A1200 - lamer advice needed please !

01 September 2002, 18:11

I didn't realise A1200's where so cheap on ebay !

I'm now seriously thinking of buying one.

I need some advice quick........

Please can you all advise me on upgrading this machine (I never owned a A1200, only a A500).

It comes with a HD - can these be upgraded with standard IDE 2.5" HD's to really big sizes ? If I was gonna do this anyway would I be better just buying a normal A1200 - or does the HD version have extra interfaces inside ? The A1200HD is only a few pounds more.

Can you get them to work with PC monitors ?

Can you still buy those case adaptor things to put them in a A4000 style case ?

Can you still get compatible memory, and what is the max installable ?

Can it be networked (a proper network, not Serial/Parallel) with a PC ?

What other cool things can I get for it ?

Please tell me everything you know !

jmmijo · 01 September 2002, 18:37

Yeah they are cheap for you Europeans, but us Yanks have to shell out the big bucks due to greed

Dastardly · 01 September 2002, 18:42

How cheap exactly?

01 September 2002, 19:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Dastardly
How cheap exactly?

I got my A1200 + 340 megs HD + Blizzard IV 30@50 + 2 external diskdrives + 15 original games for 70 € + shipping (ebay.de I love you

)

blackcornflake · 02 September 2002, 02:21

You can do loads with an A1200.

Tower cases aplenty (I recommend the Power/Elbox Tower).

The A1200 HD has no extra interfaces than the A1200, just a 2.5" HD built in. The A1200 has one IDE interface. Don't bother with a 2.5" HD, btw. Any generic 3.5" HD is OK, as large as you like (4GB+ requires OS 3.5+, which in turn requires 3.1 KS chips). I recommend purchasing an IDE buffered interface, which allows connection of 4 IDE devices. The basic interface allows connection of 2 devices.

You can connect IDE/SCSI CD-ROM drive(s).

There are loads of 68k/PPC accelerators to choose from - most are happy with EDO SIMMs. 68k accelerators are dead cheap - go for 68040 minimum.

You have a choice of PCI busboards (enabling cheap gfx card, ethernet (TCP/IP, Samba), sound card, TV tuner card...)

PC (SVGA) monitors become useable with a scandoubler. Available in internal and external models. External model sticks out like an A500 modulator. Internal scandoubler model provides a second video output backplate, in a tower.

02 September 2002, 02:47

Thanks for that advice.

Where can I get these tower cases from ? Are there any shops selling them ?

Or do I have to get the whole lot of ebay ?

blackcornflake · 02 September 2002, 02:59

The Power Tower is still commercially available. It is designed by Elbox of Poland, and distributed in the UK by Power Computing.

02 September 2002, 03:17

It seems a bit expensive at £119.95.

Is there much difference between this case and a standard PC tower case ? (from a case/fittings perspective).

I know I can get a 230W PSU and a PC keyboard easy & cheap.

I reckon I could get the extened floppy cable, floppy fascia and PC->Amiga keyboard conversion lead from other sources or make them myself.

Anyone else got a A1200 in a PC Case ? Is this not possible/not worth the effort ?

blackcornflake · 02 September 2002, 03:43

It is perfectly possible to mount an A1200 mobo in a PC case; just a little DIY required. If you can do it yourself, do it yourself.

Amiga cases only differ in that they feature mounting panels for Amiga boards, with cutouts for all ports perfectly aligned. The A1200 isn't really a 'standard' shape for a motherboard, compared to a PC.

A power adaptor is essential, too. The A1200 mobo still takes power via its original socket.

02 September 2002, 03:56

If it comes with Workbench 3.1, it is assumed it has the Kickstart 3.1 ROM - yes ?

There are many with WB 3.0, I guess these have the 3.0 ROM's.

Does WB3.1 work with Kickstart 3.0 ?

This might sound dumb, but the only WB I know is 1.3 & 1.2 !!

blackcornflake · 02 September 2002, 12:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim
If it comes with Workbench 3.1, it is assumed it has the Kickstart 3.1 ROM - yes ?

There are many with WB 3.0, I guess these have the 3.0 ROM's.

Does WB3.1 work with Kickstart 3.0 ?

Pretty safe to assume that an Amiga running OS3.1 has 3.1 chips installed. Worth making quite sure, though. OS3.1 will run with 3.0 chips, but will cause problems.

Quote:

This might sound dumb, but the only WB I know is 1.3 & 1.2 !!

Nothing dumb about seeking information.

Washac · 02 September 2002, 15:16

I have my 1200 in a Power Tower, and it fits in like a hand into
a glove.

The case is designed to take the 1200 mother board, there is no cutting, no filing, no soldering. It has room for Zorro and everything.

Yes, a PC tower is cheaper and can be utilised, but you will have to cut, drill, solder, sort out a correct power supply etc.

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim
It seems a bit expensive at £119.95.

