A4000 & a noob

hawker · 14 June 2011, 04:01

Got an A4000/040 which wasn't working. Took it all apart & cleaned ALL contacts. Booted it up with just the MB & all ok, got the floppy disk screen. Put in what i found out to be the SCSI controller, Oktagon 2008, & no boot screen. Disconnected the HDD & still nothing so i guess i need a new controller. Where can i get one which is a good one with or without HDD?
I see an IDE connection in there but then i would be limited to 1 HDD & 1 CD drive, right?
What are the limitation of an IDE system or do i NEED the SCSI drives?
2 other cards in there that i don't know what they are but it gives me the boot screen with them installed. Guess i will find out eventually what they are for.

Any and all help appreciated.

Thanks
Fred

Skope · 14 June 2011, 08:59

Personally I'd put the SCSI-controller away and never look at it again. I think 2 IDE units per cable is max. You could check Idefix Express out.

Geijer · 14 June 2011, 10:02

4-Device IDE Interface (A4000/A4000T) and IDEfix will do the magic!
Few SCSI controllers is worth the effort. But if you decide to use SCSI I can recommend: SCSI Compact Flash Card Reader.

rockape · 14 June 2011, 12:23

Hi hawker,

For info and help about your A4000.

See http://www.wonkity.com/~wblock/a4000hard/main.html

Regards, Michael

aka rockape

hawker · 14 June 2011, 18:45

Doesn't seem to be that much out there for A4000 as compared to the A1200.
Since it looks like i can't use the SCSI system that was on there & that was setup with WB3.0 or 3.1, what would i have to do to upgrade to WB3.9 or 4.1 other then buying it? After that i guess the fun part will be setting it up. Could be interesting since the grey matter upstairs doesn't work as good at 69 like it did 20 or 30 years ago:P

Thanks for the replies & links

orange · 15 June 2011, 00:43

very likely termination is the problem.
amiga will not boot if scsi is not terminated properly, iirc.
also perhaps you need firmware update on Oktagon.

I'd use IDE instead, too.

AndyLandy · 15 June 2011, 08:57

The Oktagon 2008 is really an A2000 SCSI card anyway, so performance was never going to be amazing. According to Amiga Resource, it doesn't even do DMA, so I'd expect it to perform about as well as the on-board IDE. The only real advantage is has over the native IDE is that it is less demanding of the CPU.

If you really want to stick with SCSI, you'll want to track down a Zorro III SCSI card, so an A4091 or a Z3 Fastlane or similar. Alternatively, if you just want lots of fast IDE, you could get a Buddha.

But yeah, if you've picked up an A4000 and the only thing that's screwing it up is a crufty Oktagon 2008, you've done pretty well.

Oh, and the Oktagon uses the uncommon ZIP DRAMs for its FastRAM. Hang on to those, even if the card is dead, they'll make some Amiga 3000 owner very happy.

hawker · 15 June 2011, 09:06

Is a Commodore A2091SCSI Interface ok? Seems to be one for sale but is US$100 including shipping an ok price? Don't have a clue.

Jope · 15 June 2011, 09:14

It's not a bad card, but any Zorro II SCSI controller with the A4000 will be a bit slow.

Make sure the A2091 has RAM on board, that'll help its speed a bit.

hawker · 15 June 2011, 09:20

Not that interested in speed, have PC's for that. Would just like to get it running & learn something about the Amiga. I build & repair PC's but find them boring now. I'm retired & have spare time waiting for parts to restore British bikes

Jope · 15 June 2011, 09:54

Ok, in that case you'll at least get it to do something with the 2091, unless there is something else wrong with the machine.

AndyLandy · 15 June 2011, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawker

Not that interested in speed, have PC's for that. Would just like to get it running & learn something about the Amiga. I build & repair PC's but find them boring now. I'm retired & have spare time waiting for parts to restore British bikes

If you're not bothered about speed, just use the on-board IDE. The only reason for shelling out on a SCSI controller is if you want improved performance.

As for that A2091, $100 seems a little steep to me, I'd probably give it a miss. There were a huge range of Zorro II SCSI cards made for the A2000, so there are plenty out there. If you're patient, you can probably swing one for less than $50.

