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Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: tone007 on December 29, 2010, 06:51:05 PM

Title: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on December 29, 2010, 06:51:05 PM
Pretty exciting, waiting for my 630/30 with 64MB of memory, at probably half of what the vintage A600 '030 accelerators would cost!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: cv643d on December 29, 2010, 07:46:30 PM
Same here, but I am missing an A600 :(
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: hardlink on December 29, 2010, 09:35:26 PM
Quote from: tone007;602701
Pretty exciting, waiting for my 630/30 with 64MB of memory, at probably half of what the vintage A600 '030 accelerators would cost!


Completely true, although years ago for some reason Software Hut cleared out their remaining Apollo A630 boards for US$99 each; I think I found out a few days after the last one was gone.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: TjLaZer on December 30, 2010, 12:05:42 AM
Quote from: tone007;602701
Pretty exciting, waiting for my 630/30 with 64MB of memory, at probably half of what the vintage A600 '030 accelerators would cost!


Where do you order and how much?  I want one!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on December 30, 2010, 02:24:04 AM
AmigaKit had them (and the 630/25) for preorder, they cleared out all the 630/30s though.  Don't know about the 25s though.  Vesalia seems to have them: http://www.vesalia.de/
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: amigakit on December 30, 2010, 07:55:37 AM
We are taking orders for the new accelerators here:

US Webstore:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/USD.php?url=index.php?cPath=43?
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: rvo_nl on December 30, 2010, 12:14:53 PM
is there a reason for them not being clocked at 50mhz?
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: 4pLaY on December 30, 2010, 12:20:22 PM
Quote from: rvo_nl;602827
is there a reason for them not being clocked at 50mhz?


I would suspect cost, it was probably much cheaper getting these EC030 cpus.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: AmigaEd on December 30, 2010, 03:18:14 PM
Quote from: 4pLaY;602828
I would suspect cost, it was probably much cheaper getting these EC030 cpus.

Does anyone know if there is a plan to offer faster versions? I think many of those who have been waiting for this kind of hardware would be willing to spend a bit more to get the fastest possible. I think this is especially true when comparing to the prices of vintage accelerators which are no longer supported and could fail at any microsecond.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: mfilos on December 30, 2010, 04:30:43 PM
Only a limited supply of 30MHz ACA630s have been released while all the others are 25MHz clocked. There isn't any plan of another 30MHz release not to mention a >30MHz release in the near future.
There is no cheap CPU EC030 as 4pLaY said, since all ACA630 CPUs are full 030s and not EC that the cheap version of ACA1230 has.
Jens clearly stated the reasons of not pushing the MHz over 30 in the detailed thread over EAB. (Most was about memory clocking etc).
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: XDelusion on December 30, 2010, 05:02:55 PM
I can't wait to play with my ACA630-25 when it arrives! I only wish I'd thought to have ordered a 1Mb of Chip RAM while I was at it.

Good to see their are more available too!!!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: Faerytale on December 30, 2010, 05:18:25 PM
fifteen years too late :(
Title: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on December 30, 2010, 05:32:56 PM
Say that again when they've all sold out.

OUR TIME IS NOW!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: XDelusion on December 30, 2010, 05:34:16 PM
It's never too late to upgrade an A600 into one hell of a OctaMED Sound Studio machine!

Get them while you can.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: hardlink on December 30, 2010, 08:57:29 PM
Quote from: mfilos;602869
There isn't any plan of another 30MHz release .. detailed thread over EAB. (Most was about memory clocking etc).


Could you summarize the thread as to why they are not all 30MHz? Parts shortage?  I can't imagine anyone wanting a 25MHz if a 30MHz version was available.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: notarinez on December 30, 2010, 10:08:36 PM
Anyone knows where could I download ACA tune tool??
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: mfilos on December 30, 2010, 10:50:09 PM
Quote from: hardlink;602940
Could you summarize the thread as to why they are not all 30MHz? Parts shortage? I can't imagine anyone wanting a 25MHz if a 30MHz version was available.

It's not hard you know to just read the thread... Anywayz...

Jens said:
ACA630 is also available with 30MHz and 64M ram.
We're keeping the temperature low by under-clocking a 33MHz CPU (with full MMU) to 30MHz. The memory controller was kept at the same pace with a 2-1-1-1 burst, so the speedup over the 25MHz version is really linear. Sysinfo shows 7.24 MIPS / 6936 Dhrystones.

...the SD-Ram controller is clocked twice as fast as the CPU, that's why we need a 50MHz crystal on the board. I'm serious about not overclocking, as the 50MHz give precisely the timing that the memory chips can handle: 20ns from row-open to column access, and also 20ns from precharge to row-open. The CPU may not fail at higher speeds, but the memory will.
...The divider is in the CPLD, where all the async mainboard interface and the SD-Ram interface is located. Also, it is critical that the SD-Ram controller and the CPU run in sync - a simple clock-doubling for the CPU would not work at all. As I mentioned earlier for the ACA1230, the two cards (28MHz and 56MHz) look the same, but the CPLD contents are substantially different. It's a whole new development.
I really can't help anyone who wants to do weird things to his accelerator. I shouldn't even start to get into this much detail. If you haven't developed an accelerator yourself, you can't do it. I'm not just saying this to protect myself from too much customer support work. I am doing this to protect you from a failure waiting to happen, unless you have at least the same knowledge as Oliver and I have.