Is there much difference between this case and a standard PC tower case ? (from a case/fittings perspective).

I know I can get a 230W PSU and a PC keyboard easy & cheap.

I reckon I could get the extened floppy cable, floppy fascia and PC->Amiga keyboard conversion lead from other sources or make them myself.

Anyone else got a A1200 in a PC Case ? Is this not possible/not worth the effort ?

blackcornflake · 02 September 2002, 15:24

Me too. Everything, including Mediator board and PCI cards all fit perfectly. I'm no good with computer DIY, so a ready-made solution is the only way for me. The thing was £150 when I bought it (1998) though!

You get what you pay for, I guess!

01 September 2002, 18:11	#1
Jim Posts: n/a	A1200 - lamer advice needed please ! I didn't realise A1200's where so cheap on ebay ! I'm now seriously thinking of buying one. I need some advice quick........ Please can you all advise me on upgrading this machine (I never owned a A1200, only a A500). It comes with a HD - can these be upgraded with standard IDE 2.5" HD's to really big sizes ? If I was gonna do this anyway would I be better just buying a normal A1200 - or does the HD version have extra interfaces inside ? The A1200HD is only a few pounds more. Can you get them to work with PC monitors ? Can you still buy those case adaptor things to put them in a A4000 style case ? Can you still get compatible memory, and what is the max installable ? Can it be networked (a proper network, not Serial/Parallel) with a PC ? What other cool things can I get for it ? Please tell me everything you know !

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01 September 2002, 18:37	#2
jmmijo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: PDX Age: 62 Posts: 2,395	Yeah they are cheap for you Europeans, but us Yanks have to shell out the big bucks due to greed

01 September 2002, 18:42	#3
Dastardly Into the Wonderful Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Age: 49 Posts: 2,335	How cheap exactly?

02 September 2002, 02:21	#5
blackcornflake Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cereal box Posts: 794	You can do loads with an A1200. Tower cases aplenty (I recommend the Power/Elbox Tower). The A1200 HD has no extra interfaces than the A1200, just a 2.5" HD built in. The A1200 has one IDE interface. Don't bother with a 2.5" HD, btw. Any generic 3.5" HD is OK, as large as you like (4GB+ requires OS 3.5+, which in turn requires 3.1 KS chips). I recommend purchasing an IDE buffered interface, which allows connection of 4 IDE devices. The basic interface allows connection of 2 devices. You can connect IDE/SCSI CD-ROM drive(s). There are loads of 68k/PPC accelerators to choose from - most are happy with EDO SIMMs. 68k accelerators are dead cheap - go for 68040 minimum. You have a choice of PCI busboards (enabling cheap gfx card, ethernet (TCP/IP, Samba), sound card, TV tuner card...) PC (SVGA) monitors become useable with a scandoubler. Available in internal and external models. External model sticks out like an A500 modulator. Internal scandoubler model provides a second video output backplate, in a tower.

02 September 2002, 02:47	#6
Jim Posts: n/a	Thanks for that advice. Where can I get these tower cases from ? Are there any shops selling them ? Or do I have to get the whole lot of ebay ?

02 September 2002, 02:59	#7
blackcornflake Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cereal box Posts: 794	The Power Tower is still commercially available. It is designed by Elbox of Poland, and distributed in the UK by Power Computing.

02 September 2002, 03:17	#8
Jim Posts: n/a	It seems a bit expensive at £119.95. Is there much difference between this case and a standard PC tower case ? (from a case/fittings perspective). I know I can get a 230W PSU and a PC keyboard easy & cheap. I reckon I could get the extened floppy cable, floppy fascia and PC->Amiga keyboard conversion lead from other sources or make them myself. Anyone else got a A1200 in a PC Case ? Is this not possible/not worth the effort ?

02 September 2002, 03:43	#9
blackcornflake Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cereal box Posts: 794	It is perfectly possible to mount an A1200 mobo in a PC case; just a little DIY required. If you can do it yourself, do it yourself. Amiga cases only differ in that they feature mounting panels for Amiga boards, with cutouts for all ports perfectly aligned. The A1200 isn't really a 'standard' shape for a motherboard, compared to a PC. A power adaptor is essential, too. The A1200 mobo still takes power via its original socket.

02 September 2002, 03:56	#10
Jim Posts: n/a	If it comes with Workbench 3.1, it is assumed it has the Kickstart 3.1 ROM - yes ? There are many with WB 3.0, I guess these have the 3.0 ROM's. Does WB3.1 work with Kickstart 3.0 ? This might sound dumb, but the only WB I know is 1.3 & 1.2 !!

02 September 2002, 15:24	#13
blackcornflake Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cereal box Posts: 794	Me too. Everything, including Mediator board and PCI cards all fit perfectly. I'm no good with computer DIY, so a ready-made solution is the only way for me. The thing was £150 when I bought it (1998) though! You get what you pay for, I guess!

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