Firmware Upgrade Issues to Note and new HD Driver Question

[Epsilon]

Hi all,

I got my login details for the A-Eon site (found in the spam folder in gmail), logged in successfully and downloaded the CFE firmware upgrade and the updated 2D Graphics card drivers.

A couple of points to mention that I found during the firmware install - I followed the install guide closely but hit some troubles:

1. The firmware installation guide says that you can use a CDROM to do the upgrade - however the "-iso" flag was not recognised in the "load" command shown in the guide. It comes back with an error saying there is no such flag. I ran "help load" and confirmed that "-iso" wasn't there as an option. So I used USB stick with cfe.bin in the root folder instead...

2. The USB stick needed to be plugged into a specific USB port in order to be recognised within CFE. The first USB port on the top of the X1000 Case doesn't work within CFE (works fine in AmigaOS4) - the second USB port works in CFE.

3. I had to find a USB stick less than 4Gb (I only have one - the Imation 512Mb worked) before I could successfully load the cfe.bin image without errors. I tried 3 different brand 4Gb USB sticks (San Disk, Toshiba and Lexar) and one 8Gb San Disk USB stick, all of which cfe recognised when plugged in, but none of which would load the cfe.bin image without errors.
Specifically, the error reported over and over while loading cfe.bin was something to do with fat >=2 , whatever that means! (sorry I don't remember the exact error message). I should mention that the load of cfe.bin from USB stick completed in all these error cases (which I guess means the usb file system was readable), but when I used spi to load the resultant firmware image and used the spi read command, the output result didn't match what the documentation said needed to be in the output, which means the upgrade didn't work. All these usb sticks work fine under Windows and Mac - I ran a Windows 7 scandisk on each of them after the problems but no errors were found. With a 512Mb USB stick the CFE.bin load worked fine, no errors during loading and SPI copy and SPI read command output was correct, as per the instructions.

In any case it is working for me now and the firmware applied successfully with the new boot screen on my X1000, but I wanted to make you aware of these problems in case something can be done in future to improve the process and support the CDROM upgrade option and higher capacity USB sticks.

Despite the problems I had, I do appreciate the work that went into making these updates - very much appreciated.

A question I had was in relation to the 2D Radeon HD graphic card drivers update for X1000 which I also installed today. Can someone please advise what changes or improvements we should expect to see as end users with the updated 2D Radeon HD driver on the X1000? From what I see so far I haven't noticed any difference in performance, but I am not sure what I should be looking for, or adjusting....eg. should video playback be smoother, or higher resolution hd video now plays back without issues? I tested Youtube playback in Timberwolf RC1 using the HTML5 trial and it still cuts the audio and video when playing back..

I assume that I also need to continue to use Wazp3d library in place of Warp3D on the X1000 until the HD 3D drivers are complete?

Catcha,
Epsilon

[Christopher Follett]

Hi,

1) I believe you need to type -fs=iso.
2) It should'nt matter which USB you plug it to, I have used numerous ports when setting up all x1000's.
3) From the error you mention, it sounds like CFE does'nt like sticks over 2GB.
I use 2GB for all flashes.
4) Radon Driver changes, its best for Hans to answer that.

[Hans]

3. I had to find a USB stick less than 4Gb (I only have one - the Imation 512Mb worked) before I could successfully load the cfe.bin image without errors. I tried 3 different brand 4Gb USB sticks (San Disk, Toshiba and Lexar) and one 8Gb San Disk USB stick, all of which cfe recognised when plugged in, but none of which would load the cfe.bin image without errors.
Specifically, the error reported over and over while loading cfe.bin was something to do with fat >=2 , whatever that means! (sorry I don't remember the exact error message). I should mention that the load of cfe.bin from USB stick completed in all these error cases (which I guess means the usb file system was readable), but when I used spi to load the resultant firmware image and used the spi read command, the output result didn't match what the documentation said needed to be in the output, which means the upgrade didn't work. All these usb sticks work fine under Windows and Mac - I ran a Windows 7 scandisk on each of them after the problems but no errors were found. With a 512Mb USB stick the CFE.bin load worked fine, no errors during loading and SPI copy and SPI read command output was correct, as per the instructions.

I personally prefer to update via TFTP (for both Sam460ex and A1-X1000 firmware updates). It's easy and has been 100% reliable. There's even a TFTPServer for AmigaOS 4 available. So, I use my other Amiga as the server.

A question I had was in relation to the 2D Radeon HD graphic card drivers update for X1000 which I also installed today. Can someone please advise what changes or improvements we should expect to see as end users with the updated 2D Radeon HD driver on the X1000? From what I see so far I haven't noticed any difference in performance, but I am not sure what I should be looking for, or adjusting....eg. should video playback be smoother, or higher resolution hd video now plays back without issues? I tested Youtube playback in Timberwolf RC1 using the HTML5 trial and it still cuts the audio and video when playing back..

The major change for the Radeon HD was the addition of support for Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series cards. You might have missed the big announcement about this.

The only change that might improve performance slightly for you is the implementation of VBlank interrupts, which provides more efficient full-screen double-buffering. Previously, it had to "busy wait" for the VBlank period, thereby making CPU usage artificially go to 100%. This will only be noticed in programs that use full-screen double-buffering, such as Composite3DDemo.

BTW, watching videos in Timberwolf is not a good test for the graphics drivers as, IIRC, Timberwolf is still 100% software rendered.

I assume that I also need to continue to use Wazp3d library in place of Warp3D on the X1000 until the HD 3D drivers are complete?

Yes. Either that, or get a PCI Radeon 9250, and install it as a second graphics card using the gual graphics card guide (also available from A-Eon).

Hans

[ddni]

Just sent my serial number to aeon. Is it likely that my x1000 has the latest firmware? Whats the best way to check?

[Christopher Follett]

Just sent my serial number to aeon. Is it likely that my x1000 has the latest firmware? Whats the best way to check?

You will have the latest firmware as thats the first thing I do on first switch on.
I have wrote some scripts that flash and write ENV for me, saves alot of time, .

[hUMUNGUs]

I sent my serial number on friday/saturday. Still no email concerning my login/password. I was told it would take 2 days. Still no email.

btw: new here, but got my X1000 4 weeks ago. From Norway

[musa]

I sent my serial number on friday/saturday. Still no email concerning my login/password. I was told it would take 2 days. Still no email.

btw: new here, but got my X1000 4 weeks ago. From Norway

Welcome and congratulations with your Amiga x1000 I'm sure you'll love it. Remember to check your spam folder, I found my mail there.

[ddni]

I sent my serial yesterday. No word for me either.
Not in junk folder, but a bit early to be concerned just yet.

[trevordick]

I sent my serial yesterday. No word for me either.

Webmaster prodded! .....

TrevorD

[ddni]

@trevor

Did he wake up yet?