Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Mucker on February 10, 2004, 10:09:15 PM
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I have an eyetech z4 a1200 tower, can some please tel me, how to fit a graphics card, install the software, and where can i get one from please!
Cheers Mark
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Well, you'll need either a Zorro or PCI expansion board or a PPC accelerator. With PCI the most recommended czards seem to be the old Voodoo 3/4/5s also it seems the TNT2 from Riva works. Zorro opens up the classic Amiga line, like the Picasso, or CyberVision 64/3D cards (these two are best regarded as far as I can tell). The PPC card for an Amiga 1200 can fit a BlizzardVisionPPC card.
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I'd recommend you the Mediator ZIV solution, so you won't loose all your current ZIV expansions.
Cheers...
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Hiya mate, i appreciate the info, but looking at the cost of a ppc system, would you think i`d be better waiting, save the extra, and go for a g3 or g4 Amiga 1?
As i`m not to worried about software compatibility between classic os, or 4.0
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Once OS4 comes out for the AmigaOne, I'd say jump on it, far cheaper a far superior to a classic PPC rig. As it is now, well, I'm not so sure, it seems imminent that OS4 will come out, but you never know...
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Hi Mucker,
It would be better for you to sell your Amiga 1200 Tower and buy yourself an Amiga 4000 or 2500 computer. Do not waste any more money on that A1200 Tower. If you need a really fast and powerful computer then get yourself a Pentium 4 PC. I have all of the Amiga models, including an AmigaOne G4. My Pentium 4 PC, running Windows 98 Second Edition, blows the doors off ALL of my Amiga computers. But, I still love my Amiga computers and actually use them all the time. I like playing the classic video games and watching all the cool demos and animations that were produced for the Amiga. But, if I need speed and power, I do not kid myself, I always use my Pentium 4 PC. It is much faster and out-performs my Amiga 4000 Tower and my AmigaOne G4. Yes, it would be better for you to sell that low-end Amiga model and get yourself one of the high-end Amiga models (like the Amiga 2500, 3000 or 4000). You can buy a really nice Amiga 2500 system on eBay for around $250.00 and an Amiga 4000 system for around $500.00.
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Oh No!
It's Him (http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=537)!
:lol:
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It would be better for you to sell your Amiga 1200 Tower and buy yourself an Amiga 4000 or 2500
Keep your a1200 and get a ppc card for it and blizard vision graphics card an a4000 would cost a lot more to upgrade and ppc cards are a lot harder and more expensive as for th a2500 there a waste of space as there to old for modern software as the can not use aga .I have an a3000 and an 060 4000 and there both no way near my ppc amiga tower . :-)
I would not pay above 20 pound for an a2000 the one i had only cost me 3 pound .
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Oh No!
looks like it he needs a fast computer to keep sighning up when his acounts get deleted again. :-)
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TheA1200Guy wrote:
My Pentium 4 PC, running Windows 98 Second Edition, blows the doors off ALL of my Amiga computers.
Yeah, the number and flow rate of the cooling fans they need to operate with any degree of reliability I'm not surprised :lol:
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Hi Karlos,
Yeah, the number and flow rate of the cooling fans they need to operate with any degree of reliability I'm not surprised
Fast Amiga computers need fans too, so what's your point?!
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TheA1200Guy wrote:
My Pentium 4 PC, running Windows 98 Second Edition, blows the doors off ALL of my Amiga computers.
Yes, but is it professional?
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Well get cybergraphix 3d or 64, because you zIV board you have double speed on two first zorro buses.
cgx3d support it.
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...and you need a purpose built CV64/3D to get the speed benefit, made by DCE (...shivers...).
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This is similar to an earlier post. If you have the A1200 towered up and you have a zorro IV backplane, then the cheapest and most effcetive way to go is to buy one of the DCE CV64/3d which work at all double speed to normal zorro2. When people talk about the a4000 as a better option this only applies if you can get an upgraded A4000 cheaply. A stock A4000 (even with a graphics card and the stock Commodore 040) will be slower than your towered A1200 system with a graphics card. you probably have got a keyboard adaptor and an IDE splitter already and A1200 accelerators are cheaper and easier to get than for the A4000
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TheA1200Guy wrote:
Hi Karlos,
Yeah, the number and flow rate of the cooling fans they need to operate with any degree of reliability I'm not surprised
Fast Amiga computers need fans too, so what's your point?!
It was a joke? I was implying the cooling fans on your PC would literlly "blow the doors of all your amigas"
Hmm, reminds me of a famous quote...
"Your'e only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!"
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Been away for abit, being a long distance trucker n all that, i do have a keyboard adaptor, 4 way buffered interface, fast seriel port, 1.74mb floopy dfo:, 8gig hd, 32sp cd rom, kick 3.1, os.3.9. 32meg fast ram, 2meg standard chip. Zoro iv back plane, as it`s an eyetech z4 tower.
So now all the comments have got me clearly confused, what is the cheapest way to fitting a graphics card, where from and how much, i`m not worried about going ppc, as i intende to get an Amiga 1, by this time next year.
Thanks for the input thoughguys, all youre data ia appreciated
Mucker
stefcep wrote:
This is similar to an earlier post. If you have the A1200 towered up and you have a zorro IV backplane, then the cheapest and most effcetive way to go is to buy one of the DCE CV64/3d which work at all double speed to normal zorro2. When people talk about the a4000 as a better option this only applies if you can get an upgraded A4000 cheaply. A stock A4000 (even with a graphics card and the stock Commodore 040) will be slower than your towered A1200 system with a graphics card. you probably have got a keyboard adaptor and an IDE splitter already and A1200 accelerators are cheaper and easier to get than for the A4000
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mucker:
just do as haymigga told you , go for an MEDIATOR ZorroIv solution and add an Voodoo3 card ...its blazing fast compared to aga and even compared to BPPC with bvision.
though one catch, it does cost abit..
if you dont have much money, then go for an Cybervision 643d card, should be fairly cheap on ebay theese days , this u connect to your Ziv , sadly speed will be a problem but maybe enough for you while you wait for an amigaone.
cheers
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jeffimix wrote:
With PCI the most recommended czards seem to be the old Voodoo 3/4/5s also it seems the TNT2 from Riva works
Does TNT2 works woth mediators? I dont think so.
May be Elbox have added support with the latest update, but I cant test it.
Can anyone clarify this pls?
Best Regards
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@mucker:
So now all the comments have got me clearly confused, what is the cheapest way to fitting a graphics card
The *cheapest* way to add a graphics card is to buy any amiga-specific graphics card and put it into one of your Zorro slots. Dealers won't have these cards anymore, so you'll have to check eBay.
The Big Book of Amiga Hardware (http://www.amiga-hardware.com) has a list of all Zorro-gfxcards ever released (you need to look for cards labeled "ZII" or "ZAS"):
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/gfxrtg.html
Your particular Zorro-Board has a "Fast" mode - there's a special version of the Cybervision64/3D that supports that mode (this version was manufactured by DCE) - though this version might be hard to find. The Cybervision64/3D is a good card though, just like Spectrum and Picasso II(+) cards. The Picasso IV is excellent, but expensive.
You have to keep one thing in mind though: ZorroII is slooow. It's way better than AGA, but you shouldn't use very high resolutions or too much colours - the ZorroII bandwith is to small to handle that much traffic.
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A CV3D would probably be a safe economical bet with your ZIV bus. Assuming you have at least 2 slots free and a DCE version of the card, you can throw the FastZ2 jumper for an extra speed boost. How much faster, I have no idea, but it'll be better than standard Zorro2.
If you want speed, go for the mediator and a voodoo card.