Amigakit EZ Z4 Tower

fitzsteve · 21 February 2010, 20:03

Hi All,

Thinking of buying one of these anyone got one?

What do you think of it?

Seems good value at £71

@Amigakit, what would postage be on this to Kent, UK?

Also looks like I will need something for the Keyboard and LED's, can anyone advise.

Thanks,

Steve.

Ebster · 21 February 2010, 20:33

you can see in my sig what i did with it. i don't use any zorro-board or so...
i like it very well!! solid and heavy..

amigakit.com · 21 February 2010, 20:40

Hello,

It is a robust, high quality solid metal tower with white plastic facia. The tower's backplate is bespoke and custom to the Amiga 1200 and will accomodate a Mediator 1200LT4 PCI or Zorro busboard at a later date.

Package weight is around 12KG so postage to Kent is £9.25

The LED adapter module is here:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=718

PC Key 1200 is here:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=332

or alternatively Lyra 1200 is here:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=207

PCMCIA right angled adapter is here:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=690

Peter · 21 February 2010, 22:57

Hi Steve,

Check this post...click

I had great fun building one of these Towers up - I wished I kept this project going but I ran out of money at the time and long story short I moved onto other things... but I would definitely recommend this Tower - you wont be disappointed.
It is really well built and is just as good as the old Power Tower - in fact it is better looking... get yourself a nice case badge as well!

Your going to be having some late nights on this project!!!

fitzsteve · 21 February 2010, 23:29

Thanks mate I had a quick look. Ill have a proper look when Im not browsing on a phone lol!

Ive been keeping tabs on asm1 project and I dont think he sleeps lol

Update, on a real PC now

Thats a very nice case there Peter, shame you could't finish the project.

My Typhoon MK2 doesent really fit in my desktop properly and since it has SCSI it would be ideal for a tower project. Will be keeping an eye out for a tower. Once all the other bits are added to the Amigakit tower it starts to get expensive.

I saw a case with PSU, Keyboard adapter, etc sell for £54 on ebay last week and it was only in Essex, kicking myself now! At the time I thought that was expensive but after research...

Thanks again Peter, i'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about when we all meet up for those drinks...

Steve.

asm1 · 23 February 2010, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitzsteve

Thanks mate I had a quick look. Ill have a proper look when Im not browsing on a phone lol!

Ive been keeping tabs on asm1 project and I dont think he sleeps lol

Oh thanks

I go for a while and then I get disheartened/pissed off when things dont worky and have to leave it

I THINK I have all the bits now (unless I have broken my MOBO) so reassembly should be done this week.

DDNI · 23 February 2010, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitzsteve

Hi All,

Thinking of buying one of these anyone got one?

What do you think of it?

Seems good value at £71

@Amigakit, what would postage be on this to Kent, UK?

Also looks like I will need something for the Keyboard and LED's, can anyone advise.

Thanks,

Steve.

I have one and can recommend it very highly. Click on my A1200T sig.

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 10:35

Looking good DDNI, its bigger then it looks on the Amigakit site

Its a toss up now between one of those or a Micronic Infinitiv Tower as there a few of those floating round at the moment.

I've still got a bit of money to find and really hoping to score a free A1200 mobo, fingers crossed ElectroBlaster can find a working one

Cheers for all the input.

Steve.

Peter · 24 February 2010, 11:35

Steve, if I were you I would go for a nice shiny new Z4 Tower!

If you do go for the Micronik Tower option make sure that it is Mediator compatible as the Mediator route opens up quite a few additional options.

It would be fun to get a Zoro (Z4?) slot board and build up a Tower that way as you can get some interesting Zoro slot boards and cards... I am pretty sure that the Micronik Tower is Zoro compatible... it would be worth checking to see if the Z4 Tower is Zoro compatible if you wanted to go this route - saying that Zoro back plates for A1200 Tower conversions aren't exactly in abundance...

What ever you decide my one big tip would be... "Don't touch your existing A1200 - there is nothing worse than having your Amiga in pieces and not having another one to use!"

Also - don't forget if you go the Mediator route and get a Voodoo card you wont be able to see any Amiga native screens and this is a real draw back.

You might want to think about an Indivision option...

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

Steve, if I were you I would go for a nice shiny new Z4 Tower!

If you do go for the Micronik Tower option make sure that it is Mediator compatible as the Mediator route opens up quite a few additional options.

It would be fun to get a Zoro (Z4?) slot board and build up a Tower that way as you can get some interesting Zoro slot boards and cards... I am pretty sure that the Micronik Tower is Zoro compatible... it would be worth checking to see if the Z4 Tower is Zoro compatible if you wanted to go this route - saying that Zoro back plates for A1200 Tower conversions aren't exactly in abundance...

