A4000 or souped up 1200 ??

[TazzyUK]

If i wanted to get a decent spec AGA machine (as i have an Amiga 3000!) what would the best route as far as  availability of parts and cost!

So either get an Amiga 4000, which is already high spec ( 68030/40/60 ) has built in HD and maybe even upgrade it more on ram, cpu, HD etc

or

get a 1200, upgrade to HD, higher cpu (68030/40/60) through accelerator, more ram etc

So whats the best route??

Taz

[TazzyUK]

There is no budget and It would be an ongoing project as
expenditure would not be big and certainly not in one go!!

Just getting the parts as I went along. This way I could source out the bits and choose the best kit.

Towering a 1200 seems to Intrigue me. I like the idea
and would be pretty chuffed with the finished project.
(especially with light mods, 'boing' symbol etched on the case window etc)
Taz

[TazzyUK]

But with a 'upgraded' 1200....hires screens/wb would be no problem!!??.
Games would not be the priority!!

[TazzyUK]

Hold on hold on..Are you saying I can add the AGA chipset to my A3000?...via a gfx card?

I dont want to 'PC-it'. I want it to be an Amiga!.
Why?
Well..after getting my A3000 down from the attic and having a mess, getting nostalgic etc, I have decided I want an Amiga system once again.

(a) I had NO IDEA of how much support, advise, enthusiasm, pride etc that these machines still generate. I was amazed in fact.
(b) I remember it being a fun machine and that I put hundreds, if not thousands of hours into messing with graphics, playing games, listening to music etc
(c) I was pretty INTO my Amiga way back then and feel somewhat of a SH!T just bunging it up in the attic and getting a PC, like dumping an old failthful girlfriend and not giving any commitment!
Anyone understand that? (with regards to amigas I mean, not GF's!)
(d) It's strange..I was creative on the Amiga, put loads of hours into my gfx projects, got loads of satisfaction out the work I put in..but on the PC, I havn't done much atall!!

So in answer to 'What will I be using it for?'..I want it to be an Amiga for a start...because I thoroughly enjoyed the machine when I did have one!
I still want to do more gfx on it, maybe even using the same software I did before. Yes maybe play the odd game but that will be secondary

I certainly dont need another PC..I have 2 here (3 in fact!) that are networked to eachother and the one is a decent spec (has to be for BF2, GRAW, COD etc).

and soppy as it sounds..i want to be a Proud Amiga Owner....once again.
I like the 'community spirit' that surrounds the Amiga owners and their machines of which they are proud of.
Unlike many a PC website, I havent seen anyone slag or flame anyone else...on any Amiga website (maybe it's early days!)

so theres my reasons, stupid as it sounds!
Taz

[TazzyUK]

Its not just higher resolutions I want, its also higher colour palette. The AGA chipset gives you a higher palette to play with, does it not?

Offering 256 colour mode, a new ham mode and 24 bit palette
Also I would like to try some projects on the AGA version of Deluxe Paint (also some 3d software)
Also possibly transferring images files from Amiga to PC.

Did they ever do a Deluxe Paint v ?

So does this 'requirement' change what is the best option?

Well expanded 1200 or slightly expanded 4000?

(That MINT 4000 on Ebay (reserve £300) looks tempting but car has to go in the garage very soon...shame!)

TazzyUK

[TazzyUK]

Lets say I decide to stick with the A3000, whats a decent GFX card for the A3000 (and are they that available??) and can you get one that doubles up as an accelerator card?
Thanks
Taz

[TazzyUK]

Would any of the fairly good paint programs take advantage of a GFX card?......like DPIV, Brilliance etc
Taz

[TazzyUK]

I see another Amiga 4000 has come onto Ebay

68040/25

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Amiga-A4000-68040-Cybervision-Ethernet-SCSI_W0QQitemZ8826902368QQcategoryZ4193QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Same chap selling the  'AmigaOne and A1200 Blizzard PPC both in Eyetech Tower'

Wow..BUY IT NOW £999

The previous MINT A4000 one still hasnt hit the reserve of £300

All these beefy Amiga floating around!