Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Palm on November 30, 2008, 10:51:53 AM
-
Are there anyone here who has tried out the SAM440 w/OS4.x ?
Is it any good in practical use ?
How is it to emulate 68k in OS4.x on a SAM440 (with UAE?) and watch demos and play games ? Will it work "properly" (as in "good enough") ?
I really like the benefits of new HW (more stable probably) which is faster and give nice speed enhancements to everyday desktop-amiga usage (browsing internet, playing mods etc, maybe some RTG gaming etc), but losing classic compatibility is a downer.
Also, what is the best option: EFIKA+MorphOS or SAM440+OS4.1 ?
(if you count out the price issue, what is best ?)
Any experiences ?
-
How is it to emulate 68k in OS4.x on a SAM440 (with UAE?) and watch demos and play games ? Will it work "properly" (as in "good enough") ?
UAE is resource hungry and the Sam CPU is weak. Don't expect miracles there. If you want a good UAE experience then you'd better go for a Wintel PC.
I really like the benefits of new HW (more stable probably) which is faster and give nice speed enhancements to everyday desktop-amiga usage (browsing internet, playing mods etc, maybe some RTG gaming etc), but losing classic compatibility is a downer.
Also, what is the best option: EFIKA+MorphOS or SAM440+OS4.1 ?
(if you count out the price issue, what is best ?)
Sam is slightly more powerful than the Efika, and it has much better specs and expansion possibilities. The Efika is more limited but comes at a fraction of Sam's price tag.
Which one is the best of MorphOS and OS4 is heavily debated. I'd go for MorphOS if I were you, and if backwards compatibility is important to you, then MorphOS would be the better choice.
IMHO your *best* option would be to wait for the Mac Mini version of MorphOS and then buy a second hand G4 Mac Mini. Then you will have it all, the most powerful Amiga ever at a *very* nice price!
:-)
-
Yeah, I saw that MOS would run on macmini g4´s. However, I am wondering if this will be released anywhere within my lifetime :) (no, I am not 80). But I do know that after being an amiga enthusiast since 1985, that things thend to drag out in terms of time. 1 month can easily be 5 years without anyone lifting an eyebrow :)
I did see the presentationvideo made, that MOS would run on any of the PPC mac minis (as they are mostly the same inside). That is good news, though. But, how comoatible will it be ? Will it have all the drivers...audio, video, usb, ata etc ?
I would love to get a old G4 mini and try it out. Is it possible to test this ? Getting a used G4 mini would be easy.
If I get one tomorrow, how long should I expect to wait before I can test it ? (beta?)
Espen
-
MOS for Mac Mini isn't ready yet, but I'd say that it doesn't make sense now to buy Efika or Sam. Just wait for the MOS on Mac Mini and then buy it :)
-
I'd go with classic hardware. Excluding a real Amiga, rather use x86_64 SMP or one of those portable ARM gadgets. If I was going to think about PPC, it would have to be like CherryPal (RIP) for around $99 retail.
Dammy
-
Palm wrote:
Yeah, I saw that MOS would run on macmini g4´s. However, I am wondering if this will be released anywhere within my lifetime :) (no, I am not 80). But I do know that after being an amiga enthusiast since 1985, that things thend to drag out in terms of time. 1 month can easily be 5 years without anyone lifting an eyebrow :)
No one knows for sure. The MorphOS team isn't known for practicing good communication (or any communication whatsoever), so all you can do is guess based on what you see on shows, etc.
I did see the presentationvideo made, that MOS would run on any of the PPC mac minis (as they are mostly the same inside). That is good news, though. But, how comoatible will it be ? Will it have all the drivers...audio, video, usb, ata etc ?
I think it's some unfinished drivers that's holding back the release at this point. Video shouldn't be any problem though, the Radeon support is there since ages.
I would love to get a old G4 mini and try it out. Is it possible to test this ?
No, not until it's released.
It will be worth waiting for though IMHO, it will be the best solution ever! It was said that under some circumstances it will be slightly below 2x the speed of the Pegasos2 G4...
:-)
-
Painkiller wrote:
MOS for Mac Mini isn't ready yet, but I'd say that it doesn't make sense now to buy Efika or Sam. Just wait for the MOS on Mac Mini and then buy it :)
Yeah, that sounds like the best thing to do...
-
I have a G4 MacMini that is in stand-by mode for MOS. :-)
I originally bought it as I wanted to start using Mac OSX somehow, yet not pay thousands of dollars to be able do so. :-)
Leopard runs reasonably well on my G4 1.5Ghz MacMini with 1GB or ram, so I would assume that MOS will fly, once released that is. I also upgraded the original CDRW drive with a "Superdrive" (e.g. a proper DVD-RW burner with +-DL support) and I replaced the internal 2.5" 80GB hard drive with a 160GB 5400rpm one. Since this is one of the last PPC Minis released, the on-board Radeon 9200 is also a 64MB vram model (vs the standard 32MB edition).
