Buying an A1200 - HELP EXPERTS!

SWOS · 01 June 2007, 23:50

Buying a new A1200:

-OS: Which one should i get 3.1,3.5 or 3.9? and whats the difference?
-Expansion: 4MB Memory Card + RTC <- whats this for?
-HD: 4 GB

ps: should i get USB? and whats the magic pack bundle?

thx

Graham Humphrey · 01 June 2007, 23:59

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you only want to play games, then I recommend:

- stick with 3.1 - you won't find much use for the later OS versions
- "RTC" is real time clock, I think. I thoroughly recommend you get a 4MB RAM expansion, it makes a big difference believe me.
- Probably not worth bothering with USB, although you could transfer files using USB storage devices? Might be useful if that's the only way you can transfer files between your Amiga and your Mac. Then you can download all your games off the net and transfer them to your Amiga, I assume.
- Magic Pack software is the software bundle Escom used to sell the Amiga with (or try to, at any rate). I think it contains 2 games: Whizz (awful) and Pinball Mania (even more awful), and apps like Wordworth and Photogenics.

EDIT: In this case, thinking about it, USB might be a good idea...

Photon · 02 June 2007, 00:49

It's good that you're thinking of buying a Commodore one. Another nice way of transferring programs is using a [Compact] Flash card.

DamienD · 02 June 2007, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon

Another nice way of transferring programs is using a [Compact] Flash card.

Look at the EAB Projects thread for the project; CF Card Compatibility List

***shameless plug*** for verified working Amiga + PC models

Retro-Nerd · 02 June 2007, 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamienD

Look at the EAB Projects thread for the project; CF Card Compatibility List

***shameless plug*** for verified working Amiga + PC models

This is a thread about IDE CF card compatibility, as an hdd alternative , not PCMCIA CF.

DamienD · 02 June 2007, 01:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro-Nerd

This is a thread about IDE CF card compatibility, as an hdd alternative , not PCMCIA CF.

Hahaha, showns you how much I research projects that members ask me to add

Ooops

Thanks for pointing that out Retro, ROFL

Retro-Nerd · 02 June 2007, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamienD

Thanks for pointing that out Retro

That's my job, Damien.

DamienD · 02 June 2007, 01:25

Ya wanna trade position?

*** /me joking ***

Note to self: "Don't reply to Amiga hardware based threads and you'll be ok"

Retro-Nerd · 02 June 2007, 01:29

This thread has the needed infos for PCMCIA CF cards on a A1200, for transfering ADF's to real Amiga disks.

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=25274

SWOS · 02 June 2007, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Humphrey

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you only want to play games, then I recommend:

- stick with 3.1 - you won't find much use for the later OS versions
- "RTC" is real time clock, I think. I thoroughly recommend you get a 4MB RAM expansion, it makes a big difference believe me.
- Probably not worth bothering with USB, although you could transfer files using USB storage devices? Might be useful if that's the only way you can transfer files between your Amiga and your Mac. Then you can download all your games off the net and transfer them to your Amiga, I assume.
- Magic Pack software is the software bundle Escom used to sell the Amiga with (or try to, at any rate). I think it contains 2 games: Whizz (awful) and Pinball Mania (even more awful), and apps like Wordworth and Photogenics.

EDIT: In this case, thinking about it, USB might be a good idea...

it will be for GAMING ONLY

do u think if i get USB it would make my life easier in terms of running games from the HD? (am using a 2.0 iMac) and can i send games to the 4GB HD?

thx

Graham Humphrey · 02 June 2007, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWOS

it will be for GAMING ONLY

do u think if i get USB it would make my life easier in terms of running games from the HD? (am using a 2.0 iMac) and can i send games to the 4GB HD?

thx

I'm no expert on this, but I assume if you get USB you'll get all the software and stuff with it (does anyone know if this is compatible with 3.1?) so it would probably be a heck of a lot easier to transfer stuff, yeah.

So you could download WHDLoad and loads of pre-installed games to a USB device and transfer them to your Amiga's HD, and then you're well away.

If I've got anything wrong here I'm sure somebody will be keen to correct me

AMIGAZ · 02 June 2007, 11:28

Better get a PCMCIA network card and download the games directly to your harddrive...it's a cheaper solution.....not sure if 4mb ram will be enough for a TCP/IP stack and a browser though

Doing that on my A600 now

.....surfing in 16 colours....yeah! :P

Zetr0 · 02 June 2007, 12:02

@SWOS

If i could recomend anything it would be what KG preaches from the highest tower.

for GAMING

CBM A1200 (rev 1d4)
32MB 030@40+ (Blizzy Mk4 or Apollo Mk3)
4GB HDD (be this Compact Flash or Real HDD)

For networking:

CF card via PCMCIA
by far it is the simplest to setup and run quite quickly
PCMCIA Wifi / Rj45 NIC
This can be simple to setup if you have a router or DHCP service.
Networking can get a little technical for those whom are not sure about it.

if you are on a budget however

CBM A1200 (rev 1d4)
A PCMCIA friendly Memory board or limmiting it to 4MB
Hawk boards are arround £35 at the moment on ebay.
A 4GB Hard Disk
If you weigh up the cost of CF adapter and CF card, it would probly be cheaper to buy a 2.5" hard disk.

as a final note, and one that really is worth the purchase; register WHDLoad, it is indeed a great piece of software and invaluable for gamming.

I hope that helps

@Amigas
On your A600 what TCP stack are you running? is it a native 68000 or is it modded?

keropi · 02 June 2007, 12:15

keep in mind that USB in a cpu lower than 040 is slow and not very usuable... u will be way better with a CF card...

