A500 ++ Prototype

[Buzzfuzz]

Because some people here wanted some more info on the project done by Amiga-Digital, I asked if I could put it up here with a little translation from the Dutch Amigascene.nl site to here.
 
So what is this project about ?
Well his goal is to build a board that fits into an A500 housing and performs like an A500, with the added speed of an 68030.
Because of compatibility he has chosen for a SCSI controller.
The memory will be 4MB's, but later on the exact same banks of an A4000, so 16MB 32bit, will be added.
 
So if all goes well you should have a monster A500 with the speeds and memory of the A4000 and on top of that it will have a Zorro II slot, for expansion like a modified Picasso card.
However it's going to take some more time to actually get the proto board up and running, it's still a long way from actually being finished.
 

 
We already had a discussion on modern hardware, like DDR ram as with the Zorram or SATA, but that simply wouldn't work with the chips.
And if those where to be added it would need a lot more space, and the goal is still to leave it in an A500 housing.
However a SCSI > SATA adapter can be used.
As for memory, a Zorro II card could be added for another 8MB or more, but getting it all fitted in the A500 housing will become a challenge.
 
Believe me, I've seen the board like this with my very own eyes.
And we all can't wait to start testing
 
Now before everyone goes, where can i get this, the first few boards are going to be very limited for testing and Netherlands only.
Once the second version comes out, it might, pay attention MIGHT, go international, but it's still is up to him.
 
I will keep you all updated on this.

[Buzzfuzz]

WOW! All these projects underway, being developed and released in the last few years - it really is a fantastic time to be in the Amiga scene!
 
I just had to check it wasn't April 1st

No it's no joke and you aren't dreaming
I've actually been thinking about a enhanced 060/PPC card, but I will need to get a Cyberstorm first for that, and it ain't easy.

[Buzzfuzz]

You've missed the point.
 
Instead of designing a whole new motherboard, it would be better to just design a 030 accelerator for the A500. That way they could sell it for a much more reasonable cost and far more people would be willing to buy it.
 
No reason to do a whole new motherboard if the new motherboard doesn't offer you any benefit over the old motherboard + an accelerator.

That's not the goal here, it will also contain 2 kickstart sockets, more ram, and maybe later on 16MB like the A4000.
 
Yeah you could do a 030 or 060 turbo card, but that is quite an effort all by itself.
Something that can be done later as well, this already on it's way to becoming a good A500 replacement.
And the fact is that most of it will be new, so it will go on a few more years.

[Buzzfuzz]

It does offer a benefit when you own an A500  (although getting anything to fit in that and be able to close the case should prove to ve interesting unless there is some sort of right angle adapter).

There is @ amigakit.com http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=572

[Buzzfuzz]

If it's using the original (O|E)CS chips then presumably only the local 030 fast RAM will be 32-bit and the path into the chipset 16-bit. In that respect, no different to an accelerator.
 
However, that's an assumption. I don't know that they aren't going to use some FPGA solution or other, but there sure are a lot of sockets on the board.

Yeah, look on the far right of the board, there is the 68030 socket and 68882 socket.

It will be a 030 @ 32/40Mhz at the beginning an later on maybe a 50Mhz.
But it's all too soon too tell, first we need a working board, then we can start on improvements and more speed.

[Buzzfuzz]

This is a kewl project.. It was already done for the A1000 (twice- go look up the pheonix board).
 
I have several comments.. First, I think its an awesome Idea.. Theres tons of A500s out there just consuming closet space and collecting dust.. And the A500 is one of the kewlest looking and most memorable AMIGA case styles ever..
 
If I was to do this, I would use an 060 CPU to begin with.. The 030 is too dated and lacks the fire-power to do anything seriously competitive with modern upgraded 68k AMIGAs.
 
I would also include in the design whatever glue-logic is necessary to allow it to use modern dram. Higher desnsity 72pin SIMMs at the very least.. 16megs is nothing by today's standards.
 
I would also shit-can the A500 side-car bus, and put a full-blown Z-III slot out the side.. Noone is seriously gonna cram a Zorro card, laying flat, over the motherboard inside an A500..
 
Last, I would include integrated ethernet. It costs next to nothing to do nowadayze, with easily available embedded solutions..

That would require A4000 chips, the A500 chips aren't usable with 060.
That is the problem with more speed, memory and new technology.
I already suggested SATA and Zorram like memory or use of DDR ram, but it won't work.
It could work if you added A4000 chips like superbuster 11, but then space would become a problem.
Like I said, if he gets this working and our tests go well, then it will be ready for upgrades.

[Buzzfuzz]

How did my Blizzard 2060 work then? My A2000 had the same chips as the A500.

Because that is CPU card, the CPU slot on the A2000 combined with the chips on the card make that 060 work.
If you take a plain 060 on a pin grid holder and just hook it up to all Amiga 500 chips, it won't work.
Yes, once you would basicly form the card into the board with all the chips, then it would work, but again, that would require more space, which isn't availble at the moment.
 
And a prototype (once again) is still the first stage, if this works then maybe he can sort out if a 060 would work.

[Buzzfuzz]

Neither will an 030.
 
Or an 020.

I'm already happy if this baby starts up with a 030, for games it's more than enough, Frontier First Encounters is probably one of the games that will make full usage of it and other 3D games, but other than that, a simple game like IK+ won't even get that thing hot.
 
I remember the A500 being the game machine, not the OS3.X/4.X system, they invented A3000/A4000's for that.
Just because we can, doesn't mean a 060 with even PPC added will make it the uber god system.

[Buzzfuzz]

Good luck with the project Buzzfuzz. It looks exciting.

It's not mine, it's from Amiga-Digital, but if it goes well, I'll probably be one of the testers.
I would have this any day over my A500

[Buzzfuzz]

I'm not sure why folks are being so down & negative about this? Seems pretty cool to me!

Welcome to amiga.org; the home of the amiga depressionists.
Staf.

:laughing:
I think everyone can view it the way they want, good or bad.
For me it's all good, any progress is better than nothing.

[Buzzfuzz]

Once again a reminder:
 
I'm not doing the design, nor the decisions on production.
As said in the first post, the 1st prototype will be Netherlands only!
If the 2nd version comes out, it may, repeat MAY go international, but all decisions are up to Amiga-Digital for that.

[Buzzfuzz]

 
As of now he's testing the board, so far no life, but seems to be a problem with the tick signal.

[Buzzfuzz]

I have just two question.
When can I get one to replace my dead-due-battery-leakage A500+ mobo;
Secondly, what will be the cost, if it can be seen more clearly? (Possibly this was answered but I haven't read all the comments ;P)

You probably are better off buying an A500 plus again.
The project is Netherlands only so far and this board didn't do anything so it was back to the drawing board, Amiga-Digital is now designing it in modules, so something like Natami and the old Cyberstorm MKI.
When that works it will be made a full board like the one above.
If the alpha and beta testing goes well for us maybe then you will have a shot.

[Buzzfuzz]

Edited, see last post.

[Buzzfuzz]

Please stop emailing Amiga-Digital with questions, thanks.