A2000 Hardware Questions

[mongo]

Also, I found a floppy disk that says "Sapphire 68020/68881 Acceleration card" in all the disks... I'm wondering if i actually have this thing installed on there.  Can you tell by the pics I've included in this thread?  I find it weird he'd have this disk, but not have the hardware installed.  I also have an A1000 he gave me, but as I understand it that card can only be used on A500/A2000, so it's not likely it's in the A1000, right?

You don't have the Sapphire installed there. It plugs into the socket where the 68000 CPU is.

I'll be back in Toronto in a few days. If you need any help with the machine, let me know.

[Darrin]

That's a great idea - just removing the old ROM.  I don't see much use for it.  As for removing it - those wires that lead from the riser to the other chips, can i just get rid of those wires too?

Once the riser is gone then you wont need those wires.  I just have the 3.1 ROM in my A2000.

As for the Sapphire... I found it in the A1000 he gave me.  So out that comes.  I guess I just plug it into the socket.  I have a disk for it, but it seems to have bad sectors.... do I have to install any software for this to work?

I'm afraid I know nothing about the Saphire board.

I will say that it is the "bargain basement" of all CPU options.  It is better than nothing and it will give you some extra speed, but there is no RAM on the card itself so you won't get anything like the performance boost you'll get from a 68020 or 68030 card that will go into the CPU slot.

Honestly, I'd consider leaving the Saphire where it is and look for a "proper" CPU card for the A2000, preferably with some extra RAM on it.

[dougal]

If you want to use OS 3.9 at any sort of decent speed you will need a 68030 accelerator at the very least.

With your 6MB Fastram and 1MB chipram you are at the bare minimum ram-wise for it to run.

I would look for a 68030 board, even a Commodore A2630 board should be enough but if you want to push things a little further a GVP 030 or 040 Combo are even better.

The GVP Combo accelerators (030 or 040) will allow you up to 32MB of 32Bit Fastram. The 32bit fastram will greatly improve speed for you.

A warning though, the GVP accelerators use their own propriety RAM modules and these are pretty hard to find and very expensive.

[shpinktaar]

He gave me 2 computers (A2000 and A1000).  The pics are of the A2000.  I just opened up the A1000 and found the Sapphire in there... so I yanked it out and I'm gonna plug it into the A2000.

I may take you up on that offer.

You don't have the Sapphire installed there. It plugs into the socket where the 68000 CPU is.

I'll be back in Toronto in a few days. If you need any help with the machine, let me know.

[shpinktaar]

Yah my impression of the Sapphire board is that it's the lowest of the low... but I figure if I'm going take the kickstart switcher out I might as well just put that in there at the same time (as long as it doesn't require a bunch of software I don't have).  I guess I can always try it, and if it doesn't work I can just pull it out.

I'll keep my eyes out for a for a better 020 or 030 option though.  My problem is that being in NA it's usually hard to find this stuff here, or it costs more than I'm willing to pay to ship it.

So far my investment on this machine is a meager $50 for a new keyboard and I've got an OS 3.9 *barely* capable machine.  Still need cd-rom & serial cable.

I've gotta look into formatting this 8gb drive, having half for 3.1 and half for 3.9 I think.  I grew up with 3.1, so that's where the nostalgia is, but 3.9 would be cool to see in action.

Once the riser is gone then you wont need those wires.  I just have the 3.1 ROM in my A2000.



I'm afraid I know nothing about the Saphire board.

I will say that it is the "bargain basement" of all CPU options.  It is better than nothing and it will give you some extra speed, but there is no RAM on the card itself so you won't get anything like the performance boost you'll get from a 68020 or 68030 card that will go into the CPU slot.

Honestly, I'd consider leaving the Saphire where it is and look for a "proper" CPU card for the A2000, preferably with some extra RAM on it.

[mongo]

I will say that it is the "bargain basement" of all CPU options.  It is better than nothing and it will give you some extra speed, but there is no RAM on the card itself so you won't get anything like the performance boost you'll get from a 68020 or 68030 card that will go into the CPU slot.

I have a Sapphire. It's actually slower than the stock 68000 for most software. The only advantage it has is that it will allow you to run software that requires an 020 and/or a FPU.

[shpinktaar]

That being said, I'll leave the 68000 in there for now... it looks like a royal PITA to take out.  The 40.63 kickstart rom was hard enough.  Anyway I took the kickstart switcher out, only using the 40.63 now.  I'll keep my eyes out for a good 020 or 030 option (or 40/60 if I hit the lottery)

You guys are awesome.  Thanks for all the help.  I'll be sure to hit you guys up again when I'm upgrading =)

I have a Sapphire. It's actually slower than the stock 68000 for most software. The only advantage it has is that it will allow you to run software that requires an 020 and/or a FPU.