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Offline spirantho

Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #44 from previous page: March 17, 2013, 05:53:18 AM »
Given the fact that Jens is aiming at a low cost peripheral, I'd imagine there's a good reason for the CPU and RAM on the card. My knowledge of the A500 expansion bus and the A1200 one isn't great, but it wouldn't surprise me if there had to be a CPU on there to provide some signals that the A500 usually doesn't provide. Plus I'd imagine the cost of a 68000 is tiny compared to the cost of development and small-scale manufacturing.

We should be grateful anyone's making any new hardware at all for our Amigas - even if it's not what we personally want, the fact that someone is making something is great - and there will be someone somewhere for whom that little side-car is a god-send. Remember just how expensive and rare A500 accelerators are! It may not be pretty but it's a pretty efficient way of expanding the market for his accelerator, and that can only help his Amiga future.

If I made some hardware, but was forced to make it external, I'd be pretty upset if I spent a year on it and it got branded as a "joke", to be honest.
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Offline LurchTopic starter

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #45 on: March 17, 2013, 05:55:22 AM »
Quote from: AmmoJammo;729447
exactly...

An internal accelerator, designed to accommodate a few other potential internal expansions could fairly easily have been done.

maybe an 020 at 28Mhz, 8meg ram, a compact flash slot, and maybe a second IDE connector for a cdrom...

even if it cost twice as much as the ACA500, its twice as functional and practical!


Would be keen on exactly that, would be a good combo for the A500. Will see how the ACA500 works out.
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Offline duga

Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #46 on: March 17, 2013, 11:42:53 AM »
It has to be fitted inside like the first prototype.
 

Offline psxphill

Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #47 on: March 17, 2013, 12:41:28 PM »
Quote from: desiv;729483
If your problem is the 68000 and WHDLoad because of the QUIT key, then Jens has said that his card would intercept that (whatever it is) and allow it to quit.
(I'm pretty sure anyway, that thread is huge and I can't find it now with a quick browse)
Found it: http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=872545&postcount=683

The quit key can even be implemented on a stock a500, but you would need to replace the vector table at the end of the kickstart rom.
 
I think figuring this out was the reason why the 020 was dropped.
 
Quote from: haywirepc;729492
Would 14mhz display a lets say s letter drawer full of games that much quicker to justify this expense?

Buy one and try it. Your question is too vague, how much quicker does it need to be to justify the cost? That isn't the main reason to buy one of these anyway.
 
You need to have an external CPU for the external kickstart loading to work.
 
Quote from: duga;729526
It has to be fitted inside like the first prototype.

That statement is provably wrong. Jens says he had to make it external, I prefer it.
 
However there is no reason why you can't just hack in an 86 pin connector inside your A500. It will involve doing some major DIY, remove shielding etc & probably remove any other internal expansions but if you want to do it then go for it. You might have problems attaching something to the real 86 pin connector, but if you want it to be internal then it's unlikely you've got anything on there anyway.
 
There are loads of things you could add to a wish list for something like this, but ultimately it's an A500 and certain upgrades are pretty pointless. You could put an 060 in it, but what are you going to run?
« Last Edit: March 17, 2013, 12:55:32 PM by psxphill »
 

Offline utri007

Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #48 on: March 17, 2013, 05:06:15 PM »
It will shipped without case, it will be ugly as hell and also unpractical. So I'll stick with my GVP HD8+, wich is also unpractical, but prety :)

If it would fit inside of A500, I would buy one, or if it would shipped with nice plastic case I would at last consider it.
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Offline Darrin

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #49 on: March 17, 2013, 06:44:13 PM »
Time for The Daddy to come up with another project...  :)
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Offline Akiko

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #50 on: March 17, 2013, 09:17:36 PM »
I can't understand Jens sometimes, I remember him saying on eab awhile back something along the lines that he wouldn't be making the product fit internally because it wouldn't be user friendly to ex Amigans, and the potential for  damage by fitting it, so the the side expansion was the best option. So now I hear it's going to be a bare expansion board without a case sticking out the side of the A500, so how how exactly is this a user friendly to anyone?


Quote from: Darrin;729551
Time for The Daddy to come up with another project...  :)

I hope so, and if Amigakit have any sense they will purchase some and make it an extra at time of purchase, otherwise I don't see this expansion appealing especially to ex amigans, a big shame as it looks like a great product technically.
 

Offline Ral-Clan

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #51 on: March 17, 2013, 09:21:49 PM »
Quote from: Akiko;729566S
So now I hear it's going to be a bare expansion board without a case sticking out the side of the A500, so how how exactly is this a user friendly to anyone?

I hope so, and if Amigakit have any sense they will purchase some and make it an extra at time of purchase, otherwise I don't see this expansion appealing especially to ex amigans, a big shame as it looks like a great product technically.

I wouldn't be suprised if Jens has already designed this board to fit into a standard, widely available electronics project kit plastic case.  There are a ton of designs.  Jens isn't stupid, so I'm sure he's thought of that.
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Offline wawrzon

Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #52 on: March 17, 2013, 10:23:24 PM »
there is no case so far ive read on a1k, and it doesnt look as if it would fit into any standard case.
 

Offline Darrin

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #53 on: March 17, 2013, 10:38:02 PM »
Quote from: ral-clan;729567
I wouldn't be suprised if Jens has already designed this board to fit into a standard, widely available electronics project kit plastic case.  There are a ton of designs.  Jens isn't stupid, so I'm sure he's thought of that.


It isn't a case of Jens being stupid, it is more Jens realises that some people want to make their own cases and gripe about the ones supplied.  Of course the opposite is that those of us who want a case gripe about there not being one.  :)

The MMC Replay came without a case, but fortunately it fitted into an easy to obtain C64 cartridge case and (with the help of a dremel) could be quickly installed.  The C-One came without a case (insert in the PC case of your choice, just don't expect easy access to the ports).

I can't imagine anyone wanting to have one of these attached to their A500 without a case, but then I've been using my FPGA Arcade without on for over a year (I've learned to be very careful with my drink cups).
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Offline desiv

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #54 on: March 18, 2013, 01:06:05 AM »
I wonder how much 3D printed stuff costs..
I think it was Kipper2K (or someone one EAB??) who picked up a 3D printer recently.

Might be able to 3D print a case for it.. ;-)
(I think I heard a rumor that Staples (office supply store) is looking into have 3D printing as a service available)

desiv
(No idea how expensive that would be...)
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Offline AmmoJammo

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #55 on: March 18, 2013, 06:08:16 AM »
this is 3D printing, right? :D

 

Offline Akiko

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #56 on: March 18, 2013, 07:20:56 AM »
Quote from: AmmoJammo;729604
this is 3D printing, right? :D



It looks like a white version of the Walker :)
 

Offline Akiko

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #57 on: March 18, 2013, 07:21:42 AM »
.
 

Offline Lord Aga

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Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #58 on: March 18, 2013, 09:44:16 AM »
Quote from: Akiko;729609
It looks like a white version of the Walker :)


Bwaaahahaaaa :D Top stuff !
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Offline wawrzon

Re: ACA500 prototype
« Reply #59 on: March 18, 2013, 10:48:53 AM »
Quote from: Darrin;729571
It isn't a case of Jens being stupid, it is more Jens realises that some people want to make their own cases and gripe about the ones supplied.


what? why do you imply something you just assume about someone else? jens has made a few attemts to organize the case production, like tracing down the old suppliers that might still have tools laying around. all that in vain. and then he decided not to provide case as it would cost too much to make one. still this is only a prototype so far so things may change