My A1200 Desktop (Not a Wedge!)

[GrizzlyAdams]

Started out with an A1200 I found on ebay for $50, the IDE header had numerous broken pins, so first order of business was replacing the header.
Somehow I managed to NOT burn the board in the process

Now I've got it stuffed into an old VAXStation 3100 desktop case:


So then I got an ACA1230 28MHz accelerator, IDEfix, and 3Com ethernet.
But wouldn't you know the case won't fit the pcmcia card! Only thing to do was get a right-angle pcmcia riser, and hack it.


So next we need good video out for my 23" LCDs and 42" plasma.  In comes the IndivisionAGA MK2, which does an awesome job. But what about a power supply? Well I managed to find a 90W 1U powersupply from work one day, and I built a mmkeyboard interface (which I still can't get to switch the PSU on/off)

Now just having gotten some birthday spending money, I bought a mediator busboard, Radeon 9200 video card, AHA2940W scsi card, and I already have a SB128 & suitable USB2 card.  Because of the case I'm using I've gotta use a pci riser to fit everybody.  I also have to make a custom mounting bracket for my 3.5" bay since the old tray would block the mediator.

Updates coming as more parts arrive!

[GrizzlyAdams]

Getting a decent SCSI and Ethernet setup are my main reasons for the mediator. The Radeon is just a bonus to speed up RTG compatible stuff that doesn't run well at 1280x720 on AGA.

[GrizzlyAdams]

Mediator is in now, but any attempt to access it (even with no cards) locks the amiga solid, requiring a powercycle to reset.

[GrizzlyAdams]

@yissing:
Nope, infact I removed the PCMCIA nic.

@Bamiga2002:
the mediator by itself is supposed to work even with no cards present, and some cards (10mbit 8029 ethernet) are polled I/O so don't need memory.
the install disc has a option during setup for no videocard.
also I've tried all possible combinations of jumper settings. (yes all 12 possible)

I have a 2MB S3 Virge, which provides 1MB framebuffer and 1MB shared use. Any programs that touch pci.library instantly lock the machine.

I think it comes down to a timing issue with the rev 2B board I have. Guess I need to get ahold of the inductors and capacitors that jens recommends.

[GrizzlyAdams]

@Rob:
Nope, I don't have such plugs available (well I do, but I have to splice them in)  I do have the floppy cable and square din plugged in.  You think its a power issue?


@shaf:
I have a radeon 9200 128MB on order, its on a slow boat from china though.

[GrizzlyAdams]

OK, spliced in the connectors to my powersupply, also added a toggle switch for power on/off since the mmkeyboard soft-on feature never worked for me.

Is it OK to have both the square din and the p8/p9 plugged in? It shouldn't hurt anything, right?

[GrizzlyAdams]

No change, pciinfo still causes it to lock solid.

[GrizzlyAdams]

Radeon arrived today, still no change.
Installed ACATune 1.02B (recommended for ACA1230/28MHz)
C:ACATune -maprom * p >NIL:
C:CPU instcache instburst fastrom nodatacache >NIL:

Installed Installer43.3,
Reinstalled MM_CD_UP2.1,
Reconfigured with MedConfig,
no change.

Any time I run pciinfo or another program that uses pci.library, instant freeze.

[GrizzlyAdams]

I feel I should mention this is under ClassicWB 3.9 R27 and BetterWB 3.1 R2.4

[GrizzlyAdams]

Applied the timing fixes to my 2B board, still locks up soon as I run pciinfo.
I've uploaded a video of it crashing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRHvLSK1lUk

[GrizzlyAdams]

Tried and failed there too, IIRC the mediator software requires a 4MB expansion as a minimum. Even with my smallest WB3.1 install I have less than 300KB available without the Indivision. I'm tempted to see if netbsd or linux can boot with only 2MB, and supports the A1200 pci busboards.

[GrizzlyAdams]

Unfortunately my ACA1230/28 has an 68EC030, so no MMU = no unix.
Sadface more. Only timing fix not applied to my board is replacement of E121R and E122R with 60ohm coils.  My 2B board never had E125C / E123C since before I purchased it. Doesn't look like it was reworked either.
At some point I might look at getting another A1200 board.