d88-mbe@sm.luth.se (Michael Bergman) (03/22/90)
I wrote this as an email posting a couple of days ago.
It might be interesting for everbody else also.
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I am also searching for suitable accelerator and memory boards for A500.
The time has come to get more speed. When I bought the machine I had already
decided that an A2000 wasn't worth the extra money. However, the accelerator
boards avalible for A2000 have made me rather envious - very little has been
produced for the A500 in this area... until just recently.
The best (and only) alternative as I see it is the Hurricane 500.
I don't know a lot about it, but I've read a couple of ads and will now give
a summary (and a price!):
68020 running at 14 MHz
68881 or 68882 as optional FPU (typically at 16 MHz)
1 or 4 MB 32-bit fast RAM
Fits inside the A500
Hardware switchable between 68000 & 68020
Compatible with other additional memory expansion
With 32-bit RAM approx. 5 times faster than the standard machine
Can be used in an A2000 also
Low power consumption so that the old power supply (2 A) can cope without
problems
And the price (in Germany): DM 1195,- *without* 32-bit RAM and FPU
DM 1795,- *with* 1 MB 32-bit RAM and 68881 at 16 MHz.
Over to memory expansion.
There are 3 boards (that I know of) fitting in the expansion slot originally
intended for the A501 and giving extra RAM up to 2 MB:
(There are other internal boards fitting in the CPU slot on the main board. but
these are not possible if you want to use an accelerator.)
WizRam 2.0 (same manufacturer as - and compatible with - Hurricane 500).
Can be used with New Agnus to get 1 MB chip RAM ("ECS adapter")
Avalible in several different configurations, from 0 to 2 MB
Uses the (expensive!) 256x4 kbit DRAM:s, 120 ns or faster
DM 749,- with 2 MB
Mini Max-2.
Fits in the expansion slot
Avalible in 0, 512K, 1 or 2 MB configurations
Includes real time clock with battery backup
Compatible with New Agnus and other auto- configure memory
Uses the 256x4 kbit DRAMS, 120 ns or faster
DM 500,- with 1.5MB
A580 and A580 plus.
Fits is expansion slot
Avalible in "steps" of 512K
Also uses the 256x4 kbit DRAM:s
Approx. DM 700,- with 1.8 MB
With all of these, you can get a full 2 MB only if you have the New Agnus in
your machine, i.e. you add 512 K chip mem to the standard 512 K and the rest
is fast RAM. Otherwhise you can only get 1.5 or 1.8 MB maximum.
They are all compatible with other expansions, e.g. the 2 MB board in the
A590. This means that if you (like me) own an A590 and a machine with the
new Agnus already installed (but not working with 1 MB chip RAM) you can get
5.5 MB "internally". Not bat at all.
That's just about all I know at present.
Mike
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