-
I was going to start a thread just like this one because I am in exactly the same situation....
1. Classic - I dont think going for classic is a good idea. Hardware is old, expensive and can be very flakey. As for gaming of amiga classic games, I am waiting for clone-a.
2. Morphos: Somehow I dont 'feel' this to be a proper amiga os, OS4 is more - obviously this is subject to opinions and very debatable, but this thread is not about which is what.
3. Efika is cheap but unfortunately the case form is weird and I dont feel like doing any DIY.
4. Sam440 is very nice, a bit more powerful than Efika and much more customisable. The form factor is a standard one. Unfortunately the price is waaaaay over the top and certainly not powerful.
I am getting a headache :( Help!
-
@Palm,
The MorphOS team has said not to expect MorhpOS to be released for the MacMini anytime soon, which in normal Amiga terms may mean 6 months to 2 years.
If you want something now, you must decide what is most important to you, 1. Backward compatibility, 2. Money, 3. Newest hardware for AmigaOS4.1?
From Everblue's post in this thread, it seems like you have already decided that for you the SAM440ep would be best, so save up a ton of money and get one.
From your original post, if money is your consideration, the EFIKA is the current hands down winner for hardware to run a next-gen Amiga-Like OS.
If you still want to play old Amiga games that hit the custom chips, you should get a Classic, or use WinUAE on your PC.
-
I pretty much agree with the above two posts but this is also a good point to mention Natami. The project seems to be moving along well and for me the Natami is a hands down winner for classic software. Providing of course that it makes it to market at the right price. :-)
-
Just gotta say thank you to all who replied to my original post. It is good to see that I am not the only one who has problems making up my mind.
For me, I am dragged between sticking to my old classic and being a good deciple :) or moving on to newer hw. It is easy to be stuck in the past, but i must admit that the feeling of REAL amiga HW makes me feel good....real good. But, using it makes me feel less good as my demands to speed and functionality has increased during the past decade or so after using OSX and "the-os-we-don't-speak-of" ;-)
For me, it is important to have a platform that has a decent networking functionality and has support for a good browser. Then I need the speed to be able to multitask. I also would like good IO functions as USB and stuff. Most of this IS possible on classic HW even on plain 40Mhz 040, i know, but I am not too happy with the fact that I am stuck on OS3.9 :-( Goin to OS4.1 cost me a bunch if I want to get new HW -- so I am now at the crossroad and trying to decide for:
1. SAM440 + Amiga OS4.x
2. EFIKA + MOS
3. PEG2 + MOS
4. ClassicHW with PPC + Amiga OS4.x
5. Mac Mini G4 + MOS
I must say that it is tempting to buy SAM, but it cost alot.
EFIKA for me is not an option. Too funky formfactor, and worst performance than SAM.
Peg2 ...well...the card has been around for a while, so I don't want it :-) ..call me crazy, but I don't want it :)
Classic is ....well...classic.....expensive...flaky...yet cool.
I am most exited over MOS+MAC because
a) Small formfactor. Already inside a case and looks PRETTY!
b) cheap to get them used (halv the price of a SAM board).
I would like to start a party, called "The Leaky MOS - party" which goal is to try to get a leaked MOS4MAC ;-)
Come join :-))))
//Espen
-
Go the SAM! From what i hear, its everything that you wanted an amiga to be.
-
Yeah, I would very much like to. Even though the cost definitely digs a big hole in the pocket, I would get it ASAP.... IF, I could. But it is not to be found. Waiting for the next batch to arrive, but as in most cases, promises of new batches in dec 2008 is probably not true. Delays is something we all know is commin in the amiga community, so even though acube claims dec2008 to be the date, I must admit that I do not belie it :-)
So a macminiG4 version of MOS is something I would go for. unless I find 500 euros in a pocket that I had forgotten about :)
OS4 is defintely MUCH cooler than MOS -- maybe not technically, but it is Amiga. And I would very much prefer AOS before MOS -- just because it is exactly that, Amiga :)
I am loyal to the brand, even though MOS might be better or more compatible or whatever.
If someone can sell me a SAM440, please contact me PM and I can PayPal the cash.
//Espen
-
Have you seen and used an EFIKA?
If not, you should.
As for the form factor, mine came with a perfectly nice case, though it is not fancy. I like it because it is smaller than an external 5.25" CD-ROM, runs faster than a CyberStorm 233 PPC Classic Amiga, and only uses a tiny amount of electricity even with the 128mb Radeon 9250 graphics card.
