Just how much weight can an A2000 take?

[Marchie]

I have a 21" Trinitron CRT that I'm dying to hook-up to my 2000, those things DAMN HEAVY though, and I'm wondering if the A2000 chasis can take the weight.

Anyone running 21" CRT's out there? How has it gone for you?

It's a pretty sturdy steel frame, originally for the Commodore C900, (which was a UNIX workstation right?) and workstations tend to be designed for larger screens, but I don't want to crush my miggy finding out. On the other hand, putting the screen next the 2000 means using up a LOT of deskspace...

[elenachen]

Worst case you can build something out of wood (like a little shelf) and place the monitor on that.

[Predseda]

I think you can park a car on A2000 case, it is like a WW2 panzer.

[Hewitson]

Whilst the actual chassis of an A2000 is built like a brick shithouse, the top cover is actually quite flimsy. I have a 2000 which has a considerable bend from a monitor/TV being placed on top of it.

[Daedalus]

Build a wooden stand that has just enough space for the 2000 underneath it, and stick the monitor on that.

[Locutus]

Not entirely related, but i did have a 24" CRT Trinitron sitting on top of my A3000 back in the day.

[Marchie]

Originally Posted by Locutus

Not entirely related, but i did have a 24" CRT Trinitron sitting on top of my A3000 back in the day.

Not at all, that's exactly the type of info I'm looking for. 24" - wow, that must have weighed a ton!

I've seen a few images online of Sun and SGI workstations with 21" screens on top, so people did do it I guess. Although those SGI cases seem to be another level again - they could possibly survive an artillery barrage.

Originally Posted by Hewitson

Whilst the actual chassis of an A2000 is built like a brick shithouse, the top cover is actually quite flimsy. I have a 2000 which has a considerable bend from a monitor/TV being placed on top of it.

Yes, I had kind of noticed the same thing regarding the top cover. Although mine has happily borne a 17" for a couple of years now without complaint.

Originally Posted by Daedalus

Build a wooden stand that has just enough space for the 2000 underneath it, and stick the monitor on that.

I'm not sure anything I personally construct out of wood will be up to the job, but perhaps even just a flat board over the top will distribute the weight more evenly...

[E-Penguin]

Couple of bricks and a bit of worktop offcut from the local DIY store? Not pretty, perhaps, but dirt cheap and sturdy. You could claim it as hipster chic.

[4pLaY]

Originally Posted by Marchie

I have a 21" Trinitron CRT that I'm dying to hook-up to my 2000, those things DAMN HEAVY though, and I'm wondering if the A2000 chasis can take the weight.

It depends, if it is wide enough it might do just fine. Putting a heavy as hell monitor in the middle of the case might get it to bend downwards, but if it rests on the ends of the case you should be just fine.

[indigolemon]

I think you meant: "How much weight can an A2000 take if an A2000 can take weight?"

[Marchie]

Originally Posted by indigolemon

I think you meant: "How much weight can an A2000 take if an A2000 can take weight?"

I think I'll need to ask a wood-chuck.

[grelbfarlk]

Something that should go without saying is that make sure the case is screwed down properly. Also that they are the correct size screws. Some A2000s had a round crossbar that went down the center of the case, if you have one make sure it is installed and secure.

I had a pretty heavy 20" CRT on my A2000 for years and it's no worse for wear. Heavy monitors will gouge your case though as is the case with my A4000 case. Moved the monitor around too much to show people things and wore it down to the metal.

[Hewitson]

My 2000 has never had a crossbar. How are they secured, and do all cases have provision for them?

[BrooksterMax]

Originally Posted by Hewitson

My 2000 has never had a crossbar. How are they secured, and do all cases have provision for them?

I assume this reference is made to a thin black "rod" more than a bar that is in my case, connected from one end where the Zorro slots are at the top, all the way to the front of the case.

[Locutus]

Originally Posted by Marchie

I've seen a few images online of Sun and SGI workstations with 21" screens on top, so people did do it I guess. Although those SGI cases seem to be another level again - they could possibly survive an artillery barrage.

With machines like the SGI Indigo2 its different, because they have dividing bars from the expansion card, CD Drive and HDD Cages and PSU supporting the top cover, so a lot of the pressure is transfered straight down to the bottom plate.


That and the insane 2 millimeter thick steel everywhere

[Marchie]

Originally Posted by grelbfarlk

Something that should go without saying is that make sure the case is screwed down properly. Also that they are the correct size screws. Some A2000s had a round crossbar that went down the center of the case, if you have one make sure it is installed and secure.

I had a pretty heavy 20" CRT on my A2000 for years and it's no worse for wear. Heavy monitors will gouge your case though as is the case with my A4000 case. Moved the monitor around too much to show people things and wore it down to the metal.

Cheers!

Is it even possible to do the case up with wrong-threaded screws?

[grelbfarlk]

Originally Posted by Marchie

Cheers!

Is it even possible to do the case up with wrong-threaded screws?

Yes I have done it repeatedly until I dug out the correct ones.

[nexus]

i have about 10 A2000/2500 and they all have the black rod cross bar but if you are adding such weight make sure all screws are tight and if you want more support just add a board or cross beams etc over top of the case to send the weight to the chassis and just FYI i do similar things when having such weight on glass desks