Mediator 4000Di..should I or not?

[dangermouse]

Hi guys

Just looking for some help if anyone can

Currently the system is as follows:

A4000, CSPPC, CVPPC, Deneb USB, ATX power supply - running OS 3.9 (mostly) and OS 4.0 (rarely)

I'm seriously looking at the current Mediator 4000Di with Radeon bundle from Elbox but, after looking into it further, I don't know if it's such a good idea.

What I'm hoping to do is to get the Mediator and use the Radeon with DVI output in 3.9 and a Voodoo 3 I have lying around here in 4.0. I would also like to get a compatible USB PCI card (with drivers..I hear there is a problem with Poseidon and the Spider).

If I can manage that I can pull the Deneb and CVPPC out and stick them into my spare 4000 so she's a decent machine.

I don't think I've got any issues with the Radeon or Voodoo..that seems clear enough. The issue I'm concerned about is the USB. Questions I have in this area are:

1. Should I buy the Spider or is that dead hardware really? I need keyboard/mouse support and USB stick support would be handy.
2. If not the Spider what card is compatible and with what driver?
3. If neither 1 or 2 and I have to leave the Deneb in with the Mediator will the machine operate? I've read posts on other forums saying that with a Deneb and Mediator installed the machine won't boot

And on another non-USB related note:

1. If I use the Radeon or Voodoo in 3.9 and fire up a game is it possible to configure the native screenmodes to come out of those cards or will I still be needing my KVM?

Any help appreciated as this is my first dip into PCI based Amigas and, quite frankly, I'm clueless and don't want a 280 Euro lemon

Cheers

[dangermouse]

@Darrin - you hit the nail on the head there. I'd just like to run WB 3.9 in OS 3.9 at 1920x1080 and with a sharp image. I can do it no problem in OS 4.0 on the CVPPC but, no matter what I try, I cannot get it displaying on my LCD under CybergraphX under 3.9.

I have read somewhere that an Indivision is a tight fit (potential heat problem) when used with the Mediator? Is this something I need to be concerned about (extra cooling??) or not really? Asking as my 4K does have an Indivision in her and I'd rather not fry it

Thanks all

[dangermouse]

@astral - yes, given that 4.0 does, I'm sure 3.9 will but I've spent a month of Sundays trying to get it to display and no good. All other resolutions are fine..running 1280x800 at the moment.

[dangermouse]

@tone007 - good point but what I failed to mention is that I've got another 4000 CSPPC desktop sitting here with nothing in it but the CSPPC and a Retina Z3.

I was thinking that if I bought a Mediator with gfx, network and USB I could have 2 nicely setup 4000s instead of a 'good' one and a 'bad' one buy moving bits between them.

As I'm currently in the process of thinning my collection down to just the bare 'essentials' this was just my thought process as part of the downsizing. Instead of having piles of Amigas in various states of disrepair I just want a few with kickass components in them.

@warwzon - it's not the Deneb I've heard has heat issues. I've read that a Mediator 4000Di can sit quite tightly against an IndivisionAGA so some people use spacers to get some sort of gap between them and install an additional fan

[dangermouse]

@Darrin - very nice WB desktop res you've got there I ordered a Mediator as I think i'll be OK and it basically gives me 2 4000s that are nicely kitted out.

No doubt I'll have some problems/questions but if I stick with commonly used cards fingers crossed she'll be peachy

Thanks all