What ever you decide my one big tip would be... "Don't touch your existing A1200 - there is nothing worse than having your Amiga in pieces and not having another one to use!"

Also - don't forget if you go the Mediator route and get a Voodoo card you wont be able to see any Amiga native screens and this is a real draw back.

You might want to think about an Indivision option...

Thanks so much Peter, I think Indi is the way I'd go. There was one on Amibay for £85 yesterday and I was sooooooo tempted but I really must keep my spending down till the Summer when my mortgage comes down, so I'm hoping to do this on the cheap. Luckily my TV displays flicker free interlaced so running CWB ADV SP is no problem

Not taking my desktop apart, only stealing the Typhoon Mk2 out of it :P

Got a cheap M-TEC 1230 that will live in my desktop, once I build the tower.

I think i'll end up going the Z4 route as it'll be shiny and new

Steve.

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 12:08

Also sorry... Do these towers take a normal A1200 floppy or could I use a PC floppy? I read somewhere you can modify a PC floppy drive?

I've got a couple of those spare

Kitty · 24 February 2010, 12:09

This is nice! Is it possible to fit an A600 into one of these? What
Adaptors etc would one need?

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

This is nice! Is it possible to fit an A600 into one of these? What
Adaptors etc would one need?

I'm guessing it would fit as the rear socket layout is the same (you'd need mouse/joystick extensions though or an external socket like this maybe?) However since there is space in a tower for an A1200 Mobo then thats a better option with AGA and the accelerator/memory options.

Have you a spare A600 m/board?

Peter · 24 February 2010, 12:34

The Z4 houses an actual A1200 floppy perfectly as it has a fitted front face plate which incorporates an eject button that sits back onto the A1200 floppy eject button if you see what I mean... also all the screw holes tally up nicely - you do have to adjust the positioning a bit and make sure that the disks eject properly...

Never tried a PC floppy drive in my Z4 but I imagine it would fit - how you go about adapting a PC floppy to work on an Amiga is anyone's guess...

You could get Amigakit to fit and test a floppy drive before they despatched the Tower to you.

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

You could get Amigakit to fit and test a floppy drive before they despatched the Tower to you.

Yep I think that would be for the best.

I've already got an ATX-Amiga PSU adapter so if I get hold of that A1200 mobo I'll be looking at about £120 for a case, lyra keyboard adapter & floppy all in.

Sounds good. I've raised £60 from stuff I sold this week...

Now what else can I sell....

edit: Anyone want 4 Guinea Pigs? £10 each?

jbenam · 24 February 2010, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitzsteve

Its a toss up now between one of those or a Micronic Infinitiv Tower as there a few of those floating round at the moment.

In my humble opinion, don't go for a Infinitiv Tower. I have my A1200 in one currently, and it's total crap. It is made in plastic, doesn't feel robust (it's pretty shakey!) in any way, and I CAN'T get the floppy drive to fit in it, and I've tried 4 of them!

I couldn't also get to affix the back-plate correctly, and whenever I plug out something, the entire motherboard comes out with it

It might just be my Infinitiv, dunno. I got it on ebay and it was in pretty bad shape. I had to resolder the entire LED panel and the PSU wires were insulated with paper tape

I'm probably gonna get one of those EZ Z4 myself soon.

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbenam

In my humble opinion, don't go for a Infinitiv Tower. I have my A1200 in one currently, and it's total crap. It is made in plastic, doesn't feel robust (it's pretty shakey!) in any way, and I CAN'T get the floppy drive to fit in it, and I've tried 4 of them!

I couldn't also get to affix the back-plate correctly, and whenever I plug out something, the entire motherboard comes out with it

It might just be my Infinitiv, dunno. I got it on ebay and it was in pretty bad shape. I had to resolder the entire LED panel and the PSU wires were insulated with paper tape

I'm probably gonna get one of those EZ Z4 myself soon.

Thanks, I think you've made my decision for me

I'll raise another £60 and get a EZ Z4, Lyra & FDD from amigakit

jbenam · 24 February 2010, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitzsteve

Thanks, I think you've made my decision for me

I'll raise another £60 and get a EZ Z4, Lyra & FDD from amigakit

I'm glad I could help

I'll probably do the same thing as soon as I'll have some money

Let us know how the towering goes

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbenam

I'm glad I could help

I'll probably do the same thing as soon as I'll have some money

Let us know how the towering goes

Will do, there will be pics and everything!

fitzsteve · 24 February 2010, 20:08

Quick question, what would ya'll say is the better between PCKey 1200 and the Lyra PS2 kayboard adapters?

21 February 2010, 20:03	#1
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	Amigakit EZ Z4 Tower Hi All, Thinking of buying one of these anyone got one? What do you think of it? Seems good value at £71 @Amigakit, what would postage be on this to Kent, UK? Also looks like I will need something for the Keyboard and LED's, can anyone advise. Thanks, Steve.

21 February 2010, 20:40	#3
amigakit.com Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: www.amigakit.com Posts: 2,029	Hello, It is a robust, high quality solid metal tower with white plastic facia. The tower's backplate is bespoke and custom to the Amiga 1200 and will accomodate a Mediator 1200LT4 PCI or Zorro busboard at a later date. Package weight is around 12KG so postage to Kent is £9.25 The LED adapter module is here: http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=718 PC Key 1200 is here: http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=332 or alternatively Lyra 1200 is here: http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=207 PCMCIA right angled adapter is here: http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=690 Last edited by amigakit.com; 21 February 2010 at 20:49.

21 February 2010, 23:29	#5
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	Thanks mate I had a quick look. Ill have a proper look when Im not browsing on a phone lol! Ive been keeping tabs on asm1 project and I dont think he sleeps lol Update, on a real PC now Thats a very nice case there Peter, shame you could't finish the project. My Typhoon MK2 doesent really fit in my desktop properly and since it has SCSI it would be ideal for a tower project. Will be keeping an eye out for a tower. Once all the other bits are added to the Amigakit tower it starts to get expensive. I saw a case with PSU, Keyboard adapter, etc sell for £54 on ebay last week and it was only in Essex, kicking myself now! At the time I thought that was expensive but after research... Thanks again Peter, i'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about when we all meet up for those drinks... Steve. Last edited by fitzsteve; 22 February 2010 at 00:33.

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21 February 2010, 20:33	#2
Ebster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Frankfurt / Germany Age: 48 Posts: 313	you can see in my sig what i did with it. i don't use any zorro-board or so... i like it very well!! solid and heavy..

21 February 2010, 22:57	#4
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	Hi Steve, Check this post...click I had great fun building one of these Towers up - I wished I kept this project going but I ran out of money at the time and long story short I moved onto other things... but I would definitely recommend this Tower - you wont be disappointed. It is really well built and is just as good as the old Power Tower - in fact it is better looking... get yourself a nice case badge as well! Your going to be having some late nights on this project!!!

24 February 2010, 10:35	#8
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	Looking good DDNI, its bigger then it looks on the Amigakit site Its a toss up now between one of those or a Micronic Infinitiv Tower as there a few of those floating round at the moment. I've still got a bit of money to find and really hoping to score a free A1200 mobo, fingers crossed ElectroBlaster can find a working one Cheers for all the input. Steve.

24 February 2010, 11:35	#9
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	Steve, if I were you I would go for a nice shiny new Z4 Tower! If you do go for the Micronik Tower option make sure that it is Mediator compatible as the Mediator route opens up quite a few additional options. It would be fun to get a Zoro (Z4?) slot board and build up a Tower that way as you can get some interesting Zoro slot boards and cards... I am pretty sure that the Micronik Tower is Zoro compatible... it would be worth checking to see if the Z4 Tower is Zoro compatible if you wanted to go this route - saying that Zoro back plates for A1200 Tower conversions aren't exactly in abundance... What ever you decide my one big tip would be... "Don't touch your existing A1200 - there is nothing worse than having your Amiga in pieces and not having another one to use!" Also - don't forget if you go the Mediator route and get a Voodoo card you wont be able to see any Amiga native screens and this is a real draw back. You might want to think about an Indivision option...

24 February 2010, 12:08	#11
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	Also sorry... Do these towers take a normal A1200 floppy or could I use a PC floppy? I read somewhere you can modify a PC floppy drive? I've got a couple of those spare

24 February 2010, 12:09	#12
Kitty Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 1,532	This is nice! Is it possible to fit an A600 into one of these? What Adaptors etc would one need?

24 February 2010, 12:34	#14
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	The Z4 houses an actual A1200 floppy perfectly as it has a fitted front face plate which incorporates an eject button that sits back onto the A1200 floppy eject button if you see what I mean... also all the screw holes tally up nicely - you do have to adjust the positioning a bit and make sure that the disks eject properly... Never tried a PC floppy drive in my Z4 but I imagine it would fit - how you go about adapting a PC floppy to work on an Amiga is anyone's guess... You could get Amigakit to fit and test a floppy drive before they despatched the Tower to you.

24 February 2010, 20:08	#20
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	Quick question, what would ya'll say is the better between PCKey 1200 and the Lyra PS2 kayboard adapters?

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