TF1260 performance questions

[phreedh]

Hey all. A few years ago I purchased a TF1260 for my 1200 and replaced the ACA1230 I had been using up until then. I mainly use my machine for demos and as a compo machine at parties. Over the years, I have made a few observations on the difference in performance on my system and I'm curious to see if some of them are shared by the community and if you think any of them can be adressed with sw configuration and/or firmware upgrade of the TF1260. My system is a simple one: Stock A1200 with no mods except 3.1.4 ROMs, recapped by an authority on the subject, timing fix applied, a pcmcia cf-adapter, a DOM disk on the mobo ide interface and the 1260.

These are all comparisons between my 1200 running the TF1260 and my other 1200 running the ACA1230.

1. Boot up time. I have a considerably slower boot up time on the 060. Some of it can be caused by different setups, but there's a pretty big difference even in the steps not affected by startup-sequence. Like, from power up to two-button startup menu.

2. Slow-downs in demos and games. Just a few examples - there are many though. Virtual Dreams 242 - Video slows down to a crawl, Polka Bros - Friday at 8, effects slow down and sync with music is completely lost. Sensible Soccer - very laggy and slow gameplay when screen is scrolled.

3. Not exactly performance, but more compatability - Several high profile 060 demos won't run, or crash - for example Focus Design - Be Kool Fool or Beamriders by Haujobb/Ghostown. Most will run just fine, but a surprising amount of good, solid productions simply won't start. This is when I'm running them from a fairly stripped down startup-sequence for the sole purpose of running demos, but with certain prods I've tried under other conditions too (like from WB etc).

4. Considerably lower performance on a specific demo at a compo. The author had an FPS counter enabled , he (allegedly) got much higher FPS on his 1200 with TF1260 at home.

So - the intention of this post is mainly to check what the user experience from others with TF1260 is. Do you share the above experience or is everything running silk smooth, no hitches? Also, I have provided few technical specs so I don't expect any in-depth support help, but if you have any config tips for me to look into please share.

[terriblefire]

if code is running in chipram it will be slower on all 060 machines.

Reading from chipram is slow. writing is at full speed.

the demos that don't start probably have WHDLoad/fixed versions.

[phreedh]

if code is running in chipram it will be slower on all 060 machines.

...but not on an 030 machine? So with that in mind, anyone looking to buy an accelerator for "every-day use" (ie running games and demos) should be actively encouraged to not get an 060, but an 030 instead? Most of the time people say "you don't really need the power of an 060", but I was not aware it might give (noticeably) lesser performance in common use.

I shall reclaim my aca1230 from my son's 1200 and keep the TF1260 for the original purposes (to run 060 entries in compos). I just left it in the machine as I didn't experience any real problems with it (except for some demos not running at all, and some running slower). Thanks TF (for both fast response and for your contributions over the years!).

[terriblefire]

Let me expand a bit. If demos org at a place in chipram then they aren't going to perform at all on a 060. It's like running code in graphics card ram on a PC. However there is a 060 disable jumper for this. I've no idea why demo coders are so lame about this. just put your code anywhere ... it's more effort to org it at a fixed address.


The boot up issues are not something i notice but it could be related to Move4K running. If MMULib is installed it can shuffle big blocks of ram about.

While testing other cards with exec debug info on I did notice that MMU lib searches for hundreds of card/product combos via FindConfigDev(). On CD32 these do not happen and it's rocket fast loading. So maybe an MMU lib thing rather than TF

[terriblefire]

if code is running in chipram it will be slower on all 060 machines.

...but not on an 030 machine? So with that in mind, anyone looking to buy an accelerator for "every-day use" (ie running games and demos) should be actively encouraged to not get an 060, but an 030 instead? Most of the time people say "you don't really need the power of an 060", but I was not aware it might give (noticeably) lesser performance in common use.

I shall reclaim my aca1230 from my son's 1200 and keep the TF1260 for the original purposes (to run 060 entries in compos). I just left it in the machine as I didn't experience any real problems with it (except for some demos not running at all, and some running slower). Thanks TF (for both fast response and for your contributions over the years!).

There are many patched versions of demos that work better on 060. if you just grab stuff from scene.org then you will have this experience.

IMHO it's incredibly bad practice to force code into chip ram. Borderline insane.

Just the same as older games needing patched with WHDLoad, demos have a similar thing going on.

although coders really should be checking modern stuff works on 060. Stuff like this doesn't help..

https://github.com/BartmanAbyss/vscode- ... issues/256

Like i say coders need to understand and test stuff.

[alenppc]

Also, above all, make sure you have updated the TF1260 firmware to the latest version. The early firmware versions had slower chip ram access. The boot time has been sped up even more on the 68090 firmware. From your description it sounds like you are running an early firmware on your card.

[phreedh]

Also, above all, make sure you have updated the TF1260 firmware to the latest version. The early firmware versions had slower chip ram access. The boot time has been sped up even more on the 68090 firmware. From your description it sounds like you are running an early firmware on your card.

Aye, that is correct. I haven't updated the firmware since I bought it. If nothing else, I'll see if John can upgrade it for me at the next GERP if we're both there.

[terriblefire]

Also, above all, make sure you have updated the TF1260 firmware to the latest version. The early firmware versions had slower chip ram access. The boot time has been sped up even more on the 68090 firmware. From your description it sounds like you are running an early firmware on your card.

Aye, that is correct. I haven't updated the firmware since I bought it. If nothing else, I'll see if John can upgrade it for me at the next GERP if we're both there.

I think i might be at GERP. But if you are on the original fw... it sucks.

[phreedh]

Aye, that is correct. I haven't updated the firmware since I bought it. If nothing else, I'll see if John can upgrade it for me at the next GERP if we're both there.

I think i might be at GERP. But if you are on the original fw... it sucks.

Nice! Hope I will be able to make it, last year I got really sick with a flu the night between Friday and Saturday and had to drive home again. My son got well bummed out by that, he had been looking forward to it for two years (year before, HE got sick and couldn't join me). I'm checking with local HW dudes if they have a cable fit for the job, if I'm lucky I might be able to upgrade it myself. Not keen on getting the cable myself.

[Aardvark82]

2. Slow-downs in demos and games. Just a few examples - there are many though. Virtual Dreams 242 - Video slows down to a crawl, Polka Bros - Friday at 8, effects slow down and sync with music is completely lost. Sensible Soccer - very laggy and slow gameplay when screen is scrolled.

3. Not exactly performance, but more compatability - Several high profile 060 demos won't run, or crash - for example Focus Design - Be Kool Fool or Beamriders by Haujobb/Ghostown. Most will run just fine, but a surprising amount of good, solid productions simply won't start. This is when I'm running them from a fairly stripped down startup-sequence for the sole purpose of running demos, but with certain prods I've tried under other conditions too (like from WB etc).

4. Considerably lower performance on a specific demo at a compo. The author had an FPS counter enabled , he (allegedly) got much higher FPS on his 1200 with TF1260 at home.

So - the intention of this post is mainly to check what the user experience from others with TF1260 is. Do you share the above experience or is everything running silk smooth, no hitches? Also, I have provided few technical specs so I don't expect any in-depth support help, but if you have any config tips for me to look into please share.

I tried all above-mentioned products with latest TF1260 firmware, and every one of them ran silky smooth. Btw, recent WHDLoad slave of Sensible World of Soccer relocates the code to fastmem, which eliminates slowdowns with some accelerator cards, but even the older slave ran smooth with latest TF1260 firmware.