Here's a non-technical FAQ about the proposed coldfire-based Amiga by PJ Matthews
The NON Technical FAQ to the coldfire based AMIGA.
Version 1 – I respond
The following is quick FAQ that answers the most common questions that people have asked in the last 24 hours (had a big response).
Q – So what on earth is the coldfire AMIGA project?
A – It’s a project to move the AMIGA to the 68k series natural successor, the coldfire. Now we are planning to use version 4 of the processor that is naturally very compatible with the 68k as it features most of the instruction set from the 68k.
Q – So will all my existing software work?
A – Most of it, I’m betting almost every piece of Workbench software you have will run. Most of your games should too. We get around the missing instructions by using Motorola’s own emulation layer. This layer patches 68k commands to their coldfire alternatives without too much loss in speed. Hopefully the only thing you’ll notice is a very fast AMIGA. The downside is that some games will run far faster than they every should of done. Users of the 060 will notice some older games now play at an amazing rate, so much so that they are unplayable (would you like a list of such games) – this will be even more apparent in the coldfire but most games should run fine.
Q – So this a brand new AMIGA?
A – It will be pretty much, but to begin with we are working on the accelerator cards for the A1200/4000 and possibly other machines.
Q – Why not just go straight to the AMIGA clone and scrap the accelerator card?
A – Development is the simple answer. The accelerator board we are working on will serve us by turning our existing AMIGAs into development machines for testing purposes, much before the final AMIGA is assembled. You guys will have the chance to buy such a board that will mean a very fast traditional AMIGA for you all at a reasonable price. Should be our chance to move SDRAM to the traditional classic AMIGAs as well.
Q – So then after that you’ll start on the completely new AMIGA?
A – Not start, we have in effect started now on the new AMIGA, but it will be a background project. Our main problem was supply of the AGA chipset but this seems to have been solved in a big way. My personal preference was to purchase the rights to own/manufacture a batch of the hombre/integrated AGA chipset as this can just be remanufactured again and again where as the AGA chipset can’t but they seem to have a big supply anyway. Problem solved.
Q – The AGA chipset is dated.
A – Yep, its there for compatibility, stick with your regular graphics card or an alternative GPU for everything else. One possibility is to raise the AGA chipsets CHIP RAM limitations above 2mb. Most signs say we can’t do this, however a jumper on the AMIGA 4000s motherboard suggests this may well be possible, but no promises.
Q – Will I need new ROMs?
A – I don’t see why you would, the system will think it has a true 68k CPU at its heart so you won’t need new ROMs and I’m betting a lot of your existing hardware will work also including the new PPC on a PCI card for the A4000.
Q – Why bother – the AMIGA One is just around the corner?
A – True but its been around the corner for a while now and OS 4.0 doesn’t seem to be exactly racing along does it? Our machine is different. We don’t move across to the PPC although this could have easily been done, we could have built our own AMIGA One motherboard based around Motorola’s reference designs but both myself and Oliver feel this is the better approach and will benefit you all far more, cost should also be kept down – have you seen the price of the AMIGA One?
Q – Take it you won’t be buying an AMIGA One?
A – May do, I feel the AMIGA One is flawed but fun anyway, this is my personal opinion by the way.
Q – Your not going to have OS 4.0, you’ll be way behind.
A – OS 4.0 Won’t be a leap forward, its just going to be a move to the PPC platform. Don’t expect anything like OS 3.9 guys or you’ll be in for a shock when your AMIGA One and OS 4.0 beta arrive on your desk. If there’s enough demand an OS 4.0 could be moved across or we could simply work with AROS that is our best option. Until then kick 3.1 and OS 3.9 should be fine.
Q – Okay once you’ve made the development board/accelerator card what sort of clone AMIGA will we see?
A – A few, an A1200 style machine is proving popular with you guys but I suspect an ATX board (perhaps micro) would be best for the first board. It could have PCI slots and AGP or a much needed update to the Zorro. This is a bit of step away yet. One interesting design would be to mount the AGA chipset on a separate card that can simply be replaced when no longer needed or if you don’t want backwards compatibility simply add your own Voodoo or ATI. Nothings set in stone.
Q – Can we have an AMIGA laptop?
A – Why not! There has been a lot of wishful people asking for such a device. Its more than possible and we would just stick a board in Taiwanese OEM case (as used by Compaq, IBM etc) or design our own. I know Oliver is very much interested in such a device – you may wish to contact him.
Q – How can I help?
A – In many ways. We are looking for people who are good with PCB design, a head for software or hardware or simply guys and gals who want to purchase a Coldfire processor or two. Once we have 24 the fun starts. I’m going to approach the guys on the Atari project as they haven’t even purchased any cold fires yet and may well buy a few at the same time.
Can I just say thank you for all the support and the criticism is also proving useful. We do know there has a been a coldfire type card that was almost finished but wasn’t release. My understanding was that this didn’t use the V4 Coldfire like we are wanting to use, so ours will be faster and thanks to Motorola, just as compatible. No pre orders please, just buy a processor if you want to help. You could keep it until we release the PCB for the accelerator, use it in your own projects or just mount it on the wall. The CPU is about £25 per chip.
PJ Matthews
