Review: SX32

===========================================================================
              Review: SX32 CD32 enhancement hardware from DCE
                            By: @{" Jason Compton " link JASON
===========================================================================

In the beginning, there was the CD32.  The CD32 is perhaps the saddest
story of all of the Amiga models which have sad stories.  (Basically, all
of them.)

Unlike most of its counterparts, the CD32 was blessed with a good price
point (US$400), early penetration into a new marketplace (only the CD-i,
CDTV and Sega CD had established any sort of presence in console CD gaming,
and only the Sega CD was what you might consider successful), and a
competitive price/performance ratio (While the 3DO, released at about the
same time, looked superior in a number of ways, it was US$300 more at the
time.)  And the 3DO wasn't even readily available in the big European Amiga
markets.  Even the television campaign was decent!  And the early releases
of games looked pretty good.

But, no.  Commodore didn't have any trouble selling the machines.  The
problem was that their credit was so bad that they couldn't build enough
CD32s.  Psygnosis, claiming that Commodore owed them money for assisting
in the CD32's design, was less than enthusiastic about continued support.
Support and market momentum lagged, and what CD32s were around wound up
being stockpiled as the 3DO started to come down in price with better
games.

As Amigas go, the CD32 was a low-end AGA machine, comparable in features to
an A1200.  But the expansion options were far fewer.  Aside from video
output, the only link to the outside world for the CD32 was a special AUX
port, designed to hold a keyboard but also capable of serial communication.
Devices like the Communicator sprung up to allow rudimentary networking
between a CD32 and Amiga.

But there was more.  There is a rear edge connector designed for the rare
Commodore FMV card, which was used by developers to support a special
communication board that gave a CD32 a full set of I/O ports.  MicroBotics
set to work on a similar device to offer commercially.  They were bought by
Paravision, which released the SX-1, a big gunmetal grey attachment that
ups the CD32 footprint by 50%, gives you a lot of I/O ports and IDE
connections, and is precariously connected by a special card that will let
you plug in a FMV cartridge at the same time, if you're so lucky.

People wanted more.  DCE's SX32 is a good alternative to the blocky SX-1
and the other kid on the block, the ProModule.  The SX32 and ProModule are
seeing new versions released, but this review deals with the original SX32.

The SX32 is a total rethink of the SX-1 concept.  Instead of retaining FMV
passthrough (not very popular of a demand) and adding an external box, the
SX32 only adds a new rear panel to the CD32, which sports 5 connectors.
The IDE hard drive, as it does on the SX-1, mounts directly to the SX32
mainboard.

The SX32 mainboard sits inside of the CD32, and its installation requires
the opening of the CD32 case.  Rather upsetting is that you have to remove
a groundstrap to make the SX32 fit.  It's even more upsetting for me,
because we have to give the SX32 back, meaning we've got this CD32 which is
missing an original piece...

Once you have the board laid properly in the CD32 case, you have to line up
the external panel which holds the five I/O ports.  This is actually a bit
tougher than I anticipated, but can be done.  The board is designed to hold
in place fairly securely.  Once done, you hold the whole assembly together
with a large screw (of the sort used to hold on the old expansion port
cover).

The 5 new ports on your CD32 are as follows:

25-pin Parallel port: functionally indistinguishable from an Amiga or SX-1
parallel port.  Use your CD32 for Parnet or printing.

25-pin Serial port: functionally indistinguishable from an Amiga serial
port, and superior to my mind than the SX-1's serial port, which is 9-pin.
25-pin has been the Amiga standard, and I imagine we all have 25-pin serial
cables by now.

Amiga Floppy connector: functionally indistinguishable from an Amiga or
SX-1 external floppy connector.  Allows you to boot from floppy or use
floppies in conjunction with CD32 games (like Liberation) or from
Workbench.

RGB Video connector: To my eye, functionally indistinguishable from an
Amiga or SX-1 external RGB connector.  Designed to plug into a 1084-style
monitor.

15-pin VGA Video Connector: Not a scan-doubler, but it duplicates the
function of the 23-to-15 pin RGB-to-VGA conversion devices (affectionately
called "The Silver Box" at Amiga Report.)  Allows you to plug a true
multisync monitor directly into the CD32 for games, or to use a VGA monitor
under VGA/DBL modes in Workbench.

In addition, you get the internal 2.5 inch IDE header, and a single SIMM
slot which will accept up to 8 megabytes.  (Tested successfully with 4 and
1.)  Fast memory is a boon for the acceleration of the CD32, but
unfortunately it is not always compatible with CD32 games.

Documentation is exceedingly scarce.  My Eyetech-provided SX32 came only
with installation instructions, not operating instructions.  There is an
Eyetech-provided HD setup disk, which will install AmigaOS 3.0 from the
included CDPD CD-ROM and assist a novice in setting up a hard drive.

What's good about the SX32?  Well, on its own merits, it offers just about
everything a CD32 user needs to make their machine a full-blown Amiga.  A
new model promises FPU capability as well as the memory expansion.
Compared to the SX-1, the installation is extremely sound.  The ports are
all in the same place, as opposed to the SX-1's 3-sided approach.  And
nothing should obstruct the original CD32 hardware, unlike the SX-1 which
when coupled with a silver box made the power plug a tight fit.  (Besides,
the VGA adapter replaces the need for the silver box.)

What's bad?  Well, as a general complaint, Commodore gave 030 boards to its
developers, and I'm surprised nobody has followed suit yet.  (Paravision
and Hi-Tech claimed they would release enhanced SX-1s with 030s, but that
hasn't happened.)  Installation was a bit more down and dirty than I would
have liked...I don't personally mind opening my Amigas, but the CD32 is a
pretty rare piece of hardware and I don't know how many people want to poke
around in them.  And the SX32 is missing two SX-1 features which were
exceptionally useful: a PC-keyboard port and a memory-disable switch.
While the AUX port is still available for A4000 keyboards (or A2000/3000
keyboards with the included adapter), those keyboards are significantly
more expensive than your garden variety PC keyboard.  As for the memory
disable, since there's no good way to get at the memory in the SX32 without
opening your machine, if you want it disabled you'll have to rely on a
Degrader-type program.  The SX-1 switch was a great benefit at times.

Overall, the SX32 is a very good expander for the CD32.  It offers a lot
that the SX-1 didn't, or didn't implement as well...but not everything.  If
you've got a spare Amiga keyboard, the SX32 is the clear choice.  If not,
you may want to think twice about your overall cost.

Provided and distributed by:

Eyetech Group Ltd.
The Old Bank
12 West Green
Stokesley
North Yorks
TS9 5BB
United Kingdom

++44 0 1642 713 185 voice
++44 0 1642 713 634 fax
eyetech@cix.compulink.co.uk e-mail

Amiga Report Main Page Amiga Web Directory