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From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: The new Amiga 500 (from latest Amazing Computing)
Message-ID: <1533@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Mar-87 07:52:39 EST
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.1533
Posted: Wed Mar 11 07:52:39 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Mar-87 21:16:42 EST
References: <2314@bacall.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 48
Summary: corrections

I'll try to correct a few confusions in Marco's posting.  I haven't seen
the Amazing Computing article yet, so I'm not sure who is confused...

In article <2314@bacall.UUCP> papa@bacall.UUCP (Marco Papa) writes:
>Well, this time it seems that Amazing Computing beat BYTE, AmigaWorld 
>and Compute on the Amiga 500 coverage.
>
> The expansion bus is almost identical to the Amiga 1000 except that it is
> on the left side.  A1000 boards will NOT fit into it without some kind of
> connector that switches the lines.

	A simple 2" extender with connector for an external power supply
	will do the trick.

> The keyboard is similar to the A2000 keyboard.

	I think it's the other way around, but never mind.

>Kickstart is in ROM. New Kickstart disks will be accepted.

	Provision to load alternate kickstart is not supported by 1.2 -
	possibilities for future release, but details not worked out...
	Kickstart code is exactly the same as 1.2 for A1000 & A2000.

>The memory is ALL on the same bus. That is, "fast" memory is not fast anymore.
>68000 will see contention on the memory above 512K when using lots
>of bitplanes or high res.  Basically you have the same speed of an A1000
>with 512K (no fast mem). Reason: cost.

	This is the same situation as the A1000 - any external expansion memory
	can be fast - to do this internally would required two sets of memory
	control logic - a $$$ no-no.


> The A1000 genlock will NOT work with the A500.

	This is just a mechanical/power supply problem.  The A500 is capable
	of genlock action.  Status of possible A500 versions of genlock /
	framegrabber devices not clear yet.

> Two new custom chips are on the board, named Gary and Buster. A gate array
> chip, and a bus arbitrator

	Gary is only used in the A2000 - it controls the built-in expansion bus.
-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@seismo.css.GOV
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)