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hardware OS4   hardware OS4 : Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls.
   posted by shoe on 30-Nov-2005 19:16:01 (33750 reads)
It was back in December 2004 when we heard about the plans from ACK Software Controls on PowerPC-based expansion-cards for the Amiga 1200. A year has now passed and no one seem to have heard anything from ACK regarding these cards. Are the plans put on hold, or even canceled? Many questions without answers, only silence. So SAFIR decided to put on the Sherlock hat and took out the magnifying glass to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Enjoy the full article in English, Spanish and of cource Swedish.

[Edit 06-Dec-2005]
I'm glad to let you know that ACK Software Controls will indeed produce graphics cards for the PowerVixxen LT, and provide full specs for 3rd party developers.

Adam also verifies that the card works with the Mediator bus board.

/Shoe
[/Edit 06-Dec-2005]


A big thanks to the SAFIR-crew for helping out, especially tomazkid for the English translation and Jonas for fixing my broken HTML, also Hugo Espiñeira for the Spanish translation.
    

STORYID: 2730
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syrtran 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 4:36:15
#41 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 27-Apr-2003
Posts: 835
From: Farther upstate than Upstate NY

@billt
Quote:
Heck, finding a regular PCI graphics card will be easy pickings compared to finding a MiniPCI graphics card. has anyone seen anything other than modems and wireless network cards, or the occasional bluetooth widget available in MiniPCI format? We're going to be buying custom cards from ACK.

The only graphics card I'd want it to work with is that little ol' multi-input card from Newtek - the Video Toaster. In order to work with that, it'll also have to work with the RBM OnBoard 1200 Zorro II busboard I've got in my RBM Towerhawk tower. It it works with that, it just -might- also work with the CV64-3D that's also in the tower.

This board would give me just that much more reason to have another look at the OpenVideoToaster source code. Heck, I seem to recall that ACK is somewhere in Ontario, CA (That's Canada for those of you in the western US ). Toronto's only a 6-hour drive from me (four, if they ever get that d**n ferry to make enough money to keep running!). I'd be willing to beta-test the Vixxen to see how it works with the Toaster.


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Maczilla 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 4:39:42
#42 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 19-Oct-2003
Posts: 206
From: USA

@Hitback
Or, dare I say it - perhaps a Miggy Mini.
How cool would that be?

Last edited by Maczilla on 01-Dec-2005 at 04:42 AM.

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ppc4me 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 5:21:50
#43 ]
Member
Joined: 10-Sep-2005
Posts: 82
From: Unknown

>Anyway, Freescale say they're going to release a 600MHz version of this chip.

Where do they say this?
I remember IBM had those plans, but Freescale...?

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olegil 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 5:34:24
#44 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 22-Aug-2003
Posts: 5895
From: Work

The only mini-PCI graphics card I can find at the moment is this:
MS-9513

It's ATI Rage based.


_________________
This weeks pet peeve:
Using "voltage" instead of "potential", which leads to inventing new words like "amperage" instead of "current" (I, measured in A) or possible "charge" (amperehours, Ah or Coulomb, C). Sometimes I don't even know what people mean.

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olegil 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 5:56:12
#45 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 22-Aug-2003
Posts: 5895
From: Work

However, if Adam has placed the mini-PCI in a suitable angle with enough free space, there's always this little gem for advanced tower projects:

http://www.interfacemasters.com/products/pci_tools/mini_pci_to_pci/

Or one could use a PCI to PCIe bridge and turn the mini-PCI slot into an MXM slot (Mobile PCI Express Module). Now THERE's a more useful idea.

For more info, see http://www.nvidia.com/page/mxm.html. ATI came up with their own incompatible form factor (Axiom), but there are supposedly MXM cards with ATI chips on them coming from the big laptop guys.


_________________
This weeks pet peeve:
Using "voltage" instead of "potential", which leads to inventing new words like "amperage" instead of "current" (I, measured in A) or possible "charge" (amperehours, Ah or Coulomb, C). Sometimes I don't even know what people mean.

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tomazkid 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 6:02:17
#46 ]
Team Member
Joined: 31-Jul-2003
Posts: 11694
From: Kristianstad, Sweden

@Olegil
I found these mini-pci to pci converters.


