Working A4000

[Majek]

I recently did a loft clear out and came across an Amiga A4000/40 and A1200 both in working order. I intend to keep the A1200 but was wondering if the A4000 is sellable.

It has the following:

68040/40
10Mb Ram
GVP Scsi card
VLAB frame Grabber
Hydra Ethernet card
Opal Vision PAL
Sysquest 88Mb SCSI drive with 5 catridges

[alexh]

You'd get the best price on eBay. They go for at least £1000 but with the extras you have you might get more.

I imagine your inbox is full of low-ball offers.

Post some pictures of inside of the area near the battery. They can leak and destroy the computer all together.

I would be interested depending on condition but I'm far too far away.

[eXeler0]

The config above could go for €1500

[Majek]

The first thing I did was removed the battery. I will post picture when I get home.

[Majek]

Some pictures. I installed an additional 30gb ide drive as did not want to loose the other drive. Also got a scalamm key. I used it back in the day for presentations. Hay days when PowerPoint was just a kids game. Still got Scalamm Infochannel on PC.

[alexh]

There is a little bit of corrosion caused by a previous battery leak. (e.g. the green on the legs of the pins). It will need addressing eventually.

But it could have been much worse.

[Majek]

I ordered some isopropyl to clean the area
Any advice on how to use the stuff?

[alexh]

I think you're supposed to use White Vinegar first to neutralise the alkali from the battery then IPA then deionised water but as how to do it I am not quite sure. Some suggest cotton buds and/or an antistatic brush

If you're selling and it's working why not leave it up to the vendor to fix rather than risk anything?

[Ami_GFX]

A toothbrush is pretty common for this sort of cleaning. Q-tips work for tighter areas but can leave cotton fibers around pins so you have to be careful and make sure that no fibers got stuck on a pin.

I didn't pay much attention to Amiga prices over the last few years and I'm somewhat shocked at what they're going for now. There is an auction for a bare bones A4000 in working condition right now that's currently $1775 with eight hours to go on the auction.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125301076237

There was one last month of an untouched A4000 Toaster system that included the A4000 with Toaster and TBC, monitor, manuals and assorted peripheral hardware that went for $2500. It was in working condition with a leaking battery. My first A4000 was an almost identical system from a technical college in Pennsylvania. I think mine came with a bit more external video hardware. I beat all the other bidders for it on Easter Sunday 2006 and I paid just under $400 plus around $75 to have all the heavy gear shipped to me. It might be better to think about it a bit before selling the A4000 unless you really need the money. It's likely to continue appreciating in value and you're not likely to see another one if you let this one go. It will definitely make you more money keeping it than interest in a bank account or bonds or most stocks would.

[r.cade]

Just FYI - corrosion is eating down through and across the board slowly underneath the solder mask. It needs professional work or it will not live too much longer before you start having issues like no RAM detected, or worse.

[Majek]

Thanks for all this information. It's more letting it go to waste than the money. But it's also a thought to keep it.
Where in the UK will one find a professional outfit to clean and stop the corrosion?

[Leon Besson]

Originally Posted by Majek

Thanks for all this information. It's more letting it go to waste than the money. But it's also a thought to keep it.
Where in the UK will one find a professional outfit to clean and stop the corrosion?

Would have PM’d you. But you aren’t accepting any

[Majek]

I've changed PM options now.

[Leon Besson]

Yhpm!