A4000T - to buy or not to buy?

DPainter · 22 February 2002, 00:34

Found a local guy selling the following system, supposedly for US$420:

A4000T/40mhz with Video Toaster 4000 (4 video line in?)
2 monitors
software includes "CG,3-D,D-Paint,ADPRO"
HDD (he doesn't know what size, for some reason)
16mb of RAM (8,6,2 it says)

Seems like a great deal if it works, though not really a gaming machine, right? What else should I ask about?

jmmijo · 22 February 2002, 02:03

Since you mention it has a 40MHz CPU, find out if it's the 040 or 060. Sounds like the 040 to me however. Also check if it has the latest revs for the chipset, the Rev.11 Buster I believe cures some bugs and also does it have kickstart 3.0 or 3.1 roms and what OS version?

Just some things to ask, and hey perhaps you could take a look at the machine running over at this persons place.

DPainter · 22 February 2002, 02:14

Quote:

Originally posted by jmmijo
Since you mention it has a 40MHz CPU, find out if it's the 040 or 060. Sounds like the 040 to me however. Also check if it has the latest revs for the chipset, the Rev.11 Buster I believe cures some bugs and also does it have kickstart 3.0 or 3.1 roms and what OS version?

Just some things to ask, and hey perhaps you could take a look at the machine running over at this persons place.

Thanks for the info. Here's a picture he just sent of it, so it does seem to work.

jmmijo · 22 February 2002, 02:24

Actually the pic is a 2000 or 2500 not a 4000 desktop. You would like this one better anyway as the 2000 series has a lot more room inside. That's if you are gonna use it for video work.

EDIT: to clarify, this machine could still use the Video Toaster 4000 as well as the original. I think that there were some specific AGA things the 4000 could do and of course the 2000 can't use because it will have either the OCS or ECS chipset. Also he could have upgraded the chip ram to 2MB as there were some add-ons that would allow you to do this.

Amiga1992 · 22 February 2002, 03:22

Yeh, I was going to say "hey, that's not a 2000T", but then I realized it's not even a 4000!

Seems like TOO much to me.

Miggy2TheMax · 22 February 2002, 15:23

I'd first ask the guy why he reckons its a 4000T, could just be some misconception .. dunno how tho..

also ask him to take the case off and take some happy snaps of the insides and the back of the case also .. hopefully the quality will be good enough to determines whats in the machine.

Ask if he could use a tool like sysinfo to get some information about the machine and post you the screen dump of the results of the diagnostic tool.

DPainter · 22 February 2002, 21:53

Actually, now that it appears to be merely an A2000 with a 4000 Toaster card, I'm thinking this is not a very good deal for $420. I assumed it was an A4000 Tower until the first picture. Here's a picture of the back:

kriz · 23 February 2002, 15:42

hmm dont buy it, this guy is trying to trick you (if he have used an amiga for many years he would knew it was an A2000 not an A4000.....)

if you wanna buy, make sure you see it and test it before ...

kriz · 23 February 2002, 15:43

hohoh !! Look at that old Amiga500 mouse in the pic .. damn they sucked big time ...

Amiga1992 · 26 February 2002, 19:58

I actually preffer the old A500 mouse than teh new A1200 rounded thingy...

Miggy2TheMax · 27 February 2002, 01:45

I'm not a 2000 expert .. but that looks like a pretty stock standard machine, from the outside.. nothing to extraordinary about it at all.. (besides the toaster) do you know what type of accelerator is inside.. 040 ? In general I'd be having doubts about buying it.

DPainter · 27 February 2002, 02:03

Quote:

Originally posted by Miggy2TheMax
I'm not a 2000 expert .. but that looks like a pretty stock standard machine, from the outside.. nothing to extraordinary about it at all.. (besides the toaster) do you know what type of accelerator is inside.. 040 ? In general I'd be having doubts about buying it.

Yeah, I'm over it now that I've learned it's just an A2000. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Even applies to old computer hardware. Wish I had listened to the guys on here when I had a chance to buy an A3000 for $150 or less. :hooooo

DPainter · 04 March 2002, 18:51

He didn't sell it, so now he's offering it for US$225 with this more honest description:

Quote:

Amiga 2000A video toaster 4000 card 2 monitors working ASIS

jmmijo · 04 March 2002, 19:05

But of course, I've noticed some real 4000T's for sale on eBay recently. In fact someone had two of them for sale in the same auction.

I've lost out on a couple of bids because I only wanted to pay so much. Oh well, I'll keep looking for items for sale there. Seems to have been some nice equipment recently

Twistin'Ghost · 04 March 2002, 20:52

Well, I have decided that I am going to purchase a 4000, so hopefully I will find a nice system on ebay in the next 2-3 weeks!

DPainter · 20 March 2002, 18:05

Here's my latest close-call with purchasing an Amiga. It sounded too good to be true:

Quote:

Amiga 3000 - complete system with CPU, monitor, keyboard, speakers, and 68040 25mhz accelerator.

Price was $20. I called the guy up and he admitted the 3000 was not working, but that he just didn't have the heart to throw it away. He offered the whole thing for free if I'd drive up there (about 60 miles). Maybe it's worth it?

RetroMan · 20 March 2002, 18:11

Grab it man

If it´s not repairable you can throw it away after testing but first of all, GET IT NOW !

jmmijo · 20 March 2002, 18:57

Yep I agree, get it and see and keep it for spare parts when you get a working A3000

Twistin'Ghost · 20 March 2002, 19:40

Hell yeah, go for it. I've heard these stories before and half the time, the machine works anyway! It could be something as simple as the power supply. Plus the monitor and 040! Even the keyboard...look what keyboards are selling for on ebay. They're cheaper than they used to be, but even for $20 it's a steal. Even if it never works, it's worth owning for the spare parts!

