A3000 + cybergraphics (vga pass through) + os3.9

[pierre]

howdy,
I have a
a3000 desktopp
phase5 060/50 mk2
cv46
networkcard (a4066)
par card
sunrize 516

this setup is SO bad A$$!  The cv64 is great! it's fast, not sure how you would do without the 060, it's one of those things, once you get it you won't go back!
this setup is performing SO well that I may turn it into a linux box....

[amigakit]

You would get much better performance from the Voodoo card than the CV64.

Additionally the Prometheus is OpenPCI compatible so would allow the addition of low cost PCI network card and sound cards.

The PCI route will be cheaper than equipping the Amiga with Zorro cards in the long run if you are considering further expansion.

[pierre]

yeah but to to that he would have to buy like $600 plus stuff from you!  :-)
and it depends on what you want to do the cv64 is actualy quite fast!  (as fast a picassoV, some say)  If you want worlds fastest then many be th vodoo.  (anything nevida on linux will hopelessly sinky the vodoo anyhow)
Prometheus is o.k. but it not the best technology and you need to hack up your a3k realy badly to fit it.
also by the time you buy the Prometheus, the networkcard is NOT cheap!  In addition it has less slots in one of the tightest amiga already, skip the Prometheus..unless you have to have it.

[amigakit]

As far as pricing goes, it would be $46.62 for the Voodoo card and $160.80 for the Prometheus which would be close to a price of a Zorro graphics card ( http://us.amigakit.com )

The Mediator is another solution but a towered A3000 is a must for that- as Pierre has stated, the A3000 desktop case has limited space.

[Amiduffer]

pierre wrote:
yeah but to to that he would have to buy like $600 plus stuff from you!  :-)

 :lol:  Nothing wrong with pushing the merchandise Pierre. I'm just happy that we have such an enthusiastic Amiga retailer. It's nice thing to see these days. I'm glad there's a choice though. I don't have a tower, though, so the PCI route is not for me at the time, although I'm looking at getting one.

[pierre]

hey I'm a customer...I like that shop
my quote was way off, but I also bet you will end up spending the $400 buck on other add ons then!
(but this IS shameless self promotion!, not that I realy mind amigakit is too cool)

[Crumb]

With 18MB of ram you should try to use 256colours screens and maybe a 16bit one. But try to keep the number of >8bit screens down.

You A3000 will feel MUCH faster with a CV64, regardless of you using a 030 or 060.

CV64 includes the ROXXLER chip that does planar to chunky conversions so you don't have to waste your cpu doing that.

CV64 is one of the fastest Zorro3 cards. Its bus is faster than Picasso4, CV3D and Prometheus. Its monitor-switcher makes it very comfortable to use.

If you have access toa  cheap CV64 get it, it's a very nice card with monitor switcher, unlike voodoo3 etc, that will force you to buy crappy external monitor switchers. A CV64 monitorswitcher is automatic and truly comfortable.

I would get a CV64 for a 030 A3000 but I wouldn't waste my  money buying a Prometheus or Mediator unless you get it 2nd hand very cheap or plan to expand your A3000 a lot. A CV64 is far more comfortable thanks to its monitor switcher and  it's very fast. In fact, its bus speed is faster than Prometheus/Mediator.

The 1st amiga gfx card I had was a GVP Spectrum, the 2nd one a CV64, the 3rd one a CV3D (bad change), the 4th one a Picasso4 (I still have it, I love it), the 5th one a Prometheus+Voodoo3 and the 6th one a Mediator4000Di.

CV64 had a clear image, was fast and comfortable. It will be a joy to use regardless of your machine being upgraded or not.


@amigakit:

sorry, but OpenPCI doesn't work very well with Prometheus because DMA stuff is not finished. E3B will probably publish an update next year. I own both Mediator4000Di and Prometheus and Prometheus works very well with Voodoo3+RTL8029 but that's all. Mediator works better if you plan to use TV, USB or Sound. That may change when E3B finishes his Prometheus firmware upgrade, but until that day don't speak about OpenPCI on Prometheus too loud ;-)

[sdyates]

This sounds like anothe rpotential purchase -- saved for another month.

Is there a write up on the Prometheus? I understand that the vodoo is pci -- so is Prometheus a pci board for the A3000D?

Love the name --- reminds me of Stargate.... I know.... I'll shut up now...

[Crumb]

Prometheus is a ZorroIII card with 4 PCI slots that allows you to use no-DMA PCI cards. The supported cards are Virge PCI, Permedia2 PCI, Voodoo3 PCI (this is the best one) and RTL8029 (ethernet10).

Please keep in mind that ATM it won't allow you to use any sound card (maybe in the future) and that Voodoo3 lacks a monitor switcher. You won't get much advantage from using a Voodoo3 over the CV64 (in fact it will run slower). You won't be able to use most of warp3D stuff because it requires an FPU and usually a 040.

It's a good deal if you plan to Towerize your A3000 because you won't be able to use your Prometheus with a closed case (of course you have to waste money in 2 90º adapters if you want to keep it in the original case)

But you'll have to waste a lot of money more:
-90 degrees adapters (with shipping 2 will be probably 90€ or more)
-electronic monitor switcher with cables (30€)
-Voodoo3 (30€)
-RTL8029 (10€)
-Prometheus (160€)

that's 320€ just to get a gfx card and a network card inside your case. And you haven't upgraded your cpu yet.

Get a 3640/25Mhz Rev 3.1 or 3.2 if you choose a Prometheus, that's 30€ more but your A3000 will run 3 times more than your current 030/25.

I would choose a 2nd hand CV64 and a 2nd hand XSurf. You would waste just 130-140€ and as a bonus you would get an IDE port (although it wouldn't be an autoboot IDE). Then you can spend some money on a 040/40 with fast ram and you'll have a nice system.

I wouldn't upgrade to a Prometheus (at least I wouldn't buy a new one) if you don't plan to towerize your A3000 and add a 040/40 or 060.

I would try to get 2nd hand stuff: a XSurf, a CV64 and a 040/40 with fast ram. You'll end up with your original A3000 case unmodified (Towers are butt-ugly) and with a nice gear inside your A3000.

Voodoo3 sounds pretty nice but most of times I prefer to use a CV64 or Picasso4 because using an external moniotr switcher could be a pain in the ass if you use many ECS apps/games.

[sdyates]

What is a reasonable price to pay for an 40/040?

Do you want to sell yours