Click Here
home features news forums classifieds faqs links search
6071 members 
Amiga Q&A /  Free for All /  Emulation /  Gaming / (Latest Posts)
Login

Nickname

Password

Lost Password?

Don't have an account yet?
Register now!

Support Amigaworld.net
Your support is needed and is appreciated as Amigaworld.net is primarily dependent upon the support of its users.
Donate

Menu
Main sections
» Home
» Features
» News
» Forums
» Classifieds
» Links
» Downloads
Extras
» OS4 Zone
» IRC Network
» AmigaWorld Radio
» Newsfeed
» Top Members
» Amiga Dealers
Information
» About Us
» FAQs
» Advertise
» Polls
» Terms of Service
» Search

IRC Channel
Server: irc.amigaworld.net
Ports: 1024,5555, 6665-6669
SSL port: 6697
Channel: #Amigaworld
Channel Policy and Guidelines

Who's Online
12 crawler(s) on-line.
 120 guest(s) on-line.
 0 member(s) on-line.



You are an anonymous user.
Register Now!
 Troels:  26 mins ago
 Gunnar:  41 mins ago
 Rob:  46 mins ago
 zipper:  1 hr 10 mins ago
 amigakit:  2 hrs 6 mins ago
 OneTimer1:  2 hrs 12 mins ago
 NutsAboutAmiga:  2 hrs 15 mins ago
 kolla:  2 hrs 28 mins ago
 Comi:  2 hrs 57 mins ago
 vox:  3 hrs 43 mins ago

hardware OS4   hardware OS4 : A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaOS 4
   posted by TrevorDick on 24-Jun-2012 11:24:28 (30937 reads)
Over the Rainbow

Cardiff, 25th June 2012

A-EON Technology is pleased to announce that it has signed a new development agreement with premier AmigaOS graphics specialist Hans de Ruiter which ensures the future compatibility of AmigaOS 4 with the latest RadeonHD graphics cards. In addition to the HD4000 (R700) graphics drivers released with the AmigaONE X1000 “First Contact” system, we have now contracted Hans to create a series of drivers for the RadeonHD family. This also includes support for Evergreen, Northern Islands and the recently released Southern Islands HD7000 series. These new drivers, which are exclusively licensed to A-EON Technology, will support the X1300-1950, 5000, 6000 & 7000 series RadeonHD graphics cards and provide AmigaOS 4 with access to the latest in graphic card technology.


Trevor Dickinson commented, “This is a major boost for the AmigaOS and is the first time that these modern graphics cards have been supported on non x86 systems. Hans has already released several updates to his RadeonHD driver and support for Evergreen and Northern Islands cards is already up to the standard of the R700 drivers released with the AmigaONE X1000. He has also made excellent progress with drivers for AMD's Southern Islands cards. Hans de Ruiter replied, "I was initially disappointed when supply of Radeon HD 4000 series became scarce but now I'm proud of what has been achieved. The RadeonHD driver once again supports some of the latest cards available." His comments were echoed by a long time AmigaOS 4 developer and A1-X1000 beta tester who stated, "Looks like OS4 won't have to worry about availability of compatible graphics cards anytime soon". We can only agree.

The AMD RadeonHD series to be supported include:-

X1300-1950 - R520 chipset
HD4000 - R700 series
HD5000 - Evergreen series – first released in September 2009
HD6000 - Northern Island series – first released in October 2010
HD7000 - Southern Island series – latest RadeonHD cards released in January 2012

Although the RadeonHD driver is exclusively licensed to A-EON Technology for AmigaOS 4, owners of ACube's "Next Generation Amiga" systems need not despair. They will be able to purchase RadeonHD driver updates via the A-EON Technology website for their Sam460 and AmigaOne 500 systems. AmigaKit will also be offering RadeonHD graphics cards and driver bundles. Please visit the AmigaKit website for more details. Customers who purchase the new driver will qualify for free upgrades, up to and including version 1.0 of the RadeonHD driver. Registered AmigaONE X1000 "First Contact" customers will be able download driver updates free of charge from the A-EON Technology website.

About Hans de Ruiter & HDRLab: Hans de Ruiter is an electrical & electronic engineer and leading AmigaOS developer and Amiga enthusiast. His website - HDRLab - details various projects, many of which are AmigaOS related. The biggest of these is the RadeonHD driver for AmigaOS, an ambitious project that aims to deliver modern graphics capabilities for the AmigaOS platform.

About AmigaOS: The AmigaOS dates back to 1985 with the introduction of the landmark Amiga 1000. Today, under the guidance and control of Hyperion Entertainment, AmigaOS has evolved into a modern operating system without losing that intrinsic "Amiga" look and feel.

