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Author Topic: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum  (Read 3840 times)

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Offline mcostanzaTopic starter

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Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« on: August 10, 2011, 05:13:50 AM »
Ok, I have an A3000/25 and would like to get it set up with a RTG card. Need to get some feedback on either the Picasso II (2mb if I can find one) or the GVP Spectrum. Right off the bat, I can tell you I can find a GVP Spectrum card pretty easy but I understand it is the slowest of all off the Amiga RTG cards out there.

I will be using the card with Amiga OS 3.1 at first then upgrading to 3.9. Any thoughts?

MC
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Offline Heiroglyph

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2011, 05:32:48 AM »
As far as I know, they are essentially the same card.  They use the same Cirrus Logic chipsets.

Anything with a built in monitor switch should be fine with the built in flicker fixer on your 3000.

I've even replaced some of my PCI cards with PicassoII+ and Cybervision 64 just because of the monitor switch.
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Offline utri007

Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2011, 06:26:33 AM »
GVP card has a support for Zorro III, so at least in theory you get faster transfer rates to it, because Picasso II is Zorro II only.
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Offline VingtTrois

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2011, 07:41:57 AM »
Quote from: utri007;653901
GVP card has a support for Zorro III, so at least in theory you get faster transfer rates to it, because Picasso II is Zorro II only.

Right!
EGS 28/24 Spectrum:  Zorro II / III autosensing
PICASSO II:  Zorro II
« Last Edit: August 10, 2011, 07:44:21 AM by VingtTrois »
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Offline Xanxi

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2011, 07:42:22 AM »
The graphic chipset is the same but the GVP is a bit faster in Z2 mode, is Z3 compatible and has a builtin switch.
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Offline Crumb

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2011, 07:56:40 AM »
IMHO GVP Spectrum is slightly better. You could also look for a Piccolo SD64, it has 4MB a fast Cirrus Logic (the same used in AteoBus Pixel64) and monitor switcher.
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Offline flaviosr

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2011, 12:01:52 PM »
Quote from: mcostanza;653898
Ok, I have an A3000/25 and would like to get it set up with a RTG card. Need to get some feedback on either the Picasso II (2mb if I can find one) or the GVP Spectrum. Right off the bat, I can tell you I can find a GVP Spectrum card pretty easy but I understand it is the slowest of all off the Amiga RTG cards out there.

I will be using the card with Amiga OS 3.1 at first then upgrading to 3.9. Any thoughts?

MC


I have two Picasso II and they are very good but, at least looking at the specs, the Spectrum should be better, as I can also read in this 3d!
I have only one "real" note against the Picasso II!
With a resolution of 1024×768×24 it has a frequency of 30 Hz and my monitor can display it but with an "out of tolerance" message... not the best thing to read... I do not know if the Spectrum is better...
It'a matter of only 1 Hz of less but it could make the difference!
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Offline mcostanzaTopic starter

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2011, 04:25:08 PM »
Thanks all for the input. Looks like I will go with the GVP Spectrum card. I do have an opportunity to pick up a OpalVision card but from what I understand that card does not support RTG.

MC
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Offline Heiroglyph

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2011, 05:25:31 PM »
Yeah, pass on the Opalvision.  Might as well have a Toaster card and get more out of it.

I've been seeing the GVPs on ebay a lot recently.  Shouldn't be too hard to find one.
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Offline Xanxi

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2011, 08:09:13 PM »
The Opalvision could you be useful for Shapeshifter at least.
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Offline Rodomoc

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2011, 08:16:25 PM »
Regarding Spectrum video card. I also happen to run an A3000; 68030-25mhz. The machine is now a A3640 68040-25mhz. Ram is standard 2/16MB and I use 40.68 Kickstart ROMS (aka 3.1).

I have the 2MB GVP Spectrum video card. Works like a champ. You will not be disappointed. On the software side of the equation I have used both original GVP stuff but did end up switching to Cybergraphx 4.

Go for it with the Spectrum I say. They are fairly inexpensive used and I even hear they are available new again from GVP-m (I haven't confirmed this however).

Regards, Rodomoc
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Offline Matt_H

Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2011, 09:29:37 PM »
Quote from: Rodomoc;653965
Go for it with the Spectrum I say. They are fairly inexpensive used and I even hear they are available new again from GVP-m (I haven't confirmed this however).


I got a new one from Softhut/GVP about a year ago. Not sure if they still have any in stock, but it's worth a look.
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Offline Heiroglyph

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2011, 10:22:09 PM »
Last I tried, they don't respond to emails.  Might try calling though.
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Offline TheGoose

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Re: Picasso II or GVP Spectrum
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2011, 12:28:24 AM »
Dang, I want a Spectrum now...

I will say I have had 0 problems with my Picasso II+ it is great cheap board and love the VGA pass-through which works perfect with the A3000s 31Khz output.

You never miss a screen mode with this setup.

But reality is, 1024 x 768 in 8bit 256 color though. But I'm good with that.
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