Hi folks,

Having recently resurrected my A1XE, I connected it to a widescreen, flat panel monitor (it was previously connected to a 15" CRT) and the display is incredibly sluggish. Even dragging a window is almost unbearable.

Despite this, it looks lovely on the bigger display and I'm reluctant to go back to 1024x768.

It only has 256MB RAM and a Voodoo 3. (I also have a Radeon 8500 in my Peg 1 but doubt it would fare much better)

Anyway, I'm just wondering what the best bang-for-buck improvements would be and where to get them in the UK. (Happy to support Amiga-focused retailers, provided prices are comparable.)

Cheers,

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

@Robert

My XE is hooked up to a 1920x1080 flat screen via an ATI Radeon 9250 and works quite well. The Radeon only has 256 MB of memory.

The system memory is 2 GB. Sorry, can't remember the brand or model. But I bought it used from eBay quite cheap many years ago. I DO remember that it is ECC registered memory, possibly Infineon brand.

Sorry, don't know where in the UK you'll best find such old stuff.

Paul

_________________
Builder of Frankenthousand, the monster A1000
The Young Frankenthousand A1-XE G4
X5000

@Robert

Sounds like you're hitting the limit of available video RAM with the Voodoo, which only has 16MB on board. This will mean that graphics updates like moving windows around involve swapping data with the motherboard RAM - a very slow operation, relatively speaking. Also, I'm not sure if compositing can be used with the Voodoo, but that also makes a huge difference to the feel and smoothness of the OS. That being the case, the Radeon from the Pegasos might actually make a dramatic improvement since it has a lot more RAM on board.

Personally I have a Radeon 9250 in my A1-XE and the screens are as smooth as silk, no matter how many windows or even entire screens I have open (I run it at 1920x1200). Extra RAM will help if you find yourself actually running low on RAM, but if you're not running low it won't make a difference to the performance of the machine.

Last edited by Daedalus on 24-Jan-2018 at 04:59 PM.

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RobTheNerd.com | InstallerGen | SMBMounter | Atoms-X

@Robert

I have a Sapphire Radeon 9256, 256MB. A very good card, but it takes a while to boot up - some delay with initialising. And if I exceed 128MB usage, the display can become corrupt. But benchmarked as very fast.

If you can't find anything, I think I have a couple of spare Radeon cards - one is 64MB and the other is 128MB; either one would be a vast improvement over the Voodoo.

I'd also recommend expanded the RAM - I used to have 512MB and really struggled. 1GB is quite comfortable. A1XE RAM is very difficult to find, and even then it can be touch-and-go getting it to work. I might still have the 512MB stick somewhere, but I can't remember what I did with it.

Edit - sorry, I think you were talking about the RAM of the card rather than the system RAM?

Also, make sure you use a digital connection to your monitor - I was astounded by the difference when I switched from VGA to DVI.

Last edited by daveyw on 24-Jan-2018 at 07:48 PM.

_________________
---------------
AmigaOne X5000 P5020 2Ghz, OS 4.1
AmigaOne XE G4 800mhz, OS 4.1
A1200T 40Mhz 68040, OS 3.9

@Robert

I´ve got 2 x Infineon 1GB HYS72V128320GR-7.5-C2 Ram in my XE works great, and a Radeon 9000 Pro 128Mb. But most important of all, I have changed my CPU fan to a Zalman copper heatsink/fan.

_________________

8500 with the machine. The Coder Brothers recommended 9250 so bought that Radeon.

9000 Pro maybe faster but all slick compared. There was this AmigaOne compability starting with I..


8500 his hotter and was noisy if think correctly.


Found the Asus 9250 box. Has VGA, DVI 8 x AGP but only 128Mb DDR, that could be better.

Still ok. when last used.


This what was looking for:

http://www.intuitionbase.com/comphard.php?category=2

Better ideas are for sure. Voodoo was for Classics if not this PIV.

@all:

Thanks for all the replies folks, very helpful.
I'll have a browse around eBay and such like to see what's available.

Cheers!

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

@Robert

And RAM for reference. Category 1.

http://www.intuitionbase.com/comphard.php?category=1

@Hypex

Thank you.

