Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!think.com!linus!linus!eachus From: eachus@linus.mitre.org (Robert I. Eachus) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: EXPLAIN DIFFERENT AMIGA MODELS Message-ID: Date: 10 Jan 91 19:25:33 GMT References: <1991Jan10.032717.21126@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> Sender: usenet@linus.mitre.org Distribution: na Organization: The Mitre Corporation, Bedford, MA Lines: 169 Nntp-Posting-Host: aries.mitre.org In-reply-to: tostan@mars.lerc.nasa.gov's message of 10 Jan 91 03:27:17 GMT In article <1991Jan10.032717.21126@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> tostan@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Stan Mohler (SVER)) writes: I'm considering shopping for one of those "COOL" Amiga computers. I have been so impressed with the eloquence of some of these posts :-)) that I am asking someone to explain what the different Amigas are called, how their performances compare, and approximate prices. What's the diff between an Amiga 500, 1000, and 3000? Is there a 5000? The graphics are cool, but will the Amiga run flight simulators as smoothly as a PC-AT (whose flight sim performance is fair compared to a 386 I'm sure)? Will the Amiga accept a joy stick which has variable resistors instead of the silly click-switches that the C-64 is limited to? Thanks, *experts* ! Okay, I'll take a shot (and duck the retrun volleys....) All models include mouse, keyboard (isn't it amazing what some companies treat as optional?), one serial port, one parallel port, and NTSC standard color output (although some models require an inexpensive adapter to connect to a TV, but you don't want to do that anyway). All models except the 3000 (which has a 16 or 25 MHz 68030 on the motherboard) contain a 68000 and three wild custom chips (Paula, Denise, and Agnes) which do most of the sound, graphics, and floppy disk I/O. Standard Video modes (supported on all machines) include 320x200 and 320x400 up to 32 colors from 4096 plus EHB (extra half bright) and HAM (hold and modify) modes, and 640x200 & 640x400 up to 16 colors from 4096 (but there are techniques which switch the palette on the fly to provide more colors). The 400 line modes are refreshed at 30 Hz, which can cause unacceptable flicker with certain color combinations or for some individuals unless you have a high persistance monitor or a scan doubler and a multisynch monitor. There are also to additional sets of modes supported by the enhanced chip set: productivity modes 640x800 or 1280x400, four colors from 64, and the Moniterm modes, actually a 15 Hz refresh where the monitor puts four panes together (and refreshes the screen at 60 Hz). This provides 1008x800 or 1024x1024(?) at 50 Hz. All modes other than the Moniterm modes can be overscanned (I typically run at 704x470) or underscanned (you can open a screen with less than the "standard" number of rows and columns. You can open windows on any screen of course, but multiple screens, even at different resolutions and with different palettes, can be displayed on a single (physical) display at the same time! The physical screen can be separated vertically and different (logical) screens pulled down or flipped to the back, etc. I normally use a separate screen for each terminal session, and my aliases assign a different palette for each host machine. Unix (Sys 5R4) from Commodore requires a memory managemment unit which is available on the 6820 and 6830 boards from Commodore, the 3000, and some other processor upgrades. (It also requires a cartridge tape drive.) I think that we still haven't reached the official announcement date, but Commodore has been selling (and shipping) systems to basically anyone who asks. Amiga 500 (currently available in C and P packages): Low end of the line. Capable of running most (I'll get to the exceptions later) software for the family at a rock bottom (as low as $500) price. Base unit includes 1/2 Meg of memory (the P version has 1 Meg, there are plug in boards to expand internally to about 2 Meg). A SOTS (stick on the side) hard disk, and hard disk controller, with room for 2 Meg of memory, is available from Commodore. Lots of peripherals are available from third parties. Advantages: small lightweight (unless you want to carry a monitor with