About the AmigaONE X1000: The AmigaONE X1000 is not like other computers. It is a culmination of efforts by real Amiga enthusiasts and developers to create powerful, modern desktop hardware for the AmigaOS. It is the natural evolution of the Amiga's PowerPC lineage and is based on the PA-Semi Dual-core PA6T-1682M CPU and includes Xena, a "Software Defined Silicon" co-processor. Above all it runs the latest version of the AmigaOS.

AboutAmigaKit: AmigaKit is a trading division of Leaman Computing Ltd based in Cardiff, UK. It acquired the stock of Eyetech Group Ltd in 2006 and quickly established itself as a world-wide market leader in the retail and distribution of Amiga hardware and software. A-EON Technology appointed AmigaKit as its primary distributor for all its AmigaONE products.

Web links:

HDR Labs - http://hdrlab.org.nz/
A-EON Technology - http://www.a-eon.com/
AmigaKit - http://ww.amigakit.com/
AmigaOS - http://www.amigaos.net/
AMD RadeonHD - http://www.amd.com/
    

STORYID: 6419
Related Links
· More about hardware OS4
· News by TrevorDick


Most read story about hardware OS4
20 Answers with Alan Redhouse of Eyetech

Last news about hardware OS4
Sam460LE updates
Printer Friendly Page  Send this Story to a Friend

Goto page ( 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 )

PosterThread
Spectre660 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 0:58:13
#141 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 4-Jun-2005
Posts: 3918
From: Unknown

@Swoop

Give Amigakit some time to make the evaluation as to if it works .


Quote:
am not adverse to paying for this driver, all I am interested in is whether this is available for my particular hardware,?


_________________
Sam460ex : Radeon Rx550 Single slot Video Card : SIL3112 SATA card

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
nikosidis 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 8:31:23
#142 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 9-Dec-2008
Posts: 994
From: Norway, Oslo

Well, you got to understand that Amiga is strugeling bad, so if you want new drivers etc. be part of the team to pay for it. This is like someone pay in advance, and you pay back later.

What could be an idea for Hyperion is to come up with some amount of money required to make the driver free for everyone. For updates it would still be needed money of course, to keep the development going.

I wonder if we should do something simelar on AROS.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
KimmoK 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 8:54:13
#143 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 14-Mar-2003
Posts: 5211
From: Ylikiiminki, Finland

Seems that when 4.2 is out, it's time to get new HW.


_________________
- KimmoK
// For freedom, for honor, for AMIGA
//
// Thing that I should find more time for: CC64 - 64bit Community Computer?

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
Seiya 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 9:16:26
#144 ]
Super Member
Joined: 19-Aug-2006
Posts: 1473
From: Italia

however in the world, vga driver are free for any platform and OS.

In the past, when Amiga company produced hardwares, they includes software driver or we have to pay amigaOS driver for amiga hardware.
But now, AmigaOS 4 users have to pay driver for hardware produced by third party.

it's totally nonsense this way.
it was better a bounty.

Last edited by Seiya on 25-Jun-2012 at 09:20 AM.
Last edited by Seiya on 25-Jun-2012 at 09:18 AM.


_________________

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
nikosidis 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 9:23:18
#145 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 9-Dec-2008
Posts: 994
From: Norway, Oslo

Look at it this way.
Want a new GFX driver or not!! I'm sure the one you have works, so you could always use that till the end of time.

I can agree with the bounty suggestion.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
TrevorDick 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 9:37:37
#146 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 30-Dec-2004
Posts: 2678
From: Wellington

Pay for drivers?

"Registered AmigaONE X1000 "First Contact" customers will be able download driver updates free of charge from the A-EON Technology website."

TrevorD


_________________
No, I don't need no reason, I'm just breezin'

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
Phantom 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 9:47:01
#147 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 2-Aug-2007
Posts: 2047
From: Unknown

A bounty always take so much time unfortunately. The examples are endless.


_________________

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
olegil 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 11:03:03
#148 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 22-Aug-2003
Posts: 5895
From: Work

I think people should spend their energy picketing (or petitioning, if you can't be bothered travelling in person) for ATI/AMD to provide you with a free driver. After all, you're paying hundreds of local monetary units to them for their hardware, compared to the tens paid to the guy making this driver.

And has been mentioned, this is NO different than how it ALWAYS has been.

Stop expecting free beer.


_________________
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.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
OlafS25 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 11:28:05
#149 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 12-May-2010
Posts: 6321
From: Unknown

I think the confusion is because (Acube) customers had higher expectations regarding driver-support (propably errors in communication or perhaps it was not clear enough what they can expect and what not). As far as I understand this are the new drivers only supporting 2D on newer graphiccards, 3D will be available for all with 4.2.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
fishy_fis 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 11:31:10
#150 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 29-Mar-2004
Posts: 2156
From: Australia

@Olegil

That's a bit of an inaccurate analogy. You excluded the fact that a person also has to pay a 4 figure sum to even have the "priviledge" to pay more again to get current drivers.

