DCE Blizzard accelerators and clock batteries

[Hyperspeed]

Yikes that sounds dodgy!

DCE's reputation took a beating in the later years with the CyberStorm PPCs all going back for repair and disappearing into a black hole.

Also, my SCSI-IV kit is a v8.5 DCE version and isn't too reliable. Not only did I get it new and it lacked a rear expansion retainer but it has nasty transmission errors all the time and a giant capacitor where the 2nd SIMM should rest.

CR2032 is ridiculous, particularly soldered on!

[Hyperspeed]

My DCE SCSI-IV kit had design flaws and bits missing that the Phase 5 version didn't (despite having an updated ROM). No retainer bracket for the rear expansion port and a capacitor blocking the 2nd SIMM slot - and I bought this brand new.

I remember the hassle of changing the dual-CR2032 setup on the Sega Dreamcast's 'VM' memory cards and they cost 5 GBP a pair! They would slowly drain down and you couldn't charge them back up. The same for the N64 memory paks and the Sega Saturn's internal RAM.

The VL2020 type can be recharged. Who wants to keep putting batteries into their Amiga trapdoor every 3-6 months and then into landfill?

And here's another tip: If you want a PCMCIA SRAM card for memory or solid state disk access look for the Centennial brand as the Mitsubishi Melcard uses the same cruddy CR2032 batteries.

Think of the environment, think of your wallet, think of your time - DCE may have screwed up on this but I love them. If just for the SX32-Pro.

:-D

[Hyperspeed]

Would you solder on the CR2032 though? Where would that leave the consumer when its' charge died?

[Hyperspeed]

The only place where non-rechargeable batteries are soldered permanently is novelty monkeys from a kids' shop!

Even early 90's 386s had rechargeable batteries and yes, the A4000 ones leak - because they're 14 years old and the size of house!

:-D

Apollo cards were never up to the standard of Phase 5 cards, they made a 75Mhz '060 board with no FPU.It got 10% less score than the 50Mhz Phase 5 '1260 in Amiga Format.

Maybe in the future our time will be kept by the internet or radio waves. Pity help us if a virus targets that though!

;-)

[Hyperspeed]

by PG:
Well, your obviously not an expert in electronics.
Here is another novelty monkey for you..

http://amiga.resource.cx/photos/photo.pl?id=t1230

Oh Jesus, Mtech/Apollo accelerators... I think I'll take the novelty monkey. Those boards were so cheaply designed they probably knew the battery would outlast the board!

:-)

by PG:
If you didnt knew it, most modern PC:s use CR2032 as backup battery.

Yes, with a replaceable clip to pull them out when they die. You can replace them without having the need for an electronics degree.

by PG:
Phase5 AND DCE Blizzard 1260 cards has the same problem.
Ever tried to clock a Blizzard 1260 in 75Mhz?

No, because Phase5 used the XC68060RC50A which has a full FPU and MMU. It is however widely in use at 66Mhz and far more reliable.

I always remember the Amiga Format reviews of the Blizzard cards and they were basically like Ferrari to the Apollo/Magnum boards (the Ladas).

Now, I'm going to spank my novelty monkey.

:-D