Technical Information about Picasso IV GFXcard

Introduction:


The PicassoIV graphics card is a Zorro II/III based 64-bit Amiga card using the Cirrus Logic GD5446 graphics chip. It uses 45ns EDO RAM and provides resolutions up to 1600x1200 in 16bit or max.1280x1024 in 24bit (non-interlaced). It has a programmable onboard flicker fixer with Flash-EPROM to hold the configuration. There is also a onboard Audiosignal switcher where you are able to connect a CD-ROM audio output and a external audio source. You can directly connect active audio boxes. With that feature the soundlevel of the CD-ROM output will not be lower then the orginal Amiga output and you are able to switch the inputs with a included software.

Connectors:


The following picture and description will show you the functions and connectors of the PicassoIV graphics card:

PicassoIV

Nr.1S-VHS/FBAS video input Nr.2S-VHS/FBAS video output
Nr.315-pin VGA output Nr.43,5mm Stereo audio input
Nr.53,5mm Stereo audio output Nr.6Audiosignal switcher
- switching between Amiga, extern, CD and AV module
Nr.7CD-ROM Audio input Nr.8Internal flicker fixer
Nr.9Connector for Pablo II video encoder Nr.10Local PCI connector
- 3D GFX module
- PowerPC module
Nr.11Multibridge
- Automatic Zorro II / III switching
- PCI controller
- Flash-EPROM controller
 Nr.12Graphics memory
- 4 MBytes fast 45ns EDO RAM
Nr.13Graphics processor
- 64-bit memoryaccess
- 80MHz videofrequency
- 180MBytes/s fillspeed
- Videoscaling with interpolation
- Colorroomconverting
- 16Bit digital videoport
- Picture-in-picture
- Resol.up to 1.280 x 1.024 in 24bit
- 15,5 - 84kHz horz.freq.
- 50Hz interlaced up to 160Hz non-interlaced vert.Freq.
 Nr.14Flash-EPROM
- stores flicker fixer data
- Programmable with included software
Nr.15Connector for Pablo II video encoder Nr.16Flicker Fixer/Scandoubler
- Compatible to all standard Amiga resolutions (NTSC/PAL)
- Programmable refresh rate up to 160Hz
Nr.17Connector for video module Nr.18Connector for sound module
Nr.198-bit video connector Nr.2016-bit video connector
Nr.21Audio connector for video module Nr.22Connector for sound module

PicassoIV jumpers:


None of the jumpers on the board are labeled. Please take a look at the picture above to see where the jumpers are located!
Jumper# Description DEFAULT
# 1This Jumper defines how much graphicsmemory the PicassoIV will use in ZorroII mode. If the jumper is closed the card will use 2MB; if it`s opened it will use 4MB.
If the card will be used in a A2000 with a allready installed Turboboard reserving most of the expansion memory, the restriction to 2MB can be usefull. If you are using the card in Zorro III mode the jumper should be usually opened.		 OPENED
#2If this jumper is opened the PicassoIV automatically recognize if the computer works with ZorroII or ZorroIII With this jumper you can override that the card will allways be set to ZorroII mode. OPENED
#3If the PicassoIV will be used in a computer with AGA chipset the video signal can choose colors from a palette with 16Mil. colors. Computers don`t useing that chipset, the palette will be restricted to max. 4096 colors. If this jumper is closed the PicassoIV will automatically recognize which chipset will be used. Is the jumper opened the palette is restricted to 4096 Colors. CLOSED
#4Some very high performance monitors requires that the screen syncronisation will be mixed with the green signal - otherwise they don`t show any screen. If your monitor requires that feature (it`s often named as "sync on green") please consult your manual. If you are needed in using the "sync on green" feature you can activate it by closing that jumper. OPENED
#5If the pixels on screens created by the PicassoIV Flickerfixer are shown incorrect you must setup the Timing of the flickerfixer by closing that jumper. CLOSED
#6This jumper is restricted ! OPENED
#7With that jumper you can decide if the signal ground from the audio ouput of the PicassoIV (jumper closed) or from a extern signal (jumper opened) should be used. If the audio signal will be overlayed, you should open that jumper. CLOSED

Modules:


There are many enhancements in development for the PicassoIV and some of them are allready in the selling phase. In the following text all known modules will be listed with a small notice if they are finished and will be shipped or if they just in development.

MPEG module
.... no shipping date known yet ....

3D GFXSpeeder Module

.... still in development ....

PowerPC Module
.... still in development ....

Sound module
.... no shipping date known yet ....

Video module
.... no shipping date known yet ....

Pablo II module
.... no shipping date known yet ....

Software:


The normal shipped support software for the PicassoIV is the Picasso96 software from Tobias Abt & Alexander Kneer.

CyberGraphX support for the PicassoIV is not 100% clear. Village Tronic was not able to send the programmers of CyberGraphX a PicassoIV yet. Phase5 will write a CyberGraphX driver as soon as they get the card, so please send a e-mail to Village Tronic if you want to see yar PicassoIV running CGFX.
For more information about CyberGraphX please take a look at the offical CyberGraphX homepage www.vgr.com.

There will be also a driver for NetBSD soon !.

Contact:


The PicassoIV is a product of Village Tronic GmbH-Germany. For more informations and orders please directly contact Village Tronic through the following address:



Village Tronic Marketing GmbH
Wellweg 95
D-31157 Sarstedt
Tel. ++49/(0)5066/7013-0
Fax. ++49/(0)5066/7013-49

Support: support@village.de

Copyright 1996/97 by LightSpeed Communications - Editor: Jens Langner
Send comments to <Jens Langner> - Date 05.03.97