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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Jasper80 on August 03, 2016, 02:53:41 AM

Title: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Jasper80 on August 03, 2016, 02:53:41 AM
Eventually I want to buy some accelerator card, but right now I want to replace loud supply fan and 16 MB memory.
What type of memory it takes? Special Amiga format? How much is 128MB?
Is there a store that sells modern power supplies for A4000? I don't think I can make one myself.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on August 03, 2016, 03:51:39 AM
I think you need to break this up into multiple questions, because you're about to get barraged by a million different answers, each of them different, lol.  ;)

For starters though, you might want to search the forums a little bit.  All of these questions have been asked many times.  Personally if it were me though, I'd start with the following:

1)  Get your motherboard recapped, remove the battery if that hasn't been done already, and get the 64MB hack done.  These can all be done by Acill, look for his long thread elsewhere on the forum.  The motherboard was originally only designed for 16MB, but can now go up to 64MB thanks to this hack.  Any more and you'll need to either add it through an accelerator or a Zorro III expansion.

2)  Amiga 4000 PSU to ATX Converter Cable:  http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=615¤cy=USD

3)  The fans in many A4000's were installed backward - so they blow hot air into the case instead of sucking it out.  You'll want to flip that around or replace it with any standard PC fan, off-hand I think it's 80mm.  Newegg.com or any PC retailer should have these available, a lot of folks like to replace it with a quieter one, so check the dBA rating on the one you buy.

Have fun!  :D
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Acill on August 03, 2016, 04:06:31 AM
At a minimum you need to get it a recap done and remove the batter and replace with a coin cell one. This isnt an option, it NEEDS to be done. I cant tell you how many A1200 and A4000 I have had in over the last couple months that are just near beyond saving because the previous owners didnt want to bother opening them up and making sure they were okay. If its never been done, its NOT okay.

RAM is maxed at 16MB and will require 4X 4MB 72 pin simms. If its a non CR model without the CPU soldered onto the MB you also will have a 2MB simm for the chip RAM. The CR model with a 68030 soldered to the board has 2MB of chip soldered onto it. I havent ever done the 64MB RAM hack to those CR boards and am not sure if it can even be done.

The 64 MB hack requires me to desolder some chips and add a repcement programmed for the hack as well as cutting or socketing a chip and adding some tape under the socket to isolate the signals normally cut. Both wats are fine, it just depends on your preference.

If you want more RAM you will need a ZII RAM card or a CPU card with more RAM slots on it. The BigRAM+ can still be found for a good price if you look. I got mine for cheap at Amiga Kit and it adds 256MB. They are currently only $90 http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1129

If you need a recap and the clock batter upgrade done just let me know, or you can visit my site in my signature. Just be prepared to wait a bit for it to be done. I travel for work a lot and get to them in the order I receive them. I have a few ahead right now waiting on me to get back on Friday. A simple recap with no required repairs only takes me a couple hours to do.

As far as power supply goes, I can also replace the internal fans with a better quiet one. Its not a lot of work. Its also easy to adapt an ATX supply, but finding one that fits well is a challenge at times is all. I can recap them as well and if they are in working condition thats a better option.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: agami on August 03, 2016, 04:06:47 AM
What Mike said.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: tonyvdb on August 03, 2016, 04:14:15 AM
If you search "Amiga Cyberstorm" on eBay you will get some hits of excelorator cards for the A4000 they don't come cheap but ram can be added to many of them without any hacks.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Dandy on August 05, 2016, 01:15:28 PM
Quote from: tonyvdb;812036


If you search "Amiga Cyberstorm" on eBay you will get some hits of excelorator cards for the A4000 they don't come cheap but ram can be added to many of them without any hacks.



Aside from the fact that the CyberstormPPC is a product by Phase5 and not by Amiga - are you saying that I could add ram to my CSPPC without hacks beyond the 128 mB it can take by default?

If so, I'd be highly interested in an "how to"...
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on August 05, 2016, 03:47:38 PM
Quote from: Dandy;812117
Aside from the fact that the CyberstormPPC is a product by Phase5 and not by Amiga - are you saying that I could add ram to my CSPPC without hacks beyond the 128 mB it can take by default?

If so, I'd be highly interested in an "how to"...

