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Author Topic: Slightly Disappointed: A500  (Read 4408 times)

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Offline MikedTopic starter

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Slightly Disappointed: A500
« on: May 07, 2006, 07:48:03 AM »
It's been 18 years since I dusted off this computer and began the arduous task of upgrading it.  Its a nice computer, but I think my disappointment lies in its graphics capabilities.  I forgot how advanced computers have come in the last 18 years.  The ECS is a slight improvement over OCS, but barely.  

Don't get me wrong I love my A500, but I really had visions of using it as a primary computer.  I don't know if its going to have the 'guts' to perform.  

Maybe an Amiga 1200 maxed out could live up to the task?

-Miked

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Offline motorollin

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2006, 07:52:44 AM »
To be honest, I'm not surprised if you were expecting to use your A500 as a main machine. I know some people do, but I think an upgraded A1200 will give you a much more enjoyable experience. Get yourself an A1200 and a fast accelerator to start off with. If you feel like upgrading the graphics capability at a later date, you can put it in a tower and add a graphics card.

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Offline Methuselas

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2006, 08:02:11 AM »
I tend to agree. That 500 is really only good for games.
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Offline motorollin

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2006, 08:13:19 AM »
Quote
Methuselas wrote:
I tend to agree. That 500 is really only good for games.

It was good enough for Miki Berenyi of Lush though wasn't it  ;-)

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moto
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Offline Oliver

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2006, 08:27:32 AM »
What do you want to do with your 'main computer'?  A maxed out 1200 will also not perform nearly as quickly, or do nearly as many tasks as recent computers, and will also cost more.  It depends on what you want to do though.
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Offline Methuselas

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2006, 09:11:24 AM »
Quote

motorollin wrote:
Quote
Methuselas wrote:
I tend to agree. That 500 is really only good for games.

It was good enough for Miki Berenyi of Lush though wasn't it  ;-)

--
moto


OMG, don't *EVEN* get me started on that. *laughing*

That woman *STILL* gives me a hard on.

I remember meeting her in 94 at a show and all we did, was talk about Amigas, while getting drunk to Weezer.  :crazy:
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\'Using no way as way. Having no limitation as limitation.\' - Bruce Lee

\'No, sorry. I don\'t get my tits out. They\'re not actually real, you know? Just two halves of a grapefruit...\' - Miki Berenyi

\'Evil will always triumph because good is dumb.\' - Dark Helmet :roflmao:

\'And for future reference, it might be polite to ask someone if you can  quote them in your signature, rather than just citing them to make a  sales pitch.\' - Karlos. :rtf
 

Offline motorollin

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2006, 09:45:04 AM »
Quote
Methuselas wrote:
That woman *STILL* gives me a hard on.

Lovely... :lol:

I seem to remember AP interviewing her. Didn't read the article at the time though.

--
moto
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Offline _ThEcRoW

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2006, 02:13:27 PM »
If you like the a500, you should try to max it out. Nowadays it's hard to find powerful expansion boards, but can be possible. Also, if you manage to get a converter for the expansion port to zorro, you could add a graphics card to it, i saw on the net long time ago a guy that had his 500 with rtg. But finding a500 parts nowadays is very hard. It's easier to get parts for a a1200, hence some suggestions made to you by mates on this forum, but if you really like the idea of having the 500 maxed out, go for it.
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Offline mr_a500

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2006, 03:21:38 PM »
Quote
Miked wrote:
Its a nice computer, but I think my disappointment lies in its graphics capabilities.


When you were first starting your A500 upgrade, I think about seven of us suggested that an A1200 would be better. So as I said, get youself a brand new A1200 from Amigakit and you'll probably have much more fun.

As for the A500 - having only 16 colours in high-res (only useable A500 WB mode) is a bit of a disappointment, but if you use those colours well, things can still look nice (take a look at my screenshots if you haven't seen them).

I use my A500 as my main (only) computer and the only disappointment I have is running out of RAM on huge webpages with javascript and a recent unexplained memory freeing problem (probably dying RAM chip). Besides that, I had years of fun using my A500 as my main computer.
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Offline MikedTopic starter

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2006, 03:39:08 PM »
Quote

 Also, if you manage to get a converter for the expansion port to zorro, you could add a graphics card to it, i saw on the net long time ago a guy that had his 500 with rtg.


I didn't know it was possible to add a graphics card to an Amiga 500.  This intrigues me.

-Miked
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Offline doctorq

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #10 on: May 07, 2006, 03:53:38 PM »
@Miked

I think finding a zorro busboard for an A500 will be more difficult than finding an accelerator for the A500.
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Offline doctorq

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2006, 03:55:07 PM »
double post

Mods, please remove

/double post
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Offline motrucker

Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2006, 06:57:54 PM »
All you need is to find a Bodega (sp?) Bay expansion box :lol:
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Offline Angus

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Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2006, 08:22:36 PM »
>but I think my disappointment lies in its graphics capabilities.

You naughty fellow! Now go and load up Elfmania immediately and then wash your mouth out with soap. Twice.   :)

That aside, a 1200 with a Mediator and Voodoo give a nice visual result, when I've been forced to revert to AGA for serious use I was surprised at what a difference there is.

OCS/ECS/AGA is still great for games though IMO.
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Offline TjLaZer

Re: Slightly Disappointed: A500
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2006, 08:53:16 PM »
Just do yourself a favor and get a 2000 or better yet 3000/4000.  And get a Gfx card.
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