Seems Hyperion are just playing it by ear, with very little in the way of forethought.

@thread
The following probably wont make me any friends, but it is my opinion...


Poor ol' OS4.x users. They get a rough time of it. It's like a community run and paid project, but without the benefit of any sort of control...... "here's my money, let me pay for your business to continue, but give me no say in how things go, and scold me when I have a suggestion".

While I have sympathy for some OS4.x users as a whole the OS4.x community has taught "the powers that be" that its okay to rought them..... keep accepting things dished up, and you'll get it time and time again (much like anything in life).

Little sad when a driver can cost more than the hardware :) I can buy a 4650HD for $39, but the driver will cost me $45 unless I buy into an "exclusive" group by spending 5 months worth of mortgage. :)

Sad to see what has become of the once mighty amiga. Mismanaged to a degree that's almost an artform (hyperion mostly). It's just as well there's other options for me to get the same type of experience nowadays.
Far be it for me to tell others to stop copping it on the chin though. If history has shown anything its that a lot of OS4.x users are sadomasochists :)

Last edited by fishy_fis on 25-Jun-2012 at 11:39 AM.
Last edited by fishy_fis on 25-Jun-2012 at 11:34 AM.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
Overflow 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 11:49:17
#151 ]
Super Member
Joined: 12-Jun-2012
Posts: 1628
From: Norway

I think a fair amount of the people posting on this forum got atleast 1 intel/amd driven computer sitting around their house, tho some stick to Amiga only and if that
works for them, then good stuff.

When I donate money to anyone making software, be it on Appstore (apple), PC or Amiga, its cause I enjoy using said software.
If I buy hardware its not cause I NEED it per see, but its something I can find a use for on a hobby level.

There might be some people around with Amiga 4ever tatooed on their forehead, but
I think most have a sober idea about the wallet vs useful/fun ratio any given platform
can give them.

Techguuru or whatshisname on youtube that semi regulary post youtube movies about being Amiga user in 20xx and other related things seems to have a healthy
perspective on computers in general.

Last edited by Overflow on 25-Jun-2012 at 11:53 AM.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
Spectre660 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 11:54:21
#152 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 4-Jun-2005
Posts: 3918
From: Unknown

@Fishy_fis

You have it wrong man.
Sam460ex users have a version of driver that supports cards up to HD4890 cards.
Included in the cost of their Motherboard and OS 4.1 .
There was never a schedule for a version 1.0 driver and 3D Support was for OS 4.2 .
Version 0.15 ships on on OS4.1 CD of Sam460ex as a special deal between Acube and Hans. The two updates that were provide by Acube, version 0.27 and Version 0.32 were to fix bugs found in testing Radeon HD4000 series cards were some cards would freeze under certain conditions. if these bugs weren not found then version 0.15 would have been what Sam460ex users used until whatever updates came in OS 4.2 .
The new driver cost is for the Updated driver that supports cards beyond the Radeon HD 4000 series .
If you dont need them for a Sam460ex then you dont need to pay anthing more once you run OS 4.1 .


_________________
Sam460ex : Radeon Rx550 Single slot Video Card : SIL3112 SATA card

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
cha05e90 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 11:56:01
#153 ]
Super Member
Joined: 18-Apr-2009
Posts: 1275
From: Germany

@ fishy_fis

Quote:
Poor ol' OS4.x users.

No need to feel sorry - I'm fine, both my Radeon 9250 and my Radeon M9 are nicely supported.


_________________
X1000|II/G4|440ep|2000/060|2000/040|1000

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
wawa 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 11:57:15
#154 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 21-Jan-2008
Posts: 6259
From: Unknown

one strange thing.. is there any mention in this announcement that paying for the driver now would include things like 3d hardware acceleration and/or overlay or will there be another payment necessary to get this features (i suppose os4.2 where they are supposed to be included is going to be a full price commercial release)?

i say this, because its apparently the customers that assume they are paying for something inclusive that has not been promissed.

i mean a pure 2d driver will not work any much different on a modern card in comparison to an old one? how else? moving windows even faster? am i right?

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
Spectre660 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 12:05:07
#155 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 4-Jun-2005
Posts: 3918
From: Unknown

@wawa

You get support up to version 1.0 .
Version 1.0 should be the one that supports 3D. The 3D work is being done by Hyperion.
Extras like Textured video, the replacement for overlay being done By Hans. So extras can be added at any time.
We dont know if the initial driver version 1.0 included in OS 4.2 will support cards beyond the HD4000 series. You may need the one from A-Eon for these cards.

The OS 4 game is changing.

Last edited by Spectre660 on 25-Jun-2012 at 12:07 PM.


