Newbie needs advice on hardware

Ionise · 08 October 2010, 14:22

Hi Guys,

Im new here and have just recently done a swap with one of the members from this site you probably know him as Jimbo.

Anyways while i am waiting on recieving my A1200 i have been looking into what essential additional Hardware i should buy for it as i am finding it all quite confusing and don't want to waste money on anything of no use.

All suggestions and links appreciated.

Thanks!

Fingerlickin_B · 08 October 2010, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ionise

Hi Guys,

Im new here and have just recently done a swap with one of the members from this site you probably know him as Jimbo.

Anyways while i am waiting on recieving my A1200 i have been looking into what essential additional Hardware i should buy for it as i am finding it all quite confusing and don't want to waste money on anything of no use.

All suggestions and links appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi Ionise & welcome!

There are plenty of folks on here that will be willing to help (even myself in a limited capacity).

However, I'd suggest that you post this on the support.hardware section.

Also, give everyone some detail on what you plan to use your A1200 for, as this would obviously make choice of hardware goodies easier

PZ.

DH · 08 October 2010, 15:30

Moved to correct forum

alexh · 08 October 2010, 15:36

In order:

RGB SCART cable (£15)
Hard Drive (/CF card & IDE adapter) (£20)
PCMCIA->SD/CF adapter + card (rapid transfer between PC) (£20)
RAM card / Accelerator (Turbo) Card + RAM (£20 - £400!)
Scandoubler (only if you don't have RGB SCART input on TV/monitor) (£100)

Ionise · 08 October 2010, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fingerlickin_B

Hi Ionise & welcome!

There are plenty of folks on here that will be willing to help (even myself in a limited capacity).

However, I'd suggest that you post this on the support.hardware section.

Also, give everyone some detail on what you plan to use your A1200 for, as this would obviously make choice of hardware goodies easier

PZ.

Thanks Fingerlickin B

I intend to use it for everything from playing games to accessing the tinternet forget to mention Jimbo is already kindly supplying me with a 2GB HD

Basicly i want it to be the best it can be without to many compatibility issue when using older software.

Also what do you think is the best method for getting ADF's off my PC and onto my Amiga so i can create real 3.5 floppy copies from the image?

One last thing do you know anywhere or anyone who is selling floppies for a reasonable price as everywhere i have looked they seem to be quite expensive.
Don't care if they're used or what not just so long as they're usable.

Thanks for your help guys appreciate it.

Fingerlickin_B · 08 October 2010, 15:42

Alex's list is what you need.

Grab WHDLoad & you'll not need floppies so much (you'll need them from time-to-time, but not for most things).

I held off on WHDLoad for years...bad move!

For internet, you'll need a PCMCIA-ethernet card. These show up from time to time in the for sale area, but a quick search & you'll find what you need on eBay & the likes. Even better, join AmiBay, there are often cards on there dirt cheap!

PZ.

Ionise · 08 October 2010, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by DemonHellraiser

Moved to correct forum

Thanks DH will be sure to post in the correct forum in future

alexh · 08 October 2010, 15:46

I've added some "finger in the air" prices to my list.

Ionise · 08 October 2010, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fingerlickin_B

Alex's list is what you need.

Grab WHDLoad & you'll not need floppies so much (you'll need them from time-to-time, but not for most things).

I held off on WHDLoad for years...bad move!

PZ.

I have dabbled with WHDLoad using WinUAE and yes i agree but i do also intend and this will probably be my main use is to program with AMOS PRO so i would like to use the 2GB HD for GFX SFX MODS and source.

Also don't know if its true but i think i read somewhere the AMIGA can't handle a HD capacity greater than 4GB probably to do with the FAT/32 system i don't really know

Thanks again for your help

BrooksterMax · 08 October 2010, 15:48

I think alexh sums up the kit you need really nicely.

Have a look into whdload for playing games on your HD though.

Ionise · 08 October 2010, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

I've added some "finger in the air" prices to my list.

Thank you

Fingerlickin_B · 08 October 2010, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ionise

Also don't know if its true but i think i read somewhere the AMIGA can't handle a HD capacity greater than 4GB probably to do with the FAT/32 system i don't really know

Amiga doesn't use FAT32, but you are on the right track

Yes, using the standard filesystem you cannot go beyond the first 4gb of the HDD without eating the dirt.

There are different filesystems, but that's something I've never bothered with.
No doubt someone will help though...that's the nice kind of place EAB is

PZ.

Ionise · 08 October 2010, 16:02

Thanks again for all your help guys appreciate it

Lord Aga · 08 October 2010, 16:23

Hard drive is really a top priority. Once you settled that one, the next one should be RAM/turbo card. And that depends on the money you are willing to spill. They can be reasonably cheap and offer quite a lot (8MB RAM card), or be insanely pricey, and offer top power and exotic capabilities (060/PPC cards). Or something in between. Money is your most important guideline here

alexh · 08 October 2010, 16:49

Nah, nah

RGB SCART cable is the first thing you should get. Playing games on composhite cables or worse RF aerial is aweful.

amigakit.com · 08 October 2010, 16:53

Welcome!

