A4000 or souped up 1200 ??

[spirantho]

If money isn't a worry, then the A4000 is your friend.

You'll have a lot less compatibility and reliability errors with an A4000, as well as a lot more to expand phsyically (though if you get a tower that doesn't matter anyway).

With an A4000 you know your Zorro III slots will work perfectly, your CPU will be more reliable with the extra cooling, specially if you're going the PPC route (which I strongly recommend - get the 604e@200, 68060@50 CSPPC if you can as the 233 is a little less reliable I think), and from what I've seen they just hold together better.

Of course I'm biased - but you're not having my A4000. Nonetheless I still say A4000 every time.

[Argus]

doctorq wrote:
If it were me, I'd go the A4000 route, but there are many pros and cons mentioned in this thread about each computer.

IIRC the ram on the BPPC is 16 bit, while 32 bit on the CSPPC (or am I confused, it's early in the morning)

I believe the CSPPC's memory is set up for 64-bit addressing for the 604 chip while the BPPC is only 32-bit as the 603 chip can only address 32-bit memory.  So the Blizz gives you more memory but the CSPPC is the faster implementation.

[x56h34]

Argus wrote:

doctorq wrote:
If it were me, I'd go the A4000 route, but there are many pros and cons mentioned in this thread about each computer.

IIRC the ram on the BPPC is 16 bit, while 32 bit on the CSPPC (or am I confused, it's early in the morning)

I believe the CSPPC's memory is set up for 64-bit addressing for the 604 chip while the BPPC is only 32-bit as the 603 chip can only address 32-bit memory.  So the Blizz gives you more memory but the CSPPC is the faster implementation.

That's right guys. I forgot to mention this advantage of the CSPPC as well.

[Oliver]

I think using a 4000 with a good graphics card would be a good option for you if you want to do image generation/processing with it.  A graphics card will not turn the machine into a PC.  It will turn it into a better Amiga: more pride for you.  The Picasso IV would probably be a good choice, as it has a great on-board scandoubler/flickerfixer, which will allow you to use all your native video modes in their full glory.

Is your 3000 not functional now?  Is that the reason for wanting another machine?  As mentioned before, the 3000 really is a very capable machine.  I've used a 3000 for paint progs, 3D modelling, writing music, games, word processing, mathematical modelling, spread sheets, etc.  All very impressive in the day, and still usable now.

You also mentioned flaming and slagging: unfortunately there is a bit of that around here, but really not much.  Generally, the people here are more than enthusiastic to help, and there really is an impressive wealth of knowledge in amongst the forum members here (I'm not talking of myself here).

[Oliver]

doctorq wrote:
While towerising, you'll need a keyboard adaptor, and none of them are actually any good. The one I have in my A1200T can not have multiple keypresses, and that is very annoying when playing games.

Is that the case for ALL keyboard adapters?  Why is this?  Maybe I should design a new one.  Is there any particular reason for this?  Is it just a case of cutting corners, and keeping things simple?

[doctorq]

Is that the case for ALL keyboard adapters?  Why is this?  Maybe I should design a new one.  Is there any particular reason for this?  Is it just a case of cutting corners, and keeping things simple?

The only keyboard adaptor I have heard of which doesn't have this multiple keypresses problem is the Lyra. I haven't tried it myself, so can't confirm it.

I haven't bought a Lyra adaptor myself, because it apparently can only take PC keyboards, and I would like to use my Amiga keyboards.

[alexh]

@Taz

What do you want your Classic Amiga for?

Is space a premium in your home?

Do you use a monitor with your Amiga?

------------------------------------------------------

I would say that 99% of Retro-Gaming users would be satisfied with:

A1200 Desktop
68030@50MHz with 32-Meg RAM + SCSI module
2.5" IDE hard drive
SCSI CD-ROM
PCMCIA ethernet card
Optional Scandoubler / LCDTV

It takes up very little room, very portable, just sling it next to the TV in the livingroom!

