New ppc board by Acube/A-Eon: A1222 "Tabor"

[dooz]

I done some quick browsing and found this news on:

http://www.software4embedded.de/node/9844

Quote:
15.10.2012 | 14:27 Uhr
Freescale Semiconductor introduced  four new devices for their QorIQ T1 and T2 families of 64-bit processor  families. The new processors are the T1040, T1020, T1022, and T2081. The  new Freescale devices are built on Power Architecture technology. All  of the parts are pin-compatible. They are ideal for entry-level to  mid-range networking, printing and security device applications. Samples  of the T1040 device will be available in the third quarter of 2013. The  other T1 and T2 devices will follow soon after.

That  statement was really only annoucement. What really happened is that T  series, T1022 samples were probably available more close to the end of  2013. So far we learned that it takes minimum about 2.5 years to develop  hardware like Tabor, so Tabor was probably one years already in  development when T series could be "considered" for a product.

If  we look what was Freescale CPUs were available as a option 2.5 years  ago, the logical choice is.... suprise.... P1022 ;-) All other P10xx CPU  options doesnt offer anything new. So the first next option would be to  use P2041 which is based on e500mc core with normal FPU (P2040 doesnt  have gigabit ethernet). But.... those are quad core CPUs... not really  low end suitable solution for low-end Tabor. The same story is valid  also for P3041.

These are the prices for P and T processor from the Freescale web page (for 1000 units):

P1022: US$30.13
P2041: US$129.06 (1.2 GHz)
P2041: US$161.89 (1.5 GHz)
P3041: US$137.66 (1.2 GHz)
P3041: US$181.70 (1.5 GHz)
T1022: US$43.07 (1.2 GHz)
T1022: US$51.68 (1.4 GHz)

So  P20xx is too expensive for low-end, T10xx was not available. Who would  really stop one year development because new CPU is around the corner!?  And when you do that, maybe new thing will arrive so you really never  release the product.

Also why integrate 64-bit processor when  there is no 64-bit support in OS, also why integrate quad core processor  when there is no multicore support in OS. There is no space for unsued  things in low-end product.

P1022 is a snapshot of present moment  when we can have Tabor as it is right now. Otherwise we wouldn not have  this board at all. All other options are in future development.

Tabor  is a very-low-end and low-cost AmigaOS4 (I hope also MorphOS) PPC  configuration which is affordable for every Amigan to buy. It is also  very powerfull because its faster that SAM460, dramatically faster if  second core will be soon in use. This very-low-end is recognizable if  you study the board further (only one PCIe slot, mini-ITX format, P1022,  everything else i integrated). So if CPU is different then we would  probably start asking about many other aspects of the board (for  example...why only one PCIe slot...etc.)

At the end this board is low-end with I hope very acceptable price. Its not something in the middle way to X5000 range.

Well all that is only my opinion.....feel free to correct...

------
Domagoj Ozanic (domagoj.ozanic@zg.t-com.hr)
Amiga WARP Organization http://www.amigawarp.org
A1200T Blue Thunder Tower (BTT) - AmigaOS 4.1 FE
BlizzardPPC 200 MHz / BVisionPPC / 256 MB RAM

[dooz]

Dramatically faster SOON with second core in use? :angry:

you have looked in your glass ball or wishful thinking?

.....dramatically faster if second core will be soon in use.....

I wrote *IF* as a keyword here, and that is completely different meaning.

But anyway, without multicore support all this hardware is not used 100% and that is the main disadvantage of every new product.

SPE and non-standard FPU in P1022 is not that important IMHO. At least there is some kind of FPU that we can use somehow.

No multicore support should be our primary concern both with A1222 and X5000.

------
Domagoj Ozanic (domagoj.ozanic@zg.t-com.hr)
Amiga WARP Organization http://www.amigawarp.org
A1200T Blue Thunder Tower (BTT) - AmigaOS 4.1 FE
BlizzardPPC 200 MHz / BVisionPPC / 256 MB RAM

[dooz]

Why? Because I want it, and it adds minimal cost.
And there will be uses for these in the future (hey, I'm optimistic).

Faster? Slightly until the fpu issues are factored in.

And while it is dual core..."why integrate quad core processor  when there is no multicore support in OS", so why integrate a dual core.
You do know there are single core T10XX cpus, don't you?

You are right here - I did not even consider single core CPU!

Well I guess I am also optimistic :laugh1:

It is somehow acceptable from my POV to have only one unused core with the "future in mind". Three cores is simply too much for me to invest when there is no multicore support right now.

There are people in all kind of different situations considering what Amiga hardware they own. If you look at my signature - that is my current hardware situation. For most of the time this configuration is too weak for anything considering NG and AOS4 and on the other side it is not exactly pure classic either. I done what I can with it.

So A1222 is a "huge leap forward" to me. I can have it for several years. After that maybe I can buy next machine that will have T10xx or whatever it is actual then. This is possible because those machines are supposed to be low - priced. At first I though I would buy X5000, but I think I would give up that because of the price, and get Tabor instead.

These new AmigaOne products do not have "CPU slot" like Commodore Amigas from the past. Also CPU cannot be changed easily. So very long term period for a motherboard is not possible....just change the whole motherboard.

For someone else my situation does not apply. This is just example where current Tabor might be OK in my case.


-----
Domagoj Ozanic (domagoj.ozanic@zg.t-com.hr)
Amiga WARP Organization http://www.amigawarp.org
A1200T Blue Thunder Tower (BTT) - AmigaOS 4.1 FE
BlizzardPPC 200 MHz / BVisionPPC / 256 MB RAM