Wanting to get into Amiga gaming with a CD32?

[bbond007]

Wow...

My advice would be NOT to buy a NTSC CD32..

Your best option is to get a TV that supports PAL, and most do...

If you choose to try and make a NTSC CD32 work with a NTSC TV - and run PAL software, you are heading for trouble, and most stuff is PAL...I'm not going to go into all of the technical details... Just do your homework... You'll need an Indivision AGA (which gives you VGA) or a SX module(which gives you RGB), otherwise you won't be happy with the video results, and most likely you will have B/W video.

Also the NTSC CD32s are less reliable. Most came with the caps soldered in backwards which effects reliability.

As far as the A500/A1200 games, you'll want to look for these CD ISO's called 200,300,400 (can't exactly remember) which will be a compilation of games that can be run on the CD32. Personally, I'd not waste time with floppies....

If you really want the floppy thing, probably the best thing to use with it are the ADFs that are cracked with AGA/ECS fixes.

Also, in your quest for CD32 items or service, if you run across a company called Analogic Computers, proceed with extreme caution. At least make sure to use Paypal so you are not at risk...

[bbond007]

Wow...

My advice would be NOT to buy a NTSC CD32.

Converting a PAL CD32 to NTSC is possible, but its an extremely bad idea because you sacrifice compatibility. NTSC C32s were never released, so the software selection is limited.

Your best option is to get a TV that supports PAL, and most do...

If you choose to try and make a NTSC CD32 work with a NTSC TV - and run PAL software, you are heading for trouble, and most stuff is PAL...I'm not going to go into all of the technical details... You'll need an Indivision AGA (which gives you VGA) or a SX module(which gives you RGB), otherwise you won't be happy with the video results, and most likely you will have B/W video. Some TVs may not work at all.

Also the NTSC CD32s are less reliable. Most came with the caps soldered in backwards which effects reliability.

As far as the A500/A1200 games, you'll want to look for these CD ISO's called CD32 - 200, 350, 444 & 888 which will be a compilation of games that can be run on the CD32. Personally, I'd not waste time with floppies....

If you really want the floppy thing, probably the best thing to use with ADFs that are cracked with AGA/ECS fixes. I'm sure it works fine with the NTSC CD32 - never heard anything to the contrary.

You'll need to master a booting workbench 3.x CD32 disc (with UAE & CD32 dev kit) including your ADFs and the utility to write them to the floppy. Or use a real Amiga to write them...

Also, in your quest for CD32 items or service, if you run across a company called Analogic Computers, proceed with extreme caution. At least make sure to use Paypal so you are not at risk...

[bbond007]

If I purchase an NTSC cd32 will I be able to play all the games on the multi game discs? or will there be lots of pal games which will simply not play? also will I be able to save my progress throughout the game? thanks for the responses guys

You'll want to boot in "PAL" mode (2 mouse buttons - early boot menu) before running those discs because most won't run in NTSC mode and at best case the screen will be cut off or timing changed.

I did a hardware mod to my NTSC CD32 to allow it to default to PAL, however this is not really PAL, but a NTSC 50HZ hybrid mode that does not show color on PAL compatible TVs in most cases and no video on NTSC TV. On real amiga this is not an issue because you have the RGB port. On the CD32 you need to add a SX module or an Indivision to get that.

The SX-32 is VERY nice but the last one I saw for sale went for $800. The the SX-1 is more affordable, but its pretty big and ugly.

If you have the floppy thing you could load the NTSC versions of A1200/A500 games and probably that would be your best bet.

One idea would be to make your own compilation CD with whdload NTSC games, but I don't know how well it would work with just 2MB RAM...

[bbond007]

@lord-denning


Now to summarize this a bit and make it simpler.... I personally would choose these two as my top options:

CD32 with SX32 Pro
Or
A1200 with 68030@50mhz and 4mb RAM

I'd agree with that... But the A1200 system is going cost a fraction of the price.

[bbond007]

ok so what if I buy one of these PAL amiga 1200 keyboard/computer things from ebay.uk. will I be able to plug it into my NTSC tv without video problems etc? or will I run into the same problems that I would find if I went with a PAL cd32?

I don't think you would have any problem with a PAL CD32 - Unless your TV is one of those old wooden console TVs with a record player built into the top, its probably going to support PAL video. its the NTSC CD32 I suspect you would disappointed with.

The A1200 and CD32 are essentially the same thing, except that the A1200 has an 23 pin RGB port and the CD32 has an SVIDEO port.

You'll run into the exact same sort of issues with an Amiga 1200 that you would with the CD32 if you use the composite video signal instead of the RGB port.

Most people use the RGB port connected to a scandoubler or Amigamaniac's SVIDEO adapter or a 15hz compatible monitor (such as 1084) or some other multisync.

Both SVIDEO and composite mix signals together in order to use fewer wires, so the color signal is encoded. The RGB port leaves these signals separated.

NTSC video is 425 lines at 60 frames per second and the color signal is encoded at 3.6 mhz.

PAL video is 525 lines at 50 frames per second and the color signal is encoded at 4.4 mhz.

Both the A1200 and the CD32 can change refresh rate via software (which also changes the # of lines) but the color frequency the color signal is encoded at cannot be changed via software.

It does not matter if you are using a CD32 (with SVIDEO or composite) or A1200 (with composite), if you are running PAL unit in NTSC mode or a NTSC unit in PAL mode, you are going to have non-standard video signal.

I really don't know a better way to explain it. Good luck with whatever you decide....

[bbond007]

ok so what if I buy one of these PAL amiga 1200 keyboard/computer things from ebay.uk. will I be able to plug it into my NTSC tv without video problems etc? or will I run into the same problems that I would find if I went with a PAL cd32?

I don't think you would have any problem with a PAL CD32 - Unless your TV is one of those old wooden console TVs with a record player built into the top, its probably going to support PAL video. its the NTSC CD32 I suspect you would disappointed with.

The A1200 and CD32 are essentially the same thing, except that the A1200 has an 23 pin RGB port and the CD32 has an SVIDEO port.

You'll run into the exact same sort of issues with an Amiga 1200 that you would with the CD32 if you use the composite video signal instead of the RGB port.

Most people use the RGB port connected to a scandoubler or Amigamaniac's SVIDEO adapter or a 15hz compatible monitor (such as 1084) or some other multisync. RGB also provides far superior picture than SVIDEO which is only slightly better than composite.

Both SVIDEO and composite mix signals together in order to use fewer wires, so the color signal is encoded. The RGB port leaves these signals separated.

NTSC video is 425 lines at 60 frames per second and the color signal is encoded at 3.6 mhz.

PAL video is 525 lines at 50 frames per second and the color signal is encoded at 4.4 mhz.

Both the A1200 and the CD32 can change refresh rate via software (which also changes the # of lines) but the color frequency the color signal is encoded at cannot be changed via software.

It does not matter if you are using a CD32 (with SVIDEO or composite) or A1200 (with composite), if you are running PAL unit in NTSC mode or a NTSC unit in PAL mode, you are going to have non-standard video signal.

I really don't know a better way to explain it. Good luck with whatever you decide....