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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: LordSpunky on March 14, 2013, 09:22:19 PM
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I've had this crazy idea of the last few weeks that I'm thinking about buying AmigaOS 4.1 Classic for my A4000.
But I just wanted to know if anyone is running OS4.1 on classic hardware.
I've read the min hardware requirements and in theory at the moment I don't comply.
However, I plan to upgrade the RAM in my Cyberstorm to 128MB, if I can find another pair of 32MB SIMM's. I could also swap out my 4GB CF card and put a normal HDD in to overcome my storage issue.
Is there anything else to consider? Will OS4.1 install direct from the Kickstart screen? Will it need OS3.1 still on it?
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I think you need a PPC processor. I'm not a 4.1 user so can't help with your other questions though.
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Yes, ofcourse you need PPC for OS4.x. Time to replace that Cyberstorm!
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AH balls yeah - sorry - where is my head at? Kinda thought I already had a PPC.....but I've got an 68040 doh!!!!!!!!!! - Fail.....hmmm a PPC? May have to sell the kids and mortgage the house then!
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I am sorry to say that all the code is written for the PPC as to be cross compatible with the NG Amigas. But the A4000 is an excellent platform for OS 4.1; even a 604e at 150MHz shows it to be a quick and modern operating system. It is very compatible with legacy 680X0 code by bypassing the jit compiler and passing it on to the 68060 -- something the NG's can't do.
Hyperion has a forum for Classic Amigas running OS 4.1 that has a lot of information (check Hardware Compatibility, for example).:)
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Hi, yeah I tried to join the Hyperion forum but as I haven't bought it yet I couldn't register. I missed that important PPC bit........my head was in the clouds thinking yeah well I've got a Cyberstorm so that covers it.........
The price of buying a PPC card for my A4000 will now stop be buying it. Shame, kinda wanted to show support and have a play with it.
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show support... i wonder why do you think you need. well the ppc card would cost you beyond 1000 eur i guess. this is where your support would went for starters.
you can of course run aros on your a4000, but i wouldnt recommend you to do just that atm, only if your want show support for it and be testing.
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Hi, yeah I tried to join the Hyperion forum but as I haven't bought it yet I couldn't register. I missed that important PPC bit........my head was in the clouds thinking yeah well I've got a Cyberstorm so that covers it.........
The price of buying a PPC card for my A4000 will now stop be buying it. Shame, kinda wanted to show support and have a play with it.
Hi,
@LordSpunky,
Don't feel to bad, I have OS 4.1 running on my Amiga 1200, I have a Blizzard 603e with a 68040 @ 40 mhz and a PPC @ 230 mhz. I have OS 4.1 installed and it runs worse than a C64 with a tape drive. The aga looks terrible and to tell you the truth I spend my time on the Classic Amiga side then on the OS 4.1 side. Also I have the same situation as most other new operating systems, no software, so I can turn it on and say look I am running OS 4.1 on my Amiga. Think very carefully before you spend big bucks on your PPC dream. I bought mine when the PPC cards first came out, but never did get PPC OS for it until last year.
smerf
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well smerf, perhaps you should have invested in a bvision? using aga in 2013 and expecting a modern OS experience? I dont think so. OS4.1 is 100% fast enough to be usable on classic amiga/ppc, but you need to upgrade aga. remember your OS3.x experience will also benefit..
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It is very compatible with legacy 680X0 code by bypassing the jit compiler and passing it on to the 68060 -- something the NG's can't do.
Is this really working? Ive always been in doubt. How can I tell its running native instead of emulated, under OS4.1? Any way to find out?
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It is very compatible with legacy 680X0 code by bypassing the jit compiler and passing it on to the 68060 -- something the NG's can't do.
Really? I thought the 680x0 was completely disabled once the OS4.1 Kickflash is loaded? Did they change this in an update?
