A500 accelerator ACA500

[mjnurney]

any up date to this news?

15.07.2012: new products for C64 and Amiga


Our new accelerator for the Amiga 500 has already been discussed in user forums, but will be released with some changes, so customer demand is met in both price and features. The ACA500 is powered by a 14MHz CMOS-68000 processor with 2MBytes RAM and a mass-storage controller for CF-cards and CD drives.

Autoboot from CF-card is possible from Kickstart V1.3 and higher. Thanks to our TrueIDE technology, any CF card can be used, even if the card identifies as "removable device". A CD-ROM drive can be connected to the easily reachable IDE port on the side of the A500.

The relatively moderate increase in speed is enough to run WHDload. For those who want more CPU power, the ACA500 has a CPU-slot compatible with our accelerators for A1200 computers. This makes even our top model ACA1231 available to the A500 computer. The ACA500 will be available from all resellers for 79,90 EUR. We're currently negotiating about including Kickstart licenses into the ACA500, so the built-in flashrom can be pre-loaded with different Kickstart licenses.

http://www.jschoenfeld.com/news/news143_e.htm

 

[TjLaZer]

Nope he's re evaluating what to do with it spec wise and if he should produce it as listed. I agree with his hesitations. He needs to add a 020 to it with more RAM.

 

[Phipscube]

I fully agree with the 020 and more RAM, at least 8MB i'd say. Its almost like the ACA500 has been designed to make you feel the need to buy an A1200 Accelerator to get it to a comfortable spec. That's just adding complication (and expense).

Make it self sufficient, and the A1200 accelerator option is a nice to have for folks that want to go nuts. 68000 and 2MB is too low.

I also hope this thing fits a CDTV (with the lid still on as well). I've been waiting a long time to have an excuse to pimp up the old girl for living room stealth WHDLoad attack. It looks so darn sexy that even the missus thinks its nice.

 

[moijk]

To me i'm buying it and will be using it without any added accelerators. but if i were to choose i'd say slap a 020 into it. or at least a 010 for that quit key.

 

[Firthy2002]

Looks a bit pricey at current spec, especially when you only get a 2x 68000.
I think it should be 020 at a minimum, having to buy another card for true acceleration is a bit naughty.

 

[moijk]

Looks a bit pricey at current spec, especially when you only get a 2x 68000.
I think it should be 020 at a minimum, having to buy another card for true acceleration is a bit naughty.

As expensive as a Sidecar w/o same support.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

 

[NovaCoder]

Looks a bit pricey at current spec, especially when you only get a 2x 68000.
I think it should be 020 at a minimum, having to buy another card for true acceleration is a bit naughty.

As expensive as a Sidecar w/o same support.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

He's said that he doesn't want to give any more details until it is ready to ship.

I just wish he'd concentrate on getting the Indy Mrk2 firmware out personally :roll:

 

[TjLaZer]

Looks like its going to be an external unit now

 

[roy_bates]

unfortunately theres no ide port.

 

[merlinkv]

For me the best ACA500 will be one with:

- 68010
- 8MB RAM (autoconfig)
- IDE Port and/or CF port (KS 1.3 autoboot)

and extra CPU.....

- Full 68020 25Mhz

and the possibility to switch off the RAM and the extra CPU (if one) with jumpers/switches.

Expensive? Maybe, but one board like this will be a great update for the A500 family.

 

[djos]

I fully agree with the 020 and more RAM, at least 8MB i'd say. Its almost like the ACA500 has been designed to make you feel the need to buy an A1200 Accelerator to get it to a comfortable spec. That's just adding complication (and expense).

Make it self sufficient, and the A1200 accelerator option is a nice to have for folks that want to go nuts. 68000 and 2MB is too low.

I've pulled him up on this many times on EAB but he stubbornly refuses to make it a complete product in its own right! :double

 

[roy_bates]

so far from what ive read it has a 68000 2 mb's of ram and two cf ports plus a connecor for 1200 accelerators that have been tested with the aca's and one blizzard 030 card.

 

[merlinkv]

so far from what ive read it has a 68000 2 mb's of ram and two cf ports plus a connecor for 1200 accelerators that have been tested with the aca's and one blizzard 030 card.

With this design... I will continue with my setups.... 2xA500-68010, AlfaPower 500 8MB and GVP HC8+ II 8MB

 

[djos]

The only good stuff in the design is the KS1.2/1.3(patched)/3.1 switching and integrated FAT95 support - he has also implemented support for WHDLoad quit keys without using a 68010.

Kipper2k is considering making a plastic case for it GVP style but the 2MB RAM is a complete show stopper for me. When others complained he added an option for an extra 2MB but at 30euros for it he can get stuffed!

 

[roy_bates]

so far from what ive read it has a 68000 2 mb's of ram and two cf ports plus a connecor for 1200 accelerators that have been tested with the aca's and one blizzard 030 card.

With this design... I will continue with my setups.... 2xA500-68010, AlfaPower 500 8MB and GVP HC8+ II 8MB

im tempted to get one,but at the same time im a little dissapointed in the max ram the base unit has and no 68010 and no ide.

but,its a little under 80 eruos so im not expecting much,i could just bung my old blizzard in and hope it works i suppose.

 

[moijk]

it will have all the benifits of a 010 in hardware (so quit key will work but with a 000).

so if all you want is basic whdload, aca500 will do it. if you want more, get a 1200 aca-card with it. if that is too much, wait for the zeus.

For me the best ACA500 will be one with:

- 68010
- 8MB RAM (autoconfig)
- IDE Port and/or CF port (KS 1.3 autoboot)

and extra CPU.....

- Full 68020 25Mhz

and the possibility to switch off the RAM and the extra CPU (if one) with jumpers/switches.

Expensive? Maybe, but one board like this will be a great update for the A500 family.

 

[BLTCON0]

it will have all the benifits of a 010 in hardware (so quit key will work but with a 000).

so if all you want is basic whdload, aca500 will do it. if you want more, get a 1200 aca-card with it. if that is too much, wait for the zeus.

+1 totally. There's no point in re-inventing the wheel for the A500. Whoever really wants a pimped-out A500 already has it, more or less. Jens is right on with this.

 

[merlinkv]

+1 totally. There's no point in re-inventing the wheel for the A500. Whoever really wants a pimped-out A500 already has it, more or less. Jens is right on with this.

Different people = Different opinions

But an all-in-one solution will be the best

 

[moijk]

i feel jens is right on the spot. people who are amiga fans have 1200 or 4000 with the appropriate processor for their task.

but it is quite an expensive way to get into retro gaming. easily 200 gbp or more. but the 500 goes for cheap, so now with 100 gbp you can get a 500 + aca500 to do whdload. and if you ever want more, you can add a 1200 accelerator.

those who just want to max out all their machines can get a zeus when that is ready. or get a aca500 and a 1232...

it is easy to see jens want an easy and accessible way to extend the 500 (hence external design, just the basic neccesary features)

 

[djos]

The problem is major WHDLoad features like disk preloading dont work with 2mb fast ram - 4mb is really the bare minimum.