External keyboard needed with A1200 accelerators?

[KatManDEW]

I got an Apollo 1240 for my A1200, and it doesn't look like there is any way to use the stock A1200 keyboard with the Apollo installed.

Is it normal to use external keyboards with A1200 accelerators?

[jrfjunior]

What I know is that Apollo works with A1200 but some revisions of A1200 motherboards require some fixes (mostly jumpers between tracks of the motherboard) to work with this accelerator.

KatManDEW wrote:
I got an Apollo 1240 for my A1200, and it doesn't look like there is any way to use the stock A1200 with the Apollo installed.

Is it normal to use external keyboards with A1200 accelerators?

[jj]

There is  no reason a trapdoor accelerator like an apollo or blizzard would need an external keyboard.

They were ddesigned and have been used all  over the world to fit in the origianl wedge without any mods .

[tribz]

Sounds like you may have a non original heatsink or fan on it which is getting in the way of the keyboard. I got a low profile hs and fan from CPC to sort mine when I had it.

[KatManDEW]

The heat sink would probably a problem, if the memory SIMM wasn't an even bigger problem...

[KatManDEW]

Do I need to install any drivers for this board? I found a Apollo 060 disk at Amiga Resource and Installers Heaven.

I can't boot from hard drive with the 1240 and the memory installed. I can boot from HD without the memory installed, and I can boot from floppy if the memory is installed.

[clint]

Hi KatManDEW

This looks nothing like my Apollo 1240, the memory SIMM on mine lies parallel to the card with the barrel type battery on mine both on the trapdoor lid side. The fan on mine is on the same side as yours but is 20mm square and 10mm thick. I think the one you have is for an A1200 Mobo that has been put in a tower.

clint

[KatManDEW]

clint wrote:
I think the one you have is for an A1200 Mobo that has been put in a tower.
clint

That has to be what it is, because there is no way it can be used otherwise.

[amigakit]

Your Apollo 1240 has two SIMM sockets, one on each side of the accelerator.  You dont need to populate the upper SIMM socket if used within desktop case- solely use the lower SIMM socket.

When no SIMM is in the upper memory socket, the keyboard should fit.

[tribz]

KatManDEW wrote:
The heat sink would probably a problem, if the memory SIMM wasn't an even bigger problem...

Ah, mine didnt have the extra simm slot on the back. Now if you'd mentioned that in your first post ;-)

[KatManDEW]

amigakit wrote:
Your Apollo 1240 has two SIMM sockets, one on each side of the accelerator.  You dont need to populate the upper SIMM socket if used within desktop case- solely use the lower SIMM socket.

When no SIMM is in the upper memory socket, the keyboard should fit.

DUH!  I should have noticed that!  I glanced at that and thought it was a SCSI connector.

I got the SIMM in the bottom socket now, but the keyboard still hits the CPU fan.

I also have to disable CPU caches to get it to boot from hard disk with the SIMM in the top or bottom socket.

Is there a driver I need to install, or something in my hard disk startup that is causing the problem? I can boot from floppy without disabling the CPU caches...

Thanks for the support!

[Matt_H]

That's not the original heatsink/fan - you'll need a smaller one.

040s generate a lot of heat, though, so keep a close eye on it.

[amigakit]

Simply loosen the front two screws for the fan attached to the heatsink, remove the two back screws from the fan completely.  

Slide the fan back away from the keyboard about an inch or so until the keyboard clears the fan.   When in good position, re-tighten the two front screws into the heatsink to secure the fan in place.  

Check your LIBS: drawer, remove the Commodore 68040.library from the LIBS:

[NovaCoder]

Matt_H wrote:
That's not the original heatsink/fan - you'll need a smaller one.

040s generate a lot of heat, though, so keep a close eye on it.

Exactly why I wouldn't go for a desktop case.  For a desktop install go for an 020, 030 or 060.

[DoogUK]

Posting this from my desktop miggy with apollo 1240@40