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Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: Dev27 on August 30, 2024, 11:04:21 PM

Title: Reccomended Amiga 1200 peripherals
Post by: Dev27 on August 30, 2024, 11:04:21 PM

I just got my first Amiga which is an Amiga 1200 with absolutely nothing installed. I need suggestions for a good monitor (I am thinking a 1084), a good CD drive and a good accelerator (but not a PiStorm or anything with an FPGA). To deal with the 60hz power in the US (it is from the UK), should I try to replace the PSU or just go the easy route and just get one of those converter bricks?

Title: Re: Reccomended Amiga 1200 peripherals
Post by: Boing-ball on August 31, 2024, 09:11:52 AM

Can recommend the following:

Accelerator:

Phase 5/ DCE Blizzard 1230 MKVI or 1240 or 1260. These are great classic accelerators and just work.

It just depends if you want a classic setup? What do you plan to use the A1200 for?

If not classic setup. Then for a CD;

The Sony VAIO PCMCIA CD drive

If staying classic;

Archos PCMCIA 2x or 4x CD Drive.

Title: Re: Reccomended Amiga 1200 peripherals
Post by: AndyFC on August 31, 2024, 09:20:14 AM

Brilliant! Welcome to the forum and your Amiga 🙂. Earlier in the year I set up an unexpanded A1200 I received so here are my recommendations:

Get a Compact Flash or SD Card to IDE adapter to use as a Hard Drive. They are silent, cheap, low powered and easy to buy media for Eg:
https://www.amigakit.com/internal-card-adapter-a1200-a600-p-12672.html

Also I recommend a Compact Flash to PCMCIA kit to copy downloaded files from PC or Mac easily (assuming you have one with a Compact Flash port, or a USB adapter). This made it so much easier to get files to a non-networked machine.
https://www.amigakit.com/a1200-hard-disks-c-182_24_78.html

For accelerator and CD it depends on what you want to use it for. I have a Blizzard 1230mk IV in the new unit and it makes it a good machine for many uses. Backing up one of Boing-ball's recommendations it's a good balance of power and compatibility. I moved to a PiStorm in my main machine and it makes it a big difference on a budget eg RTG, power for demanding games etc. I hardly use my CD ROM any more because of the other ways I have to access files.

I've only used one classic monitor, a Philips 8833 mkII. I've had it for about 25 years and is still a beautiful picture. I understand it's basically the same monitor as the 1084.

Title: Re: Reccomended Amiga 1200 peripherals
Post by: Dev27 on August 31, 2024, 11:52:45 AM

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the help!