help me pick an amiga

[matt3k]

I just thought I'd throw in that I absolutely love my A4000D, especially after getting an 060 in it.  The difference between that and the 040 is staggering.  So I could only imagine the difference between an 68000 and an 68040.  

Besides, why would anyone suggest the A2000 over the A4000?  Since he programs, he'd be able to support OCS/ECS/AGA with the 4000, instead of just OCS/ECS!

And we all know we need more programmers!  

But it's awesome that he's able to have both.  Better for compatibility reasons.

slaapliedje

I would agree that going from a Amiga 3640@25MHz to a 060@50MHz with local memory and SCSI Controller makes a HUGE difference.

Would also say, going from a Warp Engine 040@40MHz with local memory and SCSI to a CS MK III is faster.  If you compare to a CS MK I or II without SCSI, the Warp Engine it is give and take.  For math the 060 is faster, for general usage the WE is faster (Since the WE has faster memory access then the MK II).

[ElPolloDiabl]

Now that you mention it the amount of AGA games - worth playing - are pretty scarce. There were a bunch of AGA titles, but it was back to the dodgy ports, from other computers.

Still AGA is a cheaper graphics upgrade than trying to hunt an rtg card down.

I take it the A4000 is a bit more fragile because the chips are soldered to the board instead of in a socket?

[slaapliedje]

I would agree that going from a Amiga 3640@25MHz to a 060@50MHz with local memory and SCSI Controller makes a HUGE difference.

Would also say, going from a Warp Engine 040@40MHz with local memory and SCSI to a CS MK III is faster.  If you compare to a CS MK I or II without SCSI, the Warp Engine it is give and take.  For math the 060 is faster, for general usage the WE is faster (Since the WE has faster memory access then the MK II).

So I have the CS MK I, but no SCSI module.  Quite frankly, SCSI is too loud.    My next upgrade down the road is probably going to be a FastATA and switch over to using CF cards.  I also wish I could get a CD or DVD rom that isn't as loud or as long as the one I currently have.  By Long, I mean if I could get one that is a couple inches shorter, I would have that much more room for cable management and air flow!

Any recommendations on a replacement CD-ROM?

slaapliedje

[ElPolloDiabl]

@ CD-ROM above

The latest SATA CD/DVD drives are very quiet and reasonably short. Could you spring for an ide to SATA adapter? I think they are only $15 dollars.

[nicholas]

I would agree that going from a Amiga 3640@25MHz to a 060@50MHz with local memory and SCSI Controller makes a HUGE difference.

Would also say, going from a Warp Engine 040@40MHz with local memory and SCSI to a CS MK III is faster.  If you compare to a CS MK I or II without SCSI, the Warp Engine it is give and take.  For math the 060 is faster, for general usage the WE is faster (Since the WE has faster memory access then the MK II).

I went from a WE/040 to a CS MK2/060 with the SCSI adapter.

I have and ACard IDE to SCSI adapter with a 32GB SDHC card fitted to it so it's nice and silent and the speed is much better than the IDE on my A4000 was.  I've got an external SCSI DVD writer attached to the onboard A3000 SCSI too.

[nicholas]

So I have the CS MK I, but no SCSI module.  Quite frankly, SCSI is too loud.    My next upgrade down the road is probably going to be a FastATA and switch over to using CF cards.  I also wish I could get a CD or DVD rom that isn't as loud or as long as the one I currently have.  By Long, I mean if I could get one that is a couple inches shorter, I would have that much more room for cable management and air flow!

Any recommendations on a replacement CD-ROM?

slaapliedje

I really recommend trying to get  hold of the SCSI adapter for your Cyberstorm as the DMA transfer makes a big difference over the PIO you'll get from a FastATA, although a FastATA is a bazillion times better than the onboard IDE on the A4000.

[matt3k]

So I have the CS MK I, but no SCSI module.  Quite frankly, SCSI is too loud.    My next upgrade down the road is probably going to be a FastATA and switch over to using CF cards.  I also wish I could get a CD or DVD rom that isn't as loud or as long as the one I currently have.  By Long, I mean if I could get one that is a couple inches shorter, I would have that much more room for cable management and air flow!

Any recommendations on a replacement CD-ROM?

slaapliedje

Would also recommend you get the scsi module to free up the cpu.  Anything is better then the onboard 4000 IDE, but scsi is a bit more elegant.

I use an acard scsi to sata adapter.  It works great and my 3000D with the SSD and quiet cpu fan makes it whisper along...

[slaapliedje]

Would also recommend you get the scsi module to free up the cpu.  Anything is better then the onboard 4000 IDE, but scsi is a bit more elegant.

I use an acard scsi to sata adapter.  It works great and my 3000D with the SSD and quiet cpu fan makes it whisper along...

Interesting, I hadn't ever seen a SCSI to SATA adapter.  I'm not sure how costly / rare the SCSI module is for the CS MK I, but I was hoping I could get the Adaptec 2940UW working as a 'native' device, but unfortunately there isn't a way for the PCI bus to be booted off of natively (at least that I'm aware of.)  I did get my big fatty 10k RPM Ultra160 drive working on it, but only as a secondary device.  I also had forgotten how loud that thing is...not to mention how hot it got.  Still, I like to keep my options open

slaapliedje