bell@ecs.umass.edu (05/12/91)
I'm thinking of upgrading to the A3000 and I was wondering if anyone could tell
me some more about the A3000 and Bridgeboards.
1) How many slots are left over as IBM slots with the bridgeboard installed?
2) Can you get VGA style graphics
3) Can you use the A3000's Hard drive or is it is easy to add one solely
for the IBM side?
4) Just how good is the compatability?
5) Lastly, is a 8MHz 286 the best chip available on a bridgeboard?
For school I have access to and am required to use a lot of IBM software.
I love my Amiga 500 and would like to upgrade with the Power-Up special
and get the best of both worlds.
Thank you for your time and assistance.drysdale@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Drysdale) (05/14/91)
In article <13646.282ccbae@ecs.umass.edu> bell@ecs.umass.edu writes: >I'm thinking of upgrading to the A3000 and I was wondering if anyone could tell >me some more about the A3000 and Bridgeboards. >1) How many slots are left over as IBM slots with the bridgeboard installed? ok, imagine looking the 3000's backplane head-on: VVVVVVVVV VVVVVVVVV ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 1 (top slot) PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP AAAAAA ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 2 PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP AAAAAA ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 3 ...................... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 4 (bottom slot) Z = zorro slot P = PC (8 bit) slot A = AT (16 bit extension) slot V = video slot . = air the numbers to the right are for reference. slots 2 and 3 can accept bridgeboards or zorro cards or pc/at cards. the 2088 (XT bridgeboard) can plug into slot 2 or 3, and does not obstruct the slot above it. the 2286 (AT bridgeboard) can plug into slot 2 or 3, but it will obstruct the slot above it. THEREFOR: if you install a 2088 you can put it in slot 2 or 3, and use slot 3 or 2 for an IBM PC/AT card, like a VGA board or hard drive controller. ie, you can add *one* ibm pc/at card. if you install a 2286 you can put in in slot 2 (obstructing slot 1 - no toasters or other video goodies, but space for one ibm pc/at card) or slot 3 (obstructing slot 2 - no space for ibm pc/at cards, but room for video toys). NOTE: this applies to the 3000 only. the 2000 and 3000T have many more slots, making configuration much more flexible. >2) Can you get VGA style graphics yes, if you plug in a VGA card and get another monitor (or use a multisync and a video a/b switch). the bridgeboards only do CGA and MDA on the amiga's screen. >3) Can you use the A3000's Hard drive or is it is easy to add one solely > for the IBM side? you can use a (large) file on the 3000's hard drive as an autobootable pc partition. you could also use a real hard drive and controller or a hardcard. >4) Just how good is the compatability? it's ok. the worst problem is that you can't run Windows 3.0 in "standard" mode on the 2286 (unless you don't intend to use the keyboard :) hardware accelerators are iffy at best, but some are known to work. generally, the 2088 seems to me to be more solid than the 2286 as far as compatibility goes (but then again, how much software is being written nowadays that actually runs well on a 512K 8088?). >5) Lastly, is a 8MHz 286 the best chip available on a bridgeboard? as of now, yes. >For school I have access to and am required to use a lot of IBM software. >I love my Amiga 500 and would like to upgrade with the Power-Up special >and get the best of both worlds. > >Thank you for your time and assistance. -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Scott Drysdale Software Engineer Commodore Amiga Inc. UUCP {allegra|burdvax|rutgers|ihnp4}!cbmvax!drysdale PHONE - yes. "Have you hugged your hog today?" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=