12 Upgrades

[AmiXDel]

I've won a 1200 on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8170996367&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

How much is the PCI expansion (what's it called)

and when will new affordable G4 CPU upgrades be out, how much will they be, and will they work with the PCI slots?

Also, when is Coldfire supposed to be out, will it work with the PCI slots, and how much?

Lastly, are there cases designed for MODed 1200's?

[AmiXDel]

Ok I found the Mediator PCI for A1200, but it says there are two version.

One for use with the ZIV Board, and one that doesn't need the ZIV apparently? Am I right, do I not need to ZIV board to use PCI slots?

[Lando]

The Mediator 1200 SX (6 PCI slots), LT 4(4 slots) and LT (2 slots) don't need a ZIV busboard, they just plug onto the trapdoor expansion connector on the A1200 mobo.  But you'll have to put the A1200 in a tower case.  You'll also need some more RAM (4MB or more) and (preferable but not essential) an 030 or better accelerator.  

Try to get a Blizzard 1230 Mk IV, or a Blizzard 1260 if you have plenty money, or even a Blizzard PPC if you're rich.  But then you're getting into spending several hundreds of pounds on a machine that's way past it's best-by date.

[Brian]

About G4 CPU uppgrade... rumors have it that there's a PPCcard in the making for the A1200 but so far it's just been rumors so don't hold your breath. If you want PPC go for a BlizzardPPC (me think G2).

About coldfire, although elbox is on this one and I do hope/think it'll release soon, is still only speculations of compability and it will most likely not work with existing hardware but need the dragon AGP/PCI bussboard (& towercase) to work.

If you're thinking about towers for modded A1200 then yes there are quite a few, else no. But original cases can be bought from Vesalia cheap so there's nothing stopping you from modding your own case from the original design if you want to keep the original just in case.

[Effy]

[AmiXDel]

That's what I'm wondering.
I've looked around at the current CPU upgrades, and they all seem to be WAAAAAYYYYYYYYY "etc" over priced for hardware that was considered fast back in 1992 or what ever.

I've heard of the ColdFire which sounds like a dream come true (so long as the price stays decent), but then you would not have PPC comptability.

On the other hand there don't seem to be any available PPC add ons for the 1200. I've heard of promises of things to come, but no delivery.
Besides, if one comes out finally, would that then mean that my compatability with old 68k apps would be broken, or would some of them work and some not, and for those that work, what speeds would they run? Slower or faster than what a ColdFire could run them at?

I'm stuck between choices because I'm not certain there is going to be any OS4 PPC future for the Amiga, in which case, I'm better off with a COld Fire and OS 3.9.


Now that I've got an Amiga again, I'm quickly realizing why the world of Amiga also pisses me off so much...


...just imagine paying $800 plus for a 486 DX in this day and age...

...that's what it makes me feel like I'm doing.

As for this AmigaOne thing. I heard you can plug in a 1200 into it like a card for backwards compatability. Is this true? And if so, how well does it work? I'd hope it would run PERFECT at the price they are charging. Almost $1000 for a motherboard with out dated GFX, and SLOOOWWWW 800Mhz CPU.
 Assuming the Media OS actually gets some freaking multi-media apps, it would take forever to work with large MPEG files and what not. I don't see there logic.

If anyone can provide me with some good links to good buys, good reading material, good informatoin on what is in store for the 1200, etc. It would really help a LOT!

[Linchpin]

The original AmigaOne design had the a1200 slot, the actual ones released dont.

[AmiXDel]

What?!

Is the "emulation" layer that good in OS4?

[punkpie]

Almost $1000 for a motherboard with out dated GFX, and SLOOOWWWW 800Mhz CPU.

I really dont think that 800MHz is *that* slow.  You've got to remember that you aren't actually running WindowsXP on it.

The problem you are facing is that to upgrade your a1200 is going to cost you a lot of money unless you buy one ready made.  I suggest you check out www.amibench.net everyday for a few bargains.

[Linchpin]

Why bother with classic amiga emulation? IMHO thats whats the major holdback thats with the amiga community, its time to move on!

[AmiXDel]

800Mhz to run Amiga OS is GREAT, but like I was saying, when you get down to working with MPEG files, cuttting, them, converting them, mastering DVD's, capturing video, etc.

It's going to SUCK! But alas, there is no media software for the Media OS, so I guess we don't have to worry about any of that now do we? :/

Anyhow, I just got an E-mail from Elbox, and they say they are working on the 1st batch of 1200 Coldfire boards, and they will be about $455.00.

Now that sounds like a good deal, that is if the Coldfire comes with all it says it will.

[Linchpin]

But coldfire is slower than 800mhz and you claim thats not fast enough... :-?

[AmiXDel]

Well...

...no one has made any mention of a price worthyG4 upgrade fot he 1200 yet, and you can't plug a 1200 into the Amiga ONe anymore so....

...looks like my only choice is a Coldfire, then if I want OS 4 I apparently need to bend over and take it in the butt, and fork out MAD cash for some classic AmigaOne hardware.

Speaking of which, how come the new MicroAmiga is over $1000!?!?!

I was expecting it to be around or under $500. :/

[poweramiga2002]

i have an A1XEG4@1000mhz 1gigram radeon9800 and it flies fastest booting coputer ive ever seen a  reset is 4 seconds with adsl without adsl 2 seconds os4 rocks
i play quake and q2 over the net in software render and you wouldent know it wasent hw

i wouldent try to upgrade 1200 as i have ppc1200 with grex voodoo3/3000 etc and the A1 completely kills it

the A1 is fully sick:lol:

[AmiXDel]

Hmm, how good is the backwards compatability on your AmigaOne?

I thought maybe I'd upgrade the 1200 for nestalgia and backwards compatability, then maybe later get an up to date Amiga when, or if they ever realize that we are all not superficial Mac owners with fat wads of cash falling out of our pockets left and right.

We're poor hobbyists.