The performance is very close to that of the SAM440ep, but it won't run AmigaOS4.1 if that is what floats your boat.
It fits in the "Palm" of my hand (pun intended).
-
DUDE...not you got me all unsecure again :-)))
Ok, I will look into efika again, then I can live with that for a while before MOS for minis come out, or SAM comes out in a new and/or cheaper version :-)
Ok. Google efika...here we go :)
BTW: Is the EFIKA OPEN CLIENT just a cased EFIKA 5200B mobo ?
ALSO: Is the Peg mobos "dead" as in totally discontinued ? which means EFIKA is the "new" mobo in the range, taking over for the peg2 ? (cheaper, yet less specced) ??
Espen
-
So a macminiG4 version of MOS is something I would go for. unless I find 500 euros in a pocket that I had forgotten about :)
That's the best option IMHO. But if you want to get started now but feel that the Efika is too underpowered, you could always look for a second hand Pegasos 2 G4. :-)
OS4 is defintely MUCH cooler than MOS
Excuse me, but I beg to differ! ;-)
With a few exceptions, I think it's safe to say that MorphOS is the first hand choice for anyone who really experienced it. And if Amiga compatibility is important to you, then it's the best option for that reason as well.
-- maybe not technically, but it is Amiga.
So is MorphOS! :-)
And I would very much prefer AOS before MOS -- just because it is exactly that, Amiga :)
I am loyal to the brand, even though MOS might be better or more compatible or whatever.
Well, whatever floats your boat. But what if Amiga Inc (the legal owner of the Amiga IP) succeeds in their efforts to remove the Amiga brand from OS4? Then what?
:crazy:
-
BTW: Is the EFIKA OPEN CLIENT just a cased EFIKA 5200B mobo ?
Yes, it's a complete system (case, motherboard, HDD and GFX card).
Also look here:
http://www.directron.com/efika.html
There you will find the Efika motherboard for $99. Especially good if you already have suitable components lying around and don't mind providing a case yourself. Or you could go for the motherboard/case combo, and pick a HDD and GFX card of your choice before checking out...
ALSO: Is the Peg mobos "dead" as in totally discontinued ?
Yes, but it's "alive" as in currently the fastest, working Amiga solution out there, that you could still get second hand.
which means EFIKA is the "new" mobo in the range, taking over for the peg2 ? (cheaper, yet less specced) ??
The Efika isn't comparable to the Pegasos 2. Not in any way. If you want real power and expandability then there currently is *no* option like the Pegasos 2 G4.
The Mac Mini will beat it though, but it's not here now...
-
For me it's a bit of a no-brainer - though admittedly I've never used MorphOS (not through choice - my Prometheus isn't supported so I can't run it).
From what I've heard MorphOS is pretty good - but flawed - with the EFIKA hardware, which is intrisically underpowered. And like it or not, it's not an Amiga, it's as much Amiga as a Linux box running Wine is running Windows.
Of course, I am biased - I run AOS 4.0 on my A4K and it runs very very nicely. I also run AOS 4.1 on my A1XEG4 and it absolutely flies. Hyperion have done an incredibly good job with the OS IMHO - it's very fast, very stable, and the improvements under the hood are very important to a modern, serious OS.
But at the end of the day, there's one reason more than any other to buy a SAM 440 with AmigaOS 4.1 - you can get it. You can wait as long as you like for this or that OS running on whatever hardware, but until it's available now you're not supporting anyone by waiting, and if there's anything the Amiga débacle has told us it's that waiting is probably a Bad Idea(tm). Ask anyone who was told new Amiga hardware was available Real Soon Now when the initial run of AOS 4 machines was sold out.
As I said, I've not used MorphOS. But I can say you won't be disappointed with AOS 4.1 on a SAM 440ep - and yes, it's expensive, but since when has the Amiga been a cheap hobby? And anyway - it's still a lot cheaper than the A500 was when it came out. :)
-
Hello. yeah, I for sure am biased too when i comes to using the AOS. And you are correct, the SAM *IS* available (althought sold out...) and to be totally honest, paying 500 euros TODAY to get a running AOS4.x system, is better than waiting for a OS that is not yet possible to buy for the macmini :)
Do you know if the dec2008 date at acube is to be trusted, or have they been known for delays in the past ?
SAM440 would make a nice xmas gift for myself :)
Espen
-
/
-
@Palm
4. ClassicHW with PPC + Amiga OS4.x
MorphOS also runs on PowerUP Amigas and is free. But I would still agree that old Amigas are not good option. They are flakey, expensive and underpowered.
-
I this case (http://cgi.ebay.de/JCP-Mini-ITX-Gehaeuse-250W-Netzteil-schwarz-silber_W0QQitemZ380085038159QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Elektronik_Computer_Geh%C3%A4use?hash=item380085038159&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1239|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318) good for Sam440?
Thanks!
-
@ Palm
I suspect MorphOS for the Mac Mini comes around Easter 2009.
There will be another release (V2.2) probably still this year, but it'll be exclusively for for Pegasos & Efika.
Frank Mariak (core team member) confirmed in early autumn that the release for Mac Mini will come as soon as possible (audio driver and network driver is still missing).
I'd gor for that, unless you have some funds available to spend for fun projects like the Efika (and I *have* fun with mine) or Sam (which has a quite better performance than the Efika but requires some *serious* funds). Alternatively you may go for a used Pegasos, you have to keep your eyes open, but they are offered from time to time for reasonable prices (less than a Sam and much more powerful).
-
The $99 efika ,some spare bits ,and the demo version of morphOS is a way to get something closer modern Amiga inexpensively.
Just hooked up efika here with ps from old free tower,former laptop drive,usb mouse and keyboard,and lcd monitor.
Spring is months away.
:roll:
-
I am afraid a $99 deal on the efika ended in 2007 :-)
Now it costs lik 375 or something (with case i believe).
A $99 efika would be awesome, as this is SO cheap, that I would buy it even if it is not ultracool (hardware-wise).
Espen
-
Now, after all this talk. I am again in total dispair :)
1. Mac Mini w/MOS: cool, but unavailable at the moment.
2. Efika + MOS: Not quite powerful enough, imho.
3. Peg2 + MOS: "old" HW ....naaaahhh..
4. SAM440+AOS4: Available, yet indeed expensive.
I am again back in the thinkingbox, but I must say SAM is on my mind alot :)
Let's have a poll. Which one would YOU go for ?
1,2,3 or 4 ?
Espen
-
Palm wrote:
I am afraid a $99 deal on the efika ended in 2007 :-)
Now it costs lik 375 or something (with case i believe).
A $99 efika would be awesome, as this is SO cheap, that I would buy it even if it is not ultracool (hardware-wise).
How so?
Just the mobo and agp-riser:
http://www.directron.com/efika.html 99$
With case and PSU:
http://www.directron.com/efikakit1.html 175$
Tough I still would wait for Mac Mini port :) I did have an idea of a solar powered efika system, but burried it for now. They do sell pretty cheap solar panels at www.dealextreme.com
BTW PEG2 + MOS would be a lot better system than SAM440
-
Palm wrote:
I am afraid a $99 deal on the efika ended in 2007 :-)
Now it costs lik 375 or something (with case i believe).
A $99 efika would be awesome, as this is SO cheap, that I would buy it even if it is not ultracool (hardware-wise).
It's still there alright, $99 Efika (http://www.directron.com/efika.html), in stock = YES. If you live outside USA you will have to contact them directly via mail instead of using the webshop in order to make special arrangements for payment and shipping.
-
1. Mac Mini w/MOS: cool, but unavailable at the moment.
Nothing in the Amiga NG scene will (ever?) beat this though, so I think it's worth waiting for. :-)
2. Efika + MOS: Not quite powerful enough, imho.
Available, about equally powerful as the Sam but much less expandable.
3. Peg2 + MOS: "old" HW ....naaaahhh..
Pegasos2 G4 is the fastest Amiga solution available *today*, although only by second hand. Powerful, good quality and good price on many of them.
Let's have a poll. Which one would YOU go for ?
1,2,3 or 4 ?
I would go for (in order):
If you want power and don't mind waiting: 1, 3, 2
If you want it cheap and have it now: 3, 2, 1
Personally I don't consider the Sam an option. If it had a 7447A CPU or 8640 SoC I would buy it at that price, but not with this class of CPU.
-
Everblue wrote:
I this case (http://cgi.ebay.de/JCP-Mini-ITX-Gehaeuse-250W-Netzteil-schwarz-silber_W0QQitemZ380085038159QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Elektronik_Computer_Geh%C3%A4use?hash=item380085038159&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1239|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318) good for Sam440?
Thanks!
It's a Mini-ITX case, so it should be fine.
Hans
-
On acube it is definitely $99, but thanks for the tip on the other webpage. I will order one from there definitely for the cheap $99 (exchangerate from USD->NOK is dead-cheap these days).
I think I will go for a EFIKA solution, and wait for
a) SAM to be "better"/faster / cheaper
and
b) MacMIni port to come out :-)
I still ahte NOT to be able to run AOS, but I do know that MOS will give me more or less the same satisfaction. I just feel ashamed to to use AOS ... hehe. Almost like i am unfaithful by using MOS and enjoying it :-)
Espen
-
I think I wi ll go against all common sense and get a SAM :-D
-
I think I wi ll go against all common sense and get a SAM :-D
-
@Everblue
You don't need that big a power supply.
