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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Motormouth on April 04, 2012, 02:21:38 AM
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I have recently been playing with Amiga's again.
which do people think the better a3000 solution is:
Prometheus with Voodoo 3 2000 + rtl 8029
or
native zorro II (Picasso II 2meg + A2065 with 10baseT to AUI transceiver)
Prometheus
advantages: Zorro III, one slot, Voodoo 3 more memory and faster
disadvantages: cannot close A3000D case, Voodoo 3 runs very hot
Native zorro II
advantages: CAN close case, Picasso II has built it monitor switcher, runs cool
disadvantages: Picasso II limited memory and screen resolution and depth.
As far as I can tell the ethernet performance between the A2065 and the rtl 8029 "seems" the same.
I like idea of the prometheus, but I am sick of having the case open.
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I like idea of the prometheus, but I am sick of having the case open.
I was always surprised that they didn't put more effort into making Prometheus more case-friendly. I don't know if Mediator did better for the 3000D, but they did make a nice riser-replacement for 4000D if I remember correctly. Prometheus unfortunately is uncomfortable in any case. I had hopes when it changed owners or whatever that was, but nothing seems to have come of that. :/
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disadvantages: cannot close A3000D case, Voodoo 3 runs very hot
I don't know anything about prometheus, but Can't you use a 4MB Virge or Cirrus Logic card?
look at this one in the picture, seems like it is low-profile
bet it runs cooler than a Voodoo 3
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You can use a PCI right-angle adapter and a low profile card, so you can close the case.
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I have a prometheus in my 3000T and i just love the voodoo 3 im using right now, the speed difference when you crank up 1600x1200 resolution in wb compared to an cybervision 64/3D that i used before is just insane (could not even get that hige with the cyber)
So just find yourself som pci extension cables and you should not have to much of a problem to fit everything inside with the top closed.
Put the prometheus on the bottom zorro and you should have the space you need.
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I'd go with the prometheus and a few PCI risers from ebay, combining a single on cable (http://www.logicsupply.com/images/photos/adapters/FLEXPCI_pic1_big.jpg) with a tripple card (http://www.servercase.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/PCI3-D1-300.gif) for maximum PCI expandability or 2 singles on cable if there's need for space for a full length Zorrocard.
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I've got a Prometheus and a Mediator in a couple of 4000's, one towered.
Most of the time I prefer my Z3 cards over the PCI ones.
1. If anything goes wrong during boot, the auto-switch lets me see the problem.
2. Using normal video modes with the auto-switch is seamless.
3. It seems more stable.
4. I've only got two drivers to deal with.
I don't get crazy high resolutions or 3D, but to me the experience is more enjoyable.
I've had the Prometheus in the 4000D with the case closed but like others have said, right angle adapters and flexible ribbon card extenders are your friend.
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I am zorro video card person by default. GVP Spectrum 24/28 specifically. The card works flawlessly in an A3000. Runs fine with original GVP software. Runs better with Cybergraphx 4. As far as this being any better than a PCI Voodoo or other Warp3D capable card, I highly doubt it. I am no PCI person on Amiga yet. Idea is intriguing though. PCI video probably better stuff despite bandwidth loss during conversion to the Zorro Bus. Wish we had direct 68k to PCI ability like Atari hackers and their CT60-CTPCI(PLX 9054). That would be funnier than hell in an Amiga (not sure if it is possible though)
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PCI video probably better stuff despite bandwidth loss during conversion to the Zorro Bus.
Most Z3 video cards use PCI video chips adapted to Zorro. The only advantage is that the PCI adaption may be fine tuned to the exact chipset.
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I like seeing all of your opinions....
You all have compelling ideas.
I do have two different height right angle adapters for the the prometheus and can get the voodoo 3 and rtl 8029 to fit into the a3000D case.
However there is still one nasty problem, the voodoo 3 card gets very hot, as it only has a passive cooler on it. This is particularly bad when it is stuffed inside the a3000d case. Do other people have this problem??? where you able to solve it???? fans perhaps.
As for the monitor auto-switching. I must admit I love the picasso II's auto-switch.
right now I use a manual monitor switch. perhaps I will make my own auto-sensing switch. This should not be to hard since the native amiga output goes cold when not in use. time to get out spice.
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I had considered the prometheus in my old A1200/060/PPC240 tower, but I figured it was faster than the bus (micronik backplane), so I stuck with ZII/ZII components (PicIV, Xsurf, etc). If I had a ZIII machine at the time I might have considered it...
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Prometheus should be released as opensource HW.
We need better and more flexible PCI busboards.
(I'm interested in putting Voodoo3 in my A4k, but I do not fancy another case modding round...)
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The first thing with my Voodoo3 was to bolt a fan onto it - probably it was some 50 mm slimline one.
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50mm fans usually fit precisely on the V3k's HS. However, you'll need to get rid of the case heat with another fan - if you find the right item you might be able to combine both Voodoo cooling and case exhaust with a slot fan. Esp. with an '040 in the case you'll need to get the airflow going.
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50mm fans usually fit precisely on the V3k's HS. However, you'll need to get rid of the case heat with another fan - if you find the right item you might be able to combine both Voodoo cooling and case exhaust with a slot fan. Esp. with an '040 in the case you'll need to get the airflow going.
Good point!
putting extra exhaust fans would definitely be helpful. I wish the A3000d case could also pull more air out of the processor/memory side of the case.
Additionally I have a V3.2 a3640 in this a3000 and a ZorRam.
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Ridley Scott's Prometheus looks awesome, but Antonio Banderas's second outing as Zorro was underwhelming.
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If the case isn't crammed with riser cards and PCI already you could try fitting a radial fan on top (=towards case edge) of the slots to suck air into the case through the left hand grating. Alternatively, you could also fit a fan externally to blow into the case (a PAPST RL90-12 N seems to be about right but would need severe RPM regulation to get a tolerable noise level).
In contrast to the usual slot fans, blowing into the case on the left side will get the airflow going on the CPU/mem side as well.