Quick note not covered in the video. The CD32 is more than capable in its standard form of running the vast majority of Amiga games. The expansions are most useful for WHDLoad content and for playing 3D games likes those featured in this video. It is also worth noting that both these expansions break some CD32 games all be it the community usually releases a fix.
Really like the side by side comparisons as it makes it quite obvious what the differences are and where the vanilla CD32 chugs and the TF328 doesn't quite hold up against the TF330, I guess these samples in particular provide the largest differentiation across the options because it would have been useless if you picked games/demos that showed no real variation!
@@TheMrAdamBooth thanks for the comment. I tried to pick popular games that show the differences. There are a few games out there that push the expansions further, some that still struggle on the TF330 and others that just won't work without either card. I was thinking of doing a follow up video to look at games that require and push the CD32 expansions to show what the wee console can really do once expanded.
A great video. I enjoyed the screen comparisons with different games. Its shocking that the basic CD32 as about as fast as an unexpanded A1200, but with Fast ram it really shines. This is what we should have had back in the day.
Even if we had of got an 030 and say 4mb if fast ram it would of made all the difference. Being able to play fps games full screen at a decent frame rate in the mid 90s would of made the console more popular in my opinion but we'll never know. Thanks for the comment.
Wow, perfect presentation! Yesterday I bought my first CD32 on ebay and now I can't wait for it to arrive. I guess I will have to buy the TF330 for the perfect experience. Thank you! I never had any Amiga machine so I am thankful for every information.
Thanks, glad you found the video helpful. Things have moved a bit since this was made, there is a newer riser card available which might be worth looking at. The firmware also on my TF330 in this video was out of date so you can expect speeds of about 9.5mips. Enjoy your CD32, still my favourite Amiga :)
Nice video! Shows the difference well, personally its a nice boost but not worth the cash of you own a TF328 already, if you don’t of course its a great piece of kit.
Great comparison video between all the models. It's a shame the Cd32 wasn't as good as the tf330 from the start or we might have had a different gaming landscape now! Keep up the good work, my Tf330 should be arriving next week. Can't wait.
Yeah if the cd32 had the power of the tf330 from the start it would've been something special. Considering I can run most Amiga fps games full screen it would've taken on the likes of the 3DO and Jaguar but then again it might have cost twice as much. Since this video the tf330 firmware has been updated which you'll get on your card and it'll run at about 9.6mips in sysinfo. I've also recently overclocked my card to 54mhz and its making 10.5mips now all be it for all the speed boost I don't know if I'd recommend trying it.
@@CRG I saw a few people mention there's a newer firmware so if it's even better than your video then that's great! Hopefully my purchase of the tf330 supports the creator as well.
Who needs a floppy drive on a games console in 2024, you ask? Me!! 😊 Getting a floppyport is my biggest wish for my CD32. Loved the demo in the video, btw
I know the tf328 was converted to the A1200 as just a 8mb fast ram expansion fairly easily so maybe it will come. Would be nice to see as the other alternative is the likes of the ACA1233N costing around £300 (didn't stop me getting one though). The pinout on the A1200 and CD32 expansion is more or less identical just laid out slightly differently.
@TerribleFire well if ported it will certainly be popular as its so well priced and performs similar to the individual computers offerings. Fantastic work on your cards and thanks for all your hard work supporting the Amiga community and especially the CD32 that often got overlooked. Not any more.
Very nice side by side comparisons - thanks for the effort commander! My friend just inherited me his CD32 with a TF328 and exactly that riser card, so this video just came in really handy! At 18:02 you're mentioning that the PS/2 Port is for the keyboard - it means you can hook up a standard PC keyboard there?
You were a bit flipant about the benefits of the SX32 machines and the full range of ports IMHO. A serial port allows null modem functionality (2-player networked games) and the use of graphics tablets etc. A parallel port is useful for the 4-player adapter (not just a printer). A floppy port is obviously handy for old floppies! Understandably, the price of 2nd hand gear is very high but there are benefits.
Ever since I was introduced to the CD32 by RMC I've really wanted to get one. But now even the console itself is getting pricy. And yes, I would like to have the extra ports on the CD32 because I'd probably turn it into my main Amiga. Keyboard, mouse, and all. And yes, I'd definitely splurge a bit and get the TF330.
Great comparison video, I love how the TF330 makes the 3D games smooth but my favourite CD32 games are all 2D so I suppose I wouldn't see any real benefit from a card like this?
2D games will run fine on the stock machine although the 328 will give you ide and so you can use whdload instead of CDs. Ultimately though I think I'd still recommend the 330 as it's not that much more money yet it's a lot more power and while you may not use it now it's something you might want to do in the future.
@@CRG Thanks, although I hear some games don’t work with these expansions - is there any difference between the 328 and 330 in that respect? If a game doesn’t work, do you have to take the card out entirely or can you disable it somehow?
@@rosstee some cd games won't work because of the additional ram so you'll see the issue with either expansion. The one that comes to mind is Quick the Thunder Rabbit but there are more. Typically though a fixed version will be available somewhere, EAB is a great resource for such things. It only affects a handful of games though and only those loaded from the cd drive. If you're running games from the HDD using whdload you won't have any issues.
