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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: blanning on March 22, 2010, 08:35:29 PM

Title: Should I upgrade or should I upgrade?
Post by: blanning on March 22, 2010, 08:35:29 PM
I have a 2000 with a mehachip, a gvp 68030 board, a bridgeboard, a deneb, and a couple hard drives.  I also have a stock amiga 500.  I'm having a hard time deciding what to do.

I had originally planned to sell a 128D I have to pay for a hard drive upgrade for my 500.  I originally had a 500 back in the 80s.  So I had planned to start playing with that.

Then I saw that someone had put a Pico-ITX motherboard into an A600.  I thought I could put the same motherboard in a 500 and end up with a much faster and more flexible machine than trying to piece together over-priced obsolete hardware from ebay.

But while that's cool for other reasons, it lacks the real-amiga-hardware coolness of a commodore solution.

Then someone offered me an Amiga 3000 for the 128D.  That got me thinking that I could switch the deneb to the 3000 and not need an indivision.  I'd have to ditch the bridgeboard, but I'd still have the 2000 if I want to play with that.  And I could put the megachip in the 500.

So what should I do?  I could:

1. ebay the 128D and buy an indivision
2. ebay the 128D (and probably a couple other things) and buy a pico-itx motherboard and put it in a 500 case, then do xp + winuae
3. trade the 128D for a 3000 and move the deneb over to that and put the megachip in the 500

What should I do?

brian
Title: Re: Should I upgrade or should I upgrade?
Post by: Tenacious on March 22, 2010, 08:47:31 PM
Take the long view.

A preserved Amiga will only continue to be rare, unique, and more treasured in the years ahead.  A 500 with it's innards hacked out in exchange for a commodity board (obsolete sooner) will only be a disappointment in just a few years time.

Maybe you could keep all 3 and use them to their strengths.  A500 for games and small apps.  A2000 for great expansion.  A3000 for 32 bit speed and VGA out.

Take a clue from Antiques Roadshow, when someone updates an old original and completely destroys its value to the future.
Title: Re: Should I upgrade or should I upgrade?
Post by: Nostalgiac on March 22, 2010, 08:50:24 PM
you have a luxery problem methinks - such nice choises :)
Option 3 sounds good.

if you're selling any of the stuff, dont forget to post here + tell us your locations ?

Tom UK
Title: Re: Should I upgrade or should I upgrade?
Post by: blanning on March 22, 2010, 09:14:05 PM
I wish I had the money to do them all.  I have a 600 I could sell also, but I'd probably regret that.

I agree about a working 500 being worth more long-term.  Although the caps may degrade and stop it from working eventually.  And 500s aren't exactly rare in spite of what that guy on ebay says about the 500 he wants $200 for.  

Maybe it would be better to locate an already-dead donor 500.

brian
Title: Re: Should I upgrade or should I upgrade?
Post by: save2600 on March 22, 2010, 09:27:00 PM
Why not go for the gold and snag a minty 2060 card to throw in your Miggy?

If your 128D is in EXCELLENT shape and complete, I'll knock $200 off the price of my Blizzard 2060 w/ a nice HD <> you owing me $300 net and we both take care of shipping on our ends  :)
Title: Re: Should I upgrade or should I upgrade?
Post by: blanning on March 22, 2010, 10:57:31 PM
Quote from: save2600;549235
Why not go for the gold and snag a minty 2060 card to throw in your Miggy?

If your 128D is in EXCELLENT shape and complete, I'll knock $200 off the price of my Blizzard 2060 w/ a nice HD <> you owing me $300 net and we both take care of shipping on our ends  :)


It is in excellent condition, and everything works. When I got it, I opened it up and cleaned out what little dust there was in it.  The floppy drive and keyboard work fine.  I didn't get any disks or manuals with it so I wouldn't include them, although I have a catweasel board and 100s of c64 disk images so...

I need to give Mr 3000 first dibs.  I'm not sure I want to go that route though.  I haven't seen pictures, and I don't know how much ram is in there yet or how many floppy drives.  Also, It's a 16mhz 3000 and I hear there are various chip versions, some better than others.

I cant get there from here though.  The accountant would kill me if I spent $300 on old computers, hence the sacrificial 128D.  lol

brian
Title: Re: Should I upgrade or should I upgrade?
Post by: save2600 on March 22, 2010, 11:05:44 PM
Sounds like you need to fire your accountant  ;)   lol!