Quote from: notarinez;602953
Anyone knows where could I download ACA tune tool??
http://www.icomp.de/t/bin/ACATune_V10.lha
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: TjLaZer on December 31, 2010, 07:17:49 AM
Placed an order for one!  Can't flippin wait!!!  :banana:
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: mfilos on December 31, 2010, 09:30:36 AM
Yey! Despite FedEx Tracking said 3/1/2011 as estimation date... Items arrived today (http://www.amibay.com/images/smilies/hail.gif)(http://www.amibay.com/images/smilies/hail.gif)(http://www.amibay.com/images/smilies/hail.gif)

Just a quick pic of the Awesomeness (ACA630@30 / ACA1230@56) attached! This is gonna be indeed a good start for the new Year.

Thanks once again Jens & AmigaKit
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: XDelusion on December 31, 2010, 07:04:02 PM
Quote from: mfilos;602998
Yey! Despite FedEx Tracking said 3/1/2011 as estimation date... Items arrived today (http://www.amibay.com/images/smilies/hail.gif)(http://www.amibay.com/images/smilies/hail.gif)(http://www.amibay.com/images/smilies/hail.gif)

Just a quick pic of the Awesomeness (ACA630@30 / ACA1230@56) attached! This is gonna be indeed a good start for the new Year.

Thanks once again Jens & AmigaKit


Ditto, and get this!

I can only use one arm at the moment, and still managed to install it! :)

I can see why they clocked it at 25Mhz though...

...this puppy gets hot!

P.S. What's on the floppy? I've not used one of those in years. :)
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: mfilos on December 31, 2010, 07:17:40 PM
The 30MHz version is too cool that it felt odd! Really well made design! Fits like a glove with Indivision ECS
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: XDelusion on December 31, 2010, 07:22:40 PM
Where did you guys get the 30Mhz models with 64MB of RAM? The one I ordered from AmigaKit had 25Mhz 030's and 32Mb of RAM. Also why is yours running cool and mine hot?

Strange things are afoot at Circle K.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: alexh on December 31, 2010, 07:36:37 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;603094
Where did you guys get the 30Mhz models with 64MB of RAM?

They only made a handful of them. All sold in a few days.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: cv643d on December 31, 2010, 07:47:01 PM
The 30MHz version was a bit more expensive than the 25MHz version, IMHO it was not worth it.

But I can understand if your only Amiga is an A600 you want the most high end.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: TjLaZer on December 31, 2010, 10:00:54 PM
Quote from: cv643d;603099
The 30MHz version was a bit more expensive than the 25MHz version, IMHO it was not worth it.

But I can understand if your only Amiga is an A600 you want the most high end.


Yeah not sure $100 for 5MHz and 32MB of extra RAM is worth it, especially in a ECS non RTG A600.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on January 01, 2011, 01:54:59 AM
It was only a $50 difference.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: TjLaZer on January 01, 2011, 04:20:20 AM
Quote from: tone007;603143
It was only a $50 difference.

Actually it's $88 USD according to Amigakits site.

ACA 630/25:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=43&products_id=1003

ACA 630/30:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1009
Title: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on January 01, 2011, 09:46:11 AM
Exchange rates must have changed over the last month, I only added $50 on top of my order to upgrade to the 30mhz version.

edit: Actually, it was even less.

From: Leaman Computing Ltd(sales@amigakit.com)
Amount: $46.51 USD
Status: Paid
Date Requested: Dec 3, 2010
AmigaKit Order 16xxx (Upgrade to ACA630-30)

Maybe they raised the price after they sold out to make people who missed out feel better. ;)
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: XDelusion on January 01, 2011, 07:02:24 PM
Well mine is still running fast enough to do everything I've needed it to. As for the heat, it comes and goes, but the system has been running smooth so I'm not going to worry.

Well worth the money!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: icbrkr on January 01, 2011, 07:37:45 PM
Mine came in yesterday and is working fine.  