Excellent video, well done on the presentation. it's gonna be even wilder when the tf360 drops. have you managed to get your firmware updated for the speed boost yet ?
An 060 cd32 accelerator would be amazing. Already saving my pennies today's it :) As for the tf330 unfortunately I don't yet have it upgraded. I've done got everything I need to do it (raspberry pi and cables) but haven't attempted it yet. Hopefully will get the chance to do it soon then I'll do a further comparison video.
@@CRG good luck with the flash, just took delivery of my tf330 today. Zoooooommmmm. Sadly the CD unit has decided to stop spinning, but the 8gb cf makes up for that, at least I can start using and actually enjoy my cd32 now :)
@@Brock_101 enjoy your accelerator. The cf cards are handy but I'd guess its your laser is on the way out. Do original games still work? Replacement lasers can be got fairly cheap and are simple enough to change.
@@CRG Sadly I think there might be more to it. When I power up with lid open I see the laser bounce, that tells me it is getting a voltage. But if I power up with the lid closed the CD does not even spin.
@@Brock_101 If the laser it completely dead or if the voltage is too low it won't see the disc and won't spin. The logic that drives the head to move is separate so it can still move about even if the diode has failed. Try a pressed music cd to see if that spins but I'd still bet its the laser is bad. Your CF card will keep you gaming though.
I own a TF328, but would much rather own the 050 as well...it is striking at home much difference fast ram improves the computing power, but a full 030 would be an even nicer experience.
The updated firmware really improves the speed further and I have also since overclocked the card to 54mhz giving a sysinfo result of about 10.5mips. But yes it is amazing just how much faster the console is with fast ram. Just goes to show you how much the AGA machines were hampered with the slow chip ram. The console may have done better if it had even 1mb of fast ram at launch. Would have made the likes of gloom a lot more playable out of the box.
Nice 👍 I have tf330 & tf328 and it’s worth the price, a good boost to enjoy the true potential of this ultimate game machine and more..: more 3D games are great : genetics species (best FPS ) running in decent frames (20) , doom attack 20 fps, wing commander, breathless 30 fps or nemak V . Thanks 🙏. T-zero also is working fine and rts Napalm.
I've been meaning to get the tzero disc of eab to try it. Looks fantastic. Must also try genetics species as fps is a genre I enjoy. Thanks for the comment and recommendations.
I may have to make cd32 my main aga amiga... that was my intent when I purchased it and waited for a product like this. Thank you Mr. Leary and board makers for putting this out.
Hmmmm, should I buy 1 sx32 pro or buy 23 TF330s with riser cards? Just in case you need help with that answer buy a TF330 and perhaps a 2nd hand car with the change haha. Yes the SX32 pro is rare and it would be cool to own one but the majority of its functions are defunt, as I said in the video who needs all those ports in 2019 anyway. All you want is the 030, the ram and the IDE header. Oh and despite being rare its never, ever, not in a million years worth 3500Euro or even 2000Euro for that matter. Also consider the SX series are coming 20 years old so components on them may start to fail. The TF series are brand new boards (well apart from the 030 itself but you know what I mean).
@@CRG I have a Paravision SX1 - (my second, destroyed the first trying to power a 3.5inch HDD internally - the magic smoke escaped - Paravision replaced it. Although it did involve return shipping to the US from UK) Have to dig out the '32 and check it still functions. Who need all those ports? ME! Why? Just 'cause. :)
@@CRG I wouldn't say the SX32 ports are completely defunct, they can still be quite useful and new hardware has been made for Amiga IO in recent times that many CD32 users would find very useful if they had been available to them today. Aren't many people granted are going to hook up a Scanner, Genlock, or similar device. However I bet if there was a DFO port available many people would connect up a Gotek or floppy drive to explore the many Amiga software that simply can't run from CF. Also if a parallel port was available it would provide a relatively cheap way to get the CD32 online via plipbox which has decent 100+ kB/s) dl speeds from what I recall, and would allow people to visit Aminet or retrieve files from their Google Drive account without constantly removing the expansion card or burning one time CD's which is not particularly cost effective or environmentally friendly.
@@uberdude2555 good points but I can't see many people spending the money the sx expansions demand just for ports. Yeah you could connect a gotek but the vast majority of amiga floppy games can be run using whdload. Yes you could put it online but I personally find it easier and quicker to use my pc to download Amiga software then transfer directly to the cf card. Also bear in mind that the cd32 is a games console first and foremost and new releases for it generally all come with an iso that you just burn to cd. Maybe the riser card could be expanded to include a floppy or parallel port in the future but the cd32 has no native support for these as the console doesn't have the cia chips but rather akiko which handles io plus the cd drive (and c2p conversion). It would mean a more complicated riser card at a greater cost. I'm also fairly sure that to add the cia chips requires you to disable akiko and therefore loose the cd drive (wouldn't be 100% sure on this though so don't t quote me).
