[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Phase5 news - CYBERSTORM PPC
Product News about the CYBERSTORM PPC
Power-PC Accelerator for Amiga 3000/4000
Oberursel, February 25, 1997: phase 5 digital
products is proud
to announce the upcoming CYBERSTORM PPC
PowerPC-based
accelerators for Amiga 3000(T) and 4000(T) as
well as systems
with compatible CPU-slot. With these
innovative and powerful new
accelerators a new dimension of performance
is brought to the
Amiga, with performance increases of 10 times
and more compared
to the fastest 68k based accelerators
available today, resulting in a
breath-taking performance.
Primarily being designed as an upgrade board
for existing Amiga
systems, the CYBERSTORM PPC incorporates
phase 5's
innovative dual-processor technologie, where
a fast PowerPC RISC
processor is combined with a 68k processor,
in case of the
CYBERSTORM PPC either a 68040 or a 68060 CPU.
Both
CPUs dynamically share the memory and system
busses, what is
necessary for a true multiprocessor
behaviour. While the original
AmigaOS 3.x continues to run on the 68k CPU -
as well as all
existing applications do, what provides 100%
compatibility - the
PowerPC CPU is supported by a comprehensive
PPC Library
developed by phase 5, which provides all
functionality to integrate
the PowerPC into the Amiga multitasking
environment. Software
developers can easily optimze their programs
step by step by porting
single tasks to PowerPC code, which then can
run parallel with 68k
tasks. Many important Amiga software vendors
are preparing
ported versions of their software packages
already, so it is expected
that a large quantity of software products
supporting the PowerPC
will be available soon.
The CYBERSTORM PPC will initially be availabe
with the fast
PowerPC 604e processor in clock speeds of
150, 180 and 200
MHz; the socket for the 68k companion
processor accepts either a
68040 or a 68060 CPU. It provides a 64-bit
wide, extremely fast
memory expansion option (which can be
upgraded by using pairs of
standard PS/2 type SIMMs) which is
dynamically shared by the two
CPUs. Additionally, the CYBERSTORM PPC comes
along with a
DMA-driven Wide ULTRA SCSI controller on-
board, which
allows transfer rates of up to 40MB/s and is
ready for the most
demanding and professional applications. A 32-
bit high-speed
expansion connector with DMA access to the
main memory is also
provided for later upgradability. The 200MHz
version of the
CYBERSTORM PPC provides - only on the PPC
side - a raw
performance of more than 350 MIPS or
approximately 8.1
SPECint95 and 7.1 SPECfp95 (estimations based
on
Motorola/IBM manufacturer specifications) - a
blistering
performance that goes far beyond most PC
systems available today.
The CYBERSTORM PPC will be delivered with a
comprehensive
software package, which includes the PPC
library as well as tools
for creative users, among them a Public
Domain GNU C compiler
for PowerPC (including sourcecode) and many
demo programs and
utilities with sourcecode; in addition to
this software free developer
support is available via the phase 5 FTP
site. Last not least a
PowerPC-optimized version of CyberGraphX V3
with
RISC-optimized CyberGL/3D and MPEG functions
and libraries is
included - of course with comprehensive
documentation.
The CYBERSTORM PPC will be selling for a very
attractive price,
offering a superior price/performance
relation. The suggested retail
prices are as follows:
CYBERSTORM PPC w/ 150 MHz 604e processor
DM 1295,- / GBP 529.00 / USD 698.00
CYBERSTORM PPC w/ 180 MHz 604e processor
DM 1595,- / GBP 649.00 / USD 879.00
CYBERSTORM PPC w/ 200 MHz 604e processor
DM 1895,- / GBP 769.00 / USD 1069.00
Note: All prices are recommended retail
prices. English and german
price include local VAT, the recommended US
price does not
include local taxes. The prices are without
the 68k CPU which is
necessary to operate the CYBERSTORM PPC. 68k
processors
from existing processor boards can be used on
the CYBERSTORM
PPC by pluging these into the provided
socket. If you don't own a
68k CPU already, ask you local dealer for an
attractive bundle
offer.
Registered owners of a phase 5 68040- or
68060 board will -
within the PowerUp upgrade program - receive
special, attractive
upgrade offers by mail during March 97. The
handling of these
upgrades will be done via local appointed
representatives.
In the second half of the year, an innovative
graphic board will
become available for the CYBERSTORM PPC
expansion slot
which will provide a functionality subset of
the innovative
CAIPIRINHA custom chip. By providing a stand-
alone version of
the DLRP (Display List Risc Processor) this
board will offer
superior display funtionality, highest WRAM-
based resolution, pixel
depth and speed as well as the possibility to
start developing
software that will support the functionality
of our upcoming A\BOX
computer system (please refer also to the
project information about
the A\BOX project in our news section).