Miggy2TheMax · 20 March 2002, 21:47

Quote:

Originally posted by DPainter
Here's my latest close-call with purchasing an Amiga. It sounded too good to be true:
Price was $20. I called the guy up and he admitted the 3000 was not working, but that he just didn't have the heart to throw it away. He offered the whole thing for free if I'd drive up there (about 60 miles). Maybe it's worth it?

maybe ? what sort of a question is that? Get in the car and drive, and if your smart you'll get their in half an hour

<b> definitely </b> go there and get it. Once you get it post what is wrong with the machine and I'm sure there will be someone on this board who will have the right knowledge to get it going again!

22 February 2002, 00:34	#1
DPainter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Montana, USA Posts: 342	A4000T - to buy or not to buy? Found a local guy selling the following system, supposedly for US$420: A4000T/40mhz with Video Toaster 4000 (4 video line in?) 2 monitors software includes "CG,3-D,D-Paint,ADPRO" HDD (he doesn't know what size, for some reason) 16mb of RAM (8,6,2 it says) Seems like a great deal if it works, though not really a gaming machine, right? What else should I ask about?

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22 February 2002, 02:03	#2
jmmijo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: PDX Age: 62 Posts: 2,395	Since you mention it has a 40MHz CPU, find out if it's the 040 or 060. Sounds like the 040 to me however. Also check if it has the latest revs for the chipset, the Rev.11 Buster I believe cures some bugs and also does it have kickstart 3.0 or 3.1 roms and what OS version? Just some things to ask, and hey perhaps you could take a look at the machine running over at this persons place.

22 February 2002, 02:24	#4
jmmijo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: PDX Age: 62 Posts: 2,395	Actually the pic is a 2000 or 2500 not a 4000 desktop. You would like this one better anyway as the 2000 series has a lot more room inside. That's if you are gonna use it for video work. EDIT: to clarify, this machine could still use the Video Toaster 4000 as well as the original. I think that there were some specific AGA things the 4000 could do and of course the 2000 can't use because it will have either the OCS or ECS chipset. Also he could have upgraded the chip ram to 2MB as there were some add-ons that would allow you to do this.

22 February 2002, 03:22	#5
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	Yeh, I was going to say "hey, that's not a 2000T", but then I realized it's not even a 4000! Seems like TOO much to me.

22 February 2002, 15:23	#6
Miggy2TheMax Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Australia Age: 45 Posts: 381	I'd first ask the guy why he reckons its a 4000T, could just be some misconception .. dunno how tho.. also ask him to take the case off and take some happy snaps of the insides and the back of the case also .. hopefully the quality will be good enough to determines whats in the machine. Ask if he could use a tool like sysinfo to get some information about the machine and post you the screen dump of the results of the diagnostic tool.

22 February 2002, 21:53	#7
DPainter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Montana, USA Posts: 342	Actually, now that it appears to be merely an A2000 with a 4000 Toaster card, I'm thinking this is not a very good deal for $420. I assumed it was an A4000 Tower until the first picture. Here's a picture of the back:

23 February 2002, 15:42	#8
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 41 Posts: 3,188	hmm dont buy it, this guy is trying to trick you (if he have used an amiga for many years he would knew it was an A2000 not an A4000.....) if you wanna buy, make sure you see it and test it before ...

23 February 2002, 15:43	#9
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 41 Posts: 3,188	hohoh !! Look at that old Amiga500 mouse in the pic .. damn they sucked big time ...

26 February 2002, 19:58	#10
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	I actually preffer the old A500 mouse than teh new A1200 rounded thingy...

27 February 2002, 01:45	#11
Miggy2TheMax Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Australia Age: 45 Posts: 381	I'm not a 2000 expert .. but that looks like a pretty stock standard machine, from the outside.. nothing to extraordinary about it at all.. (besides the toaster) do you know what type of accelerator is inside.. 040 ? In general I'd be having doubts about buying it.

04 March 2002, 19:05	#14
jmmijo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: PDX Age: 62 Posts: 2,395	But of course, I've noticed some real 4000T's for sale on eBay recently. In fact someone had two of them for sale in the same auction. I've lost out on a couple of bids because I only wanted to pay so much. Oh well, I'll keep looking for items for sale there. Seems to have been some nice equipment recently

04 March 2002, 20:52	#15
Twistin'Ghost Give up the ghost Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: U$A Age: 33 Posts: 4,662	Well, I have decided that I am going to purchase a 4000, so hopefully I will find a nice system on ebay in the next 2-3 weeks!

20 March 2002, 18:11	#17
RetroMan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Germany Age: 51 Posts: 3,704	Grab it man If it´s not repairable you can throw it away after testing but first of all, GET IT NOW !

20 March 2002, 18:57	#18
jmmijo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: PDX Age: 62 Posts: 2,395	Yep I agree, get it and see and keep it for spare parts when you get a working A3000

20 March 2002, 19:40	#19
Twistin'Ghost Give up the ghost Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: U$A Age: 33 Posts: 4,662	Hell yeah, go for it. I've heard these stories before and half the time, the machine works anyway! It could be something as simple as the power supply. Plus the monitor and 040! Even the keyboard...look what keyboards are selling for on ebay. They're cheaper than they used to be, but even for $20 it's a steal. Even if it never works, it's worth owning for the spare parts!

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