Deneb USB questions

[HammerD]

I posted this on amigaworld.net, but no one is answering over there, so I thought I would try it here...

Hi everyone, I am interested in purchasing the new Deneb USB solution for my classic Amigas. I have a few questions and I was wondering if those of you who already purchased the device could lend a hand....

1) I primarily use an A4000/CS PPC with OS 4.0 classic and two A4000T machines running OS 3.9 using the on-board A4000T SCSI. I understand that you CANNOT use the Deneb in DMA mode with the A4000T because the buster Rev.11 only allows ONE busmaster device. In the case of the A4000T that is already used by the on-board A4091 scsi controller. So...having said that:

On an A4000T/060 - can you still use the Deneb in PIO mode? When transferring files from a USB stick and/or using USB Audio or USB network, how HIGH is the CPU Usage - assuming a 060/50Mhz cpu? Is the device stable and reliable?

On an A4000D/060/CS PPC with OS4, I understand the Deneb also will only work in PIO mode due to not fully developed software supporting OS 4's new memory architecture. Has anyone used a Deneb under OS4 and again - how well is it working with USB Audio and networking? How about CPU usage? Is it high? (assume a PPC 604e 200MHz)

2) I also understand that you can use MorphOS PowerUP and install it onto the flashroom of the Deneb thus being able to directly boot MorphOS PowerUP. Are any reboots required prior to booting and how is the performance? Are there instructions available for installing MorphOS onto the flashrom? I did not see any on the product's website. Are you using DMA mode?

3) In general, for those of you who have the device, how is it? Is it stable? Are you using DMA or PIO mode? Are you happy with PIO mode? Are you happy with USB Audio performance - does it work nicely while playing back MP3's? Similarily with networking - is it reliable and how is the CPU Usage?

4) Do you know if software updates to support DMA operation in OS4 are planned?

I know this is alot of questions, but before I go ahead and purchase the device it would be nice to have some feedback from current users.

Thanks

[HammerD]

@platon42

Hi, thanks for the detailed answers. It seems everyone really likes the Deneb hardware/software.

  I mainly was worried that it would not work at all in the A4000T, or hog the cpu if in PIO mode.  I probably would want to use it in my A4000T for usb networking, I am short a zorro NIC and don't really want to spend just as much on that when I can get a more versatile device like the Deneb.  In fact I may get two of them, or at least one to start to see how well it works.

I think the price is reasonable for all of the functionality that is built into it, the 4MB flashrom, poseidon usb stack, booting morphos, ability to store kickstart rom images (can it also store the OS4 kickstart directory and boot os4?).

I just hope they stay in stock a little bit longer, have to wait a bit before I can afford it at the moment