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Alpha Gold 3.0page  1 2 3 4 5 

Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
25 Nov 2019 13:48


Ronnie Beck wrote:
 
  Nice to know!  Does it have that annoying screen overlay which pops up everytime the input signal changes (resolution/scanrate/PAL-NTSC)?

It does unfortunately, I think it's functionally the same, just looks like one may have a slight revision. I can't say for sure the one I linked was the good one or the bad one...




Nixus Minimax

Posts 416
26 Nov 2019 08:39


Roy Gillotti wrote:
the Vampire's H.D.M.I seems to power this adapter itself, so I just don't use the external power supply with it.

Do you mean you run the DIGITAL-VIDEO-adapter from the Vampire's power budget? If so, that doesn't seem a good idea.


Taras Shevchenko

Posts 8
26 Nov 2019 10:36


Taras Shevchenko wrote:

Dear Amigos,
  I'm about to disturb you "holy war" regarding the topic :).
  Could you please help/advise about a couple of practical questions regarding the core 3.0:
 
  1)Did anyone experienced the same situation:
  When the 3.0 is flashed, system is failing to boot, blinking with the power led. I'm unplugging the DIGITAL-VIDEO cable and it boots fine! After that it's possible to plug the DIGITAL-VIDEO in and see the screen.
  Vampire v2.1 for A600, black PCB, machine is freshly re-capped.
  I tried to: a) re-flash; b) clean CPU socket pins, c) change the PSU - doesn't help!
  And at the same time, core 2.11-2.12 works 100% with no issues!
 
  2) When I try to run any AGA game with WHDLOAD, system blame "wrong 40068.A1200" and doesn't run. I tried to replace the file with different other versions of 3.1 kick, with no success.
  The same set of kicks are working fine on my A1200.
  Do you know why it doesn't work on A600+Vampire+core3.0alpha?
  Do I need any special kick-rom for that?
 
  Great thanks in advance!

Hello Amigos,
The problems has been solved.
The root causes for 2 of those were quite stupid (as usual):
1) There was a shortcut of the 2 LED pins on the Gotek drive. Which seems been loading the power bus, or been distorting the power signals. After isolation, everything boots fine.
2) There was something wrong with the CF card format. I realized that anything I write to it is working only 50/50. Therefore, I took another one, reformatted and reinstalled the WB. After that - core 3.0 works fine with all it's beauty!

WOW, I was able to run AGA titles on my poor tiny a600!
SlamTilt, Trolls, Bubble&Squeek, etc. !
I noticed, that AGA titles sometimes run even more stable, comparing to ECS versions (most probably it's still an early version causing this).

Best regards. 


Taras Shevchenko

Posts 8
26 Nov 2019 12:20


Dear Amigos,
Let me share some reflections regarding the GOLD 3.0 Alpha.
(sorry for the  flood, but I feel it could be helpful to those who is about to make a decision - to be or not to be)

Overall - it's a GREAT PRODUCT already now! (Let's cross the fingers for the further improvements to be done :) )

What I've got today is:

  1) Really great picture, coming over the modern digital output - the screen is proportional and properly formatted, the scanlines looks great and brings  "authentic" retro look. The colors are rich and vibrant. You simply CAN'T get the same through SCART. The only alternative is Indivision (or proper Multiscan, which is rare an you can't easily carry it around).

  2) Higher quality sound output, coming through the same output - I don't really know the technical reasons behind, but the sound is much cleaner (much less "sandy" / noisy) through digital.

  3) Any "classic" chipset "in-one" - OCS/ECS/AGA is displayed with no troubles

  4) Unbeatable CPU power - you can run any application for classic

All above makes your poor, almost obsolete Amiga live again!

So, I can't really understand the complains, coming from some members. What else do you want?
Yes, all above is limiting the use for your A to the "fantastic retro-gaming machine".
But, honestly, do you believe you can really use it for anything else? Really? In the century, when any basic Android smartphone can do everything you need - browse the web, send/receive the e-mail, make and process the photo, create Office document. What is the thing? Are you going to run Lightwave? Why on Amiga? What's the purpose?
So, I'm really feel that those RTG/FPU discussions regarding the core 3.0 are really artificial. What really can you gain with it? (rhetorical...)