_________________
Sam460ex : Radeon Rx550 Single slot Video Card : SIL3112 SATA card

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
gregthecanuck 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 12:09:56
#156 ]
Cult Member
Joined: 30-Dec-2003
Posts: 846
From: Vancouver, Canada

@fishy_fish

Your viewpoint is unrealistic in my opinion. Software development is expensive, especially when you get down to low-level things such as drivers, operating system kernels, etc...

With the small user base there are two choices, pay less and have slower progress and stagnation, or pay more and accelerate development.

This isn't 18 year olds hacking in their mother's basement any more. These are university-educated adults with time limitations and large responsibilities (families, mortgages, etc). This is the level of experience required to make these things happen.

Going forwards it appears the cost of the driver development will be bundled in with the system prices, so I don't see a problem there.

The *only* issue is for users who are on older systems and how they should pay to bring themselves into the same ecosystem. In this case I am sure that there will be a reasonable outcome. A polite, reasonable discussion on these forums will provide some good feedback to help with those decisiions.

Do you own any Amiga OS 4.x systems?

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
OlafS25 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 12:12:46
#157 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 12-May-2010
Posts: 6321
From: Unknown

"The OS 4 game is changing."

OS4+hardware is already premium (price). If you have to buy additionally drivers because those are not included I seriously doubt that the platform will win new users. It is like buying a premium car that is only running at 70%. If you want 100% you have to buy additional upgrades. I do not think that this strategy will be very successful...

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
wawa 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 12:14:04
#158 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 21-Jan-2008
Posts: 6259
From: Unknown

okay, so to be just clear: the payment for the driver doesnt include 3d support.
3d support will be provided with the forthcoming fully priced os4 update as it was announced. (and the gfx drivers have to be purchuased separately or bundled with dedicated hardware?)

now, like that the responsibilities are clearly distributed. but i would write a caveat about the above into the press release. just that the customers know where they are and do not pay and buy cards misguided by assumption they have paid for a feature that is not included.

Last edited by wawa on 25-Jun-2012 at 12:19 PM.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
WolfToTheMoon 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 12:19:27
#159 ]
Super Member
Joined: 2-Sep-2010
Posts: 1351
From: CRO

if there'sno 3D support

wouldn't it be better to buy a Radeon 9000 series card for pennies and have a fully supported card... it might take years before newer cards are fully supported and than they would be cheaper and drivers included in the price of the system/OS4?


_________________

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  
fishy_fis 
Re: A-EON Technology secures graphic card support for AmigaO
Posted on 25-Jun-2012 12:56:59
#160 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 29-Mar-2004
Posts: 2156
From: Australia

@Spectre660

Nah, I completely understand the situation, I just dont think it's anything resembling sane. Surely Hyperion understood that the platform will need to move forward and should have factored those development costs. After this latest development it seems reasonable to assume that any further non-core development will cost the user yet again. Amiga (capital "A") is very much becoming, contrary to the old adage, "computers for the classes, not the masses".
That said, I appreciate your ability to discuss these things reasonably, despite the fact we apparently dont see eye to eye on this.

@wawa

You're right, and in fact modern cards downclock themselves to a fraction of thier default frequencies, both gpu clock, and ram clock such is the excess of 2d speed. For 2d these days (and probably for the best part of a decade) its the quality of drivers that determines speed. Id be interested to see the difference in speed between a top of the line 7xxxHD series and something like a lowly 9250. Id hazzard a guess the latter would be faster at the moment.


@gregthecanuk (excuse the probable mispelling, Im going by memory)

Having done considerable amiga development over the years Im well aware of what's involved.... ironically the exact same things that's involved for other alternative systems that dont charge additional money when they want to add extra functionality, drivers, etc., made by people with the same obligations.

And no, I no longer have any OS4 hardware, but that doesnt mean I cant have an opinion on something Ive been enthusiastic about for over 25 years. Contrary to how it may sound I do understand that these things take time and cost money, and I do appreciate the effort put in by the developers, and like that theyre getting paid. My big qualm is with the powers that be at Hyperion for thier apparent complete lack of forethought or foresight. Time and effort should have been put in to cover costs for these sorts of advancements, or failing that, alternate ideas/methods should be used that do fit into a budget. It's a crying shame what a mockery these "powers that be" have made of the amiga.
It's this incompetance that has led me to be hesitant to buy back into OS4.x, and they continue to give me no confidence to do so.

Last edited by fishy_fis on 25-Jun-2012 at 12:59 PM.

 Status: Offline
Profile     Report this post  

Goto page ( 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 )

[ home ][ about us ][ privacy ] [ forums ][ classifieds ] [ links ][ news archive ] [ link to us ][ user account ]
Copyright (C) 2000 - 2019 Amigaworld.net.
Amigaworld.net was originally founded by David Doyle