My A500+ Project

[Lockon_15]

I started similar project some 3 years ago, with a 19 years old Rev5 A500. I've got challenged by a usual "bet buddy" with ironic support of few other friends which still can't accept the fact A500 could display this very HTML page.

In short, everything is already said - you can't move an inch forward unless you get an accelerator. For A500 there are some 30+ designs, but generally only few of them are top-class (Derringer, A530, VXL30, Viper530, PPS040-500). Top class means top price. For instance, I got my A530 fully functional after 2 years of constant search. At last it was a faulty unit generously delivered from a member of this forum, which I have recently repaired in AMIGACENTER. With 8Mb FASTRAM, SCSI controller and 68030 @ 40Mhz it is argubly the most complete A500 accelerator set available (this is subject of discussion, many would bias Viper). This piece or something similar should permit smooth Workbench 3.1 installation and form fair basis for further system expansion.

In my case, I went for GVP because I thought it would be almost impossible to match/find both affordable and capable HDD controller in one box and faster CPU with extra RAM in other box.
Since SCSI drives are hard to acquire in one piece for a decent price, I got a 2Gb drive just for making headstart with GVP A530. My final solution include SCSI-to-IDE converter and IDE-to-CompactFlash converter. Few forum members have succesfuly applied this layout, using all benfits of modern solid-state mass storage (lower power consumption, temperature, lifecycle and shock resistancy coupled with superior transfer rate performance).

Stable storage system on A500 will bring the system a step closer towards the networking part. For that issue, I'm shooting on clockport adapter with SubWay USB adapter. Once configured with new bug-check version of Poseidon USB stack, it will (I hope) allow at least 50Kbytes per second on 40Mhz A500 (of course this requires USB-to Ethernet adapter).

Anyway, good luck on project, keep us informed on further progress.

[Lockon_15]

@A1260

I have a scheduled summer vacation with my family, starting later this very day. Won't be even close to A500 untill early September, but will monitor this forum "traffic". Of course, pics of A500 and A530 will be posted shortly uppon returning home.

@CPFUTURE

That driver issue thing crossed my head several times when I browsed eBay listings for those 5 euro USB-ETHERNET adapters. However, if you navigate to this page:

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=2538

System description is listed below pic. It's easy to spot 2 metal USB bracket pairs with a single USB port connected to a RJ45 cable over an adapter. Now, check comments below - it seems like a working setup.

Since I'm months away from opening "networking chapter" and there are still some issues with Poseidon driver, I just put the usual IT logic aside and concluded USB-Ethernet as a done deal.

This state of mind might deviate from reality, but hell it's a good feeling.

[Lockon_15]

AFAIK, there are 3 types of trapdoor RAM expansions:

- i.e. A501 with 512Kb RAM; those use so called "SlowRAM" and always use only exposed socket to function
- i.e  Elbox 500/2 with 2Mb RAM; those also use so called "SlowRAM", but due limitations/design of Amiga memory map, it can only use appx 1,8Mb of installed RAM banks. Moreover, such expansions need extra logic (provide address space for 4 RAM banks) which can be easily seen in form of additional adapter which connects RAM expansion board with one of well known Amiga chips (usually GARY, but can also stretch to 68000 COU as well)
-i.e. Elbox 500/8 with 8Mb RAM; those use real FASTRAM in 100% address space; physical layout puts RAM expansion board on trapdoor, but there are 2 additional adapters which connects to other Amiga chips on motherboard. Basically, this type of expansions offering 8Mb RAM need access to expansion bus usually ocuppied by sidecar expansion port on left side of Amiga.

Regarding A501+ RAM expansion holding additional 1Mb CHIP RAM, I'm not sure if that's correct.

[Lockon_15]

It's hard to judge as the most important figure remains unknown - available budget. If your budget can hold on his own, then I would advise combo like Derringer or Viper and GVP HD8+. That would put you in fastest CPU/maximum RAM envelope covered with additional fast storage solution. In any terms that's a more powerful solution than A530, but it could also be more expensive overall.

As you already figured out, those goodies for A500 are EXTREMELY rare targets for low-budget prespective owners. basically, you're gonna shell-out a nice pile of cash if youe're after a specific setup, meaning that there are other HDD solutions and CPU/RAM designs.

For instance, I can assure you that at least 10 GVP A500 HD8+ units will pass eBay listings before a single A530 unit appear. It's not a rule, but it shows some trend for sure.

[Lockon_15]

What do you expect to get with 0S 3.9 compared with OS 3.1 ?

[Lockon_15]

@sim085

IMHO, your stock A500+ already with 3Mb (1Mb CHIP + 2Mb FAST, not sure) and harddrive will make you happy while exploring Workbench and other apps. I suppose that GVP HDD controller you bought could accept even more FASTRAM, and also getting A501+ would max-out your CHIPRAM (maximum 10, but 5-6 is already enough).

