A4000 desktop questions. . . .

[Edpon]

Hi,
  I finally got the chance to fire up my A4000 today, and noticed something strange. It's requesting the OS 3 disk when I boot up. I have two hard drives installed, and seem to be working, but are not apparently "talking" to my computer. Any suggestions? Also, here's more for you all;

1- I've opened my computer a number of times, but don't see where the Kickstart ROMS are. Where are they located?

2- Is there a way to tell if what I have on the 4000 is the most current or highest available chipset for every user replacable item? I.E. - Fatter Agnus, Kickstart, etc. etc.?

3- Does the A4000 have a IDE controller for a CD-ROM or do I have to have a board added to make use of one?

4- Anyone know a good place to get that software that allows you to revert to Kickstart 1.3 for older software?

Again, thanks as usual.

Ed

 :-D  :lol:  :-P  :-D

[Edpon]

Hi all,
 
  Let me further boggle your minds with another set of questions to add to the others;

1-Do I need to install the A4000 Motherboard into a Tower to use a Mediator from Elbox?

2-If so, which can I use, any standard ATX or not?

3-ALSO, the majority of people on these forums recommend getting PPC boards for the A4000; Elbox offers those as well; are they the best to get, or get one from someone else? And if so, which brand and speed?

Thanks again.

Ed

 :-D  :lol:  :-P  :roll:  :-D

[Edpon]

Here's the link. . .

http://www.buy.elbox.com/cgibin/shop?info=330SP1G

Kinda expensive, I wonder if getting one of these will also allow me/us to run OS 4 on it.....

Ed
 :-o

[Edpon]

Yes and no. There is a desktop version if you want to keep the original case - it just replaces the original zorro daughterboard. There is also a version for towered A4000s which will give you more slots.

I think this is the route I'll take. I have a few questions about this as well, lol, go figure eh?

1-Since this board will replace the daughter board? Will this be slowed down at all or is it kept the true speed of the PCI?

2-I plan on buying a Voodoo 3 3000 for this; will it allow me to finally use a "normal" CRT monitor?

3-Do the older and AGA games recognize the voodoo and take advantage of it?

Thanks.

Ed
 :lol:

[Edpon]

Thomas wrote:

1- the ROM chips are below the processor board, next to the front.

2- the A4000 has the most recent chipset (AGA). The only chip worth looking at is the Buster who controls Zorro3 DMA. Check the clock battery. Cut it off if it is leaking.

3- the IDE controller can take two IDE devices (one master an one slave). As you already have two HDDs, there is no way to connect a CD-ROM drive without additional hardware. You could either use a 4-way adapter which allows you to connect another two IDE drives to the motherboard (at the same limited speed) or an additional IDE controller like the Buddha or the FastATA4000 (= PowerflyerGold).

I've removed everything in my way to see the Kickstart, except the Commodore A3640 board; I'm assuming it's under there. I dont see an easy way to remove this without breaking the board, since it's sitting on top of 4 plastic posts and connected on the right side like a PCI board.

I have the Super Buster, v11. But am not sure where the battery is located either.

Ok, this part is easy, I've remove the messily 538MB HD that was there, now I can slave out a CD-Rom. What specific Brand and Model can I stick into the A4000; because the ones I have as spares are all too long for it.

Thanks.

Ed

[Edpon]

@Thomas
  Thanks man, I got the board off, without any problems. And the battery you mentioned was already removed; the previous owner did that for me. Does it impact the A4000 if you DON'T have it?

I still need to know what CD-RW I can use with the A4000, that won't interfere with the power supply and will work with all programs for the Amiga. I keep hearing about a certain model Toshiba, but no one lists the specific model.

After I install the new Kickstarts, do I have to do anything special to make the A4000 "notice" them?

One last thing; I have a IDE Hard Drive in the A4000 already, a Maxtor 4.1 GB. Can I replace it with something much larger, say a 20-200GB Hard Drive?

Thanks.

Ed
 :-D

[Edpon]

Ok, some more problems are coming up as I go deeper and deeper into the upgrade of my A4000. . .

1-I found a good sized CD-RW for the A4000, an A-Open. It's only about 5" long so I have plenty of space between it and the Power supply, but now I can't attach the IDE cable because it's too far from the HD. Any suggestions?

2-I want to buy a Cyberstorm MK-II, and I was worried about something that will deal with my next question. If you go to the Big Book of Amiga Hardware, it shows the MK-II with a CPU connector on it's right side, going vertical. Looking at my A4000, the only way to attach the MK-II would be, if you're looking at the front of the AMiga then down into it, from the CPU connection to over the memory modules. Is that right? If so....

3-I want to also buy the Mediator PCI 4000 Di. If the Cyberstorm MK-II goes all the way from the CPU connection, to over the memory modules, how am I going to install this board?

4-The Mediator recommends getting a group of things that would make it operate much better in your A4000. Why would I need a '060 accelerator AND a PPC? Wouldn't the PPC far outpace the '060 anyway?

Thanks, and like I say many times, please bear with me, I'm still re-learning the Amiga.

Ed
  :-D