Less than half that power is needed.
I have yet to hear from anyone who has not been happy with their purchase of Sam and 4.1.
I'm sure you will love it. :-D
-
I plan to order the Efika now, as it is dead-cheap. I will get a kolleague in the US office to receive it, then he might be able to send it to my home country. That probably saves me some cash :-) He can then send it as a "gift" and I don't have to pay tax/toll.
I also ordered a pico psu 60W. I guess 60W will be more than enough, as it seems that efika w/hdd + gfxcard never even exceeds 10W consumption.
I will SO have a SAM someday too, but at the moment I am going for efika because it is cheap, available and the DIY casing is cool :-)
-
60W is fine.
You will *love* MorphOS! :-)
-
Hi,
What you go for all depends what you want from an Amiga-like machine. I used to have an A1200 tower with BlizzardPPC & Blizzardvision etc. a few years back but I found it too unreliable to use as a main machine so I broke it up and sold it off. I currently own both a SAM and an Efika. The SAM has become my main computer, so much so that I'm getting rid of my Athlon64 tower pc and replacing it with an Asus Eee Box. I still need a pc around for a few things but I don't want it taking up a load of space. I like playing with the Efika and Morphos and I will register it in the new year. But as a package it doesn't cut it as a main computer. If you got a Peg with Morphos then sure that could be a main machine or the Macmini but not the Efika, it is too limited. Macmini does sound good, keeping half an eye out for one myself!
The SAM of course is a lot of money but I'm fine with that because I'm using it more than I would a PC because Amiga stuff is a hobby. If you think you are still going to use a PC/Mac as a main computer I would get the Efika because of the price but if you want a main machine buy the SAM or wait for Macmini Morphos.
Just my thoughts.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
This maybe a stupid question, but can you watch a dvd on SAM?
-
Now, if the guys at the Directron can ever answer my request on sending me a board, I would love to buy it :)
Getting one over to norway isn't that easy, it seems, because they don't send abroad unless you manually wire transfer cash to them. Plus they charge alot to ship it. And when it comes to norway, I have to pay tax for it...that sucks. it is gonna cost me a fortune :-)
Are there any friendly enthusiast in the usa who can help me out and buy one, and mail it to me labeled as "gift" in the customspaper so that I can get it over here easy and without the gigantic taxes ? Of course, I pay the cost of the board+shipping etc.
Or maybe trade with some of my Amiga HW which I am about to sell ? here is a list. I plan to put it all to ebay as soon as i make this list complete... I have lots more at home which I wanna add. here is a preview:
cD32 SETUP:
-----------
1 x cd32 FMV Module http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=488
2 x cd32 http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=32
(no PSU's, so I do not know their state. They look nice, though)
2 x unused cd32 Competition Pro Controllers
A4000 SETUP:
------------
1 x A4000 32MB kick 3.1 http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=30
1 x A4000 Orig kbd without any bad yellowing
1 x new style amiga mouse
1 x Elbox tower http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1326
1 x Mediator board: http://www.vesalia.de/e_mediator4000d.htm
(needs mediator enabler to use the pci slots. Zorro slots work natively)
1 x Lyra PS2 KBD Adapter
1 x Mroocheck PS2 Mouse Adapter
1 x WarpEngine 040-40: http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=257
(card has XC68040RC40M CPU onboard on socket + some 2 x SIMM memory)
1 x CV643D-Scandoubler: http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=447
(Phase5 version)
1 x AD516 Sunrize R2.1 http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1292
1 x Algor USB: http://www.e3b.de/usb/main_algor_e.html
1 x Algor Norwaymodule: http://www.vesalia.de/e_norway.htm
(10mbit network module addon card for Algor)
1 x VLAB 1.3: http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=301
1 x Apollo 4060 4060. http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=217
(card does not boot. Seems like MACH is 66Mhz (written 66 on mach). Xtal is 66Mhz)
(card has XC68060RC50A CPU onboard on socket)
A1200 SETUP:
------------
1 x a1200 w/kick3.1 plain + internal floppy intact.
1 x internal (yes) SlimLine CD drive mounted inside.
1 x Dataflyer SCSI+: http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1176
1 x surf squirrel: http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1202
1 x pcmcia nic a1200
1 x gvp a1230 030 40MHZ: http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=131
DIV:
----
1 x Internal Zipdrive in A4000 tower
1 x Internal Travan SCSI Stramer in A4000 tower
1 x original OS3.9 CD
1 x External Amiga floppy (think it's a 1,76 Drive. Blue ejectbutton i think)
1 x Rocgen Genlock: http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=436
1 x Alcotini Stereo Sampler for parallell port. Insanely good quality!
