Specifications

34 CHAPTER 1
About the CYBERSTORM PPC
CHAPTER 1
THE CONCEPT OF THE CYBERSTORM PPC
The CYBERSTORM PPC Accelerator Board - being the first product of the PowerUP®
product line to be released - is a very complex dual processor design, in which two different
processors - namely the PowerPC processor and the 68k CPU - work in parallel. As this is a
true multiprocessing solution, both processors share the complete address space of the
Amiga computer system. By use of a comprehensive software library provided with the
board, the PowerPC processor is seamlessly integrated into the Amiga's multitasking
environment, so that application software for the CYBERSTORM PPC - as well as the other
PowerUP® accelerators - can consist of different tasks running on both of the CPUs.
The goal of this solution has been to offer a possibility to upgrade existing Amiga systems
with a new and several times more powerful CPU, while maintaining full compatibility to all
the existing software - including the Operation System - and the hardware that is installed in
the system. To reach this goal we have developed this demanding dual-processor solution,
where the customer can even use the 68k processor which mostly will be present on an
existing CPU card. With this solution the performance of the new and powerful PowerPC
processor can be utilized by software applications which are ported to the PowerPC in part or
whole, without the necessity of a complete system change which would include the purchase
of all existing components and software applications for the new system.
Software applications which are enhanced to utilize the new PowerPC processor will be able
to provide a stunning performance with significant speed increases compared to even the
fastest accelerator boards so far available for the Amiga. Because of the way the PowerPC is
integrated into the Amiga multitasking environment by use of a comprehensive library,
software developers can optimize their programs step by step or in part for the PowerPC - a
solution which is highly appreciated by many software developers worldwide who are actually
working on PowerUP® enhanced software products. In the long run it is of course also
possible to port applications completely to the PowerPC, or to realize operation system
solutions on the PowerPC side.
With this functionality the CYBERSTORM PPC - as well as the other upcoming PowerUP®
products - represents more than just a powerful processor upgrade solution for the Amiga. It
can - and will - also be used as a development platform for future generations of application
and operation system software. As a major example, the PowerUP® boards will be a base
for the development of future application and operation system software for upcoming
projects of phase 5 digital products, namely the A\BOX computer system. But the PowerUP®
product line will also be, on the other hand, the state-of-the art processor upgrade solution for
all active Amiga users who expert a performance that is up-to-date for todays and tomorrows
demanding applications, and will be strongly supported by phase 5 digital products and many
other vendors who are dedicated to support the Amiga and it's user base.
PowerUP - Amiga Goes PowerPC
http://powerup.amigaworld.de