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

@Robert

in case you need and not find i have one 512mb module for XE to sell.

_________________
I love Amiga and new hope by AmigaNG
A 500 + ; CDTV; CD32;
PowerMac G5 Quad 8GB,SSD,SSHD,7800gtx,Radeon R5 230 2GB;
MacBook Pro Retina I7 2.3ghz;
#nomorea-eoninmyhome

@Paul

Would this do the trick?

Under £18, including postage.

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

@Robert

Quote:

Robert wrote: @Paul Would this do the trick? Under £18, including postage.

Yes, that should work. I think I had the same in my A1XE.

However depending on the PCI configuration of the card only 128MB may be usable, if I'm not mistaken (two separate devices with 128MB each with only the first device being used by the OS).

_________________
A1SE: G3@600MHz, 2GB, 1GBit network card
A1XE: G4@933MHz, 2GB, refitted AC'97 codec
microA1: G3@800MHz, 1GB

- A1 Linux support -

@Geri

Quote:

depending on the PCI configuration of the card only 128MB may be usable

Ah, OK, thanks.

There are 128MB cards for much cheaper. Would I be as well getting one of those?

-EDIT-
e.g. this for sick squid?

Last edited by Robert on 06-Feb-2018 at 03:44 PM.

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

Quote:

There are 128MB cards for much cheaper. Would I be as well getting one of those? -EDIT- e.g. this for sick squid?

For the mere cost of an unwell octopus I thought it was worth a punt so went ahead and ordered it.

I'll let you folks know how I get on once it arrives.

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

Radeon 9250 arrived this morning and works but so far I'm at:

"LoadMonDrvs: failed to create screen mode for Radeon 9250"

-EDIT-
I got rid of the error message by copying the Radeon entry in Devs/Monitors from the OS4.1 install disc but still no screen mode available higher than 800x600.

Last edited by Robert on 11-Feb-2018 at 01:55 PM.
Last edited by Robert on 11-Feb-2018 at 01:05 PM.

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

@Robert
Hello,
On my Radeon 9250 icon checking with the right mouse button - information then icon.
I have all the screenmodes i need plus you can add more if you want.

Last edited by cap on 11-Feb-2018 at 05:16 PM.

_________________
A1/G4 1GHZ

OS4.1 latest update.
1ghz Radeon Club3d 9250
Usb/Dma fixed.

@cap

Quote:

cap wrote: @Robert Hello, On my Radeon 9250 icon checking with the right mouse button - information then icon.

The Radeon Icon in Devs/Monitors shows modes for 800x600 & 1024x768 but prefs/screenMode/Available Modes only shows 640x480 & 800x600.

I tried adding 1280x720 and that now shows up under the Monitors tab but not in Available Modes.

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

@Robert
My Radeon icon info

CMPLENGTH=11
BOARDNAME=RADEON 9250
VSYNCMIN=60
VSYNCMAX=75
HSYNCMIN=31000
HSYNCMAX=85000
MODE=640x480@60
MODE=800x600@60
MODE=1024x768@60
MODE=1280x720@60
MODE=1280x800@60
MODE=1280x960@60
MODE=1280x1024@60
MODE=1920x1080@60
MODE=1920x1080@72-RB
MODE=320x240@60
MODE=468x596@60
DISABLEFAKENATIVE=YES
INTERRUPT=YES
MODE=320x240@60D
MODE=320x256@60D

In Monitors i have all the Manual settings ticked.
Enable Interrupts ticked.

Last edited by cap on 11-Feb-2018 at 09:40 PM.

_________________
A1/G4 1GHZ

OS4.1 latest update.
1ghz Radeon Club3d 9250
Usb/Dma fixed.

@cap

Thanks cap.
Mine has nothing like that amount of information.
Do I need to install an additional driver or something?

_________________
Robert
--
A1XE G4, OS4.1. Peg1 G3, MOS 1.4.
Abel Soul - Check out our tunes on Spotify

@Robert

I ve added screenmodes manually so the emulators work better.

Whats your radeon monitor info like?

_________________
A1/G4 1GHZ

OS4.1 latest update.
1ghz Radeon Club3d 9250
Usb/Dma fixed.