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ikir 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 7:17:50
#47 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 18-Dec-2002
Posts: 5647
From: Italy

WOW! It sound very cool! 512MB and a 400Mhz CPU, my 1200 will has a new life!

This project sounds very interesting.


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ikir

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shoe 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 7:27:15
#48 ]
Super Member
Joined: 14-Sep-2003
Posts: 1585
From: Gothenburg, Sweden

Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
1. What happend when your a1200 dies?


Quote:
If you actually read the interview, you'd know that " Something worth a mention is the design of a terminator, which features among other things sockets for mouse, keyboard, sound and so on. This means in reality that one does not need an A1200 to use the card. With the right case one suddenly gets a luscious, energy-efficient, cheap and effective little Amiga."

Seems like a perfect solution to me if you want to upgrade your 1200 while it still works.

@Trezzer, thanks for pointing this out. I think this is one of the coolest features of the board, that it actually might outlive your A1200.

@polka,
Quote:
Be realistic. Chances are high that it does not even get released for the A1200.

I think you are wrong. But I guess we'll soon know that now, won't we.

@d0c,
Quote:
jesus christ why not just make it easy and put on a onboard gfx chip and a slot for sodram....

Again, if you read the article you would know the rather simple answer: Cost. That's why he removed it in the first place. And as to why the ram is static on the board I'd guess it has to do with space issues. Personally I think it seems like an elegant solution. But hey, that's just me trying to be possitive when someone is doing something good for once..

As to the lack of mini-pci graphics cards, since Adam already had a prototype of the card _with_ an ATI Radeon on it, it would surprise me if he doesn't release his own mini-pci graphics card bundled with the card for those who want it. That would give owners of Mediator/Voodoo combination the alternative to stick with their current gfx card.
(Note: this not part of the information I received from Adam, but rather a qualified guess. I don't see why the card wouldn't work with Mediator/Voodoo.)


Chees, is it just me or have the no. of ney sayers increased rapidly the last few weeks?

/shoe

Last edited by shoe on 01-Dec-2005 at 07:31 AM.

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shoe 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 7:29:32
#49 ]
Super Member
Joined: 14-Sep-2003
Posts: 1585
From: Gothenburg, Sweden

@Maczilla,

Quote:
Or, dare I say it - perhaps a Miggy Mini.
How cool would that be?


*wow*! In an black A600-style/Fantasy shell!

/shoe

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polka. 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 7:33:51
#50 ]
Super Member
Joined: 13-Oct-2005
Posts: 1820
From: Tortuga

Quote:
I think you are wrong. But I guess we'll soon know that now, won't we.


Indeed, I also hope that I am wrong! It's just that I have become a realist after 17 years in Amiga-Land. Why should I believe that things are different now with "companies" such as Troika or ACK?


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shoe 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 7:45:53
#51 ]
Super Member
Joined: 14-Sep-2003
Posts: 1585
From: Gothenburg, Sweden

@polka,
Quote:
Indeed, I also hope that I am wrong! It's just that I have become a realist after 17 years in Amiga-Land. Why should I believe that things are different now with "companies" such as Troika or ACK?


Same here, more or less. But still.. Did you belive in the AmigaONE?

/shoe

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Condor 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 7:56:15
#52 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 28-Feb-2004
Posts: 191
From: Zagreb, Croatia

Great news!!!

Last edited by Condor on 01-Dec-2005 at 07:58 AM.


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emavys 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 7:59:11
#53 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 7-Dec-2003
Posts: 224
From: La Coruña (a nice place in the North-West coast of Spain)

The idea of working with this card without an Amiga is really good, you´ll get a really cheap Amiga for little money

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ikir 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 8:01:06
#54 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 18-Dec-2002
Posts: 5647
From: Italy

Quote:
Works in a standard A1200 desktop


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ikir

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polka. 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 8:07:34
#55 ]
Super Member
Joined: 13-Oct-2005
Posts: 1820
From: Tortuga

Quote:
Did you belive in the AmigaONE?

Where is the AmigaOne? (i.e. for sale)


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asian 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 9:04:48
#56 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 13-Jun-2003
Posts: 336
From: Unknown

What is the size of this accelerator card?

