Putting together a nice A1200 in 2016

mintsauce82 · 08 January 2016, 18:47

Hey all, former A500 owner here looking to get back into Amiga hardware. What I want to do is put together a kickass A1200 similar to Dan Wood's machine shown in his [ Show youtube player ].

I understand that I need an A1200 machine (obviously, that's the easy bit), CF reader, accelerator, and video adapter so I can use DVI / HDMI. USB might be nice too. Not too worried about taking it online at this point, although that may come later just so I have an extra talking point / thing to show off.

I came across this post (http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=80504) which was really useful - so it would be best to look for an ACA series accelerator? I basically just want to speed up the machine enough for demanding games like Frontier, but maintain game compatibility so everything runs at the speed it should.

I feel like this is the start of a long, slightly painful but ultimately rewarding journey... sorry for the noob questions and thanks in advance!

Amiga1992 · 08 January 2016, 18:53

It all depends on your use.

If it's for games, all you need is a CF-IDE adapter, maybe a PCMCIA CF adapter for easier file transfer, and some extra Fast RAM (16MB recomemnded). You don't need an accelerator and definitely don't need USB.

The speed increase you might get from an accelerator on most games is negligible, so the cheap ACA1221 is your best choice for some acceleration (which you can upgrade with an unlock code later if you want) and as much Fast RAM as you will ever need.

mintsauce82 · 08 January 2016, 19:37

Cool, thanks. This might be easier than I thought. Yeah, the USB option was more to have the option of using various USB control pads I've got lying around. But I'm sure Amiga sticks or Megadrive pads will do the trick. I'm very fussy about my controllers!

Amiga1992 · 10 January 2016, 16:30

USB control pads will not work with any legacy software, you need proper controls.

If you want to use USB controllers, get something like this:
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=73410

HardStep · 10 January 2016, 18:40

Also, if you won't mind using PSX controllers, there is Kipper's adapter:
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=73402

Predseda · 10 January 2016, 19:50

PCMCIA network card is also handy, sometimes. Doesnt matter if LAN of WIFI. I use it for downloading stuff from aminet and uploading to FTP, also for jabberwocky chatting, time to time.

mintsauce82 · 10 January 2016, 21:01

Neat, thanks guys. Will definitely think about the network card.

So if I bought an A1200 off eBay, for example, and then fitted one of these: http://amigastore.eu/en/194-indivisi...kerfixer-.html

... I would be able to connect it to a DVI monitor? Seems almost too easy.

-Acid- · 10 January 2016, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by mintsauce82

Neat, thanks guys. Will definitely think about the network card.

So if I bought an A1200 off eBay, for example, and then fitted one of these: http://amigastore.eu/en/194-indivisi...kerfixer-.html

... I would be able to connect it to a DVI monitor? Seems almost too easy.

Yes but unless you absolutely have to have it displayed on a monitor I would not bother (also Indivision 2's have their problems). Just remember it's not a graphics card so you won't suddenly be ale to use HD screen modes with Workbench. I would just stick with RGB Scart, most modern TV's still have this connection (in Europe at least) or you could get yourself an old school CRT screen.

mintsauce82 · 10 January 2016, 21:41

When you say HD screen modes, how HD are we talking? Would 640x512 fall into that category?

I know, SCART would be nice but I'm actually in Canada now so that's not such a common option.

edit: or, could I use a SCART to HDMI converter box?

Predseda · 10 January 2016, 21:50

All that flicker. So basically everything above lowres (320x256) and med-res (640x256). Others can be properly displayed only through scandoubler / flicker-fixers.

turrican9 · 11 January 2016, 00:19

Another solution is to get hold of the BenQ 702A LED monitor as it will work really good with a simple RGB to VGA adapter. It can sync to 15KHz. I have odered two of these.

http://insertdisktwo.com/2015/11/21/...for-amiga-use/
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php...SUB%29-Adapter
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=80217

mintsauce82 · 12 January 2016, 01:08

Again, very interesting and thank you.

Now, one more thing - can I copy my emulated Workbench folder to a CF card then put it in the Amiga? Would save a bit of time in getting it set up.

I'd have to select the card through WinUAE right? I do have original Workbench disks etc, it's all legit

sneeker · 12 January 2016, 01:21

You can copy your emulated config to a real compact flash as long as it matches, Thats how most people set them up now. (Done it many a time, now have an image on my pc for my 16gb card just in cast for future use. You just remove any filesystems from it using diskpart, and then add it as a drive under winuae.
Also a lot of normal lcd tellys will flickerfix, so for example the samsung I have does 640 x 512 with no hint of flicker.