No. Go have some coffee, you've misread his statement. :laughing:
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: SACC-guy on August 06, 2016, 03:23:17 AM
Keep a look out for a rtg (read graphics card)!
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: QuikSanz on August 06, 2016, 04:02:55 AM
Quote from: SACC-guy;812157
Keep a look out for a rtg (read graphics card)!


An Indi ECS would probably better than the built in FF also.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: SnkBitten on August 06, 2016, 04:21:46 AM
Quote from: QuikSanz;812158
An Indi ECS would probably better than the built in FF also.


Or an Indi AGA, since it's an A4000 :)   I just recently added one to my A4000 and it made a world of difference.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: magnetic on August 06, 2016, 04:52:14 AM
get a mediator board for $300 and u you can semi modern gfx card w/dvi and use it for RAM too. Also usb, cheap internet and sound cards..

Acill does top notch work! highly recommended hes a solder tech trained by the navy and worked at intel hes the man
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Dandy on August 19, 2016, 11:29:45 AM
Quote from: SnkBitten;812159


Or an Indi AGA, since it's an A4000 :)   I just recently added one to my A4000
...



AGA?
Nope!!!

Today AGA is only good for people who want to ruin their eyes, like I once did.

Quote from: SnkBitten;812159


...
and it made a world of difference.



But certtainly NOT for the better.
For me the only way to go if you want to use an classic Amiga today is to kit it out with a decent graphis card.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: kolla on August 19, 2016, 11:35:30 AM
Dandy, how do you fit Indivision ECS on an AGA machine?
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: SnkBitten on August 19, 2016, 12:27:48 PM
Quote from: Dandy;812795
AGA?
Nope!!!

Today AGA is only good for people who want to ruin their eyes, like I once did.

But certtainly NOT for the better.
For me the only way to go if you want to use an classic Amiga today is to kit it out with a decent graphis card.


Sure it did, and a lot for the better.  1280x1024 and 32 color workbench, no interlace flicker and on a modern LCD monitor.

No available slots for an RTG card.....VideoToaster 4000 (1 slot, covers 2nd slot), X-Surf 100 and Video Flyer.   So all four slots are in use.   Indivision AGA MKIIcr works fantastic.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: nicholas on August 19, 2016, 01:05:19 PM
Perfect timing if you want to upgrade. :)

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71303
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: paul1981 on August 19, 2016, 04:37:49 PM
Quote from: SnkBitten;812797
Sure it did, and a lot for the better.  1280x1024 and 32 color workbench, no interlace flicker and on a modern LCD monitor.

No available slots for an RTG card.....VideoToaster 4000 (1 slot, covers 2nd slot), X-Surf 100 and Video Flyer.   So all four slots are in use.   Indivision AGA MKIIcr works fantastic.


I agree with you, and will add that the Amiga video output gives a crystal clear image even without the Indivision too.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: QuikSanz on August 20, 2016, 01:42:34 AM
Quote from: SnkBitten;812159
Or an Indi AGA, since it's an A4000 :)   I just recently added one to my A4000 and it made a world of difference.


Oops, I messed up that one. Must have thought it was a 3000.
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Dandy on August 23, 2016, 01:39:29 PM
Quote from: kolla;812796


Dandy, how do you fit Indivision ECS on an AGA machine?



Not sure why anyone would want to downgrade an AGA machine to ECS...
:confused:
Title: Re: Amiga 4000 - How to expand.
Post by: Dandy on August 23, 2016, 01:48:32 PM
Quote from: SnkBitten;812797


Sure it did, and a lot for the better.  1280x1024 and 32 color workbench, no interlace flicker and on a modern LCD monitor.



After I moved to Mediator with Voodoo4 PCI in 2003 I didn't look back to AGA anymore. Back then there was no such thing as support for 1280x1024 and 32 color workbench with no interlace flicker in AGA.

Quote from: SnkBitten;812797


No available slots for an RTG card.....VideoToaster 4000 (1 slot, covers 2nd slot), X-Surf 100 and Video Flyer.   So all four slots are in use.   Indivision AGA MKIIcr works fantastic.



I had enough (7) free Zorro III Slots, but Zorro expanisons were much too expensive for my taste. So I got me a Mediator and fitted a Voodoo4 graca, a Terratec 512i digital soundcard and a 10/100 mBit NIC...