External keyboard needed with A1200 accelerators?

[KatManDEW]

I got an Apollo 1240 for my A1200, and it doesn't look like there is any way to use the stock A1200 keyboard with the Apollo installed.

Is it normal to use external keyboards with A1200 accelerators?

[KatManDEW]

The heat sink would probably a problem, if the memory SIMM wasn't an even bigger problem...

[KatManDEW]

Do I need to install any drivers for this board? I found a Apollo 060 disk at Amiga Resource and Installers Heaven.

I can't boot from hard drive with the 1240 and the memory installed. I can boot from HD without the memory installed, and I can boot from floppy if the memory is installed.

[KatManDEW]

clint wrote:
I think the one you have is for an A1200 Mobo that has been put in a tower.
clint

That has to be what it is, because there is no way it can be used otherwise.

[KatManDEW]

amigakit wrote:
Your Apollo 1240 has two SIMM sockets, one on each side of the accelerator.  You dont need to populate the upper SIMM socket if used within desktop case- solely use the lower SIMM socket.

When no SIMM is in the upper memory socket, the keyboard should fit.

DUH!  I should have noticed that!  I glanced at that and thought it was a SCSI connector.

I got the SIMM in the bottom socket now, but the keyboard still hits the CPU fan.

I also have to disable CPU caches to get it to boot from hard disk with the SIMM in the top or bottom socket.

Is there a driver I need to install, or something in my hard disk startup that is causing the problem? I can boot from floppy without disabling the CPU caches...

Thanks for the support!

[KatManDEW]

Wow! You guys are the greatest!

Removing the 68040 library fixed the hard disk booting problem with CPU caches enabled!

Turns out the fan is not the only clearance problem. With the fan out of the way, the keyboard hits the SIMM socket. The keyboard is still way too high to reinstall the top of the case.

That SIMM socket really needs to be a right angle socket for this board to be mounted in a desktop.

Here's a pic of it sitting on the SIMM socket alone...

[KatManDEW]

I didn't know there was such a thing as a tower-only accelerator for the A1200, or I would have specified that when I ordered it.

I wouldn't mind using a tower case, but I wanted a classic A1200 right now, and I don't really have the money for a tower case setup right now.

I have the 1240 working in my A1200 right now, but I feel like I'm walking on egg shells because the keyboard, which is pretty heavy itself, is resting on the SIMM socket and thus pushing on the 1240. And typing exerts additional force.

Not to mention the fact that the whole setup is just plain clumsy and dorky looking.

da9000 wrote:
The reason the SIMM socket hits the keyboard is that this card is for TOWER mods of A1200. Whoever sold you the card should have told you it's not for desktops.

[KatManDEW]

DoogUK wrote:
Doesnt it have the simm socket on the reverse side??

Yea, it has a socket on the reverse side. But even without any memory in the top socket, the top socket itself sticks up way too high to allow the keyboard and case to be reassembled.

[KatManDEW]

DoogUK wrote:
I'd remove the 2nd simm socket in that case unless you are happy to go ahead with your plans for a tower.

I'm not totally sold on the idea and expense of a tower system.

I'm tempted to hack some off the top of the SIMM socket with a hot knife, and bend the metal clips back enough so that the keyboard and case can be reassembled. I think the SIMM socket might still be usable down the road, even if it required using a rubber band or zip tie to hold a SIMM in the socket.