> 1 Watts

This is for MPC5200. What about the power requirement for the whole board?

What is the interface between the MPC5200 board and the terminator board / stand alone I/O board?

If the board is used in stand alone mode, what is the type of power connectors, voltage, power rating / current etc?

> Mini PCI

Why don't they use Compact PCI / CPCI, instead of Mini PCI?

What is the type of Mini PCI cards and the number of pins?

http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_Connector_Mini_PCI_Bus.html

Will they use 400 MHz, 455 MHz, or 600 MHz CPU?

Is there any support for Linux, BSD, QNX, VxWorks, OS-9, or other OS?

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nicomen 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 9:34:01
#57 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 5-Nov-2003
Posts: 539
From: Trondheim, Norway

Quote:
At least we got the interview The estimated price of this board is very nice indeed. I remember when the first Phase5 accelerators came, the BPPC was 3 times this much.


Only 3? The fastest versions were priced at 10000 NOK here for a long time after they were new...


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tomazkid 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 9:38:47
#58 ]
Team Member
Joined: 31-Jul-2003
Posts: 11694
From: Kristianstad, Sweden

@Nicomen

As I remember, the BPPC-cards cost about 6000-8000 SEK when they came, here in Sweden.
Depending on if it was a 603 or 603e.

Last edited by tomazkid on 01-Dec-2005 at 09:39 AM.


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daydreamer 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 11:24:35
#59 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 14-Aug-2003
Posts: 299
From: Just imminent danger and in the middle of it me

Ahhhh we're a right bunch of sceptics aren't we....

My response after reading the artcile was wow, well done for the detective work, truly first class. And I seriously hope it comes out.

What we have here (potentially) is a board to give everyone's A1200 a new lease of life, if it doesn't come out what have we lost? Hope? Nahh there are alternative options in the pipeline that are still relatively viable, okay more expensive but this shows it can happen and what is possible with our out-dated machines.

From a business point of view I think anyone trying to get their fingers in the Amiga market are likely to make a killing. We all love the Amiga, we all have at least one Amiga whether in bits or running as our main computer right? How many of us with our 1200's (1000/1500/2000/2500/3000/4000 possibly A500's & 600's) would love to give it a massive performance boost? And how many of us are going to run out and get one? I know I will, even if I get an AmigaOne. It's because we're devoted to an outdated system that we love so much we want to have something new to show off.

If you ask me this card is ten years welcome, but late, didn't the old PPC manufacturers promise us 604 back in the hey day? Well finally here we are, a performance boost at a fraction of the cost of the AmigaOne, in fact if this comes out I see me racing out and buying a new A1200 (one of old stock) just so I know the thing works. It's an incredible interim whether it has graphics cards or not because ultimately it allows us a choice and choice is good. How many of you out there, if you bought one, would search high and low for MiniPCI graphics cards? This creates DEMAND!!! And still no one has responded to 'does it work with mediator?' there is a possibility it could (of course a possibility it might not), and there are always MiniPCI - PCI adaptors.

Perhaps this is speculation on my part, but they have mentioned working it alongside AOS4.0. The good news is, here is a new & cheap option to run our new OS.

For something that is possibly good news, possibly the best news since Troika, we're a right bunch of sceptics. Once we had nothing, no hardware, no software and we still had hope, now we have hardware, some software in pre-release form - THAT WORKS!!! Let's just get behind these people who want to make it work even if it is to further their own needs because at the moment we're a bunch of disgruntled geeks too busy arguing over why it doesn't come with this or that... Why should we support it, because if all we have is an A1200 running at stock speeds, it's still MUCH better than what we've got!!!

Last edited by daydreamer on 01-Dec-2005 at 11:25 AM.


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_PAB_ 
Re: Interview with Mr Adam Kowalczyk - ACK Software Controls
Posted on 1-Dec-2005 11:50:47
#60 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 20-Sep-2003
Posts: 189
From: Germany

@srupprecht:
I think the name was intentional, take a look at the most famous film by Russ Meyer:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000540/ (see 1975)

@PowerUp:
I think even if there were some pictures, some simple minds would complain, it's a fake.


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