if i run it at 64 colors too? ?_?
Is there any good guide on how to build in a A1200 in a tower case?
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: amigakit on March 15, 2005, 09:35:39 PM
Getting Kickstart 3.1 ROM (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=kickstart) is the best bet- not softkicking.

We stock AmigaOS 3.9 CD (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=153) too.

Oh and it works OK in Halfbrite mode too (64 Colors)
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: SidVicious on March 15, 2005, 09:39:18 PM
Where's that shop located? What's the chiping prize for WB3.9 and ROM 3.1.
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: itix on March 15, 2005, 10:52:54 PM
You can get all Workbench add-ons from Aminet. There are some new components too but if you are mostly using mod players and Deluxe Paint there is nothing new to you. Some programs work better with Kickstart 3.1 so upgrading might be useful but not mandatory.

Edit: though, on 3.5/3.9 you have everything on one cd which is quite nice if you must reinstall everything (for whatever reason).
Edit2: WB 3.9 enables new icon formats: newicons, glowicons and png icons (needs additional patch)
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: itix on March 15, 2005, 10:54:34 PM
Quote
But as you have a Blizzard turboboard you can use blizkick to softkick ROM3.1 in your machine if you like.

That would be piracy if you dont own legal ROM.
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: Doobrey on March 15, 2005, 11:38:12 PM
It`d also be a bloody long startup.
 1. Load up as normal, blizkick softkicks 3.1 ..reboot.
 2. Starts up again, 3.9 rom update loads .. reboot.
 3. Finally starts up again, and into OS 3.9
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: Brian on March 16, 2005, 05:53:09 AM
Well... I do own legal roms so I softkick and WinUAE without any bad feelings what so ever. But true... if you do not own the ROM it will be concidered pirating.

I have a question though... all new ROM's that are out there are they legal? I see several that look more like EProms with a printed lable on top. You might just go and spend a bunch of money on something you think is legal but isn't?
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: keropi on March 16, 2005, 06:44:19 AM
heh, talking about long startups... have u used a ppc amiga?
on my system the first boot takes about 25-30 secs because of various reboots that are needed...
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: Doppie1200 on March 16, 2005, 12:00:02 PM
Why did amiga not released a new ROM to go with 3.9? cant be that hard to do.
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: Vincent on March 16, 2005, 01:23:23 PM
Probably because of manufacturing costs
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: SidVicious on March 17, 2005, 05:14:08 PM
Why does there needs to be a new ROM at all? Would be better if it was possible to flash the ROM like the PC bios or something.
Title: Re: Workbench 3.5/3.9. Worth upgrade?
Post by: Vincent on March 17, 2005, 05:32:47 PM
You update the ROM in the first lines of the startup-sequence.  Unfortunately this means the Amiga needs to automatically reboot for the ROM changes to take effect.

Having a brand new ROM installed would save the need for the update and save up to 10 seconds while booting.