The noticeable difference in speed (from the machine, and the CF card I put in there) makes me think it's about time to thin out the old Amiga herd.  It's faster than my A3000 by far, and a lot cheaper to expand really so maybe I'll eventually sell the 3000 (and my pile of 2000s) off and concentrate on A600s for my ECS systems.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on January 02, 2011, 03:36:28 PM
Quote from: icbrkr;603261
makes me think it's about time to thin out the old Amiga herd


Hm, maybe I should think about that as well..
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: TjLaZer on January 21, 2011, 06:21:41 AM
Finally got mine today and got it installed!  Its flippin awesome!  1.23 X the speed of an A3000.  Well worth the money.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: ciento on January 21, 2011, 08:39:53 AM
Would love a version for A500/2000, even if it cost a bit more! :)
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: sim085 on January 21, 2011, 09:24:12 AM
Quote from: ciento;608046
Would love a version for A500/2000, even if it cost a bit more! :)
Me too!!! (but I think it's just a dream)
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: cv643d on January 21, 2011, 10:05:46 AM
I think there was kind of loose comment the A500 version is next, by Jens
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on January 21, 2011, 11:19:36 AM
Seems like there are a whole lot more 2000s/500s than 600s, and how different can it be besides the CPU connector/board shape?  It'd make sense to release one, though in the case of the A500 it'd be perfection if it came with a CF card connector onboard.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: sim085 on January 21, 2011, 11:37:32 AM
Quote from: cv643d;608054
I think there was kind of loose comment the A500 version is next, by Jens

That would be awesome! Where can I find that loose comment? So that I can read it over and over again up to exhaustion.

Quote from: tone007;608074
It'd make sense to release one, though in the case of the A500 it'd be perfection if it came with a CF card connector onboard.

even more awesome!!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on January 31, 2011, 08:53:26 PM
Only two and a half months after my initial order...

(http://jungle.net/tone/aca630.jpg)

Whee!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on January 31, 2011, 09:06:18 PM
Only about 2.5 months after my initial order...

(http://jungle.net/tone/aca630.jpg)

Whee!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: desantii on January 31, 2011, 11:30:33 PM
Quote from: tone007;608074
Seems like there are a whole lot more 2000s/500s than 600s, and how different can it be besides the CPU connector/board shape? It'd make sense to release one, though in the case of the A500 it'd be perfection if it came with a CF card connector onboard.

That would be awesome, would look forward to replace my GVP 030
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: TjLaZer on February 01, 2011, 03:26:53 AM
Quote from: ciento;608046
Would love a version for A500/2000, even if it cost a bit more! :)

IMHO making it A2000 compatible is a waste and would make a release of one harder and most likely vaporware.  Let it be A500 only.  (looks like it will work if you hack the drive cage on the 2000 and remove floppy on the 1000 afterall)

A2000 owners have lots of cheap options for a CPU upgrade.

If they do try to make it work with another model, it needs to be the 1000.  (Maybe an adaptor?)

ROCK ON
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: runequester on February 01, 2011, 05:05:03 AM
theres been talk of a 520 card, with a fairly modest amount of RAM.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: amigadave on February 01, 2011, 06:08:54 AM
Got my ACA630/25MHz, but my A600's keyboard, or the chip on the motherboard that interprets the keystrokes is faulty.  Does anyone know of a good repair facility that can do repairs for an A600.  Inside the USA, or Canada would be better as shipping across the Atlantic will be costly.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on February 01, 2011, 11:00:31 AM
Quote from: TjLaZer;611387
IMHO making it A2000 compatible is a waste and would make a release of one harder and most likely vaporware.


With the number of older (and much larger) accelerators that work in both the A500 and A2000, I can't see how there would be an issue, especially since electronically they'd be the same.  True that there are many other A2000 accelerators available, but if this one had IDE/CF, it'd make using a bare A2000 a whole lot easier not having to deal with old SCSI boards and drives.
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: tone007 on February 01, 2011, 11:05:51 AM
Quote from: amigadave;611407
Got my ACA630/25MHz, but my A600's keyboard, or the chip on the motherboard that interprets the keystrokes is faulty.  Does anyone know of a good repair facility that can do repairs for an A600.  Inside the USA, or Canada would be better as shipping across the Atlantic will be costly.


Might be worth having a look at the ribbon cable of the keyboard, those traces break pretty easily. If some keys are working and others aren't, I'd blame the keyboard membrane. Airey36 on eBay (I hear he's moving to eBid?) often sells keyboards, keyboard membranes, and even A600 motherboards fairly cheaply.  I built my whole A600 out of spare parts from him!
Title: Re: ACA630 accelerators about to ship!
Post by: portarinos on February 01, 2011, 11:31:27 AM
@amigadave
If some keys are working while other don't it's probably a membrane problem. Instead of buying another keyboard or trying to find someone to fix it for you you could try a little trick in the meantime. Just try and cut 0,3 cm (or maybe less if you can) off the membrane part that slots in the keyboard clip of the A600 motherboard. This way, you could resurect the keyboard in case the membrane is "worn out". You have really nothing to lose since the keyboard is dead at the moment. You could give it a try but for this purpose a very sharp and quite "accurate" paper cutter is needed in order for the cutting to be precise. Use a ruler and some adhesive tape in order to keep the keyboard from moving, place it on a steady surface and do the surgery thing :) I have done the same to an A1200 keyboard and i'm very happy with it right now. Just keep in mind though that you should be patient and precise if you decide to go this way.