Instead, let's hope the guys in future releases will be able to fix:
1) Better resolution for the WorkBench (at least double the rows, otherwise it's impossible to work)
2) Interlaced modes proper treatment (to make it looks not that ugly on modern screens)
3) Floppy (still a lot of titles are not available through WHD
4) Compatibility and stability for more titles

If, there is still some space available in FPGA and it could be done, I would be just happiest man on earth! (And I feel that another 95% of community will feel the same).

Now, throw the tomatoes... :)

Best regards!


Taras Shevchenko

Posts 8
26 Nov 2019 12:23


BTW: It would be good, if the Team could post a formal "ultimate specification" for the 3.0.
E.g. - with the GOLD 3.0 you will get:
  1)...
  2)...
  3)...
  4)...
basta! Not more, not less!

That will help to cut-off the flood around it greatly.



David Wright

Posts 373
26 Nov 2019 13:42


Hello Taras, what is this Android you speak of?


Taras Shevchenko

Posts 8
26 Nov 2019 14:37


Hello David,
It's a small green friendly looking robot. :) Which is helping you to kill the precious time, while it looks and feels to you that you are doing something important. Similar to "Magic Apple" fruit...
All this modern things which is unfortunately stealing our real life...
But sometimes those helps!
Regards. 


Ronnie Beck
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 199
26 Nov 2019 14:38


Taras Shevchenko wrote:

BTW: It would be good, if the Team could post a formal "ultimate specification" for the 3.0

How about we let them finish it first.  As has been mentioned numerous times, the team is focusing on the V4 for now.

If you are considering buying a V2, then buy it for the features it has now.  This is already a great card with the same mind blowing CPU as the V4.


David Wright

Posts 373
26 Nov 2019 15:29


Yes, sounds intrusive. We must thwart these sentient robots. Something about Skynet....


Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
26 Nov 2019 20:43


Nixus Minimax wrote:

Roy Gillotti wrote:
the Vampire's H.D.M.I seems to power this adapter itself, so I just don't use the external power supply with it.

 
  Do you mean you run the DIGITAL-VIDEO-adapter from the Vampire's power budget? If so, that doesn't seem a good idea.

It seems a tiny bit better than having some budget chinese 5V wall adapter powering up the Vampire when the Amiga is powered off..


Nixus Minimax

Posts 416
27 Nov 2019 07:59


Roy Gillotti wrote:
It seems a tiny bit better than having some budget chinese 5V wall adapter powering up the Vampire when the Amiga is powered off..

How about unplugging the video cable from the digital video converter, then powering up both the Amiga and the video converter, repluging the video cable?


Vojin Vidanovic
(Needs Verification)
Posts 1916/ 1
27 Nov 2019 08:50


Taras Shevchenko wrote:

 
      1)...
      2)...
      3)...
      4)...
    basta! Not more, not less!
 

 
  Unless something changes, GOLD3 beta/first public v2 core users should get
 
  Initial feats
 
  Unified video and audio out
  OCS ECS AGA compatibility
  SAGA 24-bit gfx extension but no RTG
  16-bit sound by direct Pamela hit
  Same cut down FPU and 080 as before
  ----------------------------------
  (to alpha release: FPU and full AGA resolutions,  Same cut down FPU and 080 as before)
 
  Later feats
  ----------------------------
  Fixed SDBoot maybe
  Some more v4 core feats but NOT RTG,full FPU, more cache as it really requires FPGA space
 
 
  However, ADVANCING V4 CORE AND PUSHING MORE V4 MODELS HAS A PRIORITY. Isnt numerous SILVER and GOLD 2.xx cores something?

Dont you see V4 SA core needs love too?


Willem Drijver
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 127
27 Nov 2019 09:32


Of course you are right that the V4 needs the sparse development time of the Apollo team. But keep in mind that most of the Vampire V2 owners have been waiting for a very long time now for the promised Gold3 Core with AGA. It has been a decision of the Apollo team to alter the development route in favour of the V4. Given that, it seems a bit unfair to me that in the responses the V2 owners are not taken very seriously in their request for a clear roadmap for Gold3 on V2. Don't get me wrong: I am a Vampire lover and already ordered my V4SA.


