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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Hans_ on May 15, 2017, 02:31:32 AM

Title: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Hans_ on May 15, 2017, 02:31:32 AM
Yes, it's time for an updated graphics card survey. This time I've decided to use SurveyMonkey because it allows responses from more than just those who are registered on any particular forum.

Click here to take part in the survey. (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7PCFHWS)

Hans


P.S., please share the link with other AmigaOS 4 users.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: klx300r on May 15, 2017, 05:52:43 PM
thanks again Hans ! survey sent
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Matt_H on May 16, 2017, 01:50:15 AM
Worthwhile effort, thanks for collecting the data. I've answered the survey, but to elaborate a bit: I use a Radeon 9250 on my AOne-XE because as far as I am aware it's the best option for that machine. If there's a way to use something better I'd love to learn about it!
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Pyromania on May 17, 2017, 12:38:10 AM
What's the best graphics card that will be supported by AmigaOS in the present/future?
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Rob on May 17, 2017, 03:12:23 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;825814
Worthwhile effort, thanks for collecting the data. I've answered the survey, but to elaborate a bit: I use a Radeon 9250 on my AOne-XE because as far as I am aware it's the best option for that machine. If there's a way to use something better I'd love to learn about it!

The 9000 pro is the best card supported in Warp3D.  It has a higher clock rate than the 9250 models and also has a 128-bit memory interface while some of the 9250s do, many only have a 64-bit memory interface.

You can run a low profile PCIe card in one of the 33MHz PCI slots for more recent options.  The highest tested card I know of is the 4670.  It gives you the option of running 2 different displays at once and better 2D performance, especially with applications that use hardware compositing.

In theory Radeon SI based hardware should also work which would open up the option of faster 3D hardware and also the ability to run Warp3D Nova applications too.  However there may be a compatibility issue with Uboot like in the Sam440 series.  Is there nobody out there with an XE that has access to suitable card for testing.

The most recent video cards that work on the Sam440 a the HD6000 range for which there is no current Warp3D or Warp3D Nova driver.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Hans_ on May 18, 2017, 04:02:35 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;825814
Worthwhile effort, thanks for collecting the data. I've answered the survey, but to elaborate a bit: I use a Radeon 9250 on my AOne-XE because as far as I am aware it's the best option for that machine. If there's a way to use something better I'd love to learn about it!


I agree with Rob, the Radeon 9xxx series is the best card for the A1-XE.

Hans
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Matt_H on May 19, 2017, 12:53:00 AM
Quote from: Hans_;825897
I agree with Rob, the Radeon 9xxx series is the best card for the A1-XE.

Hans


Well, case closed, I guess. I think I do have one of the 128-bit cards. :)

Quote from: Rob;825857
You can run a low profile PCIe card in one of the 33MHz PCI slots for more recent options.


...but this intrigues me! How is that possible? I assume some sort of adapter is required?
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Hans_ on May 19, 2017, 02:03:08 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;825970

...but this intrigues me! How is that possible? I assume some sort of adapter is required?


There are PCIe to PCI adaptors. However, plugging graphics cards into the 33 MHz slots doesn't work with A1-XE's that have the DMA fix. They freeze.

My advice to A1-XE owners who want modern cards, is to upgrade to a PCIe motherboard too. The A1-X5000 is out, and the A1222 will be released later for those with a smaller budget.

Hans
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Rob on May 19, 2017, 03:53:42 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;825970

...but this intrigues me! How is that possible? I assume some sort of adapter is required?


This type of adapter with PEX8112 bridge chip.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/32-Bit-PCI-To-PCI-e-Express-16x-Riser-Extender-Card-/180735257737

A Video card designed for use in low profile system can then be plugged in.

http://www.club-3d.com/index.php/products/reader.en/product/radeon-r7-250-low-profile.html

As Hans said, there are a few caveats.  You can't use them in the 66Mhz slot or with A1 boards that had the DMA fix applied.  It's interesting that Eyetech never officially endorsed the fix with Alan Redhouse warning that there may be unforeseen consequences.

I agree that the best option is to upgrade to more recent motherboard with PCIe slot.  If your thinking of upgrading you might as well try it since if SI cards turn out not to work you'll have an excuse for upgrading to a new A1 board that the card will work with and if the card does work with the XE you've also increased it's resale value.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Matt_H on May 19, 2017, 03:17:18 PM
Thanks. I'd seen PCI to PCIe 1x adapters but didn't know 16x adapters existed. New motherboard is a considerable investment - will have to decide how much I want this or if my current setup is "good enough" ;)

I never got the DMA fix done, so my options are open, at least.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Hans_ on May 20, 2017, 12:58:01 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;825988
Thanks. I'd seen PCI to PCIe 1x adapters but didn't know 16x adapters existed. New motherboard is a considerable investment - will have to decide how much I want this or if my current setup is "good enough" ;)

I never got the DMA fix done, so my options are open, at least.

Okay, so it might work (that's a big might).

Regarding new motherboards, Trevor said he was hoping to sell the A1222 board below 400 Euros (link (http://www.generationamiga.com/2016/10/10/video-dickinson-amiwest16-and-confirmation-e400-for-a1222/)). More expensive than a PCIe to PCI adaptor, but it's a nice little board (got one myself).

