Falcon Video Upgrades
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Falcon Video Upgrades
Just wondering about what upgrades are possible and fairly easy to do on a standard falcon, with a 14mb ram upgrade, and CF HD.
I've read that an ATI 9200 can be added, but it seems to only be with a CT60. Is that true? Basically I'm just looking for more screen real-estate. But I still want to be able to run games, after I'm done with applications. If so what is the parts list needed (specifically), and where to get.
Also I've seem a video that shows a small PSU in a falcon. psx? Which model is best, and is there a link in here as to how to make it fit, and hook it up properly?
Many thanks as always!!
I've read that an ATI 9200 can be added, but it seems to only be with a CT60. Is that true? Basically I'm just looking for more screen real-estate. But I still want to be able to run games, after I'm done with applications. If so what is the parts list needed (specifically), and where to get.
Also I've seem a video that shows a small PSU in a falcon. psx? Which model is best, and is there a link in here as to how to make it fit, and hook it up properly?
Many thanks as always!!
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
The screen real estate increases as you upgrade the processor I am given to understand to a degree at least. There were aftermarket expanders that changed or allowed further changes to the frequency like Blow UP. I am not sure however if these differ greatly from the Videlity software. the Falcons video chip is programmable as standard it's just we are fixed via GEM to standard resolutions.
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- alexh
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
Yes it is true. It is also true that the new SuperVidel is CT60 only too.KLund1 wrote:I've read that an ATI 9200 can be added, but it seems to only be with a CT60. Is that true?
I don't think you'll get a hardware solution. There was something called the Screenblaster 2 & Hard 2 which overclocked the Videl but I don't think you'll want to use it?Basically I'm just looking for more screen real-estate.
You should investigate software solutions. Such as CentScreen or Videlity
?? I think you're talking about a "PicoPSU". You should know that it moves the PSU outside the falcon to a laptop like PSU. Unless you're getting a CT60 or you're having trouble with your existing PSU then I wouldn't bother.Also I've seem a video that shows a small PSU in a falcon. psx?
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
Hmm, thought the Pico was plenty small enough to fit inside a stock Falcon case.
I know one will certainly fit inside a STacy with ease...
I know one will certainly fit inside a STacy with ease...
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
you can add a PCI card to a stock Falcon without CT60 -KLund1 wrote:Just wondering about what upgrades are possible and fairly easy to do on a standard falcon, with a 14mb ram upgrade, and CF HD.
I've read that an ATI 9200 can be added, but it seems to only be with a CT60. Is that true? Basically I'm just looking for more screen real-estate. But I still want to be able to run games, after I'm done with applications. If so what is the parts list needed (specifically), and where to get.
Also I've seem a video that shows a small PSU in a falcon. psx? Which model is best, and is there a link in here as to how to make it fit, and hook it up properly?
Many thanks as always!!
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
I have an Eclipse on my Falcon. It works well but it's no longer available so unless you find one on eBay this is no longer an option.
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
Any links or additional info on these? If I could get higher screen res though software, that might be a least trouble.alexh wrote: You should investigate software solutions. Such as CentScreen or Videlity
I think that was what they were talking about in the video, but it was in German. What do you use in your upgraded Falcon(s)?DarkLord wrote:Hmm, thought the Pico was plenty small enough to fit inside a stock Falcon case.
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
just googled videlty and came up with this http://atari.nvg.org/pixelclock/pixelclock.html D.I.Y. "Screenblaster (tm)"
might be of interest
might be of interest
Last edited by nativ on Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Sv: Falcon Video Upgrades
The Blowup for the falcon is pretty clunky with its power coming from the joystick port. I never really bothered to use mine
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Re: Sv: Falcon Video Upgrades
Fenix wrote:The Blowup for the falcon is pretty clunky with its power coming from the joystick port. I never really bothered to use mine
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I had the blow up Hard II with the joy port connector. I was able to get 1024*768 in mono/4/16 color on a multisync monitor ( VGA ) to use with Papyrus and cubase, probably at least 800*600 in 256, plenty of custom large desktops in RGB as well. It worked even better on the POWER UP2 upgraded Falcon
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- Omikronman
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
An Atari is different to a PC. If you change parts of your Atari, the graphics unit maybe, the Atari does not automatically become better. Most Atari software will not benefit from these new hardware. Don´t expect anything from games.
Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
Thanks. I was looking to get better resolution on the desktop for icons and such with more detail. As well as higher res, in color, for applications. I would revert to standard res for any games I would play after.Omikronman wrote:An Atari is different to a PC. If you change parts of your Atari, the graphics unit maybe, the Atari does not automatically become better. Most Atari software will not benefit from these new hardware. Don´t expect anything from games.
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
I've got mine in a Wizztronics rack case, and since I've got a CT60, as well as an 80gig IDE hard drive + Liteon CDRW, all internal, I'm using the ATX power supply.KLund1 wrote: I think that was what they were talking about in the video, but it was in German. What do you use in your upgraded Falcon(s)?
I had recased mine before I ever heard of the PICO or I might have been tempted to keep it all in its original case. Oh well.
I've seen a couple of threads where users have replaced their internal P/S's on an ST, and I had the original P/S on my STacy
replaced with one too (for a while). I'm assuming a bit here but it doesn't seem like much of a leap to think that if the PICO
will work in an ST and a STacy that it wouldn't fit into a Falcon.
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
There is a hack which connects like a 50MHz (your choice) crystal oscillator to the EXT clock input on the VIDEL. Then you can use Videlity or Centscreen (I used the latter) to get some nice screen resolutions.
I even had a stable 1024x768 non interlaced on my machine at 49Hz, which looked entirely stable on my TFT screen (the low freq doesn't matter on the TFT, I had no flickering). This took some work though, and unless you accellerate your bus you'd be stuck at 4bpp (but naturally you could do 8bpp in lower resolutions like 800x608 etc).
This was the solution I was using prior to the SuperVidel and it served me well. It's compatible and everything works good. Naturally it's not very fast but I'm not bothered by it, I don't need fast graphics, I need a good coding environment (which usually requires a bigger screen mode).
I even had a stable 1024x768 non interlaced on my machine at 49Hz, which looked entirely stable on my TFT screen (the low freq doesn't matter on the TFT, I had no flickering). This took some work though, and unless you accellerate your bus you'd be stuck at 4bpp (but naturally you could do 8bpp in lower resolutions like 800x608 etc).
This was the solution I was using prior to the SuperVidel and it served me well. It's compatible and everything works good. Naturally it's not very fast but I'm not bothered by it, I don't need fast graphics, I need a good coding environment (which usually requires a bigger screen mode).
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
The actual ATX end will fit inside easily. But it doesn't take 110v/220v AC!! You need an external 240v AC to 12V 8 Amp DC adapter.DarkLord wrote:Hmm, thought the Pico was plenty small enough to fit inside a stock Falcon case. I know one will certainly fit inside a STacy with ease...
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
Ah, now I see the point you were making. Thanks for clearing it up.
Still, using a PICO you would wind up with the extra room inside,
probably allowing you to add all the custom hardware, and having
a small power "brick" outside.
Or, decide that the small "brick" was too much but not be able
to add all the cool stuff internally to your stock Falcon case.
Hmm.
PS Of course, recasing the whole thing would take care of all
of these problems, but you'd lose the original case, which some
people want to keep.
Still, using a PICO you would wind up with the extra room inside,
probably allowing you to add all the custom hardware, and having
a small power "brick" outside.
Or, decide that the small "brick" was too much but not be able
to add all the cool stuff internally to your stock Falcon case.
Hmm.

PS Of course, recasing the whole thing would take care of all
of these problems, but you'd lose the original case, which some
people want to keep.
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
Yeap, IIRC, I saw on a website that the person had a 1-slot CTPCI and placed the video card inside the Falcon case.DarkLord wrote:Still, using a PICO you would wind up with the extra room inside,
probably allowing you to add all the custom hardware, and having
a small power "brick" outside.
One nest package. That guy also had a DOM SSD on it.
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Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
I think you mean (one of) the admin(s) of atari-home.de: http://blog.atari-home.de/2009/09/ctpci ... he-falcon/
Re: Falcon Video Upgrades
yeah, that's him.
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