Hewitson · 15 June 2011, 11:33

I'd definitely give it a miss, I got my GVP Impact Series II populated with 8MB for less than half that.

Loedown · 15 June 2011, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hewitson

I'd definitely give it a miss, I got my GVP Impact Series II populated with 8MB for less than half that.

I reckon you bought it off me on Ebay

Damned good card.

Hewitson · 15 June 2011, 14:31

Bought it from someone in Canada IIRC. Sure is a good card.

rkauer · 16 June 2011, 07:18

A true Zorro-3 SCSI card will cost more than 100, but one of the common Zorro-2 from A2000 era don't cost a hundred, that's for sure!

If you want something a bit better, go for the GVP SCSI+8 (HD8+) and a few other DMA cards.

A SCSI controller who falls into the polled I/O (instead DMA) will pants! Expect not much more than 1MB/s and with a heavy CPU use.

hawker · 16 June 2011, 08:26

Problem is where to find one of those cards? Guess just need to be lucky & run accrossa for sale posting for one.

Would i need an IDE terminator or is that just if i use both SCSI & IDE?

Jope · 16 June 2011, 11:12

An IDE terminator is needed only to stop the machine for looking for an IDE drive. You don't technically need it, it just speeds up your boot time.

AndyLandy · 16 June 2011, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawker

Problem is where to find one of those cards? Guess just need to be lucky & run accrossa for sale posting for one.

Blatant plug I know, but http://www.amibay.com/

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawker

Would i need an IDE terminator or is that just if i use both SCSI & IDE?

You only need an IDE terminator if you're not using the on-board IDE and don't want the boot process to hang around for ages. Kickstart 3.1 has a really long timeout on booting from IDE, a terminator removes that.

hawker · 18 June 2011, 19:08

Could someone tell me if this SCSI card is ok?
http://global.ebay.com/Amiga-SCSI-Co...763321303/item

Since my German is very rusty i'm not sure if there is any driver software for it like there was with my Oktagon one.
Thanks
Fred

14 June 2011, 04:01	#1
hawker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Age: 81 Posts: 31	A4000 & a noob Got an A4000/040 which wasn't working. Took it all apart & cleaned ALL contacts. Booted it up with just the MB & all ok, got the floppy disk screen. Put in what i found out to be the SCSI controller, Oktagon 2008, & no boot screen. Disconnected the HDD & still nothing so i guess i need a new controller. Where can i get one which is a good one with or without HDD? I see an IDE connection in there but then i would be limited to 1 HDD & 1 CD drive, right? What are the limitation of an IDE system or do i NEED the SCSI drives? 2 other cards in there that i don't know what they are but it gives me the boot screen with them installed. Guess i will find out eventually what they are for. Any and all help appreciated. Thanks Fred

15 June 2011, 08:57	#7
AndyLandy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southampton / UK Posts: 91	The Oktagon 2008 is really an A2000 SCSI card anyway, so performance was never going to be amazing. According to Amiga Resource, it doesn't even do DMA, so I'd expect it to perform about as well as the on-board IDE. The only real advantage is has over the native IDE is that it is less demanding of the CPU. If you really want to stick with SCSI, you'll want to track down a Zorro III SCSI card, so an A4091 or a Z3 Fastlane or similar. Alternatively, if you just want lots of fast IDE, you could get a Buddha. But yeah, if you've picked up an A4000 and the only thing that's screwing it up is a crufty Oktagon 2008, you've done pretty well. Oh, and the Oktagon uses the uncommon ZIP DRAMs for its FastRAM. Hang on to those, even if the card is dead, they'll make some Amiga 3000 owner very happy. Last edited by AndyLandy; 15 June 2011 at 10:41.

