I hate the A3000D Desktop case

obitus1990 · 29 September 2016, 04:16

I'm sure it's been said many times before, but, damn, I hate the internal design of the A3000's desktop case. If you need to do anything to the board on the right side, you have to take the whole damned computer apart to get to it.

That being said, is there a way to convert the computer to use to a current PC tower case? I already have an ATX to A3000 power converter, so, that part's handled. The problem comes in with the external ports on the back of the Amiga, and, even more problematic, the mouse and keyboard ports being located on the side. Combine that with using an RTG graphics card, and, things get even more convoluted due to the card being placed on the daughter board.

Any suggestions, including pictures, would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Kirk

jack-3d · 29 September 2016, 12:11

What do you need to do so often on the motherboard? A2000 and A4000 desktops are pretty much similar when we talk about access to the right side of the mobo.

So either you buy a official tower conversion kit like old products from Micronik or Elbox, or you will have to find some PC big tower and do a lot of metal work around it

idrougge · 29 September 2016, 12:26

Nah, both the A4000 and A2000 are much easier to do service and maintenance work on. I've just accepted the A3000's tightness as a fact of line and pay my tribute in blood each time I open it and cut my hands on its sharp edges.

That said, it makes sense to make an extension cable for the PSU in case you often open up your A3000, that way you can at least test it without balancing the PSU in hazardous ways.

Jope · 29 September 2016, 12:41

I hate all Commodore cases equally. There were tower kits for the A3000D, RBM, Eagle and Elbox. Good luck finding a used one.

One option to towerize it is to just keep the base of the computer (perhaps buy a spare) and modify that to fit the bottom section of a big tower case.

jack-3d · 29 September 2016, 13:06

OK yes, original cables may not be long enough for opening and putting the disk floor next to the case, they are as short as possible to leave at least some space in that tiny case. But still I am wondering why do you need to open it?

On the right side of the Amiga you have RAM, CPU card, disks (hdd, fdd), PSU and ROM. How often do you touch these?

In case you need data transfers between other computers then network card or USB card will be the solution.

Predseda · 29 September 2016, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

I hate all Commodore cases equally.

I hate all cases in general. I hate everything!

HelloBeautiful · 29 September 2016, 13:55

I can have your case

obitus1990 · 29 September 2016, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack-3d

What do you need to do so often on the motherboard? A2000 and A4000 desktops are pretty much similar when we talk about access to the right side of the mobo.

So either you buy a official tower conversion kit like old products from Micronik or Elbox, or you will have to find some PC big tower and do a lot of metal work around it

Not often, but, lately I've been able to find a few upgraded ICs for the old machine, and, it's just a pain to deal with. That, and somehow, after moving the machine, one of the SIMMs on my Cyberstorm came loose, and the machine wouldn't boot until I opened it up and re-seated it. A half an hour job for something that should take seconds.

obitus1990 · 29 September 2016, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

I hate all Commodore cases equally. There were tower kits for the A3000D, RBM, Eagle and Elbox. Good luck finding a used one.

One option to towerize it is to just keep the base of the computer (perhaps buy a spare) and modify that to fit the bottom section of a big tower case.

I wouldn't pay the price that people would ask for such used cases anyway.

Locutus · 29 September 2016, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

I hate all Commodore cases equally. There were tower kits for the A3000D, RBM, Eagle and Elbox. Good luck finding a used one.

One option to towerize it is to just keep the base of the computer (perhaps buy a spare) and modify that to fit the bottom section of a big tower case.

I have a Elbox 3000 tower stashed in the corner of my clothes cupboard, every time i glance at it it looks back sad and asks me to put it out of its misery.

Kin Hell · 07 October 2016, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locutus

I have a Elbox 3000 tower stashed in the corner of my clothes cupboard, every time i glance at it it looks back sad and asks me to put it out of its misery.

http://www.elbox.com/products/extra_...rage_3000.html

Locutus · 07 October 2016, 17:53

Yes, its exactly that case. but covered in stickers from various parties/congresses it was hauled to and other 'love marks'

I cant get myself to throw it away as it has a bit of sentimental value.

29 September 2016, 04:16	#1
obitus1990 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Mandeville USA Posts: 203	I hate the A3000D Desktop case I'm sure it's been said many times before, but, damn, I hate the internal design of the A3000's desktop case. If you need to do anything to the board on the right side, you have to take the whole damned computer apart to get to it. That being said, is there a way to convert the computer to use to a current PC tower case? I already have an ATX to A3000 power converter, so, that part's handled. The problem comes in with the external ports on the back of the Amiga, and, even more problematic, the mouse and keyboard ports being located on the side. Combine that with using an RTG graphics card, and, things get even more convoluted due to the card being placed on the daughter board. Any suggestions, including pictures, would be appreciated. Thanks! Kirk

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29 September 2016, 12:11	#2
jack-3d kLiker Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Brno / Czech Republic Posts: 371	What do you need to do so often on the motherboard? A2000 and A4000 desktops are pretty much similar when we talk about access to the right side of the mobo. So either you buy a official tower conversion kit like old products from Micronik or Elbox, or you will have to find some PC big tower and do a lot of metal work around it

29 September 2016, 12:26	#3
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,342	Nah, both the A4000 and A2000 are much easier to do service and maintenance work on. I've just accepted the A3000's tightness as a fact of line and pay my tribute in blood each time I open it and cut my hands on its sharp edges. That said, it makes sense to make an extension cable for the PSU in case you often open up your A3000, that way you can at least test it without balancing the PSU in hazardous ways.

29 September 2016, 12:41	#4
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,879	I hate all Commodore cases equally. There were tower kits for the A3000D, RBM, Eagle and Elbox. Good luck finding a used one. One option to towerize it is to just keep the base of the computer (perhaps buy a spare) and modify that to fit the bottom section of a big tower case.

29 September 2016, 13:06	#5
jack-3d kLiker Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Brno / Czech Republic Posts: 371	OK yes, original cables may not be long enough for opening and putting the disk floor next to the case, they are as short as possible to leave at least some space in that tiny case. But still I am wondering why do you need to open it? On the right side of the Amiga you have RAM, CPU card, disks (hdd, fdd), PSU and ROM. How often do you touch these? In case you need data transfers between other computers then network card or USB card will be the solution.

29 September 2016, 13:55	#7
HelloBeautiful Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Helsinki Posts: 84	I can have your case

07 October 2016, 17:53	#12
Locutus Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Finland Posts: 1,181	Yes, its exactly that case. but covered in stickers from various parties/congresses it was hauled to and other 'love marks' I cant get myself to throw it away as it has a bit of sentimental value.

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