Buddha
For all Amigas with Zorro-slots
Buddha is an IDE controller for all Amiga systems with zorro slots. Some features have been added to the new "flash gold edition" version: The controller has got a 32KByte Flash rom now, so you can install new firmware (that means a new rom) without having to open your computer. With the old version, replacement of the rom chip was necessary. Another new feature is the clock-port on the card: You can install hardware on this port, that has been designed to be used on the Amiga 1200. The hardware designed for the A1200 clock-port is very cheap, and now you can use the low-cost hardware in zorro systems. As a small "thank-you" to our devoted customers, the zorro-connector of the board is golden now. The "gold edition" is being shipped without additional cost.
All known features of the Buddha are still available with the "Flash" version:
* autoboot from Kickstart V1.3
* two IDE-Ports for up to four IDE-devices
* compatible with nearly every IDE/Atapi devices:
** harddisks
** Atapi CD-Roms (any speed)
** Atapi CD-changer
** Syquest removable media
** LS120 (the 120MB-floppy, so-called "a-drive")
** IDE ZIP drives
** Atapi CD-Writer (with MakeCD)
* autoboot from IDE-ZIP or LS120
The IDE-timing of the Buddha controller is software-configurable: This way, you can even operate very old IDE devices on the Buddha (mode 0 devices). This feature is unique on the Amiga-market!
High speed: Even with slow harddisks like the Quantum Bigfoot, transfer rates of more than 2.2 MBytes per second can be reached. The raw data transfer rate is only limited by the zorro bus: 3.58 MBytes per second.
There's also a local expansion port for the "HyperCom 3 plus", which gives you two high-speed serial interfaces, and one parallel port.
The drivers are written by Elaborate Bytes. You get the whole IDE-package from Elaborate Bytes: Cache CD Filesystem, Harddisk autopark, CD-Changer drivers and the CD-32 emulator (AGA chipset only). Harddisks are formatted using the HDToolbox of your workbench.
Harddisks larger than 4 GBytes have been a problem for the Amiga for a very long time. The Buddha also solves this problem: It supports the "TD64" commands, so large harddisks are no problem any longer.
For your convenience when changing over to the Buddha controller without loss of data, the Buddha can use Amiga-formatted drives right after connection without having to re-format the harddisk. Other controllers can only mount harddisks that have been formatted by an A1200 or an A4000, but the Buddha even mounts GVP or AT-Apollo formatted harddisks after running a conversion program. You don't have to backup the harddisk for that - the drive is being converted without loss of data!
The Buddha Flash controller comes with an 80cm (31 inch) IDE cable, the driverdisk and a printed manual.
Unfortunately, we have not always been able to include the printed manual with the controller in the past, so we are going to publish it on this web page, so you have the pictures together with the text that has always been published on the driverdisk.
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