Advice sought on A4000 setups.....

[Sandman]

Well after a couple years of accumulating parts, I want to put my dream A4000D system together.

I would like to ask opinions of what combinations of  hardware would be the most desirable setup to you and why you would setup that way.

Goals are to have a nice all-around, multi-OS boot retro system.  I want to start playing with the Video Toaster/Flyer 4000 and would really like to get into Lightwave.  I would really like to play with Amiga OS4.0 with the PPC card since I have never had a chace to before.


I have a couple A4000's, so one could be dedicated to the VideoToaster setup.


Hardware I have available:

CPU'S-  PPC203@233 w/060@50, WarpEngine 040

HARD DRIVES - SCSI Hard Drive, External SCSI, CF-to-IDE, IDE Hard Drive, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives.

VIDEO- Picasso IV, Cybervision 64, Retina Z3 and an Indivision 4000

MONITORS - VGA CRT, LCD, 1084's or Multiscan commodore monitors

Video Toaster/Flyer Card


Is a PPC card in a Toaster System a waste?


Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Sandman]

Anyone?  Anything?

[runequester]

My impression is the PPC only really helps with OS4, and with PPC specific software.

[Crom00]

CSPPC (do you have the CVPPC or the CV64?)
If no then place the Picasso in there do you have he scan doublr
Video Toaster flyer.

You will need to run the case off with all that gear in a flyer system nuless you have a tower a4000

I had the following:
Qucikpack Scala A4000t
CSPPC, CV64
Commdore Flciker fixer
Video Toaster 4k, Flyer cards
TBC IV
Prime image Composite to YV adapter
Peggy plus
Personal Animation recorder
Bunch of scsi flyer drives in external case
zip, scsi cd-rom and Amiga drives
DCTV

PC running lightwave connected to this with Flyer clip rendering capability.
(assembled After effects aniamtion into flyer clips using lightwave)

Beer

[Sandman]

Thanks for the inputs!

I have the Cybervision 64 not the CVPPC, although I would like to find one.  

I guess I am a RTG dummy but from what I am gathering, I would be better using the PIV as that would be a 1 monitor solution correct?   If I understand right I could use either the CV64 (or CVPPC for that matter) or the Retina Z3 and the Indivision together but would still have to use 2 monitors or a LCD TV with 2 inputs correct?

My initial thoughts were that the '060 card would be better for Lightwave and thus better in the Toaster System but then I wouldn't be able to use a RTG card.

[Jope]

I have the Cybervision 64 not the CVPPC, although I would like to find one.  

I guess I am a RTG dummy but from what I am gathering, I would be better using the PIV as that would be a 1 monitor solution correct?   If I understand right I could use either the CV64 (or CVPPC for that matter) or the Retina Z3 and the Indivision together but would still have to use 2 monitors or a LCD TV with 2 inputs correct?

I suggest you take a look at your CV64 and also read the manual.

The CV64 has two VGA connectors behind it. One is the input, one is the output. You connect the indivision to the input port and your monitor to the output port and get a single screen setup that autoswitches when you change between custom screen modes and RTG modes.

The CVPPC has no passthrough (external monitor switcher needed) but is a faster card than the CV64 or the PIV.

[Sandman]

I suggest you take a look at your CV64 and also read the manual.

The CV64 has two VGA connectors behind it. One is the input, one is the output. You connect the indivision to the input port and your monitor to the output port and get a single screen setup that autoswitches when you change between custom screen modes and RTG modes.

The CVPPC has no passthrough (external monitor switcher needed) but is a faster card than the CV64 or the PIV.

So except for the PIV being a little faster, am I correct in assuming that a CV64 combined with the Indivision is essentially the same as the PIV with its scandoubler?

[mechy]

So except for the PIV being a little faster, am I correct in assuming that a CV64 combined with the Indivision is essentially the same as the PIV with its scandoubler?

You could say that. indivision with the cv64 should work in a way where u get all modes thru one monitor since it has the passthru.I seem to recall the CV64 was a bit slow in the 1024x768x24 modes than the piv,but my memory is bad here so dont take that as fact.
The PIV is one excellent board.Cybervision 64 is my second choice of amiga video boards, its a very good board. i would put the retina z3 third.

The voodoo3, 4, or 5 or ati radeon on the mediator though is way way faster than even the piv with big 32bit screen resolutions .Unfortunately no passthru to use it with the indivision as easy,but someone here on A.org was listing monitor switches that may do the trick(was it Djole?).

Mike

[Sandman]

One other thought.....

Since the CV64 doesn't need to occupy the video slot like the PIV does and the FF/SD for AGA screens would be handled by the Indivision...... would that mean that I could use the CV64 & Indivision and still have the Video Toaster/Flyer cards?  

If this works it might be the solution for what I am after!

[mechy]

In theory yes,but i have never tested it. maybe someone else knows for sure. If i recall the indivision is toaster compatible. One way to find out is try it if you have the cards,you are not going to hurt/damage anything by trying.

mike

[alexh]

You've got some great kit there...

CSPPC + Indivision 4000 + Mediator 4000Di + Radeon 9250 + Ratte Monitor Switcher.

UW SCSI III hard drive on CSPPC (no other SCSI devices on chain) for the fastest Amiga hard drive performance.

That would be the ultimate setup if you were buying some more hardware

[mechy]

My impression is the PPC only really helps with OS4, and with PPC specific software.

PPC helps with mp3 playing,video,rtg gfx(if cvppc is added),pdf viewing,fx scan,mp3 encoding,vhi studio,archiving,fxpaint,some ppc only games,imagefx ppc operators,candy factory,lightwave ppc hooks,etc under os3.x and more i haven't even touched on....CSPPC also gives you very fast UWscsi at 25MB/s+ with up to 14 devices. And the Csppc addresses ram from the ppc side in 64bit.The blizzardppc only in 32bit w/narrow 10MB/s scsi w/6 devices.worst case the csppc is a 060 accelerator with 128MB ram.
Sorry to hijack the thread,but had to reply to this common misconception.It really makes an amiga quite useable.

[Sandman]

You've got some great kit there...

CSPPC + Indivision 4000 + Mediator 4000Di + Radeon 9250 + Ratte Monitor Switcher.

UW SCSI III hard drive on CSPPC (no other SCSI devices on chain) for the fastest Amiga hard drive performance.

That would be the ultimate setup if you were buying some more hardware

So Alex, would a Video Toaster/Flyer work in the above setup you mentioned.....Maybe I should just end this obsession with having in my main machine though, probably won't use it as much as I think.


For the kit I have though, what would be a more desirable combination.

The CSPPC with............

A. Cybervision64 with the Indivision hooked to the CV64 input for pass-thru. (one monitor solution and I could keep the Toaster too.)


B. PicassoIV for a one piece solution. (also for one monitor solution but with no vid slot for the Toaster.)

Thanks,