Apollo 060 or Blizzard 1260?

[mauidj]

I was thinking of buying an accelerator for my A1200.
Which is best...Apollo 060 or Blizzard 1260 both are 50MHz?

I already have a GVP1230 Turbo+ 40 installed. Will I notice much of a difference going to an 060? Or should I put my hard earned $$$ somewhere else :-?

Many thanks.

[Damion]

There are pros and cons either way. :-)

Max RAM Blizzard: 128 MB, 256 MB w/SCSI kit

Apollo: 32 MB in desktop, 64 MB in tower config

Apollo has crap (non-DMA) SCSI interface, Blizzard SCSI is much better.

Apollo has much faster custom chip access, and is probably better suited for AGA demos - only downside are the (very) few demos which require over 32 MB (in which case you can simply leave the case open while watching Starstruck).  Another benefit to the Apollo's faster chipset access - 5.1 MB/s raw read with Jens' IDE-FIX Express, vs around 2 MB/sec with the Blizz.

Apollo's FSB can be set to 1/2 CPU clock. This means rates over 80 MHz (possibly a bit more) are easily reached with a Rev 6 68060. The Blizzard is always 1:1 CPU/FSB, expect a maximum overclock of around 70 MHz, and the SCSI card may crap out when overclocked.

Blizzard has the option to use Piru's excellent BlizKick program. (Though some modules can be converted for use with RemApollo.)

I've owned both, and both are outstanding. I doubt you'd be unhappy with either. There would be an enormous boost over your current card. I'm very happy with my Apollo, since my A1200 exists only for demos, and AmiNetRadio while I surf on the PC. :-)

Bottom line:

If you're not going to overclock, want a nice stable card for general use with an excellent SCSI option, lots of RAM, go for the Blizzard.

If you want to watch demos, overclock, do CPU intensive tasks (like AmiNetRadio) shoot for the Apollo.

[CLS2086]

Excellent resume.

Will I notice much of a difference going to an 060?

Oh yes ! Believe me !!
What a jump between my B1230/IV to my 1260(PPC)

[mauidj]

Many mahalos.
Sorry for the dumb question...I'm just getting back into the Amiga fold.....but if I get the Apollo with no SCSI interface, how do I attach SCSI devices?
My 1200 is an HD model.
Told you it was dumb  :-)

[Damion]

mauidj wrote:
Many mahalos.
Sorry for the dumb question...I'm just getting back into the Amiga fold.....but if I get the Apollo with no SCSI interface, how do I attach SCSI devices?
My 1200 is an HD model.
Told you it was dumb  :-)

I don't think you can, unless you find a PCMCIA SCSI interface (slow).

Best option IMHO with the Apollo card is the A1200's internal IDE, with the IDE-Fix Express adapter.

If you require SCSI, I would look for a Blizzard (the Blizzard SCSI kit is an add-on BTW, but not impossible to find).

[mauidj]

Many mahalos guys.

I think I will bid on the Apollo.
I've already got a Dataflyer XD so that takes care of my HD needs.
But the IDE-Fix Express sounds like a useful option for my future CDRW purchase.
Does $400 or so sound about right for an Apollo?

[Damion]

mauidj wrote:
Many mahalos guys.

I think I will bid on the Apollo.
I've already got a Dataflyer XD so that takes care of my HD needs.
But the IDE-Fix Express sounds like a useful option for my future CDRW purchase.
Does $400 or so sound about right for an Apollo?

$400 is an "OK" price, maybe a bit high. Just make sure the 68060 is a full 50 MHz part (I believe some 75 MHz "LC" models exist).

[mauidj]

-D- wrote:
$400 is an "OK" price, maybe a bit high. Just make sure the 68060 is a full 50 MHz part (I believe some 75 MHz "LC" models exist).

Mahalo -D-.
I guess I now own an Apollo 060 with 32meg
Paid $330 for it...so seems like a fair deal.
Now I gotta get the black paint and get this baby going.

[Damion]

Mahalo -D-.
I guess I now own an Apollo 060 with 32meg
Paid $330 for it...so seems like a fair deal.
Now I gotta get the black paint and get this baby going.

WOOT! :pint:

Congrats, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

[djbase]

Another benefit to the Apollo's faster chipset access - 5.1 MB/s raw read with Jens' IDE-FIX Express, vs around 2 MB/sec with the Blizz.

I wonder where do people get this crap. In fact a B1260 does around 2 MB/s on the standard IDE port, with an IDEfix Express you can get up to 3.5 MB/s.

[darksun9210]

can get 2+MB/s off the standard IDE port with a blizzIV030 let alone an 060...
i'm not sure about the chipram access speed differences between the apollo and blizzard, all i know is that they both kick arse.

roughly roughly the 060 is about twice the power of an 040 at the same clock speed. and as the 060 starts off at an average of twice the clock of your bog standard 25Mhz 040, thats a 4x jump right there. as soon as you start using programs compiled and built for the 060, you can get another 2x jump on that. as the software is then able to use the multiple execution units and branch prediction unit. non-060 aware benching software (sysinfo) only shows an 060 at half power due to not being able to understand how to access its moist number crunching goodness.

so,
an 030 at 50Mhz = ~10Mips
an 040 at 25Mhz = ~19Mips
an 060 at 50Mhz = ~80Mips - sysinfo may show 39Mips due to only accessing one execution unit.
an 060 at 66Mhz = ~100Mips

enjoy your 060 powered amiga future. ;-)

vrrrrrooooooommmmm!!!! :-D

[Damion]

DJBase wrote:

Another benefit to the Apollo's faster chipset access - 5.1 MB/s raw read with Jens' IDE-FIX Express, vs around 2 MB/sec with the Blizz.

I wonder where do people get this crap. In fact a B1260 does around 2 MB/s on the standard IDE port, with an IDEfix Express you can get up to 3.5 MB/s.

The Apollo has faster chipset access, sorry but it's a measurable fact.

I don't have my Blizzard anymore to test, but the same IDE-Fix Express unit yielded a little over 2 MB/s. The only variable is the "speedychip" option, I can't recall whether or not I had that enabled with my Blizzard card, so it's definitely possible it could be faster.

Anyhow, the fact remains IDE-Fix Express is faster with an Apollo card. SCSI add-on is the best option for Blizzard cards, anyway.

[Xanxi]

As far as i am concerned, i am perfectly happy with my Apollo 1260 @66Mhz. Only drawback is heat, and with summer coming yet, i expect to see some crashes back i have forgotten during winter  :-D

[mauidj]

Well I got the board but I can't get it to work.
Nubee question........Does it need drivers?
Also my board has a barrel battery which won't allow me to close the trap door.
I have not seen this before.
See the picture here....link
mahalo for the help guys  :-)
Aloha!

[Damion]

mauidj wrote:
Well I got the board but I can't get it to work.
Nubee question........Does it need drivers?
Also my board has a barrel battery which won't allow me to close the trap door.
I have not seen this before.
See the picture here....link
mahalo for the help guys  :-)
Aloha!

Drivers are needed, you can get the install disk here:

http://www.l8r.net/install/accel.html

Also, I can mail you a floppy if necessary, just shoot me a PM.

About the battery... :/ Yeah, some of them had a lower-profile coin type, it could be replaced or removed if you really want the cover on. I usually leave mine a bit raised in the back with the cover off anyway (extra airflow, it gets hot here in the summer).