Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: save2600 on February 08, 2009, 06:02:22 PM

Title: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: save2600 on February 08, 2009, 06:02:22 PM
I just secured an X-Surf card and was wondering if, as a cheaper alternative to Deneb, I would be happy with a Subway clockport module. Features look the same (Actually, the Subway comes with 4 USB ports vs. 2 on the Deneb) except for the 'highspeed' function of the card. Specifically, I'd like to use the USB ports for my printer, external HD's, DVD/CDRW and maybe a sound card.

Would it be wiser to invest in the Deneb for these uses or will I not notice much, if any difference between highspeed mode or not?



Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: Tension on February 08, 2009, 06:05:11 PM
I think on the Deneb, you can store the updated kickstart images in a flash-memory-type-thing, so you dont need the amiga to be soft reset by setpatch at startup.

Which is cool.
Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: djbase on February 08, 2009, 06:05:46 PM
Deneb is faster even at USB1.1 Speed. Also it has a Flashrom which the Subway does not have.
Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: Darrin on February 08, 2009, 06:14:09 PM
The Deneb has 3 ports (2 on a backing plate and one on the card.  I have a USB Ethernet device and I've threaded the cable into my A4000 and plugged that into the internal port.  I guess a memory stick could be left in there too to act as a hard drive.
Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: delshay on February 08, 2009, 06:14:50 PM
what are the pins inteface for on the back of the SUBWAY?
Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: save2600 on February 08, 2009, 07:02:40 PM
Thanks all. Seems for the $40 difference, getting a Deneb is a no brainer then. Throwing the updated Kickstart files into that flash rom thingy sounds very cool. I wonder if it comes with the proper documentation to do so?

With the 2060 I just installed though, bootup is pretty darn quick as it is  :-)


Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: alexh on February 08, 2009, 08:24:41 PM
Get a Deneb and consider selling your X-Surf to offset the price and get an uber cheap USB ethernet card.

But you could consider using a parallel port printer and a CF->IDE adapter for external storage.
Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: jrfjunior on February 08, 2009, 09:47:48 PM
Deneb without doubt. I have one subway and it's slow (200Kbytes/seg) reading. Highspeed mode I use in the PC and I get 35Mb/seg. If connected wrong subway burn instantly.

Quote

save2600 wrote:
I just secured an X-Surf card and was wondering if, as a cheaper alternative to Deneb, I would be happy with a Subway clockport module. Features look the same (Actually, the Subway comes with 4 USB ports vs. 2 on the Deneb) except for the 'highspeed' function of the card. Specifically, I'd like to use the USB ports for my printer, external HD's, DVD/CDRW and maybe a sound card.

Would it be wiser to invest in the Deneb for these uses or will I not notice much, if any difference between highspeed mode or not?



Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: Damion on February 08, 2009, 10:05:51 PM
Quote

Tension wrote:
I think on the Deneb, you can store the updated kickstart images in a flash-memory-type-thing, so you dont need the amiga to be soft reset by setpatch at startup.

Which is cool.


Is a kickstart image stored in the flashrom immediately available at cold boot?? (I assume it must me?) Seems a lot easier to simply flash a new ROM... and not have to mess with burning them.

Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: save2600 on February 09, 2009, 02:38:13 AM
I got a sense from the other post that only the Boing Bag "kickstart" updates/patches were loaded into that flash deal. Am I wrong in assuming that?  
Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: Damion on February 09, 2009, 05:23:30 AM
Just checked the Luciferin docs. You can add complete kickstart images with AlgorKick, and it even uses the maprom feature of the phase5 boards. Very cool!

*edit*   Actually, I think booting from a custom ROM is only possible with p5 boards.



Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: platon42 on February 09, 2009, 12:20:04 PM
Quote

save2600 wrote:
I just secured an X-Surf card and was wondering if, as a cheaper alternative to Deneb, I would be happy with a Subway clockport module. Features look the same (Actually, the Subway comes with 4 USB ports vs. 2 on the Deneb) except for the 'highspeed' function of the card. Specifically, I'd like to use the USB ports for my printer, external HD's, DVD/CDRW and maybe a sound card.

Would it be wiser to invest in the Deneb for these uses or will I not notice much, if any difference between highspeed mode or not?



Deneb vs. Subway:
(+) USB 2.0 highspeed (up to 8.5 MB/sec in Z3 PIO mode or even more in DMA mode), full speed 1 MB/sec for USB 1.1 devices.
(+) Realtime Isochronous transfers supported (USB Audio and Sonix-Webcam), means that you can use cheap USB soundcards. Not supported by the Subway.
(+) 4 MB Flashrom for Rom-Updates & Kickstart (and booting MorphOS Classic), booting from USB.
(+) has a clockport ;)
(-) only three USB ports instead of four on the Subway

I might have forgotten something, but these are probably the main advantages.
Title: Re: Deneb 2.0 vs. Subway USB
Post by: platon42 on February 09, 2009, 12:29:32 PM
Quote

-D- wrote:
Just checked the Luciferin docs. You can add complete kickstart images with AlgorKick, and it even uses the maprom feature of the phase5 boards. Very cool!

*edit*   Actually, I think booting from a custom ROM is only possible with p5 boards.



Yes, mainly for phase5 boards, but also for the A3640 board. Most people have these kinds of boards ;-)