To Vampire or not

[Iggy]

ok then why did he the thread at all?

just to start a flame fest?

gratulation success

No intent to flame anyone, I'd like to buy one, when it has the compatibility needed to make useful, which INCLUDES the fpu.

HDMI sound out, new multi-media instructions, for that matter video in general if it isn't fully AGA compliant, I DON'T care.
I'd just like a cpu that gives me what I can get with an '020, '030, '040, or '060 card.
At least the option of an fpu (if not one built in).

Again, this IS supposed to be the "'080", right? :angry:

[Acill]

No intent to flame anyone, I'd like to buy one, when it has the compatibility needed to make useful, which INCLUDES the fpu.

HDMI sound out, new multi-media instructions, for that matter video in general if it isn't fully AGA compliant, I DON'T care.
I'd just like a cpu that gives me what I can get with an '020, '030, '040, or '060 card.
At least the option of an fpu (if not one built in).

Again, this IS supposed to be the "'080", right? :angry:

I would still say its worth getting one now even with the compatibility issues. For the most part if you just get apps that are for the stock machines they seem to work. If you run something thats 030+ it will expect an FPU and fail. I just try and remember that and have had some good luck with it. Its the auto detect stuff thats been a pain in the ass for me.

[Iggy]

I would still say its worth getting one now even with the compatibility issues. For the most part if you just get apps that are for the stock machines they seem to work. If you run something thats 030+ it will expect an FPU and fail. I just try and remember that and have had some good luck with it. Its the auto detect stuff thats been a pain in the ass for me.

I don't doubt you there, and will at some point have to put one in my A2000.
After all, an fpu is not part of that design without using a cpu card.

BUT, since it IS available on a cpu card, I'd hope it would be a focus at SOME point in the Vampire's development.

[Djole]

Gunnar repeated many times and I am sure you whiners are aware of this, that FPU is developed, it needs a lot more testing before release and that it is not very high on the priority list. So the team doesnt think its a very important part of THEIR product and find that other things should have higher priority so they are working on these things (SAGA, Pamela etc.). Also he repeated a lot of times to only buy the Vampire for the features it has NOW and not for the features it might have in the future.

People seem to think they have some magical right to demand things and tell professionals what they should do. Buy a product that fits your demands and budget.

[psxphill]

Also he repeated a lot of times to only buy the Vampire for the features it has NOW and not for the features it might have in the future.

People seem to think they have some magical right to demand things and tell professionals what they should do. Buy a product that fits your demands and budget.

You seem to be berating people for agreeing with him that you shouldn't buy one unless it fits your needs now. It is not compatible with the 68030/68040 or 68060 MMU & FPU. So it certainly won't be going on my shopping list any time soon, I just hoped it would.

[UberFreak]

The project started off very promising, but somewhere along the way their priorities shifted.
I would think the highest possible priority should be striving for 100% compatibility with all existing software (incl. 040/060 specific).
What they're doing now (improved AGA & audio) is nice-to-have but should come after everything else is complete & fully compatible.

At least, that's my opinion.

[Iggy]

You seem to be berating people for agreeing with him that you shouldn't buy one unless it fits your needs now. It is not compatible with the 68030/68040 or 68060 MMU & FPU. So it certainly won't be going on my shopping list any time soon, I just hoped it would.

To you sir, and UberFreak, thank you gentleman.
Getting tagged as a "whiner" for merely wanting the functionality a dirt cheap 68882 gives me is remarkably irritating.
Also, the label of "professionals" is a little questionable, since they aren't carrying on like professionals, they're carrying on like hobbyists that want to be create some kind of exclusive club.

If you can't take constructive criticism, you simply aren't that professional.

[Gulliver]

Feature creep at its finest. Natami style!

Jack of all trades, master of none.

LOL

[gregthecanuck]

Everyone's opinion in here is valid - we all have different priorities and requirements.

All I can add to this discussion is that the Apollo/Vampire team has their own set of priorities and roadmap. There are only so many developer-hours at hand. What do they do first?  AGA? 16 bit sound? FPU? Mega chip RAM? Don't forget there is a standalone board in testing. It is waiting for a core revision that contains AGA and other chipset replacement logic.

So if delayed FPU isn't your cup of tea, hey I can see your point for sure. You just need to be patient and wait.

My understanding is that the FPU is a LOT of work to test. It is almost as complex as the CPU core. So do they hold all the other features up while the FPU is worked on, or ship product to the 80/90% or so users that can live without an FPU solution for now. There are workarounds for some (but not all) of the FPU requirements as well. But again if this isn't your cup of tea then just wait. No problem.

This is a very ambitious project and everyone just needs to be patient.

[psxphill]

My understanding is that the FPU is a LOT of work to test. It is almost as complex as the CPU core. So do they hold all the other features up while the FPU is worked on,

If the claim is true that it's done, but needs testing & they don't have time to test it. Then it would seem kinda logical to release it and see if someone external would test it.

Alternatively, release documentation so that other people can port their own code to the boards.

[OlafS3]

Feature creep at its finest. Natami style!

Jack of all trades, master of none.

LOL

I give you a good advice... do not buy it

then you can stay a happy man

[kolla]

* The claim is that an FPU is done, and was done more than 12 months ago.
* The only testing Gunnar is interested in, is that can be done in assembler code and that is a "killer app" for the Apollo Core FPU, the way Riva is a "killer app" for the AMMX instructions.
* The claim is that they offered the Apollo Core FPU 12 months ago to "the amiga coder community" (whoever they are?), but that noone showed any interest in it
* Gunnar wants to do a different FPU, a new one, even better, faster, more amazing etc.
* But only if there is enough interest in "the amiga coder community" to work man hours for the "team".
* Gunnar does not care one squat about old legacy programs that use FPU, for those, if anyone is interested, someone can very well slap together an FPU emulator.
* No FPU for current Vampires. The super duper new FPU is for the next generation of cards only, because Gunnar now sees potential in shiny new FPGAs that are coming.

[kolla]

I give you a good advice... do not buy it

then you can stay a happy man

Good advice for you is - buy it, so you can see for yourself what it offers.

[PPC]

I think the topic starter got the advice he was asking for on page 1.

[kolla]

I think the topic starter got the advice he was asking for on page 1.

And hence any further communication between amiga.org members on the topic of "To Vampire or not" should cease to exist?

[Iggy]

* The claim is that an FPU is done, and was done more than 12 months ago.
* The only testing Gunnar is interested in, is that can be done in assembler code and that is a "killer app" for the Apollo Core FPU, the way Riva is a "killer app" for the AMMX instructions.
* The claim is that they offered the Apollo Core FPU 12 months ago to "the amiga coder community" (whoever they are?), but that noone showed any interest in it
* Gunnar wants to do a different FPU, a new one, even better, faster, more amazing etc.
* But only if there is enough interest in "the amiga coder community" to work man hours for the "team".
* Gunnar does not care one squat about old legacy programs that use FPU, for those, if anyone is interested, someone can very well slap together an FPU emulator.
* No FPU for current Vampires. The super duper new FPU is for the next generation of cards only, because Gunnar now sees potential in shiny new FPGAs that are coming.

All quite scary, if true. :confused: