iFusion / FusionPPC

[spirantho]

In a fit of masochism, I've been considering messing with iFusion again to see if it can actually do anything.

Hence a quick question: does anybody actually use it, and did anybody write a detailed guide on HOW to use it, avoiding the pitfalls (and let's face it, on iFusion there are more pitfalls than ... er - "Pitfall").

Anybody?

[Crumb]

In a fit of masochism, I've been considering messing with iFusion again to see if it can actually do anything.

Hence a quick question: does anybody actually use it, and did anybody write a detailed guide on HOW to use it, avoiding the pitfalls (and let's face it, on iFusion there are more pitfalls than ... er - "Pitfall").

Anybody?

You need a CSPPC and a CGX compatible graphic card (p96 emulation didn't work very well with iFusion).

IIRC it uses hardfiles instead of partitions.

[bbond007]

You need a CSPPC and a CGX compatible graphic card (p96 emulation didn't work very well with iFusion).

IIRC it uses hardfiles instead of partitions.

No Blizppc?

[spirantho]

Yes, that's the biggest pitfall. If I make a little guide on how to use it, that'll be number 1.

Jim Drew et al at Microcode solutions blamed WarpOS for it not working on the BlizzardPPC, but I don't think anybody actually confirmed what the problem was.

Oh, for anyone wondering, no iFusion does not work under AmigaOS 4. It only runs on the CyberstormPPC.

[Tripitaka]

In a fit of masochism, I've been considering messing with iFusion again to see if it can actually do anything.

I prefer whips dipped in tiger balm myself but each to his own.

As for iFusion, if documentation is scarce and your going to do it anyway, please blog it for A.org so others can enjoy and learn from your suffering.

[Matt_H]

I think it can use partitions. But it maxes out at MacOS 9.0 or 9.1 and there's no networking support, plus all the other classic alpha-quality Jim Drew issues.

[Crumb]

I think it can use partitions. But it maxes out at MacOS 9.0 or 9.1 and there's no networking support, plus all the other classic alpha-quality Jim Drew issues.

I can't remember if serial worked but if it did I guess it would be possible to have some kind of virtual SLIP network.

Fusion3.2 worked nicely, although iFusion is quite alpha and nowhere as good as Fusion3.2... MacOS9 is enough to run interesting games like Starcraft or Diablo and it doesn't require tons of ram, OSX would be useless with the 128MB of the cyberstorm (or the 256MB of blizzard).

A sheepshaver port using real cpu on OS4&MorphOS would be nice

[Akiko]

Fusion3.2 worked nicely, although iFusion is quite alpha and nowhere as good as Fusion3.2... MacOS9 is enough to run interesting games like Starcraft or Diablo and it doesn't require tons of ram, OSX would be useless with the 128MB of the cyberstorm (or the 256MB of blizzard).

Any idea if Zorro based memory works with this emulation? As I understand ZorRAM enables over 1GB on big box Amiga's.

Shame there isn't more videos on youtube, Fusion/iFusion looks like fun.

[Matt_H]

Any idea if Zorro based memory works with this emulation? As I understand ZorRAM enables over 1GB on big box Amiga's.

Shame there isn't more videos on youtube, Fusion/iFusion looks like fun.

No reason Zorro RAM shouldn't work, but then again, there's no reason the BlizzardPPC shouldn't work, and yet it doesn't.

You're not missing anything by not having iFusion. It doesn't carry over any useful features from 68K Fusion.

[jj]

No reason Zorro RAM shouldn't work, but then again, there's no reason the BlizzardPPC shouldn't work, and yet it doesn't.
 
You're not missing anything by not having iFusion. It doesn't carry over any useful features from 68K Fusion.

 
It not faster ?

[Crumb]

It not faster ?

Last time I saw iFusion working the video drivers weren't as fast as Fusion3.2 (IIRC because Fusion3.2 used directmem ones IIRC and iFusion used a buffer before copying them to gfx ram)

It didn't feel fast but perhaps it was a configuration problem.

[Matt_H]

It not faster ?

The only thing it has in common with 68K Fusion is the name.

[jj]

Ahh ok so its not a direct port to PPC code from 68k .

[spirantho]

Just thought people might like to know my experiences.
Since I last installed iFusion I've done a re-install of OS 3.9 (when I changed my hard disk).
I patched iFusion to 1.3.0 using the Aminet patch first.
Configured the program... ran it...
"Can't start async task".
OK, no idea. Reboot. Try again.
Aha - black screen. Will it work.... no, still a black screen.
Reboot, try no startup-sequence... try it... black screen.
Reboot again. Check warpos libraries - correct versions. Try WarpOS demos... hang on, don't have them installed.
Install WarpOS v4 apps, keeping v5.1 libraries. Try Voxelspace windowed - works. Try P96 - works. Try CGX - crash. Hmm.... maybe related.
Reboot, no start-up sequence - the same.
Check P96 drivers - they're up-to-date. Reboot.
No startup-sequence, try again... ah, confused Macintosh appears!
Reboot into full system, enable Sheepshaver hardfile for 9.0, happy mac!

I wanted to put the full description of what I did in case it helps others who have just a black screen.

I can get it booting into a Sheepshaver OS 9 hardfile, and also booting off my OS 9 CD. Next I need to actually do an install.

It's actually quite impressive that it works at all, to be honest. If people are interested, I'll try more things and let people know how it goes.

Oh, the screen is offset, of course, but if you boot with no startup-sequence it's ok, more or less.

I have sound enabled, SCSI disabled, P96 video mode, direct video modes on.

My system, for those interested:
A4000/030 upgraded to CS-PPC 060@50/604e@200 in an Eagle tower, 128MB RAM, Prometheus (RTL8029 and Voodoo III 3000), Deneb (keyboard/mouse/sound), Highway Maxtor Atlas 37GB UW-SCSI, SATA DVD+/-RW on motherboard IDE through cheap adaptor. Amiga screen mode 1280x1024x24.