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Documentation about the Vampire hardware

My First Impressions of the V4

Ray Couzens

Posts 93
10 Aug 2020 10:06


Some history:

One Christmas my parents bought me a Sinclair ZX80, which at the time I thought was an amazing little machine.  Prior to owning that, I had very little knowledge of what a computer was and a very, very vague concept of how to program one!  Thanks to Sinclair Research, this little machine was at a price that many could afford and thus gain a great deal of knowledge about what a computer was and how to use one.  I only had that machine a little while when I upgraded to the ZX81, and had many happy hours playing with this much improved system.

Then I wanted something better and for this the Commodore64 fitted well.  In 1982 it had very good specifications at a competitive price.  Other machines I considered, but were too expensive for my pocket were for example the BBC Micro and Atari800.  I remember well the day Dad drove me to the shop where I had ordered the C64, an important day to remember!  I had just started in my first job and Dad lent me the money to buy this amazing machine.

I have fond memories with my C64, but when the Amiga500 came out I decided to go for this dream machine.  The C64 took a back seat when the Amiga was delivered, and I didn’t get much sleep that day or for several days :-)

I remember where I worked at the time, a small electronics company, the sales manager thought Amigas were just games machines (Commodore’s poor marketing) so I took my A500 into work and demonstrated it.  Compared to the lowly PCS’s of the day, this machine in contrast was way ahead and the Sales Manager was extremely impressed.  I can still remember his words “You get all this as standard!?”, “Yes!”, I proudly replied.

It’s a shame that Commodore did not know how to go further with it, but this is a story we are all familiar with. Alas, in the end I had to succumb to the land of the Intel PC or be left behind in my career.

However, Amiga has not died, the spirit has lived on and re-materialised in different forms over the years, albeit not always in the best form, but that could just be my opinion.  I think software emulators running on PC’s and Macs etc. are very clever pieces of software and I do use them, but to me, I only get some of the original joy of the Amiga or whatever machine is being emulated.  There is something missing for me, sat in front of my PC that’s pretending to be an Amiga, it seems a little soul less. 

All that has now changed with the Amiga’s spirit fully restored in the form of the Vampire V4.  Not just restored but enhanced in a way that’s in-keeping with it’s heritage. Now, I’m not just sitting yet again in front of my PC with an emulator, I’m now sitting in front of my real Amiga; a distinction which is important to me.

As I’ve always had the Amiga spirit in me, I very much appreciate the efforts of the Apollo team, their spirit has kept this machine alive in the best way.  No silly legal issues destroying what Amiga was, and still is all about, I’m not interested in that.  Here we have a machine which has very good hardware, that performs better than any previous Amiga and can offer so much more.

I’ve not experimented with all the Amiga OS variants available, I may give coffin a try but now that the Apollo team have branched away from AROS and developing ApolloOS, which I think makes perfect sense, I’m going to make this my main one. 

I’ve recently updated to the latest Core and ApolloOS and can see huge improvements.  Yes, I still come across programs that won’t run, which could be because I don’t know the correct settings to make, or just glitches.  However, the system seems much more stable and enjoyable. 

The current ApolloOS provides a great range of pre-installed applications and games that I’m going to be kept amused for some time to come, and I now have that feeling of sitting in front of a real Amiga, because that is exactly what it is, and it’s only going to get better.




Tim Noyce

Posts 156
10 Aug 2020 16:47


Nice.. My V4 is waiting at home as I type.. Can't wait to check it out.


Alan Haynes

Posts 140
14 Aug 2020 05:36


Good feedback Ray but I am sure you will get some critics for calling the Vampire a real Amiga.

Nevertheless I like what you have said and thanks for sharing.
I have a V2 and am looking forward to getting a V4 someday.


Ray Couzens

Posts 93
14 Aug 2020 13:44


Alan Haynes wrote:

Good feedback Ray but I am sure you will get some critics for calling the Vampire a real Amiga.
 
  Nevertheless I like what you have said and thanks for sharing.
  I have a V2 and am looking forward to getting a V4 someday.

Thanks Alan, but I don't mind critique.  However, I will stick to what I say that the V4 is a next gen Amiga.  I know some will argue that an FPG re-creation is a simulation whilst others argue that it is not.  I don't want to get into that debate.  I see it as a box of electronics that can run original as well as new improved Amiga software, so if that's not an Amiga what is it?  But I don't wish to upset anybody's opinion, it's probably one of those grey areas. :-)



Tim Noyce

Posts 156
14 Aug 2020 18:33


I received my V4 this past Monday. It's a sweet piece of hardware. It came pre-installed with AROS, but I plan on moving to ApolloOS before too long. I want to be more familiar with it before I change anything. Last thing I want, is to brick or potentially damage my V4.
 
  I'm certainly excited and anticipating that things will continue to evolve and improve over time.

The whole debate of real vs emulation misses the point. People are free experience the Amiga in whatever form they desire. That's really what matters.




Matthias Gull

Posts 17
03 Dec 2020 20:06


Hello!

I'm a new Vampire V4 owner.
At first I flashed the latest V4 core with USB-Blaster successfully.

After this I created two Micro SD Cards with newest version of ApplePiBaker on MacOS.
One with ApolloOS V4 the other one with COFFIN R57.

The Vampire V4 didn't boot with both cards inserted in DeLock Compact Flash Adapter for Micro SD.
EXTERNAL LINK 
With delivered ApolloOS Compact Flashcard V3 (16GB) the vampire boots perfectly.

Can someone confirm that DeLock Compact Flash Adapter 61795 didn't work?
Wich Compact Flash Adapter for (Micro)/SD Cards will work?

Please help!


Tim Noyce

Posts 156
03 Dec 2020 21:00


The V4 is an amazing product, which improves with every release of a new core (R5 coming soon) and ApolloOS.

I received my V4 back in August, and really enjoy it. I also still have my old A1200 with an '030 card, but it mainly remains turned off these days.

Don't get the arguments frankly. Whatever method you choose to enjoy the Amiga is the one that works best for you. No reason to haggle over the method to achieve that end.



Ray Couzens

Posts 93
04 Dec 2020 08:34


Tim Noyce wrote:

The V4 is an amazing product, which improves with every release of a new core (R5 coming soon) and ApolloOS.
 
Don't get the arguments frankly. Whatever method you choose to enjoy the Amiga is the one that works best for you. No reason to haggle over the method to achieve that end.
 

I couldn't agree more, it's each to their own.  For me, the V4 really works for the nostalgic feel in terms of it being real Amiga hardware (albeit implemented in FPGA) but also as a modern updated Amiga with so much potential and more longevity.

I too have an A1200 which I cherish as an original Amiga (but is slightly accelerated), but its the Vampire that gets near daily use.

It's just so much fun!




Nick Fellows

Posts 176
05 Dec 2020 13:50


To these people who argue that FPGA is not a true Amiga - id argue back that FPGA is the only way forward to keep real amigas alive since nobody is making those glorious custom chips any more.

We need each other .


DiscreetFX Studios

Posts 140
09 Dec 2020 05:08


Very nice review of the Vampire V4.


Vojin Vidanovic
(Needs Verification)
Posts 1916/ 1
09 Dec 2020 11:11


nick fellows wrote:

To these people who argue that FPGA is not a true Amiga - id argue back that FPGA is the only way forward to keep real amigas alive since nobody is making those glorious custom chips any more.

Agreed, so happy SAGA enhanced 68k exists, and with no FPGA tech that would be hardly possible, as Freescale (and no real CBM successor) have abandoned the tech, not even mention its links in historical sense anymore. Brings way more compatibility and Amiga feeling then PPC AmigaOne line for fraction of price.



Oscar Meza

Posts 10
22 Dec 2020 23:19


@Matthias Gull- I have the same question. Has anyone answered? I have Cofffin r57 in a microSD (probably both of us got it from the same source) and I am using it in a CF Card Adapter. I can’t get it to boot. I am pressing both buttons in the mouse before and during boot up, or pressing left shit (as instructed by the instructions i received) and all I get is a black screen.
  I am still using ApolloOS R3, which works well, while I am getting more familiar with my V4, before attempting to flash the new core and use ApolloOS R4.
 
  If you made Coffin work, please let me know how you did it.

Quoted text:
Hello!
I'm a new Vampire V4 owner.
At first I flashed the latest V4 core with USB-Blaster successfully.

After this I created two Micro SD Cards with newest version of ApplePiBaker on MacOS.
One with ApolloOS V4 the other one with COFFIN R57.

The Vampire V4 didn't boot with both cards inserted in DeLock Compact Flash Adapter for Micro SD.
EXTERNAL LINK 
With delivered ApolloOS Compact Flashcard V3 (16GB) the vampire boots perfectly.

Can someone confirm that DeLock Compact Flash Adapter 61795 didn't work?
Wich Compact Flash Adapter for (Micro)/SD Cards will work?

Please help!


Bartek Kuchta

Posts 46
22 Dec 2020 23:52


Matthias Gull wrote:

Hello!
 
  I'm a new Vampire V4 owner.
  At first I flashed the latest V4 core with USB-Blaster successfully.
 
  After this I created two Micro SD Cards with newest version of ApplePiBaker on MacOS.
  One with ApolloOS V4 the other one with COFFIN R57.
 
  The Vampire V4 didn't boot with both cards inserted in DeLock Compact Flash Adapter for Micro SD.
  EXTERNAL LINK 
  With delivered ApolloOS Compact Flashcard V3 (16GB) the vampire boots perfectly.
 
  Can someone confirm that DeLock Compact Flash Adapter 61795 didn't work?
  Wich Compact Flash Adapter for (Micro)/SD Cards will work?
 
  Please help!

I have this DeLock adapter and it works great. On the other hand popular red adapter did not. Question of luck really.



Matthias Gull

Posts 17
30 Dec 2020 13:52


Hi Oscar!

I ordered this adapter:
EXTERNAL LINK 
But I have got the one with two micro SD slots...

At the moment I have no LCD monitor to get a picture from my vampire V4.
So I can't test the adapter.

Now I'm waiting for a new core which supports my Sony KDL-65X8505A LCD TV.

Best regards
Matze


Oscar Meza

Posts 10
31 Dec 2020 18:35


I am now using a microSD to CF card adapter to run Coffin OS r57.

I’m using a HD LG monitor and a DIGITAL-VIDEO audio extractor device to get audio out.

I’m also still waiting to gain more confidence before I update the core from R3 to R4. Probably I will use the Workbench core Flash updater when I feel ready.


Darren Eveland

Posts 101
01 Jan 2021 23:38


Hi Matthias, it may not be the adapter but the SD or microSD card that doesn't work.  I have several that refuse to work.  Then I bought a SanDisk Ultra 32GB SD card and it worked perfectly. 

The other cards would not boot Coffin and in HDToolbox they were not recognized/readable.  As soon as I put in the SanDisk Ultra SD Card it worked fine...

Darren


Michael MiB

Posts 54
02 Jan 2021 00:06


Yes, if you can, use Sandisk cards (It's also true with "real" Amiga). Kingtson Canvas Focus are good also (and less expensive)

Just for test, I try : EXTERNAL LINK 
works fine

posts 17