it), inexpensive. Disadvantages: keyboard is not detachable, power supply is in a separate brick and very easy to overload, so if you add peripherals which draw power form the machine, prepare to replace the pwoer supply. Amiga 1000: Original Amiga, no longer manufactured. Since it loads the Kickstart (ROM) from disk, it can run all the old software, etc. 256K RAM (almost always expanded internally to 512K), can often be purchased second hand for about $400 with monitor. This is the machine I have at home. Advantages: Almost as light as the 500, but it has a detachable keyboard (and a place to park it). It has a robust power supply that can support a lot of add ons, and has several video output options built-in. Disadvantages: Does not support the new 512K ROMs and the ECS (extended chip set). There are new add-ons (which may cost more than the base machine) to support these. Addition of hard disks and more than about 2 Meg of FAST memory is difficult. Amiga 2000: This box has a 68000 chip standard (same as the 500 and 1000), the largest power supply, 1 Meg of memory on the motherboard--you'll want more--and 9 internal slots: Video slot, Processor slot, four Zorro II slots (including two positions for 80x86 boards) and I think it is two AT and one XT slots, but I would have to open the box and check. The machine I am typing this on has a FlickerFixer in the video slot, a 2630 card in the processor slot (25 MHz 68030 with 68882 and 4 Meg of 32-bi wide memory), a 2090 disk controller, an Ethernet card, and two 16-bit memory cards. The 2000 has an additional 3-1/2 inch bay and a 5-1/4 inch bay for additional disk drives. (I have a hard disk in the 5-1/4 inch and an extra 3-1/2 inch floppy drive in mine.) Advantages: Until the 3500 comes out (or a 68040 board for the 3000), this is machine of choice if price and portability are not major concerns. There are 50 MHz 68030 boards available for the processor slot, and the Video Toaster is something you have to see to believe (especially with three! monitors attached to the system). You can put in any sort of 80x86 board you want (I don't want), etc. Disadvantages: A 3000 may do all you want at a cheaper price and with a smaller footprint... Amiga 2000HD, Amiga 2500, Amiga 2500/30: Designation for Amiga 2000s shipped with internal hard disks and for the 2500's either a A2620 (16 MHz 68020, 68851, and 68881) or A2630 (25 MHz 68030 and 68882) (2500/30) board from Commodore. Advantages: Saves effort installing software on hard disk. Disadvantage: None, if it is the disk and/or accelerator board that you want. Amiga 3000/16, Amiga 3000/25: Newest Amiga, and by far the cheapest on a cost/performance basis. Comes standard with a 68030 at 16 or 25 MHz, and a hard disk (either 50, 100, or 200 Meg). Units with 40/50 Meg disks have 2 Meg of memory installed, 100 Meg units now have 5 Meg installed, and 200 Meg units (currently only sold as Unix boxes, I think) have 9 Meg of memory. In all models there is room for 18 Meg of 32-bit memory on the motherboard, and five slots: four Zorro III slots, each lined up with something different, and a coprocessor slot. The 3000 also has the equvalent of the flickerFixer card on the motherboard, and this allows Multisync monitors to be run without using up the video slot (which lines up with one of the Zorro III slots). Zorro III is an upward compatible 32-bit bus with the 16-bit Zorro II bus in the 2000. Advantages: Price!, performance, future expandability, lots of room for fast memory, and right now they are shipping with software to map the ROMs into RAM memory which makes upgrading easier. Disadvantages: The top processor accelerators are for the 2000, but this should soon change. (Besides isn't 7-8 MIPS on a desktop enough for this year? This month?) Also the Video Toaster does not currently fit into the 3000 although NewTek says they are working on it. Amiga 3500: Amiga 3000 motherboard in a bigger box with room for more slots and a heftier power supply. Disadvantages: Not even announced yet, :-( but it shares schematics with the 3000. Robert I. Eachus Amiga 3000 - The hardware makes it great, the software makes it awesome, and the price will make it ubiquitous. -- Robert I. Eachus When the dictators are ready to make war upon us, they will not wait for an act of war on our part." - Franklin D. Roosevelt