The CYBERSTORM system is basically designed as a High End 68060 System for the Amiga 4000. In the basic 50MHz configuration it achieves a processor performance of some 80 MIPS, a performance level that has been previously unknown in the AMIGA sector. Prepared for clock speeds of up to 80MHz, it also has more than adequate reserves for subsequence faster versions of the 68060 processor.
Performance is not defined by the processor's power alone, but also by the device's flexability and expansion capabilities. The CYBERSTORM System also has a variety of expansion options that will be available as expansion modules.
The rejection of any technical compromise in the development of the CYBERSTORM System has succeeded in bringing a technologically leading product onto the market with an excellent price/performance ratio demonstrates just what can be achieved in modern user friendly product design.
A further part of the synchronization logic is integrated in the CYBERSTORM CPU Module and is optimally rated to the respective clock speed of the processor used. This ensures that the CPU module can be exchanged for another version at any time without having to change any of the other components. This concept guarantees optimal access speed and the greatest possible performance at each CPU speed.
The CYBERSTORM Memory Board has slots for 4 single or double sided 32-bit SIMM modules. This allows memory to be configured in various levels and combinations up to 128 megabytes. The asynchronous interface concept also applies to the memory: the bi-directional buffer logic allows the CYBERSTORM CPU asynchronous access to the memory whcih operates at the AMIGA system speed of 25MHz. This principal makes the memory transparent to other system compoents which access it by DMA, and avoids possible problems that can arise with so-called local memory designs which, for example, are directly linked with a CPU clock. There is no principal speed disadvantage over designs which operate the memory at hgier clock speeds, as 25MHz is the upper limit for memory access without wait cycles (even for 60ns fast D-RAMs) which is performed on the CYBERSTORM in Burst Mode Access. In addition, existing memory can still be used after a CPU upgrade to a higher clock speed or another type of processor, and even without a loss of performance. With a data throughput that is nearly independant of the processor frequency of up to 66.66MB/s in Burst Mode Access, the CYBERSTORM System clocked at 25MHz demonstrates clear acceleration, especially when working with large amounts of data.
Even more, the CYBERSTORM System is not linked to any particular type of processor. Processor modules with other than 680x0 processors may be installed in the future, as long as they are supported by the AMIGA operating system. Wherever the future of the AMIGA may lead, you can be assured that the CYBERSTORM will keep pace of technological advances.
The CYBERSTORM I/O Module together with a Fast SCSI-II interface, and Ethernet Controller, and a serial High-Speed-Port, offers all the essential interface required for professional applications. The Fast SCSI-II interface that naturally operates as a DMA Unit with 32-bit FIFO buffer, offers transmission rates up to 10 MBytes/s with minimal CPU loading. Active termination and internal and external 50-pin SCSI connections guarantee the highest possible data security. The know-how gained from developing the Fastlane Z3 (the world's first 32-bit SCSI Interface for the AMIGA and twice product of the year in 1993) was used extensively in the design of the SCSI interface, which has mature driver and utility software. Other features also include a CD-ROM Filesystem and the efficient cache software, DynamiCache.
A serial high-speed interface with it's own FIFO buffer has also been integrated in the I/O module to guarantee problem-free operation of fast serial devices without data loss.
For users who do not need the networking option, an alternative to the full I/O Module is the CYBERSTORM Fast SCSI-II Module, which is also based on the same advanced technology found in the Fastlane Z3. Offering DMA transmission rates of 10 MBytes/s with minimal CPU loading, active termination and internal and external 50-pin SCSI ports, this also includes the complete SCSI software packages as supplied with the full I/O Module.
The CYBERSTORM CPU Module also offers another High Speed Connector with direct processor connection through which, for example, cache memory and boards with second processors (EG: DPS's) or other high speed expansions for theis CPU bus are pllaned for release in 1995.
Test Amiga 4000/040 Amiga 4000 with 25MHz Cyberstorm 060
Program "mips" with 10 million iterations 15.447 MIPS 82.190 MIPS
AdPro 2.5 Image manipulation of 1.6 Megabyte IFF-DATA (24 bit picture) Convolution/Big Sharpen: 0:19:50 0:06:54 Convolution/Blur 5x5: 1:10:16 0:21:29 Scale 50%: 0:05:25 0:01:22 Execute (original format of 898x768): 0:16:72 0:07:02
Scenery Animator 68881 Version Rendering 3:16:15 1:10:15 of a test picture
Image 2.0 68881 Version Rendering of a 10:34 2:45 test picture
Lightwave 3.5 68881 Version Rendering 3:42 0:54 of the Texture Examples
Bustest 0.07 Memory Performance Test Data transfer rate into FAST RAM (value in MBytes/s, larger values best) Read Word: 12.7 42.6 Read Long: 13.0 55.0 Read Multiple: 13.0 55.2 Write Word: 7.0 37.6 Write Long: 6.9 40.2 Write Multiple: 7.0 38.4
Because of the three-dimensional use of the space available in the AMIGA 4000, the systems specified here cannot be installed in the AMIGA 3000 ot the AMIGA 4000T. CYBERSTORM versions for the AMIGA 3000 and AMIGA 4000T are in development and should be available in the second quarter of 1995 - If there is sufficient demand. There systems may have limited modularity and expansion capabilities. Please ask for information and availability.
Based on the highly integrated graphic chip Trio64 from the reowned manufactures S3, which integrates an expensive graphics processor, a complex 64-bit wide Blitter as well as a highly efficient 24-bit converter for D/A conversion, the CYBERVISION64 can offer a video band width of 135MHz. It will, therefore support a variety of resolutions in True Colour, High Colour and 256 colours. The CYBERVISION64 32-bit ZorroIII interface is highly optimized and allows transmission rates from the AMIGA main memory to the graphic memory of up to 15MByte/sec (use fast CPU cards) - an exemplary rate that sets new standards. Data transfers within the CYBERVISION64 video memory are executed by the 64-bit blitter at speeds above 100 MBYte/sec, practically in an imperceptible amount of time, resulting in extremely fast drawing and shifting operations, for example.
Another special feature of the CYBERVISION64 is its hardware support of Plana-to-Chunky Conversion which, with AMIGA graphics cards, often takes up most of the time required for emulation and representation of the AMIGA modes. This hardware solution is some 6-8 times faster than typical software solutions which considerably accelerates the emulation and representation of the AMIGA modes and especially the representation of 8-bit graphics.
Complementing this efficient hardware is excellent driver software which fully utilizes the performance of the card for unusual system conformities. The CYBERVISION64 screen-modes are installed via the CYBERVISION64 monitor files, are available via normal ASL-Requestor (e.g. in screen mode in PREFS) as "normal" system resolutions, and for common applications operating under OS3.0 or 3.1 require no additional driver. Working with CYBERVISION64 becomes a real pleasure. By supporting many functions, such as draggable screens or virtual screens that can be considerably larger than the actual screen resolution and within which you can scroll much like within an AMIGA Superbitmap, the CYBERVISION64 achieves an extraordinary Look-and-Feel that is difficult to differentiate from the original Amiga resolution.
Naturally, the CYBERVISION64 has an expansion bus through which additional cards such as JPEG or MPEG cards can directly access the fast video memory making the CYBERVISION64 suitable for future developments.
The combination of the attention that has been paid to necessary details - such as slipped through AMIGA video signal and integrated, loss-free electronic switching, default-monitor-timing on system start-up or simple expansion of the 2MB version to 4MB by inserting common memory modules - with the usual high quality of phase 5 products will be able to satisfy even the most demanding user.