Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!samsung!munnari.oz.au!brolga!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!marlin.jcu.edu.au!glmwc
From: glmwc@marlin.jcu.edu.au (Matt Crowd)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: MegaSTe info
Message-ID: <1991Feb4.014940.14419@marlin.jcu.edu.au>
Date: 4 Feb 91 01:49:40 GMT
References: <1991Feb03.062924.15318@ecst.csuchico.edu> <1991Feb3.121355.5874@marlin.jcu.edu.au> <1991Feb4.100645.23401@qut.edu.au>
Organization: James Cook University of North Queensland
Lines: 48

In article <1991Feb4.100645.23401@qut.edu.au> lunnon@qut.edu.au writes:
>In article <1991Feb3.121355.5874@marlin.jcu.edu.au>, glmwc@marlin.jcu.edu.au (Matt Crowd) writes:
>> In article <1991Feb03.062924.15318@ecst.csuchico.edu> ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu (Ed Krimen) writes:
>>>Now here is the port listing from the DOCS:
>>>
>>>Graphics                                         320x200x16
>>>                                                 640x200x4
>>>                                                 640x400x2
>>>
>>>Color                                            4096 Colors
>> 
>> What's the story with 640x400x2 ? An amiga can do 640x400x16 AND even
>> 640x400x4096, without any additional hardware.
>
>640*400 only in flicker mode (Interlaced)

Anyone who uses an Amiga in 640x400 or greater has a de-interlcing card
or runs in productivity mode, 640x400x4.

Try doing 1280x512x2 on an ST with NO extra hardware, it's not possible,
it is on an amiga.

>Try to do anything usefull in an unexpanded amiga while displaying a 640x200
>x16 , extra-halfbright pic. More than 2 planes at 640*200 ( which is the
>same as amiga 640x400 ) in an 8 MHz 68K system will require cpu cycles to

The Amiga's graphics are far superior to the ST for speed and it's a well
known fact.

>acquire video data. In the more colourful video modes you have to run your
>CPU in the intervals.
>
>This is why amigas have limits on video ram. ST's have no limit on video ram
>except the inherent ST memory limits this makes frame animation much easier
>on an ST.

There may be a physical limit to CHIP ram, but all the serious 8Meg
Sound/Animation players use bank switching, it's not a problem at all.
>
>	BOB
>>>
>>>--Gregory
>> 
>> Matt Crowd.

One look at Gem on an IBM turned me off the ST for life.

ps. How about multi-tasking on an ST ?? Impossible.