08 January 2016, 18:47	#1
mintsauce82 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada Age: 41 Posts: 74	Putting together a nice A1200 in 2016 Hey all, former A500 owner here looking to get back into Amiga hardware. What I want to do is put together a kickass A1200 similar to Dan Wood's machine shown in his [ Show youtube player ]. I understand that I need an A1200 machine (obviously, that's the easy bit), CF reader, accelerator, and video adapter so I can use DVI / HDMI. USB might be nice too. Not too worried about taking it online at this point, although that may come later just so I have an extra talking point / thing to show off. I came across this post (http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=80504) which was really useful - so it would be best to look for an ACA series accelerator? I basically just want to speed up the machine enough for demanding games like Frontier, but maintain game compatibility so everything runs at the speed it should. I feel like this is the start of a long, slightly painful but ultimately rewarding journey... sorry for the noob questions and thanks in advance!

10 January 2016, 16:30	#4
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	USB control pads will not work with any legacy software, you need proper controls. If you want to use USB controllers, get something like this: http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=73410 Last edited by Amiga1992; 10 January 2016 at 16:36.

10 January 2016, 21:41	#9
mintsauce82 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada Age: 41 Posts: 74	When you say HD screen modes, how HD are we talking? Would 640x512 fall into that category? I know, SCART would be nice but I'm actually in Canada now so that's not such a common option. edit: or, could I use a SCART to HDMI converter box? Last edited by mintsauce82; 10 January 2016 at 21:49.

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08 January 2016, 18:53	#2
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	It all depends on your use. If it's for games, all you need is a CF-IDE adapter, maybe a PCMCIA CF adapter for easier file transfer, and some extra Fast RAM (16MB recomemnded). You don't need an accelerator and definitely don't need USB. The speed increase you might get from an accelerator on most games is negligible, so the cheap ACA1221 is your best choice for some acceleration (which you can upgrade with an unlock code later if you want) and as much Fast RAM as you will ever need.

08 January 2016, 19:37	#3
mintsauce82 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada Age: 41 Posts: 74	Cool, thanks. This might be easier than I thought. Yeah, the USB option was more to have the option of using various USB control pads I've got lying around. But I'm sure Amiga sticks or Megadrive pads will do the trick. I'm very fussy about my controllers!

10 January 2016, 18:40	#5
HardStep Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 185	Also, if you won't mind using PSX controllers, there is Kipper's adapter: http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=73402

10 January 2016, 19:50	#6
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,546	PCMCIA network card is also handy, sometimes. Doesnt matter if LAN of WIFI. I use it for downloading stuff from aminet and uploading to FTP, also for jabberwocky chatting, time to time.

10 January 2016, 21:01	#7
mintsauce82 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada Age: 41 Posts: 74	Neat, thanks guys. Will definitely think about the network card. So if I bought an A1200 off eBay, for example, and then fitted one of these: http://amigastore.eu/en/194-indivisi...kerfixer-.html ... I would be able to connect it to a DVI monitor? Seems almost too easy.

10 January 2016, 21:50	#10
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,546	All that flicker. So basically everything above lowres (320x256) and med-res (640x256). Others can be properly displayed only through scandoubler / flicker-fixers.

11 January 2016, 00:19	#11
turrican9 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Norway Age: 47 Posts: 893	Another solution is to get hold of the BenQ 702A LED monitor as it will work really good with a simple RGB to VGA adapter. It can sync to 15KHz. I have odered two of these. http://insertdisktwo.com/2015/11/21/...for-amiga-use/ http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php...SUB%29-Adapter http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=80217

12 January 2016, 01:08	#12
mintsauce82 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada Age: 41 Posts: 74	Again, very interesting and thank you. Now, one more thing - can I copy my emulated Workbench folder to a CF card then put it in the Amiga? Would save a bit of time in getting it set up. I'd have to select the card through WinUAE right? I do have original Workbench disks etc, it's all legit

12 January 2016, 01:21	#13
sneeker Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Manchester! Posts: 308	You can copy your emulated config to a real compact flash as long as it matches, Thats how most people set them up now. (Done it many a time, now have an image on my pc for my 16gb card just in cast for future use. You just remove any filesystems from it using diskpart, and then add it as a drive under winuae. Also a lot of normal lcd tellys will flickerfix, so for example the samsung I have does 640 x 512 with no hint of flicker.

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