Hello.

I currently have a Sapphire ATI Radeon 9250 (PCI, 128 MB, 64 BIT, DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-OUT) graphics card installed in my SAM440EP-FLEX based system.

It seems a more powerful ATI Radeon 9250 (PCI, 256 MB, 128 BIT, DDR, VGA, DVI, TV-OUT) graphics card exists.

I run AmigaOS 4.1 Update 1.

My questions are:
1)
Can I replace my old graphics card with the newest and more powerful model? I guess 2D / 3D support should be exactly the same.

2)
For some people the Workbench reported to see the whole 256 MB of memory, for other only 128 MB ... depending on the hardware I guess. Before upgrading, is there any way to choose a card with fully usable memory?

You guys, what do you think about?

Perhaps ACube can help?

Thanks

Last edited by Massi on 17-May-2014 at 11:30 AM.

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SAM440EP-FLEX @ 733 Mhz, AmigaOS 4.1 Update 1

@Massi

Quote:

Can I replace my old graphics card with the newest and more powerful model? I guess 2D / 3D support should be exactly the same.

Yes.

Quote:

For some people the Workbench reported to see the whole 256 MB of memory, for other only 128 MB ... depending on the hardware I guess. Before upgrading, is there any way to choose a card with fully usable memory?

No way to know before purchase. Maybe some Amiga shops sell tested cards with 256 MB in one chunk.

For what purpose you need more than 128 MB GFX memory?

@Massi

128-bit cards work just the same. About the 256MB, are you finding yourself ever running out of VRAM with 128MB?

@pavlor

Well purchasing and paying for 256 MB and then not being able to exploit the whole thing, doesn' t sound very convenient or?

@All

Can someone recommend a specific model?

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SAM440EP-FLEX @ 733 Mhz, AmigaOS 4.1 Update 1

@Rob

Yes and no.

For some of my projects more video ram and speed would be very welcome, not a critical limitation though. Ever tried to only display a 70 MegaPixels JPEG image? If so then you can understand me

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SAM440EP-FLEX @ 733 Mhz, AmigaOS 4.1 Update 1

@Massi

got this from Elbox
256 MB Radeon 9250 PCI its 5V so works with classic Mediator systems and X1000 but check with ACube boards as my old Samflex@800 only took 3.3v pci cards

Last edited by klx300r on 17-May-2014 at 02:53 PM.

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@Massi

I recall some limtation of PCI space. Or some hardware limitation. That restricted the VGA windwow to 128MB. If only I had the details when making these statements.

I also wonder if there is an AGP version. Be nice for my AmigaOne.

@Hypex

Yes there is an AGP version. My A1XE has a Connect 3D Radeon 9250 AGP with 256 Mb of video RAM.

@Massi

I would like to know what is practical difference? Lets say timedemo fps and quake 2?

If it is something like 1-2 fps is not just worth of effort.

I have excatly same system than you have.

Last edited by utri007 on 17-May-2014 at 10:38 PM.

@Hypex

Some 256Mb cards have one bank of 256 and some have two banks of 128. Apparently there was in issue with dual bankcard wherby the system could lock if you went over 128MB of VRAM. Access to the second bank was switched off in 4.1.

@utri007

Well, 256 MB/128 BIT over 128 MB/64 BIT is certainly a relevant improvement.
All graphics applications should benefit from it.

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SAM440EP-FLEX @ 733 Mhz, AmigaOS 4.1 Update 1

@Massi


Running a Sapphire, Radeon R9250 256 DDR AGP VGA/TVO/DVI-I
in my AmigaOne XE-G4 without problems.

@Massi

I can't help you with particular models, but be very careful about plugging in a strange card. If it is designed for a 5V bus, it will very likely damage the Sam (which is only 3.3V).

I advise you to contact ACube. They know more about their hardware than anyone else, and they might even be able to supply what you want.

_________________
cheers
tony

Hyperion Support Forum: http://forum.hyperion-entertainment.biz/index.php

@Massi

And while you're working on upgrading your HW, do an software update also so that you get update 6 and all the available updates from Amiupdate :) Update 1 is really old.

@tonyw

I actually did contact ACube Systems but no reply so far ...
I got the feelings that they don' t react to such things, my personal opinion.

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SAM440EP-FLEX @ 733 Mhz, AmigaOS 4.1 Update 1

@smf

I actually have a plan to update my system both hardware and software

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SAM440EP-FLEX @ 733 Mhz, AmigaOS 4.1 Update 1

@tonyw

To get a 5v card to fit in a 3.3v sot wouldn't you have to remove the card's rear bracket and install it the wrong way round?

@Massi

Radeon 9200 is more powerful than Radeon 9250. Then again, Radeon 9000 pro is more powerful than 9200.

About your proposal, 64 => 128bit probably makes the biggest difference, but you're still getting slower card, assuming the faster models I mentioned also work with OS4 (can't see why they shouldn't? They're very similar to 9000)

Of course all of these are rather slow compared to "anything modern", I'd advice againist any such upgrades, if your current system works without issues, that would be cured by "slightly faster gfx card".

@Jupp3

Quote:

Radeon 9200 is more powerful than Radeon 9250

Slightly more powerful (250 vs 240 MHz Core clock).

Quote:

Radeon 9000 pro is more powerful than 9200

He needs PCi version, 9000 Pro is hard to find in this case.

@Rob,

Quote:

Rob wrote: @Hypex Some 256Mb cards have one bank of 256 and some have two banks of 128. Apparently there was in issue with dual bankcard wherby the system could lock if you went over 128MB of VRAM. Access to the second bank was switched off in 4.1.

I know this was a problem with Eyetech A1's but didn't think it was an issue with Sam's.

Chris