I prefer to sell as much as possible intact. If someone wanna buy before I put on ebay and give me a nice price, I will happily sell.
My goal is to finance EFIKA motherboard+case and a MiniMig with the cash ;-)
-
Everblue wrote:
This maybe a stupid question, but can you watch a dvd on SAM?
Yes you can, assuming you install a dvd drive :-) . DvPlayer is included with os4.1 although it doesn't seem to support dvd menus. I've been using Mplayer to play avi files but I haven't tried playing a dvd with it.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
Palm wrote:
1. Mac Mini w/MOS: cool, but unavailable at the moment.
2. Efika + MOS: Not quite powerful enough, imho.
3. Peg2 + MOS: "old" HW ....naaaahhh..
4. SAM440+AOS4: Available, yet indeed expensive.
Let's have a poll. Which one would YOU go for ?
1,2,3 or 4 ?
Espen
Having 2, 3, and 4 (and a g4 macmini that's currently my itunes server) I would say that the Peg2 + Morphos 2.1 is still my favourite.
Gaz
-
Ruud wrote:
Everblue wrote:
This maybe a stupid question, but can you watch a dvd on SAM?
Yes you can, assuming you install a dvd drive :-)
And that is in full screen with no frame skipping of course? (Just to be sure about the details... ;-))
-
Before buying a Sam, I'd wait for the Sam flex version to come out as it is supposedly cheaper and has 3 PCI slots.
-
takemehomegrandma wrote:
And that is in full screen with no frame skipping of course? (Just to be sure about the details... ;-))
Now that is a good point. I must admit I haven't tried much with playing dvd's, it's not what I bought the SAM for :-) and I have dvd players coming out of my ears (a quick count reveals 8 :crazy: ). I will do some tests and report results.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
gazgod wrote:
Having 2, 3, and 4 (and a g4 macmini that's currently my itunes server) I would say that the Peg2 + Morphos 2.1 is still my favourite.
Gaz
Do you prefer the Peg over SAM because of performance or because it runs Morphos?
Just curious.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
@Ruud,
what do you find so limiting about the EFIKA? I know that it has near zero expandability and that it is not exactly a powerhouse, but what can you do on your SAM440ep that you can't do on your EFIKA?
I am just curious, as there doesn't seem to be any non-biased reviews comparing the two machines out there. It you could provide one it would be useful to a lot of potential buyers.
I know it is hard not to be biased, one way or the other, when it comes to AmigaOS4.x vs MorphOS2.x, but if you can try to do so and give us a list of differences and things you do on your SAM440ep that you feel or know you cannot do on your EFIKA, I would like to see it.
There may be some MorphOS experts that will see your post that can tell you how to do some things with the EFIKA that you did not know, which will be helpful to me and other newbies to MorphOS.
-
@amigadave
Yes it's difficult not to be biased. I have to be honest and say that I don't yet know Morphos well enough to make a fair comparison of it to AOS4.1. At the moment AOS4.1 feels closer to the Amiga experience that I am familiar with but that is not nessesarily a good thing. It may just prove a lot of peoples point that Morphos has evolved further. For myself the SAM offers a more rounded hw setup compared to the Efika. On my main computer I want a dvd drive/burner so that I can rip CD's to mp3 and burn discs. The Efika's options are some what limited in this area. The SAM's SATA gives me more hard drive options than the Efika. The standard formfactor of the SAM means it's easy to change the case for a bigger/smaller just plain different one if I feel the need. My SAM still has its PCI slot free, the Efika on the other hand is using its one for a video card. And lastly the Efika is too light on memory for a main machine.
Don't get me wrong the Efika is a nice little machine and I wouldn't part with it (I just turned down an offer) but it's the hardware I find more limited than SAM NOT Morphos. For a lot of people the Efika will meet their needs perfectly just not mine, and I certainly recommend it to anyone who wants a more cost effective next gen Amiga to go along side another machine.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
Has anyone used one of the Iomega or similar USB CD/DVD drives on efika?
-
recidivist wrote:
Has anyone used one of the Iomega or similar USB CD/DVD drives on efika?
I'm hopefully going to be able to try one as there's an Iomega dvd burner at my girlfriends work (i'll just borrow it, for a while...). I'm not expecting great performance though. To be fair the performance on the SAM (running os4.1) will be poor as well due to the lack of usb2 drivers but you're not forced to go the usb route.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
Ruud wrote:
Do you prefer the Peg over SAM because of performance or because it runs Morphos?
Just curious.
Cheers,
Rudi.
Manly because it has a 1 gig g4, a gig of ram and pci slots so I can have USB2 that works (unlike the Sam).
