Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cbmvax!cbmehq!cbmger!danube!thiger!skraw From: skraw@thiger.UUCP (Stephan von Krawczynski) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: GVP Trade-in Message-ID: <02048.002057@thiger.UUCP> Date: 25 Aug 90 03:50:57 GMT References: <589@oregon.oacis.org> <38CP09P@dri.com> Organization: THIndustries Software Development Lines: 67 >In article <38CP09P@dri.com> liberato@dri.com (Jimmy Liberato) writes: >jmeissen@oregon.oacis.org (John Meissen - Staff OACIS) writes: > > >>In the latest AmigaWorld GVP is offering a trade-in program for their >>new "Series II" SCSI and RAM controllers.. >>... >>A few specific questions would be: >> >> True DMA (ala the A2090) is VERY important to me. GVP claims >> this board is. Anybody have one that can comment? 1. GVP does not DMA to amiga-memory. 2. why is DMA so important for you? it is generally slower than the processor-method (lets call it this way). you win nothing because you have a whole lot of DMA going on already inside the system and processor's running into heavy troubles sometimes, e.g. harddisk-performance is very low while using overscan-graphics (just to mention an example). >Actually, if you read VERY carefully they do not claim "true DMA." >They say something like "DMA to on board ram." The more acceptable >and accurate term would be "pseudo-DMA" but because pseudo has bad >connotations they prefer to emphasize the buzz word DMA realizing >that 90% of us won't know what it means anyway. It still bugs me >that such a reputable company with a fine product in its own right >would stoop to practices with clear fraudulent intent. well, how about "transfer rates up to 4MB/SEC synchronous" (gvp). in fact i have never understood this one. what do they mean? 4MBytes/sec? i have never seen a controller/hd-combination reaching this. 4MBits/sec = 512kBytes/sec. seems to be more like the truth, but is an absolutely ridiculous value (ALF3 makes over 200kBytes/sec more in a standard amiga - NO processor-card installed) i think it's a reputable company, what do you think? >As to whether it is a good deal or not: The ROM upgrade for the >old GVP boards is around $50. remember this, you pay $50 more for your controller effectively. >The new hardcard board with space >for 1 MEG SIMMS looks like a great idea. this is the absolut last idea one could have, because if you upgrade your amiga with a 020/030/0x0-board (having 32-bit mem) you have some slow memory hanging around and will never get rid of it. if you disable it, why did you buy it, then? no good idea for me. on the other hand, if you have a separate memory-board, you are always able to sell it again. of course you won't get the full price you payed, but you will get SOMETHING, whereas otherwise ... >I >would never consider sending the controller first and then have >to wait a month for the board. It is unlikely the new board is >even shipping yet. (This last comment has no factual basis) i have never seen an acceptable trade-in for hardware-products. has anyone? >Jimmy Liberato liberat@dri.com -- best regards, stephan von krawczynski UUCP : ...!cbmvax!cbmehq!cbmger!danube!thiger!skraw PHONE: +49 9938 1664 FAX : +49 9938 1598