A500 - How much can I expand it!

[mr_a500]

I would be interested in details of your modifications. I have several A500s that I would like to develop into unique machines.

Well then they won't be unique ;-).

I didn't do anything too clever (nothing amazing like Lemmink). I got a Viper 520 - which gives me a 33Mhz 68020, 8Mb 32bit Fast RAM, 3.0 A1200 ROMs and 2,5" IDE, then I added a 40Gb 5400RPM 2.5" HD and 68882 FPU. I got a Mini Megi 2Mb Chip and ECS Denise. I already had an A501.

I use WB3.1. If you haven't seen my screenshots, here's one:
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/photo.php?lid=2533

You should definitely get DCTV. It's awesome. You can view and scan 24bit composite images (requires 1084 or TV). You can't use it to make WB 24-bit. I use it to display jpegs or scan still images.

[GreggBz]

Ok, you guys talked me out of it. No tower.
I definitely plan on doing something interesting and exciting with it. I'm thinking a nice white color. What to do with the keys though..

The system is currently:
ICD FlickerFixer
ICD AdRam
ICD AdIDE40

300MB Quantum Hard Drive.
Magnavox Monitor.

[zipper]

mr_a500 wrote:
Quake on an A500?
- but Quake is impossible.

Except for my monster 500T/060-57/CV3D :-D
(but just 10-12 fps...)

[Argus]

I believe is technically *possible* to make quake run on an ECS Amiga, but you'd probably need 2mb of chip ram and it would be limited in color and give new meaning to slow.

Would be a technical feat if anybody out there is interested (Peter McGavin?).

[mr_a500]

I believe is technically *possible* to make quake run on an ECS Amiga, but you'd probably need 2mb of chip ram and it would be limited in color and give new meaning to slow.

Not only that, but you'd need a motherlode of Fast RAM. Running Doom II, some levels require 4Mb heapsize (continuous block) to load (about 6Mb total). I bet Quake would require 32Mb at least.

Anyway, forget Quake. The two games I'd want are Warcraft II and Hexen. (..another impossible dream)

[_ThEcRoW]

@Mr.a500
Even on 040 with viper accelerator is impossible?
I think that the max of ram with one of these accel. boards could do the trick.
By the way, when i get on my hands one of those definitely
i will try that!!!!.
Oh, forgot to mention that the 040 board that existed and i Peripherals mode. Don-t know if any of the vipers reached 040.
Please anyone knowing that clear it up.

[mr_a500]

My Viper 520 is 33Mhz 020 as I said, with 8Mb RAM maximum (not expandable). The ultra-rare Viper 530/E-Matrix 530 (same thing) is 50Mhz 030, 64Mb expandable to 128Mb RAM maximum (Lemmink has one!). I think less than 10 of those were sold.

There was no 040 Viper - not even planned.

[Miked]

My Viper 520 is 33Mhz 020 as I said, with 8Mb RAM maximum (not expandable). The ultra-rare Viper 530/E-Matrix 530 (same thing) is 50Mhz 030, 64Mb expandable to 128Mb RAM maximum (Lemmink has one!). I think less than 10 of those were sold.

If only I could get my hands on one of those

-Mike

[leirbag28]

@GreggBz


What to do with the Keys???   Well, just do what I did..Paint them too! :-)

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=1423



I labeled each key what it was underneath before I painted them..that way I know where to place them and not confuse them........I even painted the CAPS Lock key.so you cant see the light now hehe......but i did not paint under the keys......so they are still in their original Amiga white.

[TjLaZer]

I thought Quake ran on ECS or was that ADoom.

Anyway there was a 040 upgrade for the A500 back in the day, pretty rare now.  If someone was to make one with 128MB+ RAM that would be nice...

[Tenacious]

@ Mr_a500

Was it you that likes to test Dir utils?  I use Ordering on slower Amigas because it's very fast. I don't think it's deveolped anymore and has a minor bug that's easily worked around.  I think it's written in assembler, could be wrong though.  Give it a shot, its on Aminet.

Also, I've enjoyed your screen shots, inspirational!  

Off topic, sorry guys.

[mr_a500]

Was it you that likes to test Dir utils? I use Ordering on slower Amigas because it's very fast...

Well, it's not a hobby of mine or anything. I was just looking for the best one. I started a poll on EAB (Dopus currently winning - who knew? ;-)):

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=22887

I tried Ordering and it wasn't bad, but I still thought ABCdir was better.

I'm glad you liked my screenshots. Those are now old and I've got a much better configuration (..I'm always saying that :-D).

[pVC]

There's people with A500/060 (a2k accelerator) and gfx cards like PIV. I guess it's pretty much best you can get with a500...

[_ThEcRoW]

Ok, so the only 040 made was the one from Progressive & Peripherals as i thought at first.
On the other hand, Zipper, are you saying you have a 060 on your 500 tower?

[_ThEcRoW]

@Pvc

Are you saying that the use of a2000 accels on 50 0is possible?

[Tenacious]

Sinse seeing your screen shots, I've been playing with the Amigas without graphics cards for the last couple of days.  I'm looking with renewed interest at color schemes that reduce or eliminate flicker.  I've approximated one of yours and it works great in Ordering.  Thanks agsin.

I'm sure many here would love to see your latest efforts.  I would.