Gaz
-
amigadave wrote:
@Ruud,
what do you find so limiting about the EFIKA? I know that it has near zero expandability and that it is not exactly a powerhouse, but what can you do on your SAM440ep that you can't do on your EFIKA?
Well, the Sam does have the interfaces you'd expect from a desktop machine. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the CPU performance you'd expect, and AFAIK all external controllers (including the GFX) shares the same PCI bus/bandwidth. So you could connect more gizmo's to the Sam than the Efika, but after that you will sit with about the same low computing performance.
-
takemehomegrandma wrote:
Well, the Sam does have the interfaces you'd expect from a desktop machine. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the CPU performance you'd expect, and AFAIK all external controllers (including the GFX) shares the same PCI bus/bandwidth. So you could connect more gizmo's to the Sam than the Efika, but after that you will sit with about the same low computing performance.
I agree with you. The Sam is short on cpu performance, ram and video ram (unless you use the pci slot). A bit like my A1200 when I got that! Maybe that's why I like it :lol:
I would prefer something approaching the spec of my Asus Eee Box for a small form factor AOS4.1/Morphos2.1 machine but that doesn't yet exist so I accept that and use/enjoy what I have.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
gazgod wrote:
Ruud wrote:
Do you prefer the Peg over SAM because of performance or because it runs Morphos?
Just curious.
Cheers,
Rudi.
Manly because it has a 1 gig g4, a gig of ram and pci slots so I can have USB2 that works (unlike the Sam).
Gaz
The SAM motherboard has USB2 ports so you don't need a PCI card for USB 2.0. The problem is that Amiga OS 4.1 currently doesn't have the EHCI drivers required to use USB 2.0. This will be solved in due course. Having a G4 is nice though.
Hans
-
Ruud wrote:
I agree with you. The Sam is short on cpu performance, ram and video ram (unless you use the pci slot).
Well, it wasn't designed to be a desktop computer, but for industrial customers AFAIK.
I would prefer something approaching the spec of my Asus Eee Box for a small form factor AOS4.1/Morphos2.1 machine but that doesn't yet exist so I accept that and use/enjoy what I have.
I would prefer a 8640 (http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=MPC8640) (the single core version) + SB600 (http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/DownloadableAssets/42656B_M690T_Prod_Brf.pdf) combo (if it can be done). There has been discussions about such configurations over at powerdeveloper.org. You would get:
1x (or 2x) e600 (G4) cores with Altivec @ 1250MHz (and 1MB L2 cache per core)
1x PCI-Express 16x slot for Graphic Cards (8 lanes connected)
0-6 PCI 2.3 slots or on board chips (depending on the board design)
4x Gigabit Ethernet
10x USB 2.0
PATA (2 devices)
4x SATA 2.0
The standard Serial/Parallel/Floppy/PS2 interfaces (if you want them)
AC97 Audio
This would essentially be a 2-chip computer, and I'm sure it could be made quite cheap.
I'd like to see A-cube making a board like this. But maybe this isn't what the industrial customers wants?
-
takemehomegrandma wrote:
Well, it wasn't designed to be a desktop computer, but for industrial customers AFAIK.
I'm not sure many industrial customers would pay that kind of money for a board with Sam's specs. I wonder if the whole industrial angle was a back up plan if the AOS4.1 deal didn't happen or maybe it was the other way around?
I would prefer a 8640 (http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=MPC8640) (the single core version) + SB600 (http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/DownloadableAssets/42656B_M690T_Prod_Brf.pdf) combo (if it can be done). SNIP
This would essentially be a 2-chip computer, and I'm sure it could be made quite cheap.
Yeah that sounds more like it. But what are the chances? The flex version of Sam seems to be next and it offers nothing over the current model performance wise.
Cheers,
Rudi.
-
recidivist wrote:
Has anyone used one of the Iomega or similar USB CD/DVD drives on efika?
Yes, I have a USB DVD burner connected to my EFIKA, but of course the 1.1USB interface can't cope with DVD burning and might even have trouble burning to a CD. I have not tried yet.
I have only used it to load programs so far.
-
Ruud wrote:
takemehomegrandma wrote:
Well, it wasn't designed to be a desktop computer, but for industrial customers AFAIK.
I'm not sure many industrial customers would pay that kind of money for a board with Sam's specs. I wonder if the whole industrial angle was a back up plan if the AOS4.1 deal didn't happen or maybe it was the other way around?
Well, who knows? But that's what they say at least...
I would prefer a 8640 (http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=MPC8640) (the single core version) + SB600 (http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/DownloadableAssets/42656B_M690T_Prod_Brf.pdf) combo (if it can be done). SNIP
This would essentially be a 2-chip computer, and I'm sure it could be made quite cheap.