Hans
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Matt_H on May 20, 2017, 01:45:29 AM
Quote from: Hans_;826015
Okay, so it might work (that's a big might).

Regarding new motherboards, Trevor said he was hoping to sell the A1222 board below 400 Euros (link (http://www.generationamiga.com/2016/10/10/video-dickinson-amiwest16-and-confirmation-e400-for-a1222/)). More expensive than a PCIe to PCI adaptor, but it's a nice little board (got one myself).

Hans


Oh yeah, I saw the prototype at Amiga 30 in an adorable tiny case. 400 EUR would be juuust out of impulse-buying range, so it'd need to offer something substantially different from the XE (apart from the size) for me to consider.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: duga on May 20, 2017, 02:36:39 PM
Have: 4650, 5450 and R7 240.

R7 240 makes my Sam460ex hang, so I'm using 5450 until problem is fixed. Bug 0000166 at http://amigadeveloper.com/bugreports/ (reported 2017-03-14).
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Rob on May 20, 2017, 05:33:32 PM
Quote from: duga;826032


R7 240 makes my Sam460ex hang


Which version of the RadeonHD driver are you using?
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: duga on May 20, 2017, 08:16:37 PM
Quote from: rob;826038
which version of the radeonhd driver are you using?


1.20
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Hans_ on May 21, 2017, 10:09:24 AM
Quote from: duga;826032
Have: 4650, 5450 and R7 240.

R7 240 makes my Sam460ex hang, so I'm using 5450 until problem is fixed. Bug 0000166 at http://amigadeveloper.com/bugreports/ (reported 2017-03-14).


Sorry, I never got notified about this bug,** so only just discovered it exists. Just left you a message there. Hopefully we can get your card working reliably.

Hans


** It was never assigned to me.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: duga on May 21, 2017, 12:40:08 PM
Issue updated.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: utri007 on May 21, 2017, 06:57:37 PM
There is also a PCIX to PCIe adapter and they work with 66mhz. More expensive than ordinary PCI to PCIe adapters. PCIX is backwards compatiable with PCI so you can attach that adapter to ordinary PCI slot.

https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Slot-Extension/PCI-X-to-x4-PCI-Express-Adapter-Card~PCIX1PEX4

Still wondering is it possible to get working Radeon HD card with working 3D to Sam 440ep Flex.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Rob on May 21, 2017, 10:02:23 PM
Quote from: utri007;826064
There is also a PCIX to PCIe adapter and they work with 66mhz. More expensive than ordinary PCI to PCIe adapters. PCIX is backwards compatiable with PCI so you can attach that adapter to ordinary PCI slot.

https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Slot-Extension/PCI-X-to-x4-PCI-Express-Adapter-Card~PCIX1PEX4


It will still only work at 33Mhz speeds.

Quote
Still wondering is it possible to get working Radeon HD card with working 3D to Sam 440ep Flex.


I've read that an updated Uboot would be required in order to support Southern Islands based cards.  Is there any word from Acube on this?  They last updated the Sam440 UBoot back in October so support for the SI cards isn't completely out of the question.
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Spectre660 on May 21, 2017, 10:40:08 PM
@Rob

I think that theSam440ep-flex  problem could also be a data alignment error.
The Linux error was
kernel BUG at drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_sa.c:321!
Line 321 of the code was
321   BUG_ON (http://elixir.free-electrons.com/linux/v3.14/ident/BUG_ON)(align (http://elixir.free-electrons.com/linux/v3.14/ident/align) > sa_manager->align (http://elixir.free-electrons.com/linux/v3.14/ident/align));
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Hans_ on June 02, 2017, 02:37:13 AM
@all

Here are the results (https://keasigmadelta.com/blog/the-2017-amigaos-graphics-card-survey/).

Hans
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: LiveForIt on June 02, 2017, 03:07:52 PM
Quote from: Hans_;826570
@all

Here are the results (https://keasigmadelta.com/blog/the-2017-amigaos-graphics-card-survey/).

Hans

Hey can we redo the survey I forgot to vote ;-)
Title: Re: Which graphics card(s) do you use with AmigaOS 4.x (in 2017)?
Post by: Iggy on June 02, 2017, 06:20:38 PM
Quote from: Hans_;826570
@all

Here are the results (https://keasigmadelta.com/blog/the-2017-amigaos-graphics-card-survey/).

Hans


Good stuff, Hans.
And it makes an interesting comparison when you compare it to what's going on in the MorphOS community.

We still have a few users using older cards like the Voodoo3/4s, and Radeon 9200s (of course we've got some users of the 9800 as well, which isn't well supported by AmigaOS).
But, above those, we have people using R400 and R500 cards (things like the X800XT, the X1600 and the  X1900XT), which again, don't have very good support under OS4.

Then, neither of our "camps" see much use of the R600 series' (the 3xxx and 4xxx cards), even though Radeon 4650 cards were supplied with the X1000.

And since MorphOS offers no acceleration above the R500 series, the same seems true for all higher cards, BUT, thanks to YOUR efforts...
LOTS of OS4 users are benefiting from the GCN generation 1 gpus.

Your work has been most useful. And provided a real edge here.