A3000 + cybergraphics (vga pass through) + os3.9

[Crumb]

A3000+CV64 is a fast and fun experience :-)

Remember to add some fast ram as 24bit images eat a lot of ram (a 040/40 or 060 accelerator may be useful too)

[Crumb]

With 18MB of ram you should try to use 256colours screens and maybe a 16bit one. But try to keep the number of >8bit screens down.

You A3000 will feel MUCH faster with a CV64, regardless of you using a 030 or 060.

CV64 includes the ROXXLER chip that does planar to chunky conversions so you don't have to waste your cpu doing that.

CV64 is one of the fastest Zorro3 cards. Its bus is faster than Picasso4, CV3D and Prometheus. Its monitor-switcher makes it very comfortable to use.

If you have access toa  cheap CV64 get it, it's a very nice card with monitor switcher, unlike voodoo3 etc, that will force you to buy crappy external monitor switchers. A CV64 monitorswitcher is automatic and truly comfortable.

I would get a CV64 for a 030 A3000 but I wouldn't waste my  money buying a Prometheus or Mediator unless you get it 2nd hand very cheap or plan to expand your A3000 a lot. A CV64 is far more comfortable thanks to its monitor switcher and  it's very fast. In fact, its bus speed is faster than Prometheus/Mediator.

The 1st amiga gfx card I had was a GVP Spectrum, the 2nd one a CV64, the 3rd one a CV3D (bad change), the 4th one a Picasso4 (I still have it, I love it), the 5th one a Prometheus+Voodoo3 and the 6th one a Mediator4000Di.

CV64 had a clear image, was fast and comfortable. It will be a joy to use regardless of your machine being upgraded or not.


@amigakit:

sorry, but OpenPCI doesn't work very well with Prometheus because DMA stuff is not finished. E3B will probably publish an update next year. I own both Mediator4000Di and Prometheus and Prometheus works very well with Voodoo3+RTL8029 but that's all. Mediator works better if you plan to use TV, USB or Sound. That may change when E3B finishes his Prometheus firmware upgrade, but until that day don't speak about OpenPCI on Prometheus too loud ;-)

[Crumb]

Prometheus is a ZorroIII card with 4 PCI slots that allows you to use no-DMA PCI cards. The supported cards are Virge PCI, Permedia2 PCI, Voodoo3 PCI (this is the best one) and RTL8029 (ethernet10).

Please keep in mind that ATM it won't allow you to use any sound card (maybe in the future) and that Voodoo3 lacks a monitor switcher. You won't get much advantage from using a Voodoo3 over the CV64 (in fact it will run slower). You won't be able to use most of warp3D stuff because it requires an FPU and usually a 040.

It's a good deal if you plan to Towerize your A3000 because you won't be able to use your Prometheus with a closed case (of course you have to waste money in 2 90º adapters if you want to keep it in the original case)

But you'll have to waste a lot of money more:
-90 degrees adapters (with shipping 2 will be probably 90€ or more)
-electronic monitor switcher with cables (30€)
-Voodoo3 (30€)
-RTL8029 (10€)
-Prometheus (160€)

that's 320€ just to get a gfx card and a network card inside your case. And you haven't upgraded your cpu yet.

Get a 3640/25Mhz Rev 3.1 or 3.2 if you choose a Prometheus, that's 30€ more but your A3000 will run 3 times more than your current 030/25.

I would choose a 2nd hand CV64 and a 2nd hand XSurf. You would waste just 130-140€ and as a bonus you would get an IDE port (although it wouldn't be an autoboot IDE). Then you can spend some money on a 040/40 with fast ram and you'll have a nice system.

I wouldn't upgrade to a Prometheus (at least I wouldn't buy a new one) if you don't plan to towerize your A3000 and add a 040/40 or 060.

I would try to get 2nd hand stuff: a XSurf, a CV64 and a 040/40 with fast ram. You'll end up with your original A3000 case unmodified (Towers are butt-ugly) and with a nice gear inside your A3000.

Voodoo3 sounds pretty nice but most of times I prefer to use a CV64 or Picasso4 because using an external moniotr switcher could be a pain in the ass if you use many ECS apps/games.