Yeah that sounds more like it. But what are the chances? The flex version of Sam seems to be next and it offers nothing over the current model performance wise.
Cheers,
Rudi.
The new Sam will possibly be a little cheaper, and you could choose your own graphics card (and pick one with more memory for instance), although only PCI ones.
I think they should ditch that, and make a 8640+SB600 combo instead! :-) Then the Sam would become more worthy of the 540 Euros...
-
I noticed no option #6, which might be
AROS on x86 with emulator (Amiga Forever)
for backward compatibility. If this is
a stupid idea, I'm willing to accept that
it is, but please tell me why. (Still
learning!) I think so many of us are in the
same "what to do" boat right now. Thanks, -Dave
P.S. Option #5 might end up being the most
powerful, but there is something not so
attractive about taking used-up Apple stuff
to run Amiga. It just seems a little dirty
to have my Amiga not only *look* like an Apple,
but actually to *be* an Apple. ;-)
----------------------
1. SAM440 + Amiga OS4.x
2. EFIKA + MOS
3. PEG2 + MOS
4. ClassicHW with PPC + Amiga OS4.x
5. Mac Mini G4 + MOS
-
orb85750 wrote:
I noticed no option #6, which might be
AROS on x86 with emulator (Amiga Forever)
for backward compatibility. If this is
a stupid idea, I'm willing to accept that
it is, but please tell me why. (Still
learning!) I think so many of us are in the
same "what to do" boat right now. Thanks, -Dave
AROS isn't usable in any serious way. It completely lacks the native versions of Amiga applications, and it has no backwards compatibility or 68k/PPC CPU emulation whatsoever, and unless you run it hosted on Linux it's kind of limited in what hardware it supports AFAIK (in other words - don't expect it to install it natively on any new x86 machine with whatever hardware as easily as you install Windows).
UAE emulates a hardware classic Amiga. As such, it runs an OS within the OS. This can in no way be compared to the seamless 68k emulation in MorphOS for instance, which I think is what you may want. If you want UAE you'd better run WinUAE on Windows IMHO.
P.S. Option #5 might end up being the most
powerful, but there is something not so
attractive about taking used-up Apple stuff
to run Amiga. It just seems a little dirty
to have my Amiga not only *look* like an Apple,
but actually to *be* an Apple. ;-)
It becomes what OS you put in there. As for the exterior looks, nobody can claim that a Sam looks like an Amiga either. If you so strongly dislike the looks of an Apple case, I guess you'd have to find/build your own box to put it in. Perhaps that would be worth it for you. Personally I couldn't care less, as long as I get the fastest Amiga experience *ever seen*, at a *very* decent cost! :-)
-
>>>>>>unless you run it hosted on Linux it's kind of limited in what hardware it supports>>>>>>
Are you referring to peripherals, such as printers, etc. Perhaps there's a list somewhere of easily supported hardware assuming a *native* installation of AROS?
>>>>>>UAE emulates a hardware classic Amiga. As such, it runs an OS within the OS. This can in no way be compared to the seamless 68k emulation in MorphOS for instance, which I think is what you may want.>>>>>>
Yes, seamless is always better. Is the UAE-type emulation not so seamless? Not simply a matter of opening up a new window and running your classic software in there? I've never used it.
>>>>>>It becomes what OS you put in there. As for the exterior looks, nobody can claim that a Sam looks like an Amiga either.>>>>>>
When someone comes over my house, I'll have to explain to them that, NO, I don't own a MacMini? ;-) More importantly, Mac seems like an endpoint versus a bridge to somewhere. Is that the final form that we wish to see "Amiga" take? And perhaps by putting our support behind it, we are not putting our support behind current and future hardware production for Amiga, thereby putting the nail in our own coffin, despite the clear short-term gain? These are open questions, not statements of truth (hence the question marks).
-
I took the plunge and bought a Sam440.
The reason for going for Sam is that it is the only system available brand new with warranty and all that comes with it, that runs the latest official Amiga operating system. Sure, I can't deny that it was a very expensive step, but I did not want to do the same mistake twice (back then when Amiga One was released I did not buy it because I was waiting for the OS, and when the OS did eventually come out, it was impossible to get the board).
This is probably the chance of a lifetime, there is a brand new Amiga OS, *AND* brand new hardware readily available. I don't think this will ever happen again :-D
-
/
-
Interested in the Sam as well..Can those that own Sams with OS4.1..post images of their machines..monitors etc. Screen shots..
You get the idea.
Thanks
Rich
ny
-
I am really curious on how many units of Amiga OS 4.1 + Sam440 have been sold so far!
-
Really No pics..??