Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!solo.csci.unt.edu!vaxb.acs.unt.edu!vaxb.acs.unt.edu!news From: wright@etsuv2.etsu.edu (BRIAN WRIGHT) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: Crippled A3000 Message-ID: <1991Jun2.143032.47227@vaxb.acs.unt.edu> Date: 2 Jun 91 19:03:21 GMT Reply-To: wright@etsuv2.etsu.edu Organization: East Texas State University Lines: 64 Nntp-Posting-Host: etsuv2.etsu.edu In article , tony@ais.org (Tony Poole) writes... > > I have a question that has to deal with a 16 Mhz A3000. > I am thinking about upgrading from a A1000, to an A3000, but don't >think I can afford the extra three or four hundred bucks that it would >take to buy a 25 Mhz 3000, so I may be aiming at the 16 Mhz. > I am told from my local dealer that this computer would not be upgradable >to 25 Mhz because the CPU is soldered in. > What I want to know is this: Will I be able to, sometime in the future, >purchase a third party board to connect expansion wise, and upgrade >to 25 Mhz, exactly the same as if I actually bought a 25 Mhz model? >I mean EXACTLY the same as, not close.... Tony, the main and ONLY difference between the 16 mhz and 25 mhz version is the speed of the CPU (16 or 25 mhz) and the math coprocessor (881/882). Everything else is exactly the same. If Commodore ever released a 25 Mhz card for the 16 mhz version, it would fit into the CPU slot allowing your motherboard to go at full 25 mhz (EXACTLY like the 25 mhz version). If that CPU board happens to leave your motherboard's 030 active, the max rate your motherboard will be 16 mhz (because that's as fast as your motherboard's 030 can go). For example, when the 040 boards are released and you buy one and put it in. If you benchmarked a 25 mhz machine AND a 16 mhz machine with the SAME 040 board in place (without the motherboard's CPU active) they'll run exactly the same speed. With the motherboard's 030 active, I couldn't say what the results might be, but the 25 mhz 030 on motherboard should probably be faster. The 030 on the motherboard can't be easily replaced by a faster 030 as they ARE soldered. This holds for the 881 math chip as well. The 179 pin CPU slot more than makes up for this, though. Don't let this salesman fool you. He's trying to get a larger sale. The ONLY drawback to the 16 mhz model is the parallel processing type sitation (with the 040). > Is this the only difference between the two models? > I don't want to lay down the bucks now, and then later wish I had >sold my wife and dog to get the 25 Mhz (NO! I wouldn't do THAT....would I?). > I'm sure this has been covered before, but I'm not gonna wade >through screens of messages.....I'd rather waste "hundreds, if not >thousands" of the net's money! > Thanks! For me, I felt it was a little costly for the extra $400 for such a little speed improvement (for what I do with it). I went with the 16 mhz. The 040s will be out very soon and that $400 could easily apply to that card and bring the price down to a reasonable range. As for the 25 mhz, if you don't plan on getting an 040 any time soon, then it would probably be a better buy for you. I do plan on getting an 040 as soon as they are released and so my $400 is better spent towards that card. FYI, The first 040 cards to be released will probably not have the parallel processing capability mentioned above. So, at first, all 040s will run the same speed on ALL 3000s. Of course, the 040 is fast enough that even without the other CPU active, it will STILL be DARN fast. :-) >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Tony Poole Traverse City, MI USA EMail:tony@irie.ais.org >____________________________________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Wright wright%etsuvax2@ricevm1.rice.edu or wright@etsuvax2.bitnet -------------------------------------------------------------- Standard Disclaimer... not my words and all that jazz.