Dear Amibayers,
I made a 2nd batch of PCI PMC carriers to use the famous "Apocalypse" and "Ragnarok" cards in PCI-equipped Amigas.
Some people who bought cards from the first batch experienced problems when trying to use the cards in newer Mediators. I redesigned the power supply of the carriers to eliminate this problem. The carriers will now always deliver up to 10 A to the PPC cards, independent of your PCI bus board.
To summarize, while designing the cards, I followed three main goals:
Following popular demand, the cards are now available in black only.
At the moment, I am building the carriers on demand. Approximate lead time is two weeks.
The price per card is 80 EUR + shipping.
Shipping cost:
Please note that the brackets are made out of aluminum PCBs. The paint cracked while I bent them. If you don't like this, don't buy it!
FAQ:
F: Does this carrier work with all PPC cards and PCI bus boards?
A: Although I can't possibly test all possible combinations, it should, for all intents and purposes.With one notable exception:
Newer 3V Mediator in combination with my carrier and a "Ragnarok" PPC board.
This was reported by an early tester of the carrier. Apparently, the Ragnarok draws so much current that it overwhelms the DC regulator on the Mediator. Older Mediators that supply 5V only, as well as Prometheus, Firebird, etc., are fine. "Apocalypse" cards apparently work in all setups.
If you are desperate to get the non-working combination to comply, you can remove the DC regulator from the 3V Mediator. My carrier will then even supply the whole PCI bus with 3.3V reversely (as well as the PPC board, of course.)
F: Why does it say "passive" on the board? Didn't you mention that it has a DC-DC module?
A: "Passive" means the signals are directly routed to the PCI connector. Active carriers use a bridge chip for additional features that aren't useful in an Amiga.
F: Your carrier card has two connectors, while my PPC board has four. Does this work?
A: TLDR; yes, it works. Connectors JN1 and JN2 are equivalent to a 32-bit PCI slot. JN3 is an extension to 64-bit, unavailable on Amiga bus boards. If JN3 is not connected, the PPC card switches to 32-bit mode automatically. JN4 is available to the manufacturer for extensions and is not used on "Apocalypse" or "Ragnarok."
F: Why isn't the fan in the spot where the PPC chip is?
A: There's no room. The standard defines a "keep-out area" where the fan is placed. The manufacturers of PMC cards aren't allowed to use high components or coolers in that area. It's the only sensible place for a fan.
F: What's the /MONARCH jumper for?
A: Leave it open! It sets the PPC card into Monarch mode, where it can control the PCI bus. This is not useful in an Amiga.
F: What's the "5V Key"?
A: PCI distinguishes between supply and signaling voltage. Older PCI cards are 5V for both; the supply voltage was later changed to 3.3V. During a transition phase and in industrial applications, cards accepted both 3.3V and 5V as signaling voltage. All Amiga bus boards use 5V signaling. The 5V key prevents you from plugging in a 3.3V signaling-only PMC card. "Apocalypse" and "Ragnarok" can accept 3.3V and 5V as signaling voltage.
Please state your interest in the thread and how many carriers you need. Please send me a private message afterward as per the rules. Thank you!
History:
Batch #1
Batch #2
Batch #3
I made a 2nd batch of PCI PMC carriers to use the famous "Apocalypse" and "Ragnarok" cards in PCI-equipped Amigas.
Some people who bought cards from the first batch experienced problems when trying to use the cards in newer Mediators. I redesigned the power supply of the carriers to eliminate this problem. The carriers will now always deliver up to 10 A to the PPC cards, independent of your PCI bus board.
To summarize, while designing the cards, I followed three main goals:
- The carriers should strictly adhere to the PMC standard defined by IEEE and ANSI/VITA. I bought the necessary documents from these organizations and designed the carriers from scratch.
Flexible 3.3V power supply. All carriers come with a DC module that can deliver 10A at 3.3V, generated from the 12V rail in the Amiga. The DC-DC module is only activated to avoid unnecessary heat sources if your PCI bus board does not provide 3.3V. Hese's Firebird bus boards do that, as do newer Mediators.Solid 3.3V power supply for the PPC, being able to deliver 10A constantly.- Availability of components. I've learned in the past years that using components with sustained availability is essential. I tried my best to ensure future supply.
Following popular demand, the cards are now available in black only.
At the moment, I am building the carriers on demand. Approximate lead time is two weeks.
The price per card is 80 EUR + shipping.
Shipping cost:
- Germany: 6 EUR
- Most of the EU: 15 EUR
- All others: Ask for a quote
- Revolut (preferred)
- IBAN
- Paypal Friends and Family
- regular Paypal (add 4% to cover the fees)
Please note that the brackets are made out of aluminum PCBs. The paint cracked while I bent them. If you don't like this, don't buy it!
FAQ:
F: Does this carrier work with all PPC cards and PCI bus boards?
A: Although I can't possibly test all possible combinations, it should, for all intents and purposes.
This was reported by an early tester of the carrier. Apparently, the Ragnarok draws so much current that it overwhelms the DC regulator on the Mediator. Older Mediators that supply 5V only, as well as Prometheus, Firebird, etc., are fine. "Apocalypse" cards apparently work in all setups.
If you are desperate to get the non-working combination to comply, you can remove the DC regulator from the 3V Mediator. My carrier will then even supply the whole PCI bus with 3.3V reversely (as well as the PPC board, of course.)
