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[Twin]

Hi guys,

Here's the situation - I've got 2 A1200's, they've both got accelerators, in the following manner:

1st A1200
M-Tec (Viper) 1230/28 (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=120)
8MB RAM (could be 4, only 4MB shows in WB but I think I did something to disable the other 4 so PCMCIA would work)
FPU (MC68882 chip, which I think is the FPU)
MC68030FE20B processor

2nd A1200
Viper 1230 (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=119)
16MB RAM
no FPU
MC68030FE33B processor


Now the 1st A1200 has a 6GB hard drive in it while the 2nd only has a 40MB. I see that the Viper 1230 is PCMCIA compatible though. Ideally I'd like an A1200 with an MMU, the 6GB hard drive and 16MB RAM.

How can I do it? Can I swap the FPU and HD from the 1st A1200 to the 2nd? Which is the better accelerator? Which has the best processor?

Thanks in advance for any answers I get. I'm just trying to get my Amiga's back up and running again!

[Fats]

The MC68030FE33B and MC68030FE20B have a MMU on chip. The MC68882 is a floating point coprocessor.

greets,
Staf.

[Twin]

Thanks!

I've edited my original post to reflect the info.

So, can anyone tell me if I can swap the FPU and memory around between the cards?

[Nataline]

Twin wrote:

How can I do it? Can I swap the FPU and HD from the 1st A1200 to the 2nd?

I don't see what would prevent you from swapping the HD.

Which is the better accelerator? Which has the best processor?

The 1230 has a 33MHz 030, the 1230/28 has a 20MHz 030 overclocked to 28MHz.
With the 1230/28 having PCMCIA trouble, RAM limit and an overclocked processor I'd say the 1230 is better, not taking the 68882 into account.
I don't have enough knowlegde about FPUs to say what kind of an effect it has on overall performance.

So, can anyone tell me if I can swap the FPU and memory around between the cards?

Eh? 16MB on the 1230/28 would be a waste, if I read your links correctly. 1230/28 page says the limit is 8MB.
I vaguely remember someone having 32MB on a 1230, but I might be wrong on that.

What is the entire identification number on the FPU?
I think there should be more than just "MC68882".

[Brian]

Viper1230 (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=119) should be the best card of the two no doubt. It should be able to hold 128MB of memory and still be PCMCIA compliant.

For the FPU to work you need to verify that it uses the right type connection as the Viper only takes PLCC where's M-Tec can take both PGA and PLCC as far as I can figure out. Next is the speed of the FPU, on these cards the FPU will run on same speed as the CPU most likely (due to no second crystal possible). Now a 28Mzh FPU should run happily at 33Mhz in Most cases but as the M-Tec uses overclocking for the CPU and you havn't provided speed of the FPU make sure it's not a slower FPU already being overclocked.

For HDD's, there should be no problem swapping these between A1200's as long as they have the same ROM version.

[Twin]

Thanks for the answers, I think the FPU slot is the same type on both cards. I'll try and confirm tonight.

I guess my question about the memory was a bit stupid in hindsight, my best option is to try and move the FPU from the /28 to the Viper 1230 and then I'll have 16MB and FPU on the one card.

[Nataline]

Twin wrote:
Thanks for the answers, I think the FPU slot is the same type on both cards. I'll try and confirm tonight.

Like Brian said, you should also determine the FPU speed. The ID on the chip should read something like MC68882xxyyz, where xx is the package type (should probably be FN), yy is the operating frequency (which ideally should be 33 or above) and z is the revision marker.

[Twin]

Here is exactly what is said on the FPU on the 1230/28:

MC68882FN20A
0C35H
QEK9052

I think that the connection is the same on both cards, I've attached pictures:

The FPU on the 1230/28:



The empty FPU slot on the 1230:



Will swapping the FPU fit and work?

[Twin]

[rkauer]

Twin wrote:
Here is exactly what is said on the FPU on the 1230/28:

MC68882FN20A
0C35H
QEK9052

I think that the connection is the same on both cards, I've attached pictures:
---zip---
Will swapping the FPU fit and work?

Don't even try it! If you put an ALREADY overclocked 20MHz FPU at 33MHz clock you certainly fry it!

If you want a FPU that bad, buy one from vesalia, softhut or amigakit (FPU are inexpensive chips, today) or even Ebay (look for one with 33MHz or MORE).

You really don't take much advantage from a FPU, anyway. MPEGA FPU is slower than integer version, very few games take advantage of one (I remember only TFX, but slughish in a 030 machine), only some "serious" programs take advantage of one (raytracing ones, mostly). Oh, and LHA. ;-)