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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: circlip on September 14, 2008, 09:23:24 AM
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Hi, guys, it's been a while.
I'm thinking about getting an A600 mobo, like someone suggested once, but how can I enclose it without original case?
I have an A500, but I was pointed out that the case won't fit, should I just get a whole A600 complete?
My reason for the A600 is because I want the capability for storing games on HDD, and I'm just impatient waiting for another sidecar to appear on ebay for A500
Thanks everyone!
Circlip.
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Well the A600 mobo should fit into the A500-case (with the help of some super-glue), and it should be possible to connect the A500 KBD to the A600-mobo (requires some soldering).
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You're in luck as I happen to have an extra A600 case. It is yours for $20 plus postage if you want it. Contact me at amigadave@earthlink.net
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LOL You're in luck cause you can get ripped off for 20$ today ! :lol:
a600 is not such a rare stuff, he can get a full unit for 20$ ! (maybe even less, from UK)
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countzero wrote:
LOL You're in luck cause you can get ripped off for 20$ today ! :lol:
a600 is not such a rare stuff, he can get a full unit for 20$ ! (maybe even less, from UK)
Well, they are quite rare in the USA, which is where I am located. Give him one of your spare A600 cases, it makes no difference to me, but I'll not be giving my Amiga gear away.
I need the money to buy newer Amiga gear :lol:
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You can do what I did a couple weeks ago and make your own A600 case out of whatever junk you have lying around.
(http://68.165.120.234/temp/600d/4.jpg)
(http://68.165.120.234/temp/600d/2.jpg)
(http://68.165.120.234/temp/600d/3.jpg)
(http://68.165.120.234/temp/600d/1.jpg)
(http://68.165.120.234/temp/600d/9.jpg)
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So just to throw this out there, would NTSC be a problem in Australia (that uses PAL), or can I still use my A520 adapter?
(Total newbie here).
I might go all out and try hunt down a complete A600 if things go my way.
I'm not using an RF cable, but A/V inputs on my television.
EDIT: Actually, shouldn't be a problem, I have an A/V adapter for my monitor, it will look a little horrible for a while, but usable. (Just looking at pics above, there is already A/V out ports on A600.)
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Of course it would be a problem. In my experience avoid all NTSC amigas which are not AGA. Most amiga software is made for PAL machines and they give all kinds of strange trouble on NTSC machines (This coming from a user in Japan, NTSC land).
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So what should I ask the seller? If it's AGA NTSC? It's coming from Canada I think.
Circlip
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Probably NTSC, definitely not AGA (600s aren't)
Best to stay away from it, I bought a PAL board and I'm in the US, I only get a color image using the RGB connection (B&W only using composite or an s-video adapter I have.) You might see similar issues trying an NTSC system in PAL land, but I couldn't be sure.
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There is no AGA A600. It is ECS.
If it's coming from canada it's probably NTSC. But ask the seller, he might have imported from Europe. If it's NTSC I say don't buy it. NTSC A600 are kind of rare also, so it might cost a fortune.
Your A520 is a PAL unit, you can't use it with a NTSC unit (well maybe you can use but I'm sure either the color or sync rate will be broken)
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Didn't someone make a laptop A600 once?
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downix wrote:
Didn't someone make a laptop A600 once?
Yup :- http://www.amigahistory.co.uk/suzanne.html
Another A600 recasing was done by a member of my user group, It's the best 600 I've used :- http://lincsamiga.org.uk/wordpress/index.php/members-amigas/macmigas-ultra600-project/
Gaz
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The mobo turned out to be PAL, so bid and won! I have a laptop HDD, it's actually 6Gb, is this too big for an A600?
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circlip wrote:
I have a laptop HDD, it's actually 6Gb, is this too big for an A600?
Yes and no. Amiga OS 1.0-3.1 has a maximum drivesize of 4 GB and a maximum partitionsize of 2 GB with their built in filesystems. Larger partitions sometimes appear to work, but when the partitions starts to fill up, chances are files will get corrupted.
This means that in your case you can use a maximum of 4 GB of your harddrive (2x 2 GB) or you can use a different filesystem which support larger harddrives and partitions or you can use Amiga OS 3.5/3.9, which natively support larger drives and partitions. Amiga OS3.5/3.9 needs at least an 68020 with some fastram, and turboboards for the A600 are rather hard to find.
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Jiffy wrote:
....or you can use a different filesystem which support larger harddrives and partitions....
Can this be done without extra RAM, or an accelerator, etc? I definately don't want to be losing data, like sticking tape over the hole of a standard 3.5" floppy!
When I have it all set up, I'll need to find a guide to do all these things, cuz basically this is all new to me. I come from DOS/Windows/Linux world.
EDIT: The mobo has a 2.05 ROM, will this let me use a 6Gb HDD, or do I need newer system plus accelerator, etc, etc?
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circlip wrote:
EDIT: The mobo has a 2.05 ROM, will this let me use a 6Gb HDD, or do I need newer system plus accelerator, etc, etc?
As mentioned, Amiga OS 1.0-3.1 does not support partitions larger than 2 GB and harddrives larger than 4 GB. You can use your 6 GB harddrive, but only up to 4 GB, consisting of two 2 GB partitions. The remaining 2 GB can not be used reliably. Beware: you can often create larger partitions with Amiga OS 1.0-3.1, but this will not work reliably!
If you want to use the remaining space on your harddrive, you should use a different filesystem (check out Aminet for this) or go to OS 3.5/3.9. When using OS 3.5/3.9 you need a newer kickstart, extra fastram, a turboboard and a cd-rom drive (the drive is only needed during installation).
My advice: use the the 6 GB drive. You'll most likely never fill it up anyway, even if you only use two 2 GB partitions...
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Thanks Jiffy. So as you are saying, using two 2Gb patitions to make 4Gb's won't result in any data loss over time? Is this correct?
Thanks,
Circlip.
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You either need kickrom v2.05 rev 37.300(not 37.299), v2.05 rev 37.350 or v3.1 rev 40.63 for the harddrive to work.
if you need help drop by anytime.
(same place you got your A500 Power supply)
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Friendly advice... Buy a CF/IDE adapter. That's what I use for my A1200. I have 3 CF cards for it, 1,2,4 Gb.
Better than a HDD.
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Yup :- http://www.amigahistory.co.uk/suzanne.html
Another A600 recasing was done by a member of my user group, It's the best 600 I've used :- http://lincsamiga.org.uk/wordpress/index.php/members-amigas/macmigas-ultra600-project/
Gaz
I know this thread is kinda old, but a newer A600 laptop exists. I know so cause i built it :-) http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm242/salax54/TOTAL9.jpg
You can see the whole building-process here: http://www.amigahellas.gr/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2376&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=0
although it's all in Greek, but pictures are more than a thousand words...
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Ermm...os3.0/3.1 does NOT have a 4gb drive limit.
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I have a 7.2GB HD in my A1200 and have absolutely no problems whatsoever. If memory serves me right, the limit is 9 or 10GB (It's been 15-16 years since last I gave the drive size limit a thought, so bear with me if I'm wrong).
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The limit resides in scsi.device...replace that and you can comfortably use any size HD in your amiga.