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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: carvedeye on March 20, 2014, 11:45:27 PM

Title: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: carvedeye on March 20, 2014, 11:45:27 PM

Hi all I'm looking at getting an FPU for my m1230xa accelerator and was wondering if this Is compatible?  

my accelerator runs at 50 MHz so I would like a 50 MHz FPU to accommodate it.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MC68882RC50A-MOTOROLA-PGA-MC680X0-FPU-COPROCESSOR-1pcs-New-/251433508896?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: danbeaver on March 21, 2014, 12:13:14 AM

Sure looks compatible, but what do you plan to use it for?

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: AndyFC on March 21, 2014, 09:45:54 AM

Thanks for posting the link. I've just bought one to go in my Blizzard 1230-MkIV.

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: carvedeye on March 21, 2014, 01:27:25 PM

Quote from: danbeaver;761057

Sure looks compatible, but what do you plan to use it for?

I don't know to be honest I was under the impression that it would be beneficial when running certain programs

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on March 21, 2014, 06:19:37 PM

Quote from: carvedeye;761078

I don't know to be honest I was under the impression that it would be beneficial when running certain programs

Sure.  Any programs that use an FPU.  ;)

IMHO they're so cheap it's silly to not have one, even if only one or two things you use need it "right now", who's to say what you'll want to use the system for further on down the road?

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: AndyFC on March 22, 2014, 07:26:35 AM

Frogger NG asks for an fpu. There is an fpu version of Vista and I think TFX also has an FPU only version. These are just some of the things I am looking forward to trying out.

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: AmiDude on March 22, 2014, 09:41:20 AM

Some AdPro module loaders (JPEG for instance) also asks for an FPU.

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: danbeaver on March 22, 2014, 11:56:17 AM

Ray tracing programs (I.e., Light wave and Alladin4D) along with Mandelbrot demos are prime programs in need of an FPU, but the small data cache on the 030 makes it very inefficient in their use.  On the whole, the program's needs elicit the need for an FPU

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: AndyFC on April 04, 2014, 11:24:58 AM

I received my FPU yesterday and installed it this morning. Just very pleased to say it works!

So far I've tested it by running Quake (which needs an FPU) although it's unplayably slow.

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: danbeaver on April 04, 2014, 04:29:06 PM

Again, the small cache on the 68030 limits the utility of the 68882 FPU except for demos and such.

Title: Re: Will this FPU work with my card?
Post by: AndyFC on April 04, 2014, 05:23:21 PM

I know, but I knew Quake requires the fpu to run and thought it a good test which would hammer the cpu and test stability.