A1200 Accelerator - best buy - price vs performance?

[bob808]

d0pefish - when would you be selling, and for how much - send me a PM.


Thanks

bob808

[srg86]

I shall also vote for the Blizzard 1230IV if all he's going to do is games.

Most important though is having fast RAM. I did a small, unscientific test (as in just a rough idea) with a small prime number program compiled under GCC 3.4 (I think) on OS3.0 and simply adding fast RAM to an A1200 gave it a huge boost. Slightly more than a 50MHz 030 could alone (as in chip RAM only). The card I used was just a RAM expansion board, still using the A1200s 14MHz EC020.

The 030 plus fast ram was a lot faster still

Prime numbers from 1 20001, displaying each prime as it went (I timed it with a stopwatch):

A1200 Stock: 1m21s
A1200 4MB FAST RAM: 57s
A1200 030 50MHz Chip RAM only: 59s
A1200 030 50MHz 16MB FAST RAM: 38s (as far as I can remember)

So I think that if you was really on a budget and couldn't even stretch to a Blizzard 1230IV, just adding Fast RAM will give you a much quicker machine.

Still, it will be interesting to see what an 040/25 makes of this when I get my BPPC soon :-) I've also just downloaded vbcc and am going to try m68k and later PPC from that. For a laugh!

[d0pefish]

Hiya :-)

Thanks for the interest in my card. Two people in half a day and it was only a quiet little mention in this thread! :-)

I'll be selling the 1230-IV in about a week's time, when my new Amiga gets here.

It doesn't have the optional FPU co-processor but I have it loaded up with 16mb of RAM, which I'll include in the sale.

I've already found the inner box (never had the outer sleeve) but I think I've lost the little sheet of instructions. Nevertheless it's dead simple to install, and like someone said above all you really need to know about it is the "2" key which disables it when you need extra compatibility.

It's an original phase5 model.
One minor thing - I think the clock battery is dead. It isn't holding the time settings; but I'll get it checked and maybe try and source a replacement before I sell it.

Like I said, I've had 2 people interested already. If I get any more interest, I might have to stick it on eBay for simplicity's sake.

I'm not really too certain about its value but if you can make me an offer I can't refuse, maybe I could reserve it for you. :-D

Any questions, please PM me. :-)

[amiga1260]

doctorq is right about WHDLOAD. I have an A1200 with 4 MB fast mem (GVP A1208). It does run 98% of the WHDLOAD Installed games. I tried to run OS 3.9, but I got an out of memory error with the backdrop. You need at least 6 MB of fastmem to run OS 3.9.

It was a bit slow running on an 68020 CPU, but it works.

The best card you could buy, is a Blizzard 1230 IV.

I have a Blizzard 1260 with 128 MB, but you don't need it for playing most of WHDLOAD games.

A Blizzard 1230 IV can play mp3 at low quality and surfing the internet with AGA works wel, but a little slow.

[keropi]

or perhaps a Blizzard 1220, which has a 020/28 and 4MB fast ram AFAIR... that would be budget price!

[Doppie1200]

Ofcourse it depends on what features you look for. But when you keep scsi out of the equation I'd say any 030 accelerator BUT the blizzard 1230.

Because everybody recommends blizzard they are overpriced. Other good accellerators are forgotton because of this. But I must say; Blizzards are those with the best reputation.

Myself, I have a taifun 1230@50 here and it usually goes for less then what a blizzard usually goes for. Just because it is less famous (lesser demand). It is PCMCIA friendly. Can take 32MB, generally more then adequate. And there is, if you can find one, a scsi enabled one.

I advise you to check websites for information about an accelerator if you can find one cheap. Does it have what you want it to. How well is it known; ask specifically for that type or else everybody starts recommending blizzards again (it has become a habit ;-) ).

As for OS3.9 I wouldn't do so if I would't have had an Apollo 1260 here.

Good luck.

[d0pefish]

Update:

The 1230-IV is now reserved for bob808 after a good offer.

Thanks guys, and thanks bob808. :-)

[gizmomelb]

I;ve got a Blizzard 1260 (16MB RAM) and SCSI addon (128MB RAM) - pics here:

http://craigwp.gallery.netspace.net.au/Console-Magazines/DSC01046

http://craigwp.gallery.netspace.net.au/Console-Magazines/DSC01048

http://craigwp.gallery.netspace.net.au/Console-Magazines/DSC01053

Should I split this or sell it altogther?

[magistral]

Any opinions about Microbotis M1230 XA?

[icbrkr]

I've got a 1230XA 030/50Mhz in my A1200 - works fine but the RAM seems a bit picky.