Opinions / Info - AmigaOS 4.x Systems

[takemehomegrandma]

I can also recommend getting a used SAM440. Amiga OS responsive nature makes it feel like you are using a very fast computer

"It feel like you are using a very fast computer", well yes, until you actually start doing stuff of more modern kind, like watching videos (modern codecs, modern resolutions), browsing complex and heavy web sites, compiling, rendering, emulation, etc. There is no shortcut around the need of decent CPU power.

I do use both SAM460 and X1000, its nice to have em, but man, they are not fully used by OS, starting with more modern gfx cards that work 2D only

AFAIK, the proper 1.0 version of the 2D accelerated driver is strictly speaking not here yet AFAIK, only in beta/RC, yes? But it's said it will be soon?

[takemehomegrandma]

The X5000 is a long way off consumer release and when it is finally ready, drivers and software all have to be written for it.

Some (like the customers) could argue that it's not finally ready until the drivers are, right?

[takemehomegrandma]

I'm curious if anyone knows of any FAQ's, or has any direct feedback, on the various incarnations of OS 4.x Amiga's that have come across to date.  I may be in the market for a used one or even an X-#### model and would like to know what I'm getting into ahead of time if possible.

For example, I seem to recall one motherboard has an audio issue due to a missing capacitor or resistor?

I'm particularly interested in info on the Sam440/460 models as I've seen them advertised more than others.

Thanks!

IMHO you would be best off searching for a second hand Pegasos 2 G4. Happy hunting!

[takemehomegrandma]

You will be very surprised at how it pushes the emphasis on key AmigaOS developments in specific fields.  Having both the X1000 and X5000 means that AmigaOS is headed in a new direction away from low memory, low powered hardware to a new generation of hardware and software needing the power of the X1000 and X5000.

But if OS4 is heading *away* from the Amiga/AmigaOS way of things, why is the focus still on low volume, extreme cost custom PPC HW, that will never be able to compete with real 2014 desktop computers? I mean, if the cord to the Amiga legacy is cut once and for all (which is necessary for things like SMP, >31 bit/2GB limit, etc) why persist with PPC when all obstacles (Amiga legacy compatibility) from going x86/ARM is already removed anyway?

[takemehomegrandma]

well I stand corrected cause it looks like the Samflex boards can in fact run some HD cards with a certain PCI to PCIe adapter

Define "run"?

[takemehomegrandma]

Pegasos 2 has a limited possibilities to choose graphics card. It is not a possible to use Radeon HD cards with it.

However, the possibilities to use Radeon HD cards for anything useful in OS4 is rather limited, where a Radeon 9250 offers 2D acceleration, 3D acceleration and overlay. And technically speaking, there are many possible AGP cards that would work in a Pegasos 2 so I wouldn't call it "limited selection", but as usual it's a matter of drivers, which has always been an Achilles Heel in OS4...

[takemehomegrandma]

Choosing lower specced second hand hardware may not be the best choice soon...

OTOH $3,000+ HW with slightly worse performance than some second hand HW may not be a possible choice at all...

[takemehomegrandma]

Define "video playback sucks" ... I certainly don't have trouble playing DVDs.

Well, you kind of said it yourself there. Even the Efika 5k2 could play DVD resolution MPEG-2 streams on a 9xxx card, and if this is your peak performance on a system with PCIe and Radeon HD, then it actually kind of sucks IMHO.

If you're talking about HD content, then I'm pretty sure that no AmigaOS system with a Radeon 9xxx can play that smoothly either.

Maybe not OS4 systems, but many of the more popular G4 based MorphOS systems with Radeon 9xxx cards can usually manage proper x264 720p streams, which is a HD resolution, and the G5 systems does x264 1080p.

[takemehomegrandma]

I didn't see anyone showing interest in MOS systems in this thread, TMHG.  

I know how much you like preaching the blue gospel, but enough sandbagging other peoples threads.

Sorry that you didn't like my post, but in a HW discussion about what could (or should really) be expected in terms of video playback performance on PCIe based Radeon HD systems, and whether it sucks or not compared to Radeon 9xxx (or vice versa), it certainly illustrated what is possible on good, old G4's with AGP Radeon 9xxx HW, as a reference, albeit on a different OS. I Leave it up to the reader to decide for himself just where the "suckyness" lies here...

[takemehomegrandma]

it would be good if driver could be shared with MOS and AROS community - many things are backports from their communities nowadays and it will be badly needed once MOS starts supporting SAM460ex.

I obviously don't speak for the MorphOS team, but to me it seems like the MorphOS team believes that providing HW support, API's and drivers for applications to use, is one of the core functions of an Operating System, and they mostly (with a few exceptions) wants to develop their own drivers, especially the GFX drivers. If/when MorphOS will support the Sam 460, I expect GFX drivers to be there, as they are part of the package, one of the things defining the word "support" when talking about an OS supporting HW. I guess we'll know in due time...