FMV Cartridge

[Unicorn]

I week ago I saw a youtube video on an A4000 that was used on the set of Apollo 13, True Lies and Titanic. This showed how a battery could eat an Amiga.

I decided to find my stored Amigas and do some battery removal.

I unearthed a lot of gear including 2 FMV cards.

Now I only remember buying one but in the box there are 2.

One FMV has its screws removed so I guess it may not be working.

Any clues on what can fail on the FMV cards as it is probably can be saved.

[DDNI]

Two FMV cards! You are lucky.
Are they the CD32 ones?

If so, try these steps:
Clean edge connectors on card and Amiga
Consider replacing capacitors on the card
Check STV8438CV Triple 8-bit DA Converter. Is it overheating?
The DAC have been known to fail. Replacements can be purchased.

Good luck.

[Unicorn]

So basically I have to put them in the CD32 and run them for a while to see what happens.

It seems most fail with heat causing video colour to shift to the wrong colour.


I have a feeling I rescued the second one from a scrap metal bin.

The next thing I need is a Mpeg1 CD.

[AJCopland]

Wow that's pretty amazing to find two of them!

[dalek]

Looks like you have some pretty cool hardware. Do you ever make it to SAUG? Would be good to have you show it off

[Unicorn]

Originally Posted by dalek

Looks like you have some pretty cool hardware. Do you ever make it to SAUG? Would be good to have you show it off

No I have never been to SAUG. The last time I would have been to a user group would have when the Amiga shop still existed at Glenorie.

[Unicorn]

Originally Posted by AJCopland

Wow that's pretty amazing to find two of them!

I bought one for the CD32 when it came out. I think I saw the other one being thrown away and grabbed it as I knew what it was. As Amiga closed down I bought every CD32 game available.

These I have not yet found.

My main question is does Microcosm require FMV cartridge to play. I can see the screen shots on the web and remember it had very precise change of direction points as if it was running a video under a game.

[DDNI]

No FMV required for microcosm on CD32. I think the 3DO version needed an FMV card.

[Unicorn]

Originally Posted by DDNI

No FMV required for microcosm on CD32. I think the 3DO version needed an FMV card.

Thanks for that.

I still have to find all of my games.

[Unicorn]

Found the box for Microcosm but no disc.

[Unicorn]

First attempt failed, found the CD32, powered it on and it ran for about a minute with a green light that seemed dim. Then no power at all. I guess the power brick got a shock after 15 years of doing nothing.

That was with no SX1 or FMV.

[Hewitson]

Originally Posted by Unicorn

That was with no SX1 or FMV.

Please make sure you've got a good power supply before risking any of these rare peripherals.

[Unicorn]

That is why I started with CD32, sealed power supply kept in the lounge room. Should have worked nicely except for the toll 15-20 years takes on parts.

[bigkenny]

Originally Posted by Hewitson

Please make sure you've got a good power supply before risking any of these rare peripherals.

Right above me, where I type this out in my loft I have a CD32 with SX1 and FMV card. It has been in my loft for ages of and on. I have this dream of getting it all out and setting it all up again. It has extra ram in SX1 (4mb I think) with floppy drive, keyboard and mouse all connected. I had to make up a PSU to get it all working again. I have a few CDi Films (Philips) and some Amiga CD32 games (Cannon Fodder for one you can see real video intro, need FMV card to see this) even had a modem connected too it linked to a Mitsubishi 37" TV. All going through a Yamaha Dolby Sound surround set up with Tannoy speakers and sub-woofer. this was about 1994 era


I bought it from a chap on the Isle of Dogs early 1990s he got it at the World of Amiga Show where they were on demo only a handful in the country the show was either Wembley Arena or Earls Court Exhibition Centre or even Olympia nearby. I forget now but I too saw them on display he said he waited around and bought one after the show had ended (clever bloke) I paid a few £100 for it, It was not cheap but I really wanted one and money was not stopping me. I’m not kidding it could have been about £300 to £400. Last time I had it all out it all worked it looks a bit messy `cos I made my own PSU for it (wires going in, but works)

I’m going to clear my loft out this spring and get rid of loads of stuff (A1200 etc.) I did have a Tower with Blizzard 1260 and ssci card all attached also with a Graphics card. I sold these years ago but it had loads of Ram and extra HDs inside. At the time, I had an Amiga setup that you would have died for to get. When I was selling my Tower with graphic card in, I wanted a good price and a chap came round he was haggling about the money I thought sod this I got a hammer and was about to smash my Graphics card up (honest no kidding) he screamed STOP, STOP and bought it straight away for the price I wanted. I lived in Manchester then so he might even remember it if he sees this. That’s a true story my wife thought it was the most funniest thing she ever saw/heard as she came running in to see what was going on

I promise I will not do that to the CD32 setup to be honest I have an Amiga mate and he’s a good lad as I`m not using it no more and cannot see me every using it, I might give it to him as he will understand the gem it is/was and will appreciate it.

For a few years, I thought Amiga could break through esp. when the A1200 came out but the glory is all distant dreams now. I moved camp over to the dark side (PC) late 1990s

But I still remember the good times with my old Amiga setup.

[Unicorn]

It has to be 4MB in SX1 as the 8MB stops the FMV card from working.

My GFX card was killed by a rodent, a hammer is taking to the extreme.

I have been using UAE on a mac to keep using the Amiga it is cool the see workbench in 2650x1440 pixels with 20TB of drives connected to it.

I saw a video of someone reviving a Hollywood Amiga and decided to see what I had. Mine was used to make a Coca Cola Christmas TV Commercial in its day. It would have been $15,000 worth of Amiga gear.

I am yet to find 3 Bridgeboards and 6 hard drive cards and the damn SX1 to CD32 plug and the second CD32 Power Supply.