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Really? I thought the 680x0 was completely disabled once the OS4.1 Kickflash is loaded? Did they change this in an update?
you are correct. Every 68K code is executed via Petunia, the built-in 68K emulator.
http://amigos.amiga.hu/rachy/petunia.html
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Hi,
@LordSpunky,
Don't feel to bad, I have OS 4.1 running on my Amiga 1200, I have a Blizzard 603e with a 68040 @ 40 mhz and a PPC @ 230 mhz. I have OS 4.1 installed and it runs worse than a C64 with a tape drive.
smerf
this is due the lack of your SCSI interface. (no driver available)
With a CSPPC is ALL another matter.
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In my case its quite the other way around. I only have IDE but OS4.x spends almost a minute doing nothing every reboot because its checking for SCSI devices. Wish I could turn if off in kicklayout.
Once its starts loading it boots up in a few seconds. Thanks to my IDE-Fix express, I guess.
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Wish I could turn if off in kicklayout.
What hinders you to do so?
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Please, tell me which line I should comment out. Ive tried quite a few. Even commenting out some things dealing with hardware that I dont even have make the system unbootable. Its a mess.
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I would begin with cybppc.device.
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that is not part of kicklayout. perhaps the installer already kicked it out.
what I meant, was stuff like:
MODULE Kickstart/A1200/ATAPIismajik
MODULE Kickstart/CDFileSystem
MODULE Kickstart/diskboot.config
MODULE Kickstart/diskboot.kmod
MODULE Kickstart/FastFileSystem
MODULE Kickstart/FileSystem.resource.kmod
MODULE Kickstart/SmartFileSystem
MODULE Kickstart/JXFileSystem
MODULE Kickstart/A1200/scsi.device.kmod
some stuff already disabled:
;MODULE Kickstart/A1200/scsi.device_ppc.kmod
;MODULE Kickstart/sii3112ide.device.kmod
;MODULE Kickstart/sii3114ide.device.kmod
;MODULE Kickstart/sii3512ide.device.kmod
;MODULE Kickstart/sii0680ide.device.kmod
The RTG options are strange, too. While during install I checked the Bvision box, kicklayout still contains:
MODULE Kickstart/PCIGraphics.card
MODULE Kickstart/3DLabsPermedia2.chip
MODULE Kickstart/3dfxVoodoo.chip
MODULE Kickstart/ATIRadeon.chip
MODULE Kickstart/Graffity.card
MODULE Kickstart/PicassoII.card
(....)
I tried removing the things I dont have, but then I no longer have video output.
Ohwell I guess I need to spend some more time with it.
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It is very compatible with legacy 680X0 code by bypassing the jit compiler and passing it on to the 68060 -- something the NG's can't do.
This is not correct. The 68K is used only to cold boot the system and load the kernel. After that, all 68K code is emulated. Perhaps you confused the option of disabling the JIT for incompatible applications, but all that does is force them to use the interpretive emulator.
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Nice.....either way - unless I win the Lottery and can afford to buy a PPC for my A4000.......or someone creates a new retro fit PPC card (Hello geeks and Amigakit....) I won't be running OS4.1......hmmmm shame......so the last working non-PPC Amiga OS is? 3.9?
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Getting an A4000 with a PPC card then a gfx card/sound/network etc. ends up being the same as an "NG PPC Amiga", only more expensive and slower. It's cool to have both on the same machine but I've found it better to choose a classic system to keep for older retro stuff and an NG machine for the rest.
Even if you go the hard way and spend all the money upgrading the A4000 you'll end up reaching this very same conclusion.
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@lordspunky
as an owner of an a4k with csppc and retired user of os4 my opinion is as well, that it is cheaper, more performant and altogether more wise to get a sam computer to run os4 on it rather than upgrade an actual amiga to do the same. os4 on amigas is a trade off it is meant for other systems.
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@Jose & wawrzon - fair comments, maybe I'll stick to OS3.x - still running 3.1 so may look at either 3.5 or 3.9 if I can find a copy. Then one day I'll look into a Sam.
Would still like to take the 4000 on the net......sure I'll searched this route before - Zorro ethernet cards are hard to find. I'm sure I looked into a Deneb USB controller and then get a USB - Ethernet dongle and job done.....max out my RAM - upgrade complete.