Amiga Ranger Chipset
Encyclopedia
Amiga Ranger was a prototype computer that was supposed to be the second generation Amiga chipset prior to ECS
. It was designed by the original Los Gatos Amiga
team including Jay Miner
. However Commodore International
didn't release this chipset
due to its high cost
, Jay Miner
intended to design a true successor to it. It was planned to be highly expandable like A2000
with better graphics and CPU, this machine was code named Amiga Ranger and its design began circa 1986-1987. The Ranger may have included a 68010 or 68020 CPU. The possible release date could have been 1988-1989.
remains sketchy. However, the sound system may have still been the same as the Original chipset. According to RJ Mical, the new chipset
kept the original 13 bit DAC for its CLUT
but with quadrupled color registers from 32 to 128. The color palette would have remained at 4096 colours but the resolution
could go up to 1024x1024 with 128 colors (7 bit color depth), additionally the chipset
can address up to of Chip RAM space.
Ranger used 2MB VRAM
as chip memory. In an interview, Jay Miner
described benefits of using VRAM
instead of DRAM
- this gave the display system enough memory bandwidth for 1024×1024 displays. From the known specification, it could be said that Ranger chipset was designed to compete with Sharp's X68000 personal computers (released in 1987) which made use of VRAM
for 1024 x 1024 resolution in 16 colors.
assured that the Ranger chipset
was completed and fully tested before he left Commodore in hope that one day Commodore would release it. It is unclear if a prototype
of a Ranger system exists today. But at that time VRAM
was considered expensive compared to DRAM
, so Commodore refused to release Ranger for its high price which was unsuitable for the low-end systems like A500
to cover its costs.
In a few years, VRAM
costs dropped to be only 20% more than DRAM
, so Commodore planned to use VRAM
in the AAA chipset
which was not released due to Commodore canceling it due to its still high cost for low-end systems.
per playfield designed in Ranger had been rejected by Dave Haynie
, however on Team Amiga a post explained The Ranger idea:
Enhanced Chip Set
The Enhanced Chip Set is the second generation of the Amiga computer's chipset, offering minor improvements over the original chipset design. ECS was introduced in 1990 with the launch of the Amiga 3000. Amigas produced from 1990 onwards featured a mix of OCS and ECS chips, such as later versions...
. It was designed by the original Los Gatos Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
team including Jay Miner
Jay Miner
Jay Glenn Miner , was a famous integrated circuit designer, known primarily for his work in multimedia chips and as the "father of the Amiga"...
. However Commodore International
Commodore International
Commodore is the commonly used name for Commodore Business Machines , the U.S.-based home computer manufacturer and electronics manufacturer headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which also housed Commodore's corporate parent company, Commodore International Limited...
didn't release this chipset
Chipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
due to its high cost
History
After the release of the A1000Amiga 1000
The A1000, or Commodore Amiga 1000, was Commodore's initial Amiga personal computer, introduced on July 23, 1985 at the Lincoln Center in New York City....
, Jay Miner
Jay Miner
Jay Glenn Miner , was a famous integrated circuit designer, known primarily for his work in multimedia chips and as the "father of the Amiga"...
intended to design a true successor to it. It was planned to be highly expandable like A2000
Amiga 2000
The Amiga 2000, or A2000, is a personal computer released by Commodore in 1986. It is the successor to the Amiga 1000.-Features:Aimed at the high-end market, the original Europe-only model adds a Zorro II backplane, implemented in programmable logic, to the custom Amiga chipset used in the Amiga 1000...
with better graphics and CPU, this machine was code named Amiga Ranger and its design began circa 1986-1987. The Ranger may have included a 68010 or 68020 CPU. The possible release date could have been 1988-1989.
Basic description
Information for this new chipsetChipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
remains sketchy. However, the sound system may have still been the same as the Original chipset. According to RJ Mical, the new chipset
Chipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
kept the original 13 bit DAC for its CLUT
CLUT
A colour look-up table is a mechanism used to transform a range of input colours into another range of colours. It can be a hardware device built into an imaging system or a software function built into an image processing application...
but with quadrupled color registers from 32 to 128. The color palette would have remained at 4096 colours but the resolution
Display resolution
The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection...
could go up to 1024x1024 with 128 colors (7 bit color depth), additionally the chipset
Chipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
can address up to of Chip RAM space.
Ranger used 2MB VRAM
VRAM
Video RAM, or VRAM, is a dual-ported variant of dynamic RAM , which was once commonly used to store the framebuffer in some graphics adapters....
as chip memory. In an interview, Jay Miner
Jay Miner
Jay Glenn Miner , was a famous integrated circuit designer, known primarily for his work in multimedia chips and as the "father of the Amiga"...
described benefits of using VRAM
VRAM
Video RAM, or VRAM, is a dual-ported variant of dynamic RAM , which was once commonly used to store the framebuffer in some graphics adapters....
instead of DRAM
Dram
Dram or DRAM may refer to:As a unit of measure:* Dram , an imperial unit of mass and volume* Armenian dram, a monetary unit* Dirham, a unit of currency in several Arab nationsOther uses:...