I went through all of this several times, with both A500 and A2000 (have both machines, besides A1200) so be sure I'm talking about things happening when you realize you could move further. Games, for instance, are a bit troublesome to operate under KS3.1 since the large part of them are made for most compatible KS1.3 environment; floppy drive wear-out over time and floppy disks are prone to failures, read errors, not to mention proven lower quality of HD disks over ancient DD disks (could be also problem of medium electrical features or data read/write technology). For that matters, we have WHDLOAD, a real masterpiece of Amiga software development. In short, WHDLOAD allows good old games playable from harddrives, with complete installation procedures, game fixes/patches, removed copy protections, trainers and save game features. Of course, now you can exit game at any time and crawl back to host Workbench OS.

Minimum requirement for WHDLOAD is 68000 CPU, 2.0+ Kickstart, 2Mb of RAM and a harddrive. Some games need some more RAM, but generaly 1Mb CHIP and 4Mb FAST will cover almost 100% of all available WHDLOAD games.

I have a simialr setup on one of my A500s, have played many games with decent retro-feel, just the way I used to. However, a fair share of my favourite games were unstartable since their install procedure requires at least 68020 CPU. That's the part when I realize "step further" moment. I need an accelerator.

You might hit that mark even sooner, depending what are your biases towards Amiga games (what a stupid thought, at least brave stupid to post it on this forum).  

  :-D

Since your GVP HDD have no passthrough connector, you can write-off any side-car accelerator, so get a piece which sits on CPU on motherboard bellow keyboard. Derringer is a great one, you are lucky someone has offered you in public. If you have the cash, this is no-brainer.

Get it. A500 accelerators are rare, expensive and usually tend to change owners only in weird circumstances.

[Lockon_15]

Yes, it would be.
But then you could proceed with upgrades and maybe get a PicassoIV RTG graphic card with internal scandoubler/flickerfixer.

Just a thought...

[Lockon_15]

Long time ago, you had to perform "HDD heads parking" procedure, before killing power, in order to prevent heads ramming onto rotating disk surface.  Not sure, but i.e. A590 install floppy could still have little utility for that purpose.

Anyway, your SCSI drive, if larger than 300Mb should have autopark actuator servo, meaning you can switch off PSU anytime except while some larger chunk data is being written accross disk (like moving files between disk partitions).

Don't get me literally as a 100% secure source, but somehow I guess GVP should be powered first, before A500. A500 maps GVP RAM in autoconfigured memory address space and that means RAM should be powered before A500 Kickstart routines start. On the second note, powering GVP should spin-up SCSI HDD motor and thus harddrive starts prepared for controller SCSI commands when they start rolling.

Powering off may be in reverse order - first A500, then GVP.

Let's wait for other opinions.

[Lockon_15]

@sim085

...And if decide to substitute big, noisy, hot, power hungry SCSI HDD with the feature-opposite CompactFlash card, you can wire GVP controller to drain power from A500 side bus expansion, instead of your current GVP PSU.

That would put you in win-win solution: single PSU and single power-on/off cycle.

[Lockon_15]

You should try some other USB-Ethernet converter, some which use ASIX chipset. DLINK DUB-E100 has been reported as fully "Poseidon friendly". This info comes from people actually getting A500 online, so no rumors - take a look at A500/A600 showroom on A1K.org site.

[Lockon_15]

Take one more shot...

http://www.a1k.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=14

Enjoy.

[Lockon_15]

I don't recollect claiming A500 showroom was inside international section.

However, there are a lot of pics so you can see what real stuff is made of.

[Lockon_15]

According to the user guide, yes.

For a discounted price of USD 214,95 (Malta is hooked on 230V powergrid, correct?) you'll get less cable mess in your appartment, but it all depends what is media source on the Amiga side. If you choose serial, then you'll crawl in painful early 90's trend set of 33K modems.
 
When I say crawl, then I mean some 5 kbytes per second on PC-to-Amiga, and a bit better 13-14 kbytes per second when used as Amiga-to-PC.

If you choose Ethernet, then something in range of 100Kbytes per seconf could be achievable, depends on CPU.

[Lockon_15]

SubWay, of course.
I hope sim085 now understand he's pretty cornered with stock 68000.

[Lockon_15]

CF-to-SD, why?
That's 3rd converter, real cable mess, not to mention how ugly it must look...

If you insist on SD, then get a IDE-to-SD adapter
I.E

http://cgi.ebay.com/SD-SECURE-DIGITAL-MEMORY-CARD-TO-IDE-ADAPTER_W0QQitemZ110282283529QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110282283529&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A3%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14