Nixus Minimax

Posts 416
27 Nov 2019 09:52


Willem Drijver wrote:
Vampire V2 owners have been waiting for a very long time now for the promised Gold3 Core with AGA

The Team has never promised AGA for the V2. This is just something that people misquoting the Team have created. Yes, the Team *plans* on releasing an AGA core for the V2 but advices anybody to buy a V2 for what it can do today and not for what it might do some day. This distinction has always been pointed out very clearly.



Vojin Vidanovic
(Needs Verification)
Posts 1916/ 1
27 Nov 2019 10:11


Willem Drijver wrote:

  Of course you are right that the V4 needs the sparse development time of the Apollo team. But keep in mind that most of the Vampire V2 owners have been waiting for a very long time now for the promised Gold3 Core with AGA.
 

 
  It was promised only when v4 was announced AS LATER POSSIBILITY AND EXCHANGEABLE CORE TO V2 NOT DEFAULT ONE. REAL V2 CORES ARE V2 GOLD and they are derivative of their own, even longer saga.

  V4 wish users have been waiting on their own :)
 
  Obviously, GOLD3 is V4 derrivate, so you just cant have chicken before the egg. Period :)
 


Willem Drijver
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 127
27 Nov 2019 10:38


In 2017 there was already a roadmap for Gold3. It was even stated that it would be the next release directly after Gold 2.7.

After that it was a team decision to alter the route and do the Gold3 exclusively on V4. From that point on it was clear to me that V2 would be a backport and thus we would have to wait for V4 to mature. Fair enough.

But again I find it al little bit unfair to state that V2 owners have dreamed their own fairytale of upgrading to Gold3. In my honest beliefs this was a realistic expectation back in 2017.

I do understand completely the team strategy, but in my opinion it would be fair to give something of a functional scope with a timeframe for release of a Gold3 for V2.



Vojin Vidanovic
(Needs Verification)
Posts 1916/ 1
27 Nov 2019 11:46


Its true they have experimented with v2, thus the alpha.

It will CONTINUE.

They are already late on SA release and V4 for Classics and V2 for A1200.

IT would be fair to wait for those to be done.

I know 100% Vamp users are now v2 hungry for GOLD3, but they actually have what to play with.


Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
27 Nov 2019 19:43


Nixus Minimax wrote:

Roy Gillotti wrote:
It seems a tiny bit better than having some budget chinese 5V wall adapter powering up the Vampire when the Amiga is powered off..
 

 
  How about unplugging the video cable from the digital video converter, then powering up both the Amiga and the video converter, repluging the video cable?

That is a bit inconvenient every time I want to use my Amiga...

Ideally when I get time I will make a power plug that comes directly from the Power supply I run the Amiga from. It's a new Mean Well supply, so it should be up to the task.



David Wright

Posts 373
27 Nov 2019 20:32


Willem Drijver wrote:

In 2017 there was already a roadmap for Gold3. It was even stated that it would be the next release directly after Gold 2.7.
 
 
  But again I find it al little bit unfair to state that V2 owners have dreamed their own fairytale of upgrading to Gold3. In my honest beliefs this was a realistic expectation back in 2017.
 

 


  This was the impression and indeed told was around the corner. They altered their path, fair enough, just don’t gaslight us because some remember differently.


Eric Gus

Posts 477
28 Nov 2019 06:39


Myself I am waiting for V2 Core3 .. my NTSC OCS A500 is NTSC locked (no PAL modes) and is limited to 512kb chip (which is very limiting) .. and as its my first and original Amiga I refuse to do any irreversible mods. As its an old rev I would need to cut the mobo and thats a non starter, I also refuse this late in the game to try to find a massively overpriced megachip .. I can wait a bit longer, I waited this long.. lol.. but it would be nice to finally have more than the paltry 512kb chip so I can really use WHDLOAD and etc..

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