ZZ9000 Compendium

More than a modern Amiga graphics card
Compiled by a ZZ9000 owner and enthusiast

Updated: March 25, 2023 | ZZ9000 is © 2019-2023 MNT Research GmbH


Preface | Specifications | Requirements / Compatibility | Production / Shipping | Installation | Screen Modes
Add-Ons | Apps 'n ARMs | Benchmarks | Features | Support / Troubleshooting | F.A.Q. | Links | Contact


Installation

P96Required P96 RTG Software | Updating P96 | Checking P96 Version | P96 Prefs

ZZ9000ZZ9000 Drivers | ZZ9000 Firmware | ZZ9000 Variables | Updating Drivers/Firmware

Required P96 RTG Software

Note that there are two versions of the required P96 ReTargetable Graphics (RTG) software that can be used with the ZZ9000 (P96 used to be known as "Picasso96", but to meet the legal demands of the Pablo Picasso family, it is now strictly referred to as "P96"):

  1. If you have any Amiga graphics card drivers (CyberGraphX or P96) installed in your system, be sure to completely uninstall them before proceeding with a new install of P96.
  2. Install P96 by leaving all driver check boxes unselected; this will create an 'empty' driver that the ZZ9000 can then use to install its own ZZ9000 monitor file in DEVS:Monitors. The "Altais" graphics card installation method is incorrect (as Thomas Richter explains on a1k.org).

Updating P96

Wiz12: "When updating P96 to a new version, what is mandatory to update in the update selection screen? Graphic card drivers and libraries or just update everything?"

Thomas Richter: "I suggest to update everything. Old drivers continue to work with new libraries, but not vice versa. But, as in general, I touch both, there is no reason to update only parts of it."

Checking P96 Version

v3.3.1 and later: "The installer script now puts the P96 version information into ENV:Picasso96/Version" — Thomas Richter

v3.3.0 and earlier: "The best way is to look into the "History.readme" version that came with the package. Failing that, the second best way is to type version LIBS:Picasso96/rtg.library in a Shell window, which allows me to find out the distribution version." — Thomas Richter

If you need to revert to an earlier version of P96, only two files need to be replaced: "Ultimately, it is LIBS:rtg.library for the core library, and LIBS:Picasso96/#? for the drivers."Thomas Richter

P96 Prefs

Thanks to Thomas Richter, as of early May 2023, a new P96 Preferences Editor effectively replaces Picasso96Mode, PVS (P96 Variable Setter) and PMTNG (from Olaf Barthel). All P96 preferences are configurable from within its GUI, including environment variables, monitor Tool Types, boards, resolutions and graphics modes, and includes context-sensitive AmigaGuide documentation:


ZZ9000 Drivers

Download the latest ZZ9000 drivers from the ZZ9000 driver releases page (stable versions recommended over pre-release versions), and then double-click the "Install ZZ9000" icon to step you through the process:

Install screens: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19

Files copied as of v1.13 (released on March 24, 2023) Zorro III firmware and drivers (some are optional) are:

FilenameFilesizeVersion string
DEVS:AHI/ZZ9000AX.audio3,400 byteszz9000ax.audio 4.19 (01/03/23)
DEVS:AudioModes/ZZ9000AX292 bytes(version string is not embedded in file)
DEVS:Monitors/ZZ9000 (created during installation)1,640 bytesPicasso96 43.14 (08/29/22) © 2022 iComp
DEVS:Monitors/ZZ9000.info (created during installation)? bytes
DEVS:NetInterfaces/ZZ9000Net (optional)2,004 bytesZZ9000Net 1.0 (07/30/19)
DEVS:Networks/ZZ9000Net.device (optional)4,124 bytesZZ9000Net.device 1.13 (03/15/23)
DEVS:Picasso96Settings2,470 bytesPicasso96Settings V1.1 (21.07.97) ©1996-1997 T.Abt A.Kneer
LIBS:MHI/mhizz9000.library5,664 bytes1.13 (01/03/23)
LIBS:Picasso96/ZZ9000.card11,916 bytesZZ9000.card 1.13 (10/04/22)
ENVARC:ZZ9000-VCAP-800x600*1 byte
ENVARC:ZZ9K_MAC**17 bytes
zzusb.device (optional, embedded in firmware)? byteszzusb.device 43.0 (1 Aug 2021)
Tools/AXMP316,560 bytesaxmp3 1.12
Tools/AXMP3.info462 bytes
ZZTop (optional)22,384 bytes(version 1.1, but version string is not embedded in file)
ZZTop.info (optional)462 bytes

* A file (variable) that switches the scandoubler to a 60 Hz 800x600 screen mode; otherwise the ZZ9000 uses a 50 Hz 720x576 screen mode.
** A file containing the MAC network address for your ZZ9000's Ethernet hardware.


ZZ9000 Firmware

Note: Always power off your Amiga before removing or inserting the ZZ9000's microSD card. It is not possible to update the firmware from the Amiga side.
  1. Download the latest firmware archive from the ZZ9000 firmware releases page that matches your Amiga:
  2. Amiga modelFirmware to useNote(s)
    A3000(T)/A4000(T)"Zorro 3"
    A2000"Zorro 2"Uses 4 MB of address space.
    A2000"Zorro 2-2MB"Uses only 2 MB of address space by sacrificing higher resolutions/color depths.
    A500 w/ZZ9500CX Denise adapter"A500"Uses 4 MB of address space.
    A500 w/ZZ9500CX Denise adapter"A500-2MB"Uses 2 MB of address space.
    A500+ (or Super Denise)"A500plus"Uses 4 MB of address space.
    "No Autoboot"If you don't intend to boot from one of the ZZ9000's USB ports via mass storage drive,
    zzusb.device (ZZ0:), then use this variant.
    "No Zorro RAM"If you don't want 256 MB of ZZ9000 DDR3 RAM added to your Zorro III-based Amiga Fast
    RAM, then use this variant.

  3. UnZip the "BOOT.bin" file and copy it to the root of the MBR/FAT32-formatted microSD card that came with your ZZ9000.
  4. Carefully reinsert the microSD card back into the ZZ9000 microSD card slot—you should feel a little "pushback" about halfway in during insertion, and then hear two light clicks indicating that the card is inserted correctly.

ZZ9000 Variables


Updating Drivers/Firmware

Recommended procedure*:

  1. Install the driver(s) by running the ZZ9000 Installer (will overwrite the older driver files)
  2. Power off your Amiga
  3. Update firmware
  4. Power on your Amiga

*[source: Lukas Hartmann]: "It's probably better to install the driver first and then reboot [i.e. power off, update firmware, then power on] with the new firmware installed; else you might not get back into a correctly-working RTG Workbench."