Paolo Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 I read a lot about putting a graphic card on an STe. It looks like the best solution is an ET400. Is this true? I also read about using an Ethernet adapter with the STs. And then I read about Mari Becroft's Graphic+Net card. The question is... HELP! What should I do? Where sould I buy it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 Id love to get a new graphics card for my Mega ST but when I looked into it nothing seemed to be available - Id rather use a standard RGB monitor for the ST vs the original ST ones. I have a cartridge based ethernet card for my Mega ST2 - It only supported FTP on my home network since most of the networking software is designed for newer versions of TOS Any info you can share on Mega ST graphics cards appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted October 16, 2002 Author Share Posted October 16, 2002 OK! You can connect a Tseng Labs ET4000 card to almost any ST machine. There are docs and schematics for this, but Atari workshop has got them ready. At Mario Becroft's site there is a new project called Galaxy, it's a network card plus graphics processor. It's still in developement, since network doesn't work yet, but graphics looks ok. Then there is this ethernet card. It looks you can even share the Internet connection just using STinG. It is presented in Didier Mequignon homepage and it is sold in various flavours by Lyndon Amsdon. Paolo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 you have any URL's to these sites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted October 16, 2002 Author Share Posted October 16, 2002 Sorry in the rush of writing, I left out all the addresses. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/didierm/index-e.htm (here is the falcon with the ethernet card) www.hardware.atari.org (mr. amdson) http://gem.win.co.nz/mb/atarihw/ (mari becroft's pages) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 But really, what use will the newer graphics card be on an ST? Unless some developer utilizes it, it isn't really worth the investment. That's what hurt the STE IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted October 16, 2002 Author Share Posted October 16, 2002 Let me point out a few things: first, a MEGA4 STe with a 20 MB HD isn't exactly an ST. Now, I use the computer for working, and I use a very limited number of programs: a word processor, an Internet browser, a mail and FTP program, and a couple of tools. All day long! I also use Director, toolbook, shockwave and flash. The real thing that is missing in ALL st series computers is a network capability and a larger display. THink about it: the same time it takes to launch that "stupid buggy word processor" on a P IV 900, I switch on the STe, launch Papyrus and write my document. No bugs, no crashes, no errors, no reboot. All on a 16MHz MC68000. BUT this happens on a 640x400 monochrome monitor, and sometimes you feel the need of something more. Internet: I browse only a limited number of tech sites that are in my need. I can do it with CAB (no flash, no java and it's OK for most of them), but the screen size and colour is a BIG issue! FTP: no problem Mail: no problem (AND NO VIRUSES) News: no problem I only miss the big screen and the network capability to transfer files to other PCs and devices that are over the office, and to share the hi speed Internet connection of my LAN. Because of this, I often do the 'gross' work on the STe and the 'refinements' on "the stupid word processor" (transfering with diskettes) So I just use the right computer for the right task. (Of course I use PCs for Director, or for 3D graphics and other tasks, and use Opera for browsing) OK, I give you a rest, now :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinkoVitch Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 but even with a new GFX card the ST's GEM desktop and TOS will still be 640x400, unless there is an OS upgrade or something? And what is the diff between a Mega ST and an ST (besides HDD and 16 MHz), from what I can rember essentially they are the same, with just a few minor hardware tweaks, same os tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted October 17, 2002 Author Share Posted October 17, 2002 I am not going in deep tech stuff here, since I can't remember well (and it's late in the night here, you know? ), but: GEM and TOS aren't limited to 640x400, only older programs and the ones using directly the graphics hardware are restricted (mainly GAMES and tricky software like spectrum512); all other programs adapt themselves to the available res (think about CAB that without any modification runs on NOVA cards, Blow-Up, Standard ST modes and TT modes, using the available colors and res). Mind that the desktop replacements allow 16 or 32 colours icons, wallpapers, etc... ST, Mega ST and STe are different. They are! Blitter on STe, for fast video page swaps and such 16 MHZ (16 MHz!!!) is the double of 8 like 1,7 GHz is the double of 850 MHz. More colours and tweaked graphic hardware on STe (a step towards Falcon, keeping the ST soul) HD diskette on STe TOS 2.06 on STe VME BUS on STe 4 MB RAM on Mega4 STe (and you can load a whole truckload of programs at bootstrap) a step towards compatibility on STe (ACSI interface) Battery operated RTC ... Later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 The Mega series came with a VME slot which can be used for the graphics card - no luck putting that baby in an ST - Also, At a certain TOS level larger displays were supported (there were some trick programs that made the desktop really large and scrolled the window on a monochrome screen), so I think it is possible to get a nicer display to utilize for the productivity ST software - Games wont use it at all unless you like 'word games' in your word processor Thanks for the links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted October 17, 2002 Author Share Posted October 17, 2002 As usual, I left out some links! It looks that you can put the ET4000 on MEGA ST and STE http://atarihacks.cjb.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinkoVitch Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 ok so the only diff is the VME bus. You started with the Mega ST and then seemed to drift off into comparing ST and STe.. Please don't take me for a fool, I know 16 MHz is double 8MHz, I was after actual technical differences like the VME bus. Other than thar it's pretty much a standard ST (or STe). I had forotten about the utils to give scrolling desktops, didn't think that GEM would support past 640x400. well you live and learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted October 17, 2002 Author Share Posted October 17, 2002 I read most of your posts here, and it looks you aren't fool at all! What I meant was that Mega STE is way different from STs. The audio section is very different as well (onboard stereo things) (wait a minute! We didn't start from Mega ST, but from Mega STe) I actually didin't understand that you meant to know the differences between MST and ST, I was thinking at ST vs MSTE. About the scrolling desktops: I was referring to *actual* bigger desktops, adding graphics cards like ET4000 (1024x768x16bit) or more affordable hacks like overscan (upto 380x270 IIRC and 640x480b/w) I never liked moving desktops, they give me a headache. Oh well, it looks like things are clearer now (sorry for the misunderstandings) MST is quite similar to ST MSTE is quite similar to STE MSTE and ST are quite different Bye guys, I like to talk non-gaming atari (i also like to talk gaming-atari ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinkoVitch Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 sorry my bad. I thought you were on about the MST I was mentioning the scrolling desktops as they seem to work by tricking the OS into thinking there is a larger desktop than there is and GEM adapts, thus proving that a larger gfx area would be benificial and supported Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Ok Im confused about something - What kind of 'slot' does the Mega ST have? I thought it was a VME slot but the Galaxy card maker says the Mega ST doesnt have a VME slot only the Mega STE??? What gives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Ok can someone help me with this site: http://atarihacks.cjb.net/ I downloaded the ET4000.zip file and the docs are in German(I think ) - I dont see any mention of a new video card or anything - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinkoVitch Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 there is a link a few lines down ET4000E.zip that is the english version.. that any help? I clicked on Video from the link you gave to find that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Duh, yeah I got it, thanks - though Im no pro with PCBs so I guess Ill have to wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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