We recommend:

4GB CF IDE Hard Disk
EasyADF PCMCIA CF Transfer Kit
Competition Pro Joystick (Amiga)
RGB to Scart Cable

Lord Aga · 08 October 2010, 16:57

@alexh
So it is

I remember feeling almost blind when I wired my recently bought Amiga via RF a few moths ago

That being said, I haven't seen whether our friend wrote what type of screen he will be using his Amiga with, or not ? Maybe I'm still feeling the consequences of RF connection

Ionise · 08 October 2010, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by amigakit.com

Welcome!

We recommend:

4GB CF IDE Hard Disk
EasyADF PCMCIA CF Transfer Kit
Competition Pro Joystick (Amiga)
RGB to Scart Cable

Thanks the EasyADF PCMCIA CF Transfer Kit looks interesting but seems a little pricey also i don't own the WB disks required to use this soft/hardware combi there must be another way with a simple cable and handshaking software.

i do posses RGB to Scart and Jimbo is supplying me with a 2GB HDD also i do own already some 9 pin pads from the SEGA that work fine for AMIGA as what we swapped was my CD32 for an A1200

Guys i really appreciate all your help

I am interested in the larger HDD 4GB is it possible to attatch more than one HDD to an A1200?

Lord Aga · 08 October 2010, 17:18

That is actually a nice question.
Soon I will get a 2x44pin cable. So... 2x4GB CF cards split in half for total of 4x2GB partitions.
Any possible problems ?

alexh · 08 October 2010, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ionise

I am interested in the larger HDD 4GB

Amiga 1200 native IDE can be persuaded to work with any size hard drive given a push. (Updated & patched scsi.device + patched / alternative file system) Only limitation I think is that without a ROM upgrade your boot partition must start and end be below 2GB(?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ionise

is it possible to attatch more than one HDD to an A1200?

Yes but why would you want to? More heat, doesn't fit etc.

08 October 2010, 14:22	#1
Ionise Banned Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Terra Firma Posts: 16	Newbie needs advice on hardware Hi Guys, Im new here and have just recently done a swap with one of the members from this site you probably know him as Jimbo. Anyways while i am waiting on recieving my A1200 i have been looking into what essential additional Hardware i should buy for it as i am finding it all quite confusing and don't want to waste money on anything of no use. All suggestions and links appreciated. Thanks!

08 October 2010, 15:36	#4
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	In order: RGB SCART cable (£15) Hard Drive (/CF card & IDE adapter) (£20) PCMCIA->SD/CF adapter + card (rapid transfer between PC) (£20) RAM card / Accelerator (Turbo) Card + RAM (£20 - £400!) Scandoubler (only if you don't have RGB SCART input on TV/monitor) (£100) Last edited by alexh; 08 October 2010 at 15:46.

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08 October 2010, 15:30	#3
DH Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Might as well be WORK :( Age: 56 Posts: 4,110	Moved to correct forum

08 October 2010, 15:42	#6
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Alex's list is what you need. Grab WHDLoad & you'll not need floppies so much (you'll need them from time-to-time, but not for most things). I held off on WHDLoad for years...bad move! For internet, you'll need a PCMCIA-ethernet card. These show up from time to time in the for sale area, but a quick search & you'll find what you need on eBay & the likes. Even better, join AmiBay, there are often cards on there dirt cheap! PZ.

08 October 2010, 15:46	#8
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	I've added some "finger in the air" prices to my list.

08 October 2010, 15:48	#10
BrooksterMax Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norfolk UK Age: 43 Posts: 433	I think alexh sums up the kit you need really nicely. Have a look into whdload for playing games on your HD though.

08 October 2010, 16:02	#13
Ionise Banned Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Terra Firma Posts: 16	Thanks again for all your help guys appreciate it

08 October 2010, 16:23	#14
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	Hard drive is really a top priority. Once you settled that one, the next one should be RAM/turbo card. And that depends on the money you are willing to spill. They can be reasonably cheap and offer quite a lot (8MB RAM card), or be insanely pricey, and offer top power and exotic capabilities (060/PPC cards). Or something in between. Money is your most important guideline here

08 October 2010, 16:49	#15
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	Nah, nah RGB SCART cable is the first thing you should get. Playing games on composhite cables or worse RF aerial is aweful.

08 October 2010, 16:53	#16
amigakit.com Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: www.amigakit.com Posts: 2,015	Welcome! We recommend: 4GB CF IDE Hard Disk EasyADF PCMCIA CF Transfer Kit Competition Pro Joystick (Amiga) RGB to Scart Cable

08 October 2010, 16:57	#17
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	@alexh So it is I remember feeling almost blind when I wired my recently bought Amiga via RF a few moths ago That being said, I haven't seen whether our friend wrote what type of screen he will be using his Amiga with, or not ? Maybe I'm still feeling the consequences of RF connection

08 October 2010, 17:18	#19
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	That is actually a nice question. Soon I will get a 2x44pin cable. So... 2x4GB CF cards split in half for total of 4x2GB partitions. Any possible problems ?

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