Opinions / Info - AmigaOS 4.x Systems

[vox]

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!

There is no defenete winner.

Pegasos 2 - Fast, cheap, avail only used, hard to get OS4 copy, can run MorphOS too

SAM 440 - Cheapest and best supported but limited CPU, no probs with sound or 3D

SAM 460 - Limited expandability, much faster then SAM 440, but its PCIE cards have only 2D

X1000 - Most expensive big box, fast and expandable, but its PCIE cards have only 2D and has to use Linux to be fully used

X5000 -Beats main disadvantage of X1000 and that is relatively slow CPU, but is in beta testing. Worth of waiting.

Main point is we need OS 4.2 to get all modern features of last 3.

[vox]

Yeah... if I could talk the wife into spending 3K right now it would be a done deal, but sadly...

Then try getting Peg2 used with OS4 and MorphOS if not possible then go for SAM440. It will not destroy your budget.

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 and SAM 460 has many pecularities SAM 440 doesnt have. Some days I wish I had Peg 2 or SAM 440.:rtfm:

[vox]

The AmigaONE X1000 supports the latest RadeonHD cards (5000/6000 and 7000 series), has 7.1 digital HD sound in AmigaOS and features the fastest CPU available to AmigaOS 4.1.

The X1000 is soon going to have AMIStore app store launched for it and there are several other software developments arriving for it this year.  A-EON's focus this year is enabling more software for the X1000, its flagship product.

It sadly has 2D with all cards except Radeon 9250 which is even slower on X1000 PCI bus.
Not even onboard ethernet and SD card are visible under OS 4.2, not to mention above 256MB VRAM, 2GB FAST and second core
(32-bit limits). Its a killer flagship system, but way too advanced for OS. A single core G5 performant, 2GB DDR3, Radeon 9100 256MB VRAM
with Sound Blaster 5.1 would be more suitable. PA Semi has bad CPU but good FPU, Altivec and Memory Transfer, kind of between G3 CPU and G5 level tech.

I am glad there will be more X1000 software this year, but X1000 users are waiting for full OS 4.2, as paid.

[vox]

A-EON is not in responsible or in charge of the Amiga Operating System development but every time there is a commercial opportunity for A-EON to support new software for the X1000, then this will be taken.

Surely, no one is responsible, that is best part of it. :roflmao::rtfm:

[vox]

@takemehomegrandma
Yes, you are of course correct, the main drivers need to be ready before consumer release.  That is why we are in the process of working with developers for the provision of Cyrus' SATA, USB, Ethernet at the moment.  Although this is one for the long term.  Our priorities at the moment are the provision of more software for customers who have X1000s out there currently.

Since SAM 440 no board has came with complete drivers, including NEMO. If this is true, this would be great lesson learned that unfinished products (from software side) should not be shipped, since it causes quite a lot headache to end users. And support too.

Even its a bit shameful that X5000 will come with OS 4.1.7 again, which means OS 4.2 has become kind of OS 5.0 mythical. As TW 22. Investment in software on any base is as important, if not even more, then new hardware development.

While I am happy Cyrus will provide more horsepower, it doesn`t accelerate AmigaOS development in any way.

[vox]

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.

One day youy say development is divided, other day its linked.

As x1000 user I clearly say there is no currently software that really needs X1000. Yes, x1000 is great hardware, but AmigaOS is in sad state currently when compared what it COULD use. Since it will be more or less the same, same situation will repeat when Cyrus is beta tested.

Once OS 4.2, TW and Libre are out, situation MIGHT be a bit like you say.

[vox]

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

Which 2D card at this time ... and therefore is limit itself. When I try to run my Payback not even warpz3d emulation works, and bang, I wish I had 9250 I had decade ago and not 6870 monster card.