------------------------------------------------------
As you already have an A3000 (without gfx), you like it and you just want to go "AGA" then:

A4000D 2Mbyte Chip / 16Mbyte Fast
68040@25MHz+ (Perferably one that takes SIMMS)
3.5" IDE drive
IDE DVD-ROM
Optional GFX card (preferably with scandoubler) / LCDTV

------------------------------------------------------

I think you could be happy enough with a cheap A4000D to be able to sell your A3000 to help fund the purchase.

Remember that the A3000 has a built in AMBER de-interlacer / Scandoubler and that an A1200 or A4000 will either need a scandoubler or a gfx card to work with a normal monitor. HOWEVER it can be cheaper to buy a new portable LCDTV with RGB SCART input.

[adolescent]

doctorq wrote:

Is that the case for ALL keyboard adapters?  Why is this?  Maybe I should design a new one.  Is there any particular reason for this?  Is it just a case of cutting corners, and keeping things simple?

The only keyboard adaptor I have heard of which doesn't have this multiple keypresses problem is the Lyra. I haven't tried it myself, so can't confirm it.

I can confirm that the Revanche LLC RAKA does not have any problem with multiple keypresses.  

[TazzyUK]

Its not just higher resolutions I want, its also higher colour palette. The AGA chipset gives you a higher palette to play with, does it not?

Offering 256 colour mode, a new ham mode and 24 bit palette
Also I would like to try some projects on the AGA version of Deluxe Paint (also some 3d software)
Also possibly transferring images files from Amiga to PC.

Did they ever do a Deluxe Paint v ?

So does this 'requirement' change what is the best option?

Well expanded 1200 or slightly expanded 4000?

(That MINT 4000 on Ebay (reserve £300) looks tempting but car has to go in the garage very soon...shame!)

TazzyUK

[whiteb]

TazzyUK wrote:
(That MINT 4000 on Ebay (reserve £300) looks tempting but car has to go in the garage very soon...shame!)

TazzyUK

Its only in Brighton, catch the train.., just "Borrow" a local  shopping Center trolley

[doctorq]

With a graphics card in the A3000 you will be able to have up to 24 bit resolutions (maybe even 32, can't remember).

Transfering files from Amiga to PC and the other way around is possible with every Amiga.

The only thing you will not be able to do with your A3000 is the AGA stuff you want to do.

[Oliver]

Anyway, a good graphics card will give you better performance with high colour depth and resolutions.  As far as I know, the AGA chipset aint that good at doing 24 bit graphics.  In terms of graphics capabilities, you don't really miss out on much by just sticking a good graphics card in your 3000.  Generally, graphics cards are able to surpass the performance of the AGA chipset, only they won't do tasks which are specifically written for AGA.  I think if you got a 4000 with a graphics card, you probably wouldn't actually use the AGA chipset much.  I haven't had this experience myself, but I have compared my 1200's AGA graphics capabilities with my friend's 3000+Gfx card.  I just stopped doing graphics work on mine, and used his instead.

Does anyone here own a 4000+GFX card, who could comment on this?  Do you actually take advantage of the AGA chipset, or just use the card?

[doctorq]

Does anyone here own a 4000+GFX card, who could comment on this?  Do you actually take advantage of the AGA chipset, or just use the card?

I have graphics cards in all my A4000s, so I hardly use native Amiga video outputs. Only when a game needs it, but I'm still hoping for GFX card support in WHDLoad :-)

[TazzyUK]

Lets say I decide to stick with the A3000, whats a decent GFX card for the A3000 (and are they that available??) and can you get one that doubles up as an accelerator card?
Thanks
Taz

[adonay]

I would go for the a4k more easy to get a stable system that way i have done to many soldering fixes on 1200 mobos for it to be stable simply not the easyest part also psu problems compared to the a4k.. And when you buy a a4k you all ready have good room for hds no need to buy nev tower at first. As i have noticed with the 1200 the more hardware hacks you install the harder it is to get the system stable..

While towerising, you'll need a keyboard adaptor, and none of them are actually any good

The lyra is exelent due to my opinion ony adapter worth mentioning everything else is garbage yes and i have had near them all..

[TazzyUK]

Would any of the fairly good paint programs take advantage of a GFX card?......like DPIV, Brilliance etc
Taz