graphic card

[BoingBoss]

Hi Lodbro,

i want a better graphics card for my a3k

You should also consider the GVP EGS 28/24 Spectrum card.  It is a very nice video board and goes beyond AGA.  This board can use the EGS drivers, Picasso drivers, and the CyberVision drivers.  It comes with 1 or 2 megs of video memory, supports 8-bit, 16-bit, and 24-bit graphics modes, and has a pass-thru for the Commodore A2320 Amber board (includes the cable).  Your Amiga 3000 computer has the A2320 Amber board circuitry built in.  So just plug one end of the cable to the Amiga 3000's VGA out and the other end to the Spectrum board's video in.  As with all video cards, you need a very fast processor, lots of 32-bit memory, and 2 megs of Chip Ram.  Lodbro, there are many kinds of video boards available for the Amiga 3000, not just Picasso and CyberVision.  So, do not get caught up in the Picasso and CyberVision HYPE!  Do your homework, like I have, and pick a video board that best suits YOUR needs.   :-)

[BoingBoss]

Hi Karlos,

Below are some of the specs for this board:

15-75 kHz horizontal frequency
up to 200 Hz vertical frequency

Karlos, do not take this the wrong way, but you do not know what you are talking about when it comes to this video card.

Since most normal people have their Amiga 2000 and 3000 computer screen resolution set at 640 X 480 or 800 X 600, this board works really well and does what it is suppose to do.  I have mine set at 640 X 480, 16.7 million colors and it works great.  I have never had any problems with it.  The only thing is that you have to have 2 megs of Chip Ram, a fast processor, and at least 8 megs of 32-bit memory to use this board in true-color mode.  If you have this board set to 8-bit or 16-bit mode then it will work just fine in a stock Amiga 2500 computer.  Also, the GVP EGS Spectrum board works very well with Commodore's A2320 Amber board and even comes with a cable for that board.  The A2320 is one of the best flicker-fixer / scan-doubler boards ever made.  Karlos, I agree with you when you say that there are better video boards for the Amiga, but they cost a lot more money too.  The GVP EGS Spectrum video board is a great choice for the average Amiga user.  Maybe you are above average and have an above average wallet.    :-D

Get a *real* graphics card with at the very least 4MB memory

According to AmigaWorld magazine, it is better to have a 2-meg video board then a 4-meg video board.  When I find the article, I will post it.   :-D

[BoingBoss]

Hi Brian,

Keep in mind that the video standards for the Classic Amiga computer are the following:

GVP EGS Spectrum
Picasso
CyberVision

So, as long as a person has one of these video boards in their Classic Amiga, they are doing great.  If a person wants PCI slots then get a PC computer.  A "true" Amiga computer does NOT have PCI slots.   :roll:

[BoingBoss]

Hi QuikSanz,

You are wrong. I have both a Spectrum AND a Picasso IV card in my B2000 monster, with 2 identical monitors. The best the Spectrum can manage in 24 bit is 800 x 600, the PicIV can do 1280 x 1024 easy, and its faster.

So, what am I wrong about?  I never said anything about the GVP EGS Spectrum board being better or faster then a Picasso IV card.  QuikSanz, think before you speak!   :-x

I will be buying both a Picasso IV and a CyberVision board when the prices go down a little more.  I should be able to pick both up for less then $50.00 each in about another year or two.  Afterall, all of you guys want an AmigaOne, right?  So, you will be selling your old boards on eBay.  Nobody will want them and the market will be flooded with them.  At that time I will be able to buy them real cheap.  I plan to keep my vintage Amiga and Atari ST computers for at least another 30 years.  I am already stocking up on spare parts and DS/DD disks.    :-D

[BoingBoss]

Hi irishmike,

So is the Picasso 4 the card for me?

If you can afford it then get it.  The Picasso 4 is actually a very nice board.  You will need Kickstart 3.1 in order to set the Workbench to 256 colors.  I had discovered this while working with my Amiga 2500 and 2000HD.  My Amiga 2500 has Kickstart 3.1, so I could set the Workbench to 256 colors.  But, my Amiga 2000HD has Kickstart 2.04, so  I could NOT set the Workbench 2.1 to 256 colors.  If anybody knows why this is, or how to correct it, please let me know.

Irishmike, the 256 color limit is only for Workbench (AGA Amigas have the same limit).  You can still load up true color pictures, play mpegs, and use 24-bit paint programs.   :-D

[BoingBoss]

Hi Karlos,

Whatever you decide, it might be worth waiting to see what Redrumloa is cooking up presently.

Do you get "kick-backs" or something?!   :lol:

[BoingBoss]

Hi Hyperspeed,

Phew, I stoked a hornet's nest here!

Yea, and I am running away.  I am allergic to bee stings.   :lol: