ACube/AEon - more info about PCIe cards in SAM440, please

Hi,

My PCI->PCIe adapter will arrive next week, or so. Thats why I'm asking for more info. I have my doubts if it works so I've decided to go a safe path. I have updated a firmware sacefully then ordered PEX8112 based adapter (only 20$) When I get it I want to borrow a graphic card to see if it works.
ACube announced...

Quote:

My question is. What GPU is the best option in terms of compatibility with SAM440?
My options are: HD7750 or RX 550. The first has better support, the second is faster but does not support a soft reset. Both are not used. Any advice? I'm asking more about UBoot/adapter things.

After sucesful first steps I will buy ES2.0 of course but before, is there a possibility to get a driver to test the adapter/graphic card/UBoot? I know RadeonHD Lite exist. Does RX Lite exist? It would be great to have a limited, lite version to test before buying.

@mr2

The issue with no U-Boot display is also present with the Sam460ex.

I have a 460ex with Radeon 6450 (AMD Sapphire). For sure you will need at least version 2.22 driver that comes with Enhancer Plus - the Radeon HD v1 driver 'worked' but did not take advantage of card features. There is a compatibility list web page here http://hdrlab.org.nz/projects/amiga-o ... er-hardware-compatibility and Hans answers emails if you have a unique question.

On my card VGA and DVI output worked but not HDMI, this is a common issue.

Low profile is a must if you're using an adapter (unless it has a cable).

The card I use is low profile but I'm not sure there are any low profile cards at the higher spec end

@All

Thanks guys but I need more SAM440 centric info. I'm aware of Hans's site. I have lots of space im my cace, so don't need a riser or a cable. There was a firmware update in 2016 already:
ACube Systems is pleased to announce a new release of the U-Boot firmware for its Sam440ep motherboards (mini-itx and flex versions).

What's new in this version:

- improved gfx cards setup, it solves compatibility problems with some Radeon HD cards
- better internal PCI bridge setup for a slight faster RAM <-> VRAM transfer speed
- added PEX 8112 PCI – PCIE bridge setup (used on some Radeon HD PCI variant cards)
- added a new menu entry to enable/disable IRQ on an external PCI gfx card
(try disabling IRQ if the system seems freezed after loading the AOS4.1 kickstart files, for example)

...but it didn't help everybody:

https://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/v ... wmode=flat&order=0#838212

As you can see even present update changed nothing, that's why I will buy ES only if my choosed graphic card is supported/tested.

@mr2

In my opinion, the best solution on a Sam440-flex, with the last u-boot is a Radeon HD 7750 or above.
I've tested many RX 550 from different vendors, and so far almost all work well under AmigaOS but there is the issue with u-boot not showing a picture with many RX.

Thanks m3x,

Once again, amazing job you still support SAM440!
About RX550 and UBoot screen. Is it sth you may repair in a future?
Can you write what RXs show UBoot screen?

@mr2

No RX currently shows the U-Boot screen.
I beleive that he means the Workbench screen .

@m3x

Any info on whether the working RX550 cards were 4GB models or 2GB models ?. or did both have some working models ?.

An up to date list of all working models would be great. Just limited to SI and Polaris. I believe Hans don't have time to update his website, anymore.

@mr2

Not sure, he has time to do video blogs on youtube, anyway I wont expect anything so close to Xmas, he probably has stuff to take care of like everyone else.

I expect Hans to focus on newer cards like RX.

OK, adapter has arrived. Faster then I expected.
But it's based on PEX8111. It was advertised as PEX8112
Hans mentioned it should work too but it was long time ago and Max mentioned only PEX8112 and PI7C9X, lately. Will it work?

If I plug in, a borrowed HD7750, it should show an UBoot screen, right? I don't have a RadeonHD driver yet.

What's the risk of trying? None I think.

Don't want to bother someone to disconenct his graphic card if there is no chance to succeed. Maybe I should give the adapter back?

Anyway, I've put it in a 33Mhz, free slot and booting takes much, much longer. Black screen, before UBoot takes 40s and USB/SATA initializations takes another 45s.Then everythink ok. Ranger shows PEX8111 PCI Express to PCI Bridge.

@mr2

U-Boot was showing with the version from 4+ years ago so the actual test is if AmiagaOS 4.1 boots.


The device id would show the exact PEX version in the adapter. in the old log below it indicates PEX8112 .
00 0c 10b5 8112 0604 00

=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= PuTTY log 2014.07.19 06:28:46 =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=


U-Boot 1.3.1e (Jul 5 2012 - 19:02:53)

CPU: AMCC PowerPC 440EP Rev. C at 799.999 MHz (PLB=133, OPB=66, EBC=66 MHz)
I2C boot EEPROM enabled
Bootstrap Option H - Boot ROM Location I2C (Addr 0x52)
Internal PCI arbiter enabled, PCI async ext clock used
32 kB I-Cache 32 kB D-Cache
Board: Sam440ep-flex
I2C: ready
DRAM: 1024 MB
PCI: Bus Dev VenId DevId Class Int
01 04 1013 6005 0401 00
01 05 1033 0035 0c03 00
01 05 1033 0035 0c03 00
01 05 1033 00e0 0c03 00
00 0a 12d8 8150 0604 00
02 00 1002 683f 0300 ff
02 00 1002 aab0 0403 ff
00 0c 10b5 8112 0604 00
00 0e 1095 3114 0180 00
In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
Net: ppc_4xx_eth0, ppc_4xx_eth1
SM502: not found
VGA: 1
VESA: OK
msr = 0x00001030
rtg.library PPC440ep optimizations enabled
RadeonHD.card (2): Obtaining ITimer interface
RadeonHD.card (2): Got ITimer interface
RadeonHD.card (2): Returning from LibInit().
RadeonHD.card (4): RadeonHD.chip 1.0 (29.03.2014)RadeonHD.chip (5): rhdOpen called
RadeonHD.chip (2): PCI device is a graphics card.
RadeonHD.chip (2): RadeonHD cipset identified as: VERDE
RadeonHD.chip (4): Enabling blind prefetch on the PEX 8112 bridge
RadeonHD.chip (2): Obtaining memory and I/O addresses and sizes
RadeonHD.chip (2): Video RAM at: 0xB0000000, size is 268435456 bytes
RadeonHD.chip (2): Graphics card I/O range at: 0x0xC0000000, size is 262144 bytes
RadeonHD (2): Graphics card name is: Radeon HD 7700 Series
RadeonHD (2): Identified the chipset as: VERDE
RadeonHD (2): If - and only if - your card does not work or does not work optimally
please contact Hans de Ruiter at hans --email-sign-- hdrlab.org.nz to help rectify this.
Use the subject: 0x683F:0x1545:0x7750: <name of board>
and *please* describe the problems you are seeing
in your message.

Today I have borrowed Radeon HD7750. Pluged it in a third 33MHz slot-black screen, second 33MHz slot-black screen. R9250 was stil in a first 66MHz slot. Then I have disconnected old Radeon and pluged HD7750 in the free slot.
UBoot showed up with no delay I mentioned before, almost immediately Progress bar went to the end - "loading done, now launching kickstart". Probably now I need a RadeonHd driver, right?

@mr2

Yes. you need the RadeonHD driver .

@mr2

But you should be able to boot with the minimal RadeonHD driver present on the OS4.1 FE CD. You'll have a low maximum resolution, but at least you can see if it works, without having to buy and receive the commercial driver first.

Best regards,

Niels

@nbache

Not on the Sam440ep CD only the Sam460ex CD.