Gvp 4008+
 

I seem to have run into a problem. My GVP SCSI card seems to be non-functional now. I've installed it into all four Zorro slots and it does not work in any of them :(

Now of course I either need to purchase another one or get something else entirerly.

I can install the Amiga drive into one of my A500's and transfer all the data to my PC then back to the 4000 again if need be or even install the SCSI drive into a PC.

I just visited GVP's web site and they have some other items for sale too. Is there a decent accelerator card with a built-in SCSI controller or is it better to get separate cards?

Thoughts and suggestions on this would be appreciated :cool

That's a hard question to answer without knowing what the specifications of your A4000 are right now (that is, CPU, graphics card, IDE devices etc.), and what you plan to use your A4000 for in the future.

The specs are as follows:

030/25MHz CPU card, 2MB Chip, 16MB Fast, Multiface 3 I/O card.

I've already ordered a Catweasal Zorro card, this includes a high speed floppy controller along with their Bhudda IDE controller and I believe IDEfix to run CD-ROM drives. I'm gonna stick with this setup and use it for games and to convert/archive my C64/128 software along with all my Amiga software. I'm gonna attempt to help out the CAPS project all I can.

The GVP card seems to be toast, it fails the Amiga's diags and sometimes I get a guru with the board installed :( I've got to to be recognized once, but never again. I'm gonna check out the Zorro expansion slot riser for any looe connections as well, just in case!

Just remove all other extensions and try the card on it´s own, worked for me and my GVP GForce Combo 040 at 40 Mhz. :) I only had a 2 MB Ram Card in my 2000er but that gurus the complete systems, after I removed that one, the GVP card worked fine, after installation I also put back the RAM card and it works until today :) Oh btw. the GVP GForce Combo also got a SCSI-II Controller onboard, nice card IMHO :D

It looks like I may have had a HD failure as I'm trying to troubleshoot the drive now and it's not being recognized at all, but this could still be the SCSI controller, I'm gonna connect it to one of my 500's and see if it behaves the same way or not.

Thanks for everyones help in this matter, I think the 4000 riser card may have been dirty or not seated well. I removed it and cleaned the edge contacts and now the GVP controller can be seen, also the Multiface 3 board seems to have a problem with it now, it didn't used to :(

Update
 

Okay here's what I figured out so far:

1) The GVP SCSI controller is fubar :( it appears to be okay but can not read any SCSI drive I've connected to it. I decided to connect what was my main boot drive to one of my 500's and yes now the drive seems to work, yet the data and/or partition info got hosed, probably when the controller went out :mad

2) The expansion ram on the card doesn't work either, no configuration from 2 to 8 MB works :( The simm's work in an old 486 mobo however so I know they are working :)

The bad part is that I had about 650MB worth of ADZ/ADF files that I was creating to archive and to transfer over to my PC for emulating :scream

Oh well, I was getting read to hook up my null-modem cable to get these disks burned to a CD-R as well, guess I'll wait for the Catweasal board so I can archive my Amiga and C64 stuff...

Re: Update
 

Don´t get this one wrong, the 4008 requires the SIMMS as Pairs, so two of them with same size and manufacturer, else it won´t work (or you have to be very lucky) .... maybe you have two different SIMMS attached :confused

Re: Re: Update
 

Nope, I have the docs and noticed that this is the case so yes I should have said I tried it with 2, 4, 6 or 8 MB and no go :( All 8 simm's are the same make/manufacturer and speed and since they work on an old 486 mobo, I'm thinking it's the GVP card. Not to worry, that Catweasal board should be here next week and I'll connect up some extra IDE hard drives I have lying around. I already am using a 3.2GB and a 4GB drive currently on the slower IDE connector of the A4000.

You'll find that the Buddha IDE controller is around the same speed as
the internal C= IDE controller (some even report it is a little
slower). I have one myself and it's very handy in a standard A2000,
(which has no IDE or SCSI controller). I think you've made a good
choice picking the Catweasel/Buddha combo board since you want to play
games and your internal IDE controller is at full capacity. Hope you
like the board when you get it!

I'll be sure to keep everyone informed :) I also have a nice Dual Floppy Drive, built-in 5.25" and 3.5" in one 5.25" drive bay. This should fit nicely in the top drive bay of my 4000 and connect up to the Catweasal jut fine. I'm thinking of then mounting a spare 100MB Zip into one of the 3.5" bays below it maybe even leave in one of the Amiga floppy drives as well :cool
I'll have to take a snapshot of it once it's finished :D

Software Hut Order!
 

Okay, I've just received my Software Hut order, I'm reviewing the docs now and will soon be installed the board. Seems to be pretty straight forward however, the manufacturer neglected to put the board into an anti-static bag:mad

I'm sorry, I'm a computer tech and always use anti-static bags and workstations, you never know if that stray electron will zap some part you really want to work :D

I'll post more info as I get it, stay tuned.

BTW, where would be a good place to start a new thread for a review of the Catweasal board and other things about it? Nothing really fits except the Hardware prbs sub-board. I don't see a reviews section per se', hint hint RCK ;)

EDIT: Just great, I was finishing the config for the Catweasal board when my power went out. I have one of the under monitor power centers, the master switch just fried :mad :mad

ouaip
 

hum, I not really sure that all the future amiga hardware review will be huge, opening a new section for that is'nt a good idea imo :p
just post it into general discussion ! (cause it's not a kind of prb)

Re: ouaip
 

OK, will do, thanks RCK :)