F: Why does it say "passive" on the board? Didn't you mention that it has a DC-DC module?
A: "Passive" means the signals are directly routed to the PCI connector. Active carriers use a bridge chip for additional features that aren't useful in an Amiga.
F: Your carrier card has two connectors, while my PPC board has four. Does this work?
A: TLDR; yes, it works. Connectors JN1 and JN2 are equivalent to a 32-bit PCI slot. JN3 is an extension to 64-bit, unavailable on Amiga bus boards. If JN3 is not connected, the PPC card switches to 32-bit mode automatically. JN4 is available to the manufacturer for extensions and is not used on "Apocalypse" or "Ragnarok."
F: Why isn't the fan in the spot where the PPC chip is?
A: There's no room. The standard defines a "keep-out area" where the fan is placed. The manufacturers of PMC cards aren't allowed to use high components or coolers in that area. It's the only sensible place for a fan.
A: Leave it open! It sets the PPC card into Monarch mode, where it can control the PCI bus. This is not useful in an Amiga.
F: What's the "5V Key"?
A: PCI distinguishes between supply and signaling voltage. Older PCI cards are 5V for both; the supply voltage was later changed to 3.3V. During a transition phase and in industrial applications, cards accepted both 3.3V and 5V as signaling voltage. All Amiga bus boards use 5V signaling. The 5V key prevents you from plugging in a 3.3V signaling-only PMC card. "Apocalypse" and "Ragnarok" can accept 3.3V and 5V as signaling voltage.
Please state your interest in the thread and how many carriers you need. Please send me a private message afterward as per the rules. Thank you!
History:
Batch #1
| User | # Purple | # Black | Paid | Shipped | Feedback |
| @Rakeim132 | 1 | 24.05.24 | 24.05.24 | ||
| @saft6luck | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 |  | |
| @sailorMH | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | | |
| @Hirsch | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | | |
| @SilkWorm | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | | |
| @warr8or29 | 1 | 23.05.24 | 24.05.24 | | |
| @kavanoz | 1 | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | |
| @a.mi.goun | 1 | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | |
| @Timtheloon | 2 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | ||
| @Robert_G | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | | |
| @carmoster | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | ||
| @Chucktastic | 1 | 22.05.24 | 24.05.24 | | |
| @luc_dk | 1 | 24.05.24 | 25.05.24 | | |
| @Marinero70 | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | | |
| @sax | 1 | 23.05.24 | 24.05.24 | ||
| @kekschen | 1 | 23.05.24 | 23.05.24 | | |
| @cloverskull | 1 | 22.05.24 | 23.05.24 | | |
| @sandlbn | 1 | 23.05.24 | 24.05.24 | ||
| @anightin | 1 | 23.05.24 | 24.05.24 | | |
| @4MlGA | 1 | 24.05.24 | 25.05.24 | | |
| @Falcon_11 | 1 | 23.05.24 | 24.05.24 | | |
| @AwakeningStar | 1 | 23.05.24 | 24.05.24 | ||
| @JohnnySlick | 1 | 25.05.24 | 26.05.24 | | |
| @a1200freak | 1 | 25.05.24 | 25.05.24 | | |
| @neuron55 | 2 | 26.05.24 | 27.05.24 | |
Batch #2
| User | # Carriers | Paid | Shipped | Feedback |
| @moulder | 1 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @timmie | 1 | 10.09.24 | 11.09.24 | |
| @k0x | 2 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @DocLeisure | 1 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @neocdtv | 2 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @ctrlbreak | 3 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @memclear | 1 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @tramal | 1 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @QuaD | 2 | 01.10.24 | 02.10.24 | |
| @II-IRON | 1 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @qz3fwd | 4 | 12.09.24 | 12.09.24 | |
| @AmigaDigital | 2 | 09.09.24 | 09.09.24 | |
| @Niezgodka | 1 | 11.09.24 | 12.09.24 | |
| @Da1ek | 3 | expired |
Batch #3
| User | # Carriers | Paid | Shipped | Feedback |
| @Hannibal | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @ARKHAAN | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @tom79 | 1 | 01.11.24 | 04.11.24 | |
| @FairLight | 1 | 28.10.24 | 29.10.24 | |
| @bigbilly | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @zopacepin | 1 | 26.10.24 | 26.10.24 | |
| @SnowCrash | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @Oldskool1 | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @lord_rover | 1 | 29.10.24 | 29.10.24 | |
| @cloverskull | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @Radocaj | 1 | 30.10.24 | 31.10.24 | |
| @scott | 2 | 27.10.24 | 28.10.24 | |
| @NoeBay | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @THW | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @Robert_G | 1 | 25.10.24 | 25.10.24 | |
| @Telsar | 1 | 07.12.24 | 08.12.24 | |
| @Pbjr | 1 | 26.12.24 | 27.12.24 | |
| @ori1a | 1 | 05.01.24 | 07.01.24 | |
| @lordoftime1979 | 1 | 01.02.24 | 01.02.24 | |
| @uunek | 1 | 01.02.24 | 02.02.24 | |
| @Starej_Mraf | 2 | 15.02.24 | 15.02.24 | |
| @Szmn | 2 | 15.02.24 | 16.02.24 |
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