16 June 2011, 08:26	#17
hawker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Age: 81 Posts: 31	Problem is where to find one of those cards? Guess just need to be lucky & run accrossa for sale posting for one. Would i need an IDE terminator or is that just if i use both SCSI & IDE? Last edited by TCD; 16 June 2011 at 11:09. Reason: Back-to-back posts merged. Use the edit function.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
PSU Connectors A3000 & A4000	Cosmos	MarketPlace	9	30 August 2010 22:13
My Ez-Tower & A4000 Project	cosmicfrog	Hardware pics	10	14 May 2010 16:51
A4000 & 2nd 1.76MB floppy	jimbo100	support.Hardware	8	18 September 2009 07:32
Pricecheck: A4000/040 & A1200/060	Zedrick	MarketPlace	15	27 July 2009 11:52
A4000 with cyberstorm '060 & 4mb' 39.85MIPS	Mad Mark	Amiga scene	16	29 March 2002 22:09

14 June 2011, 08:59	#2
Skope Protracker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: 8364 Posts: 381	Personally I'd put the SCSI-controller away and never look at it again. I think 2 IDE units per cable is max. You could check Idefix Express out.

14 June 2011, 10:02	#3
Geijer Oldtimer Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: VXO / Sweden Posts: 153	4-Device IDE Interface (A4000/A4000T) and IDEfix will do the magic! Few SCSI controllers is worth the effort. But if you decide to use SCSI I can recommend: SCSI Compact Flash Card Reader.

14 June 2011, 12:23	#4
rockape Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lincolnshire, England. Age: 75 Posts: 167	Hi hawker, For info and help about your A4000. See http://www.wonkity.com/~wblock/a4000hard/main.html Regards, Michael aka rockape

14 June 2011, 18:45	#5
hawker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Age: 81 Posts: 31	Doesn't seem to be that much out there for A4000 as compared to the A1200. Since it looks like i can't use the SCSI system that was on there & that was setup with WB3.0 or 3.1, what would i have to do to upgrade to WB3.9 or 4.1 other then buying it? After that i guess the fun part will be setting it up. Could be interesting since the grey matter upstairs doesn't work as good at 69 like it did 20 or 30 years ago:P Thanks for the replies & links

15 June 2011, 00:43	#6
orange Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belgrade Posts: 567	very likely termination is the problem. amiga will not boot if scsi is not terminated properly, iirc. also perhaps you need firmware update on Oktagon. I'd use IDE instead, too.

15 June 2011, 09:06	#8
hawker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Age: 81 Posts: 31	Is a Commodore A2091SCSI Interface ok? Seems to be one for sale but is US$100 including shipping an ok price? Don't have a clue.

15 June 2011, 09:14	#9
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	It's not a bad card, but any Zorro II SCSI controller with the A4000 will be a bit slow. Make sure the A2091 has RAM on board, that'll help its speed a bit.

15 June 2011, 09:20	#10
hawker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Age: 81 Posts: 31	Not that interested in speed, have PC's for that. Would just like to get it running & learn something about the Amiga. I build & repair PC's but find them boring now. I'm retired & have spare time waiting for parts to restore British bikes

15 June 2011, 09:54	#11
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	Ok, in that case you'll at least get it to do something with the 2091, unless there is something else wrong with the machine.

15 June 2011, 11:33	#13
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,771	I'd definitely give it a miss, I got my GVP Impact Series II populated with 8MB for less than half that.

15 June 2011, 14:31	#15
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,771	Bought it from someone in Canada IIRC. Sure is a good card.

16 June 2011, 07:18	#16
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	A true Zorro-3 SCSI card will cost more than 100, but one of the common Zorro-2 from A2000 era don't cost a hundred, that's for sure! If you want something a bit better, go for the GVP SCSI+8 (HD8+) and a few other DMA cards. A SCSI controller who falls into the polled I/O (instead DMA) will pants! Expect not much more than 1MB/s and with a heavy CPU use.

16 June 2011, 11:12	#18
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	An IDE terminator is needed only to stop the machine for looking for an IDE drive. You don't technically need it, it just speeds up your boot time.

18 June 2011, 19:08	#20
hawker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Age: 81 Posts: 31	Could someone tell me if this SCSI card is ok? http://global.ebay.com/Amiga-SCSI-Co...763321303/item Since my German is very rusty i'm not sure if there is any driver software for it like there was with my Oktagon one. Thanks Fred

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)