Jens Shoenfeld's anwer to the Apollo petition

[rewlako]

I owned an ACA1230/42 and I can say it's a piece of crap!

Well, I don't think you're either a very novice user (with all due respect), or you don't have a clue what you're talking about.  Or you're trolling.

Also, the ACA630 is not compatible with a lot of games due to the SDRAM memory.

Why not?

Also, you can't change them if the SDRAMS are getting fried or something,  because there soldered to the board.

Why on earth would the SDRAM get fried (unless you're doing something you're not supposed to)?

Why didn't Jens use a plain oll' 72pins EDO socket!?

Why should he?  SMD RAM takes less space, it's cheaper, easier in many ways, modern and still in production, no RAM sockets to wear out, etc.

Another downside is te lack of an (optional) FPU. I know most of the people don't use the FPU anyway, but a certain percentage of us does.

That's the key: a percentage.  The remaining 90% doesn't need the FPU, so the board is cheaper without one.  Simple logic.

Google "aca1230/42 problems" to see how many complains there are about the ACA's from Jens...

I did, and couldn't find many.  Sorry.

[rewlako]

#1
I'm into Amiga's since 1985, so I guess that makes me an expert user. And don't acuse me of trolling; I'm an A.org member since 2005. You on the other hand could well be a troll; member since April 2012... Very suspicious...

Oh, give me a break.  I started in 1987, not long after you.  A.org membership means nothing.  If I'm wrong in my accusations, please accept my apologies, but you do sound very novice in your posts.

#2
Why not, you say? Ask Jens!

No, you made the statement, you explain it.  At least explain what happens, and how you know the SDRAM is to blame.  Give me a reproducible real-life example.

#3
Anything can get fried, especially by very novice users that don't know what they're doing.

The whole Amiga can get fried by very novice users.  Your concern should't be focused on the ACA, but every electronic item in the world.

#4
EDO is cheap too, and very easy to replace.

Yes, but the advantage of SMD SDRAM outweighs EDO.

#5
He could put an FPU socket onto the boards, so that buyers can deside to put on an FPU or not. It's their decision in the end.

True, but that would mean A) a bigger board, B) more components (trust me, a socket isn't enough) C) more testing, D) people start messing with the boards (see your argument #3), E) more support for Jens.

#6
I did too, and find many. Sorry.

Then please give me a a few links.  I googled, and found the opposite, people love it.  But maybe my google-fu is a bit rusty.

Sorry if I come out as rude, it's nothing personal against you.
Disclaimer: I'm not Jens (nor affiliated with him in any way)

[rewlako]

I'm not an technical engineer. I just experience problems with some games which I don't have with other accelerators.

Ok.  I am an electronics engineer, so I wanted to see if your accusations were based on facts or.. well.. speculation.  Not even being able to give a reproducible example leads me to think it's the latter.

If the board has no FPU, then it's not interesting for me and a whole bunch of other Amiga fans.

There will always be complaints about products.  Every product.  "Why doesn't it have this, why doesn't it support that..."

You can't make everyone happy.  Corners needs to be cut in order to keep the price down.  If it's too expensive, nobody will buy it.  If you have been with Amiga since 1985, you should have seen examples of this over and over again.

You do sound so.

Ok, sorry.  I have a tendency to sound very harsh and aggressive.

Again, nothing personal.  Just the way I am.

[rewlako]

My accusations ARE based on facts. I (and others) encountered several problems with the ACA cards. I don't need to be an electronics engineer for that. That's a FACT!  
Don't get me wrong, but there is nothing wrong by holding new products against the light.

Then, please, reproducible examples.  This is the third time I'm requesting it.  Start by giving me an example of a program that "doesn't work" because of the SDRAM - this should be an easy task for you.

By all means, for all that I know you could be right.  But, if you are, prove it or back down.

I'm glad that you know yourself that good. So, you're an ACA worshipper... That's OK. Have fun!

I don't even own one.  I'm sorry for pinning you down on this one, but I have problems with people blaming their incompetence on technical flaws, when it is obvious that they have no clue what they are talking about.

Unless you can give me some data to work with, I say we're done here.

[rewlako]

I've give you an explanation about some "older" games that refuses to work with the ACA accelerator. They just don't start or freezing while playing the game. This doesn't occur with my Blizzard or Apollo accelerators. Don't need further explanation.

But how do you know this is related to the SDRAM and not some other incompability?

So, I DO know what I'm talking about, and you're obviously NOT, since you don't even own an ACA. Don't make me laugh! You just come and barg in here, screaming and yelling. about stuff you don't even have experience with.

Look, I never claimed to have experience with the ACA.  If you read my posts again, all I'm wanted you to do was to back up your claims.  Maybe not in that exact tone, but the essence is the same.

Now, move along and go somewhere else trolling!

Calm down, I'm not trolling.  Breathe in, breathe out and read all my posts again.  I never attacked you, I never made any false claims, I never accused you of anything but talking out of your own incompetence.

I have not really seen any evidence that you know what you're talking about, except for arguments like "there's this game that doesn't work", and "some others have had problems".

As I said in my previous post, we're not getting anywhere with this, I'm done here.

[rewlako]

We all know theres lots of variables at play here,  motherboard revisions, different harddrive/cf setups, different expansions PCMCIA, Clockport addons, scsi kits, different kickstarts, different OS versions & patches etc...  

Of course it is.  Amiga is an unstable platform.

Of course theres gunna be hicups here and there with so many variables.   Everything relies on tight timings etc.

Obviously.  But, when people throw out accusations like "Oh, that's because of the SDRAM" and at the same time don't know why SDRAM was used, I feel like racking him a bit for it to see if there's some ground to his claims or not.

Dont think we can come to any conclusion to arguments unless strict quality testing was conducted in an controlled environment, so might as was have a BBQ get some ppl over with their A1200's and test away (:

All I asked for was a few real-life examples, which he never provided.  Don't worry, I got the confirmation I wanted and will leave this thread dead now.