SAM460 OK for old Amiga games?

[Iggy]

I also think you shouldn't overlook the possibility of Morphos. I've seen PPC Macminis on ebay in Australia for less than $100.

Yeah, but unless you buy a 1.5 Ghz model, you only have 32MB of video memory which can cause problems running some software.

I've got some cool games running on my Powermac. Hopefully we'll see some more ports in the future.

[amigadave]

Well , looks like this forum is certainly alive and very active - so many responses so fast.

Looks like from what I read that the Minimig is probably the best solution for me - as in new hardware to run the old games for when my existing Amigas die from old age or whatever.

Thanks for all your inputs and ideas.

The Minimig v1.1 is a great little board and much has been done to improve it since it was first invented, but I would point you toward MikeJ's Replay board as an even more improved, similar concept, that has more options, and will eventually run more cores from different computer and arcade systems.  Plus, if the 060 daughter card goes into production, it will be equivalent to, or surpass the fastest 68060 Classic Amigas and include most of the best additions to Classic Amiga systems, such as USB, Ethernet, more RAM and a Scandoubler, all in a smaller and more modern package.  The Replay is like a Minimig on steroids.

Another interesting project that you might be interested in is the Natami, but I don't have any idea when it will be ready for public consumption.

[fishy_fiz]

While I've never been shy of letting Dammy know when I think he's behaving silly I must admit the shots at him are somewhat unwarranted here. Most of the "corrections", etc. that people are aiming at him here are in response to things he's not even said.

Now as for buying a SAM, if you want a machine to play your old amiga games, etc. as youve said, then perhaps ironically AmigaOS4 + a Sam460 isnt really what youre after. Huge pricetag, poor performance (relative to pretty much anything made within the last 10 years), and too slow for a lot of software. Forget Breathless, AB3d, AB3d2, even Alladin, Capital Punishment,  most AGA games wont play full speed. Yes, OS4.x (and MOS) do have 68k emulation outside of UAE, but is that of use to you seeing as you expressed a want to use your old custom chipset based software? In short, it'll be an ok experience, but expect compromises and some of the better amiga games not to work. Chances are you'll get people trying to convince you otherwise while trying to get you onboard, but again, if youre mostly after a machine to use your old favorites a Sam + OS4.x would be one of the last things I suggest. Do you want to spend over a thousand dollars for inferior custom chipset performance to what you'd get off a machine you'd find in the bin? As for people suggesting that the speed of modern computers being redundant for AmigaOS, that's a crock. There's plenty of stuff to take advantage of extra resources, especially with a machine that requires raw speed more than things like Windows,Linux, etc. (cos of modest driver suppot amongst other things). Videos, emulation, compiling, audio transcoding, 3d rendering, etc, etc.... pretty much same sort of software as other formats, only yhe need for speed is greater for Amiga derived OSes (even if the destop/UI/etc. is very fast and responsive on low spec hardware you still need raw grunt for intensive software).

Anyway, despite how it may seem, I actually do like OS4.x, I just wanted to be honest here as a lot of the answers you'll get will be written with an air of bias, and truths twisted because of it.

If use of the OS and/or system friendly software is important to you then the perspective on value is somewhat different, and in that case you might be happy with a Sam+OS4. That said however though then this also may mean one of the alternatives in MOS and AROS might also suit you. The former also having an intergrated 68k emulator (again for non custom chipset software), while the latter offers a custom intergrated version of UAE and much better performance in UAE.

Anyway, I hope this info is of use to you, I just thought Id offer the perspective of someone with no bias or alternate agenda  

[Dwyloc]

Anyway, despite how it may seem, I actually do like OS4.x, I just wanted to be honest here as a lot of the answers you'll get will be written with an air of bias, and truths twisted because of it.

Yes I am in the same camp on this one I own a sam440ep and am very happy with it (I just wish the would fix USB to be usable for more than attaching a keyboard and mouse) on an hours or use for price paid perspective I have had value for money out of mine, but it is an expensive solution that is not for everyone.

As a silent small form factor computer for playing back music, running Photogenics, ImageFX and use as an rdesktop client it works very well for me, but if what you really want to do is play ECS or AGA games there are better solutions at present.

If you want a games solution to play OCS and ECS games then the Minimig is my preferred option even though I still own 2 A500 and 2 A1200 (one expanded tower system and an 030 equipped desktop) as all you need to do is turn it on and play rather than try and get it working then play.

I may upgrade to a FPGA Replay board when they become more widely available and sell off one of my A1200 but at this stage I don't have the free cash and most of the games I like best run on an ECS system anyway.  

Lotus 1 & 2, Civilization, Settlers, Pinball Fantasies, Eye of the Beholder 1 & 2 New Zealand story, Utopia, Rail Road tycoon and many others all run perfectly on my Minimigs.  Lotus 2 even works in serial link up between my 2 Minimigs or 1 Minimig and an A500 for some serious multi player fun what else can you ask for in A500/A600 clone :-)

[dammy]

I don't want to be rude Dammy but...

How is it that you have to pollute every single thread by inserting some CUSA advertising/spamming?

I don't, why are you lying?

[TheDaddy]

I don't, why are you lying?

I am not lying, it's there for everyone to see. It's plain obvious.

[Iggy]

I don't, why are you lying?

Most of the time you do.
But its not that big a deal as we all know you.

[TheDaddy]

See?

Derailed thread in favour of CUSA talking...I might start doing the same.