Could someone recommend me a way to go??

[SamuraiCrow]

Actually, an A1200 can be expanded as much as an A4000 can be.  Sometimes cheaper too.  You need to look into a tower case and a Mediator PCI expansion deck that will allow you to use a Voodoo 2,3 or 4 graphics card and a SoundBlaster Live soundcard.  Also, you'll need version 3.1 ROMs if you want to add version 3.5 or 3.9 of the OS.

Personally, I'm keeping my A1200 in its current configuration (similar to yours) just in case there's a chance that ACK Software Controls comes out with a PPC accelerator for the A1200 at about the same time as the final release of AmigaOS 4.

[SamuraiCrow]

If you're planning on using AmigaOS 4, go with the Mediator.  If you're planning on going with MorphOS on PowerUP, forget the Mediator and find some other expansion deck for it since MorphOS doesn't have drivers for the Mediator.

If you're going to have two systems, I'd forget the expansion deck and sound card for the A1200.  It's more compatible with the old stuff using the AGA chipset and an '030 accelerator.  128 megs of RAM is possible on a Blizzard 1230, other accelerators may not be able to hold as much.  Be sure to get the 3.1 ROMs though, since they contain many bug-fixes.

For your second system, try to find a PowerPC-based system either running MorphOS or AmigaOS 4.  Since AmigaOS 4 is getting ready to ship (according to this interview with one of the developers), I'd wait before committing to any PowerPC system as it may be accompanied by new hardware from another company besides Eyetech.  (The AmigaOne series was discontinued for a reason, after all.)

[SamuraiCrow]

The fastest running system for MorphOS is a Pegasos 2.  The fastest thing for running AmigaOS 4 is currently an AmigaOne XE G4.  The A1200 with the proposed but not officially produced PowerVixxenLT will beat the pants off of a Cybervision PPC if it ever makes it to market.  There are also many other non-Amiga-dependent PowerPC-based hardware solutions that will beat the crap out of a Cybervision3d.  The only problem is if you want to run both MorphOS and AmigaOS 4 on them, you're stuck with the classic models running with a PowerUP-style PPC accelerator.

In short:  If you've already got an AGA Amiga with an '030 accelerator, you're set for all of the old software.  If you want something to run the next generation AmigaOS 4 or MorphOS, you're better off leaving the classic models behind altogether since they're so overpriced and likely to fail at any minute due to their age.

[SamuraiCrow]

A used Pegasos 2 would be the preferred MorphOS route.

Since used AmigaOne computers are rarely found for sale and in working order you'd be better off waiting for the official release of AmigaOS 4 when there is expected to be new hardware available for it such as the SAM440EP.

[SamuraiCrow]

humppa wrote:
@SamuraiCrow

There are also many other non-Amiga-dependent PowerPC-based hardware solutions that will beat the crap out of a Cybervision3d.

Possibly. Just like they are completely irrelevant due to their unavailability.

The only problem is if you want to run both MorphOS and AmigaOS 4 on them, you're stuck with the classic models running with a PowerUP-style PPC accelerator.

The problem turns to an advantage if you are interested to run Classic (OS3.9) software (scene demos, Amiga games using whdload) with the highest degree of compatibility.

@phil25

I really do like the look of Amiga OS 4... But one question that goes through my mind is, whats OS 4 got that should make me want to buy a brand new setup??
I mean, are any of the older Amiga games going to work on it at all? Whats it all for??

On OS4 you run most of those games only using E-UAE. It's basically like Winuae, only slower (no JIT) and with less features.
And why pay 800 EUR for emulation when you can have the same thing on a 200 EUR PC or natively on an Amiga Classic?

@Humppa
He already has an Amiga 1200 with an '030 accelerator so he can already run the WHDLoad software.  There's more compatibility in that configuration than there is in a next generation PowerPC computer.

@Phil25
The only advantages that MorphOS and AmigaOS 4 have over those loaded PCs you've got are that the operating systems take a lot less memory than any of the big 3 of operating systems and therefore run faster.  Much of the software that's OS4 or MorphOS-specific is based on the SDL libraries which also have PC versions anyway.  I am beginning to wonder if a big-box Amiga is what you really want.  A better option would be to get Amiga-Forever to install an Amiga emulator on your PC and get high-performance that way.