Subject: Re: [stella] Hardware comparisons From: "Clay Halliwell" <clay.h@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 18:55:49 -0500 |
----- Original Message ----- From: Glenn Saunders <cybpunks@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <stella@xxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 5:08 AM Subject: Re: [stella] Hardware comparisons > I think video DMA on the Atari cuts raw throughput of the CPU down by > 1/3rd, which is why there is a poke you can do to turn off video DMA when > you are running a big numbercrunch operation. A lot of Atari BBS operators > would do that. The Atari 1200XL had that assigned to one of its function keys. ANTIC DMA only consumes 1/3 of the bus bandwidth in the 8K display modes (8-11). In the text-based modes the impact is practically negligible. > It actually cuts throughput enough to hinder playing digital samples, > actually, which is why sampling programs (or software voice synths like > SAM) would blank the screen. Actually sampling (and playback) programs turn off *everything* that would disturb the data stream... video DMA, the vertical blank interrupt, anything else they can get their bits on... I only remember four Atari games that played digital sound without killing the screen-- Kennedy Approach, Whomper Stomper, Alley Cat, and MegaBlast (I think that's the name). -- Clay Halliwell | ATARI XL/XE DO + THE clay.FAKEMEAT.h@xxxxxxx | 8 - B I T S -------- e.halliwell@xxxxxxxxx | /////////// M A T H Keeper of the Atari Jaguar Cheats and Codes FAQ. Request your copy today! Editor, Jaguar Explorer Online - More Jaguar News Than Should Be Allowed! http://www.atarihq.com/jeo/ "Where do you want to play Atari today?" -- Archives (includes files) at http://www.biglist.com/lists/stella/archives/ Unsub & more at http://www.biglist.com/lists/stella/
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