- this gave the display system enough memory bandwidth for 1024×1024 displays. From the known specification, it could be said that Ranger chipset was designed to compete with Sharp's X68000 personal computers (released in 1987) which made use of VRAM
VRAM
Video RAM, or VRAM, is a dual-ported variant of dynamic RAM , which was once commonly used to store the framebuffer in some graphics adapters....
for 1024 x 1024 resolution in 16 colors.
Unreleased chipset
Jay MinerJay Miner
Jay Glenn Miner , was a famous integrated circuit designer, known primarily for his work in multimedia chips and as the "father of the Amiga"...
assured that the Ranger chipset
Chipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
was completed and fully tested before he left Commodore in hope that one day Commodore would release it. It is unclear if a prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
of a Ranger system exists today. But at that time VRAM
VRAM
Video RAM, or VRAM, is a dual-ported variant of dynamic RAM , which was once commonly used to store the framebuffer in some graphics adapters....
was considered expensive compared to DRAM
Dram
Dram or DRAM may refer to:As a unit of measure:* Dram , an imperial unit of mass and volume* Armenian dram, a monetary unit* Dirham, a unit of currency in several Arab nationsOther uses:...
, so Commodore refused to release Ranger for its high price which was unsuitable for the low-end systems like A500
Amiga 500
The Amiga 500 - also known as the A500 - was the first “low-end” Commodore Amiga 16/32-bit multimedia home/personal computer. It was announced at the winter Consumer Electronics Show in January 1987 - at the same time as the high-end Amiga 2000 - and competed directly against the Atari 520ST...
to cover its costs.
In a few years, VRAM
VRAM
Video RAM, or VRAM, is a dual-ported variant of dynamic RAM , which was once commonly used to store the framebuffer in some graphics adapters....
costs dropped to be only 20% more than DRAM
Dram
Dram or DRAM may refer to:As a unit of measure:* Dram , an imperial unit of mass and volume* Armenian dram, a monetary unit* Dirham, a unit of currency in several Arab nationsOther uses:...
, so Commodore planned to use VRAM
VRAM
Video RAM, or VRAM, is a dual-ported variant of dynamic RAM , which was once commonly used to store the framebuffer in some graphics adapters....
in the AAA chipset
AAA chipset
The AAA chipset was intended to be the next-generation Amiga multimedia system designed by Commodore International. Initially began as a secret project, the first design discussions were started in 1988, and after many revisions and redesigns the first silicon versions were fabricated in 1992-1993...
which was not released due to Commodore canceling it due to its still high cost for low-end systems.
Ranger's legends and myths
Some thoughts of a built-in blitterBlitter
In a computer system, a blitter is a circuit, sometimes as a coprocessor or a logic block on a microprocessor, that is dedicated to the rapid movement and modification of data within that computer's memory...
per playfield designed in Ranger had been rejected by Dave Haynie
Dave Haynie
Dave Haynie is the former Commodore International chief engineer on high end and advanced projects. He is still quite vocal in the Amiga community.-Beginnings:...
, however on Team Amiga a post explained The Ranger idea:
See also
- Original Amiga chipsetOriginal Amiga chipsetThe Original Chip Set was a chipset used in the earliest Commodore Amiga computers and defined the Amiga's graphics and sound capabilities...
- Enhanced Chip SetEnhanced Chip SetThe Enhanced Chip Set is the second generation of the Amiga computer's chipset, offering minor improvements over the original chipset design. ECS was introduced in 1990 with the launch of the Amiga 3000. Amigas produced from 1990 onwards featured a mix of OCS and ECS chips, such as later versions...
- Advanced Graphics ArchitectureAdvanced Graphics ArchitectureAdvanced Graphics Architecture is the third generation Amiga graphic chip set, first used in the Amiga 4000 in 1992. AGA was codenamed the Pandora chipset by Commodore International internally....
- AAA chipsetAAA chipsetThe AAA chipset was intended to be the next-generation Amiga multimedia system designed by Commodore International. Initially began as a secret project, the first design discussions were started in 1988, and after many revisions and redesigns the first silicon versions were fabricated in 1992-1993...
- Hombre chipsetHombre chipsetThe Hombre chipset was to be a chipset for use in game machine hardware. However, because of Commodore International's bankruptcy, the Hombre chipset was never released.-History:...
- Sharp X68000
- List of home computers by video hardware