AMIGAZ · 02 June 2007, 12:17

@Zetr0

Just using Genesis from the OS3.9 cd with a PCMCIA network card
I'm using an Apollo A630 accelerator board which is PCMCIa friendly...I could never do this with my old MTec A630 which had onboard 8mb fastram which wasn't PCMCIA friendly

keropi · 02 June 2007, 12:30

Amigaz u show-off!!!!

Zetr0 · 02 June 2007, 12:32

I saw one of them A600 CPU cards sell on ebay recently .... £127 ..... shocking.... the last one i saw went only for £55..... maybe i should of bought on then and sold it later....

AMIGAZ · 02 June 2007, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by keropi

Amigaz u show-off!!!!

hehe, I'm back in the ECS/OCS world now......"Back to basics"

AMIGAZ · 02 June 2007, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zetr0

I saw one of them A600 CPU cards sell on ebay recently .... £127 ..... shocking.... the last one i saw went only for £55..... maybe i should of bought on then and sold it later....

Ahh..you mean the one that was on ebay.co.uk?

I was so tempted on sniping that one just for the low last minute top bid

Graham Humphrey · 02 June 2007, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMIGAZ

Doing that on my A600 now

.....surfing in 16 colours....yeah! :P

Any chance of a screenshot?

01 June 2007, 23:50	#1
SWOS Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Q8 Age: 39 Posts: 160	Buying an A1200 - HELP EXPERTS! Buying a new A1200: -OS: Which one should i get 3.1,3.5 or 3.9? and whats the difference? -Expansion: 4MB Memory Card + RTC <- whats this for? -HD: 4 GB ps: should i get USB? and whats the magic pack bundle? thx

02 June 2007, 12:02	#13
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	To KG one must listern @SWOS If i could recomend anything it would be what KG preaches from the highest tower. for GAMING CBM A1200 (rev 1d4) 32MB 030@40+ (Blizzy Mk4 or Apollo Mk3) 4GB HDD (be this Compact Flash or Real HDD) For networking: CF card via PCMCIA by far it is the simplest to setup and run quite quickly PCMCIA Wifi / Rj45 NIC This can be simple to setup if you have a router or DHCP service. Networking can get a little technical for those whom are not sure about it. if you are on a budget however CBM A1200 (rev 1d4) A PCMCIA friendly Memory board or limmiting it to 4MB Hawk boards are arround £35 at the moment on ebay. A 4GB Hard Disk If you weigh up the cost of CF adapter and CF card, it would probly be cheaper to buy a 2.5" hard disk. as a final note, and one that really is worth the purchase; register WHDLoad, it is indeed a great piece of software and invaluable for gamming. I hope that helps @Amigas On your A600 what TCP stack are you running? is it a native 68000 or is it modded?

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01 June 2007, 23:59	#2
Graham Humphrey Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Age: 37 Posts: 11,167	Depends on what you want to do with it. If you only want to play games, then I recommend: - stick with 3.1 - you won't find much use for the later OS versions - "RTC" is real time clock, I think. I thoroughly recommend you get a 4MB RAM expansion, it makes a big difference believe me. - Probably not worth bothering with USB, although you could transfer files using USB storage devices? Might be useful if that's the only way you can transfer files between your Amiga and your Mac. Then you can download all your games off the net and transfer them to your Amiga, I assume. - Magic Pack software is the software bundle Escom used to sell the Amiga with (or try to, at any rate). I think it contains 2 games: Whizz (awful) and Pinball Mania (even more awful), and apps like Wordworth and Photogenics. EDIT: In this case, thinking about it, USB might be a good idea...

02 June 2007, 00:49	#3
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	It's good that you're thinking of buying a Commodore one. Another nice way of transferring programs is using a [Compact] Flash card.

02 June 2007, 01:25	#8
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 47 Posts: 20,420	Ya wanna trade position? * /me joking * Note to self: "Don't reply to Amiga hardware based threads and you'll be ok"

02 June 2007, 01:29	#9
Retro-Nerd Missile Command Champion Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Germany Age: 52 Posts: 12,436	This thread has the needed infos for PCMCIA CF cards on a A1200, for transfering ADF's to real Amiga disks. http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=25274

02 June 2007, 11:28	#12
AMIGAZ Amiga-Mad Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sweden Age: 46 Posts: 1,286	Better get a PCMCIA network card and download the games directly to your harddrive...it's a cheaper solution.....not sure if 4mb ram will be enough for a TCP/IP stack and a browser though Doing that on my A600 now .....surfing in 16 colours....yeah! :P

02 June 2007, 12:15	#14
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	keep in mind that USB in a cpu lower than 040 is slow and not very usuable... u will be way better with a CF card...

02 June 2007, 12:17	#15
AMIGAZ Amiga-Mad Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sweden Age: 46 Posts: 1,286	@Zetr0 Just using Genesis from the OS3.9 cd with a PCMCIA network card I'm using an Apollo A630 accelerator board which is PCMCIa friendly...I could never do this with my old MTec A630 which had onboard 8mb fastram which wasn't PCMCIA friendly

02 June 2007, 12:30	#16
keropi . Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ioannina/Greece Posts: 5,040	Amigaz u show-off!!!!

02 June 2007, 12:32	#17
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	I saw one of them A600 CPU cards sell on ebay recently .... £127 ..... shocking.... the last one i saw went only for £55..... maybe i should of bought on then and sold it later....

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