Upgrading, is it still possible?

[doctorq]

As for the tower, you can buy a ready Amiga tower, or find and modify a PC tower.

Network cards isn't a big problem, you will be able to find cheap PCMCIA ethernet cards on ebay.

As for graphics card, there are 3 options... BPPC and Bvision, zorro busboard or Mediator PCI. The first you already know, zorro busboard is for using A2/3/4000 style expansion cards in A1200 and Mediator PCI allows you to use PCI cards in A1200 (graphics cards, ethernet cards, sound cards, USB cards, tv cards)

Accelerator will have to be bought on ebay or Amiga hardware sale sites like www.amibench.com, maybe even here on amiga.org.

CDROM isn't a problem; get a buffered IDE device and connect a standard PC CD/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD drive.

[doctorq]

It is difficult to suggest anything for best value of money, as everything depends on what you would like to do with your Amiga.

Mediator PCI is still available, see www.shop.elbox.com . You can use Voodoo Banshee, Voodoo 3, 4 and 5 cards. As for networking cards you can use 10 MBit and 100 MBit ethernet cards. Look here for a list of supported PCI cards.

As for IDE devices, PowerFlyer is still being produced, see the Elbox shop again, it is listed under FastATA. No accelerator for Amiga is being produced anymore, at least not in the form as they used to be made, so you will have to buy those second hand. You will also be able to find PPC boards second hand.

Some companies are working on new kind of accelerators, but I haven't got much info to tell on those, as I simply can not be bothered to read anything concerning them. I'm sure others will have some good information on them though, but one thing is sure, if you would like to go for one of those, you will have to wait a long time.

[doctorq]

As Amiga isn't a mainstream computer any longer it is only natural that the cost of upgrading is high.

If you just want to play games and surf the net, I would say forget the graphics card and surf the net with your PC, as most sites these days look wierd on an Amiga browser.

Get a network card anyway, as you can use it to download files from FTP, mount shares from your PC, or download it directly from the webpages, but you don't need a graphics card for that. I have downloaded several GBs this way, with a standard A1200 upgraded with a Blizzard 1230 board.

And get WHDLoad for your games, you will not regret it. See www.whdload.de for more info.

[doctorq]

A card like this will work with Amiga (have used one like it myself) but remember to find one with a dongle.

As for the game, I can't help you out. You'll just have to keep checking ebay.

[doctorq]

Yes, if you want to pay overprice. Otherwise, find a 3com card as linked to earlier. All needed software is available from www.aminet.net .

[doctorq]

phill25 wrote:
I thought the price wasnt so bad..

If you haven't got a problem with the price, then I see no reason why not to buy it. It gives you the advantage of getting the software on floppy already at least.

I just think it is a bit expensive when an Amiga compatible PCMCIA ethernet card can be bought for around 2-3 UKP, and the software you need can be downloaded free of charge :-)

As for the standalone ethernet card you have linked to; I'm not sure if it will work with Amiga, but maybe some others know. Maybe some of the other members of this forum knows, but otherwise go for the sure think a 3com Etherlink III with dongle. When you get around to setting things up, here is a guide on how to do it.