[vox]

What system are you using the 6870 on? Also it's not a monster card but a top mid range card from the end of 2010, but it was a competitive card for it's price and still pulls of quite good in new games and most of the time does medium setting in 1920x1080 without problems

x1000. It was a best card AmigaKit was offering at time, RADEON BARTS, as well as its best Radeon I ever had, sadly very little really used under Linux. on AmigaOS 4 it has quite a similar function as my ages old ISA Trident or Cirrus Logic - to make a 2D display.

[vox]

This is completely wrong.

If you run the compositing Boing Ball demo from Hans De Ruiter, you will see the clear performance difference between a RadeonHD 6870 and lower specced cards.  The demo is much smoother and faster.  If you run M.A.C.E full game with FPS in 1920x1080, you can also see the performance difference with RadeonHD 6870.

And A-EON has some software coming out in the next three months that will demonstrate some more of the power of the RadeonHD on AmigaONE X1000 over other AmigaOS 4 hardware.  

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

Its perfectly correct as it offers just 2D.

Yes, BoingBall demo is nice, but is just a demo.

Currently, I wish I invested in Peg2, but yet you are to prove me wrong.

As I argue, its not the hardware itself, its the way OS4 use, or better say isn`t using it. Linux with LXDE does proper job on X1000 and I wouldn`t be able to cope with daily tasks if I didn`t have it.

[vox]

Vox, I thought that you swapped your x1000 with djnykk? How on earth can you now have another one to run linux? :hammer:

Simply, x1000 is currently at my place for Linux setup. Answer is simple DJ Nick and me are friends and we do live in same city. And I have more time to bother, he likes it finished. There is SAM460ex Linux and AmigaOS 4 under way, waiting for MorphOS.

And AEROS r3.5 on my laptop :hammer:

[vox]

@Vox

The Boing Ball demo is a good benchmark of the performance of the hardware and the RadeonHD driver.

A-EON has been investing in further graphics software development in the meantime.


Try running the new Odyssey v1.23 web browser for AmigaOS 4.1 that has been released today and play videos in YouTube.  The perfomance difference between a SAM/Pegasos and the more powerful AmigaONE X1000 is very noticeable.

Nice. That is MOS port paid by community. When will there be Timberwolf 4 which is *almost* working and is also funded by community?

[vox]

/Sherlock Holmes mode on

So you see my dear Watson, all of the evidence stacks up. Once you have removed the impossible, what remains regardless of how improbable, must be the truth. Therefore, one can only conclude that Vox and djnick are the one and the same person... Elementary!

/Sherlock Holmes mode off

:laughing:

No, we are long term friends. If I had all the skills DJ Nick had, I would not bother with social work at all :-) Is it so hard to believe I can have few computers at home at one time, including two PPC Amigas, an PS3 and a laptop that runs AEROS?

[vox]

Full screen too, although the video might not completely fill the screen. In the case of a 720p video, it matches a 1280x720 screen perfectly, so it does completely fill the screen.

Hans

Thanks for very informative answer Hans.

Gallium or hardware decoder, there is no much point in using the big fat and mighty newer cards, if we dont (ab)use their features.  I can add only one instance where current acceleration does help and that is smooth graphics of M.A.C.E, but then again that is a mobile phone style game with kind of pseudo 3D, basically a 2D scroll shooter. For most of titles that have to use Warp3D software emulation, it undermines even not best PA Semi performance.

So current state of affairs isn`t much to celeberate, even you are the man.

Saying that, DJ Nick and me counted we have purchased 3 licenses of RadeonHD driver. You will have further support for your hardwork and 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.

[vox]

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...

OK that is one way to look at it, but may be a longer route. We just witness that some crucial AmigaOS 4 functionality like MUI4 and HTML5 browser come by outsourcing it from MOS.

Waiting for that time.

P.S.
What I like with the Free and Open Source is exactly that - no need to duplicate things. Thus, we are not DEVELOPING Office for OS4, we are just PORTING Libre office, same goes for Timberwolf and even Gallium, or CUPS.