Beefing up A3000

[lost_loven]

So reading the 50mhz hack then for the fpu and i wonder if it really worth it? Just for a machine to play games? And in reality would the life of it be shortened more?

I just wonder about this and i quote form the doc.

   [FONT="]My theory on FPUs was that the following: It's too
 expensive for them to have different assembly lines producing different grades
 of FPUs so they just produce the top grade, then label them different to keep
 the price high for the "top" grades.  WELL - I've since talked to Dax of
 Creative Computers @ Lawndale (Amiga Tech)  He statess that my theory is close
 but not exact.  The TRUE story for FPUs is that Motorolla has one assembly
 line for all FPUs (like I had thought) , and they always TRY to make 100 mhz
 FPUs.  But only about 10% of the FPUs produced actually pass at 100mhz.  These
 10% are then labeled 50mhz.  Then the rest of the FPUs that didn't pass are
 tested at 80 mhz.  Those that pass are labeled 40 mhz.  Then the same for 66
 mhz, 50mhz and 40mhz.  So in other words, the 25mhz FPU in your a3000 has
 already passed a test at 50mhz!![/FONT]


[FONT="]un quote[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]If this is true has one done this?[/FONT]


[FONT="]lost[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]ps sorry not trying to hijack the thread but add to it![/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]

[WeiXing3D]

I want to thank everybody for the overwhelming and great responses to this my first post. Like I said at the beginning, I just bought my system and I will receive later this week. Once I lay my hands on it, I will create a new post and tell you what I have installed, formally introduce myself with a little background so that you can assess the level of babysitting I will require, when asking for assistance. My priority is of course to get the system running, then find a way to exchange files with my Windows laptop (perhaps by adding the SD HxC floppy emulator first), then add Internet connectivity, add juice (I think I will have enough memory already).
So I will let you know how things go. Many thanks.

[matt3k]

So reading the 50mhz hack then for the fpu and i wonder if it really worth it? Just for a machine to play games? And in reality would the life of it be shortened more?

I just wonder about this and i quote form the doc.

   [FONT="]My theory on FPUs was that the following: It's too
 expensive for them to have different assembly lines producing different grades
 of FPUs so they just produce the top grade, then label them different to keep
 the price high for the "top" grades.  WELL - I've since talked to Dax of
 Creative Computers @ Lawndale (Amiga Tech)  He statess that my theory is close
 but not exact.  The TRUE story for FPUs is that Motorolla has one assembly
 line for all FPUs (like I had thought) , and they always TRY to make 100 mhz
 FPUs.  But only about 10% of the FPUs produced actually pass at 100mhz.  These
 10% are then labeled 50mhz.  Then the rest of the FPUs that didn't pass are
 tested at 80 mhz.  Those that pass are labeled 40 mhz.  Then the same for 66
 mhz, 50mhz and 40mhz.  So in other words, the 25mhz FPU in your a3000 has
 already passed a test at 50mhz!![/FONT]


[FONT="]un quote[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]If this is true has one done this?[/FONT]


[FONT="]lost[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]ps sorry not trying to hijack the thread but add to it![/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]

I hacked my 3000D about 20 years ago and it still works...

[560SL]

Congratulations on your purchase!

The A3000 is truly a great Amiga system to beef up. Besides from the expandability, it is probably the best
looking too. Box design was made by Herb Mosteller (I think he did C128 case too).

I bought mine almost 20 years ago, back then I had "only" 4 + 2 M ram, a 100M HD and a C= 1930-II VGA monitor. Not a bad setup by standard then, and I had it like this for several years. Very reliable.

I must say that if I had to pick one Amiga system Ive been using over the years, the A3000 is the one that kept me coming back. A4000T may be more technically advanced, but it lost just a tiny bit of that soul.

A couple of years ago I decided I had too much dosh laying around and started to expand the A3000. I wanted to see how far it could be pushed really...

So this is the current state of it:

- CyberStormPPC 060/66 604e/367 128M. Upgraded by Stachu.
- CyberVisionPPC.
- Indivision ECS.
- Deneb USB. Wish we could see these available at retailers again.
- FZ357A HD floppy.
- VLab Motion
- Toccata sound card.
- 73GB HD.

The system is running very stable with this setup, although heat is building up inside the box, so the next project will definetly be to fit the FastATA controller and replace the HD with a SSD. I have also been thinking about replacing the PSU, but somehow things would not be the same without the "jet- engine" sound. Thats the sound of A3000 personality

Would be lovely to add an A3070 as well, but it seems there are fewer available than the holy grail.

Wish you all the best with your A3000!

[matt3k]

Congratulations on your purchase!

The A3000 is truly a great Amiga system to beef up. Besides from the expandability, it is probably the best
looking too. Box design was made by Herb Mosteller (I think he did C128 case too).

I bought mine almost 20 years ago, back then I had "only" 4 + 2 M ram, a 100M HD and a C= 1930-II VGA monitor. Not a bad setup by standard then, and I had it like this for several years. Very reliable.

I must say that if I had to pick one Amiga system Ive been using over the years, the A3000 is the one that kept me coming back. A4000T may be more technically advanced, but it lost just a tiny bit of that soul.

A couple of years ago I decided I had too much dosh laying around and started to expand the A3000. I wanted to see how far it could be pushed really...

So this is the current state of it:

- CyberStormPPC 060/66 604e/367 128M. Upgraded by Stachu.
- CyberVisionPPC.
- Indivision ECS.
- Deneb USB. Wish we could see these available at retailers again.
- FZ357A HD floppy.
- VLab Motion
- Toccata sound card.
- 73GB HD.

The system is running very stable with this setup, although heat is building up inside the box, so the next project will definetly be to fit the FastATA controller and replace the HD with a SSD. I have also been thinking about replacing the PSU, but somehow things would not be the same without the "jet- engine" sound. Thats the sound of A3000 personality

Would be lovely to add an A3070 as well, but it seems there are fewer available than the holy grail.

Wish you all the best with your A3000!

Might have a 3070 somewhere in storage, if I can find it I will let you know...

Nice system you made for yourself, nice job!

Should upload pics to the gallery.  Think the best route for an SSD is the OWC Mercury Legacy IDE.  Haven't found a better solution in my travels yet.

How is the indivision ECS?  My 3k's have video cards right now, so I don't need one, just wondered how well they worked...