[comp.sys.amiga] Hardware things on an A500

cpb@doc.ic.ac.uk (C P Brown) (11/29/90)

Just a few muses:

If I buy a Fatter Agnus to replace my 512K one, can it be switched into
50Hz mode so that 200-line games occupy my entire PAL screen rather than
the top 2/3rds?

Will the ECS be available for the A500? Will it include a Fatter Agnus, or
should I buy one now? Are the new modes usable on a 1084 monitor?

Also, how does the A2000 version of Amax-II make the internal floppy r/w
Mac format disks? Sounds real clever. Why can't the A500 version do the
same thing?

Is there a card available or on the horizon which will allow Amiga to connect
to an existing Novell PC Network?

And to compensate for these questions, a statement of fact: Here in UK a
company has been advertising a 68020 board clocked at 16, 20 or 25Mhz with
sockets for 4Mb of 32-bit RAM and asynchronous 881/882 socket. Loads of
features such as ROM shadowing, software control to switch board in and
out, turn on/off caching etc and 3 cycle access on all systems. Benchmarked
between 6 (16Mhz) and 9 (25Mhz) times faster than A500 for normal things.
Cost: #399 (Sterling) for 68020 @16MHz, 1Mb. I have had one on order for
three months, delivery has started (so they say). Will report back when I
receive it and check it out. Seems like a good deal for those of us who
can't afford an A3000 and want a turbo-Amiga. Mail me for more info, but I
can't mail back, will post summary for those interested.

Phil Brown