Hi there:)
Short version: I'd like to exchange my Blizzard PPC 1260 603e for somebody else's Blizzard 1260 and a bit of cash to make up the difference!
Long version [since some people naturally find this a bizarre request;)]: I have a 603e+ with 68060@50mhz, PPC@240mhz and SCSI (complete with original SCSI cable) in great working condition, and I run it in my A1200's desktop case as seen below. I love the desktop case and I wouldn't give it up for the world...which means I've had to raise it up on big rubber feet, a few extra centimeters off the desk, so I can have a heatsink and fan against the 68060 chip and also give the PPC a bit of room to 'breathe'. It gets quite warm, obviously, but it's at a level that's quite comfortable for working long hours on.
My problem is that I like to carry my Amiga around a lot - I use it when I play live gigs and I like to be able to take it to demoparties but the rather delicate setup underneath means it's very fragile for this. Since I don't use the PPC for *anything* at all (I basically only run trackers and non-PPC demos), it seems like I'd be better off with a straight-up and slightly cooler 1260, while someone who can make use of the PPC would be able to do so comfortably in a tower case! Seems a waste me having it and not making use of it... Finally, of course, it would mean dropping my A1200 that few cm back to normal height, taking the strain off my wrists when tracking late at night:)
This long, boring explanation is necessary simply because when I tell people I want to get a non-PPC 1260 instead of my PPC 1260, they get naturally suspicious...but this is why:) In the morning, I'll prod a few other, better established, amiga.org users who said they'll reply to this thread and back me up.
Here's a load of images of the card, my trapdoor assembly, the A1200 running with the card installed and a closeup of the 060 chip for anyone who's interested. Note that the heatsink on the 060 is held against the chip by the trapdoor, and that I haven't covered it with nasty adhesive or conductive paste (the sink/fan do their jobs well without).
Also, note the holes for the crystal oscillators - this is because the oscillators are a little loose. This is IMPORTANT for anyone interested in this swap/trade: they can't be soldered in, because the socket is plastic and it would melt, and because the card is upside down in a desktop machine, temporary options are limited to blu-tack or duct tape (neither of which solutions are good in the long term, for components that get warm :\). Again, the trapdoor keeps them clamped nicely in place and they also get a bit of fresh air to help dissipate some heat.
The card, from the top.
Running WB3.9, with some JurassicPack issues littering my desktop.
Running HivelyTracker 68k which, as anyone who's been following HT will know, will only run happily on a powerful '060:P This is my main reason for having a 1260 in the first place - I do most of my work in HivelyTracker.
Closeup of the cut-out trapdoor and heatsink/fan.
PPC and 060. The heatsink fan is powered from a Molex, taken from the FD0 power line.
Closeup of the 060.
I guess this will appeal primarily to someone with a towered A1200 project, but if somebody wants this for a desktop A1200, I'll also happily swap my cut-out trapdoor for your blank trapdoor...I'll even throw in the big rubber feet;)
Anyone interested, or know anyone who might be? Obviously, the practicalities will need a bit of negotiation, but all are encouraged to share their points of view on this proposal.
Cheers!
