Advice on best A1200 accelerator

[desiv]

ok, it says........ 68020 Inst : Cache
 

So, it's not the software..
It's not seeing your card...

I'd try removing it, cleaning the card edge on the A1200 motherboard (pencil eraser first and maybe some rubbing alcohol and q-tips..) and try it again..

Hopefully, it's just a bad connection..

desiv

[Snoozy]

i tried that earlier :confused:
 
should i try spraying compressed air around the connectors?

[desiv]

i tried that earlier :confused:
 should i try spraying compressed air around the connectors?

I doubt it...
A good eraser cleaning and alcohol is going to be more than compressed air can do...

I'd try again, putting it all the way in the slot and see what happens.

And then back it out ever so slowly in really small increments.
That worked for me, but it was just backing it out a tiny bit..

If you got the card from Amigakit, I'd call them. (Well, tomorrow I'm guessing.)

They really know what they are doing...
It doesn't sound like the "timing" issues around.  It sounds like a connection problem.

I supposed it could also be power.

A normal 1200 (underpowered) PSU should still be enough for just that, but it's possible your PSU isn't working as it should....

desiv

[gajan]

@Snoozy
 
On Ebay untill tomorrow:
 
New links on Ebay in English :hammer::


BLIZZARD PPC 603/175Mhz 68040/25Mhz:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270823404707


Blizzard 1230 IV:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270823394521

[Snoozy]

The strange thing is the card is actually getting slightly warm if i leave it installed and the computer running for a while???
 
:roflmao:no thanks gajan i'm having enough problems with this card never mind buying more probs!!

[Snoozy]

By the sounds of things i need to be altering my Start Sequence in order for the computer to recognise the card (I think this comes back to having rom 3.0?)
 
How do i get into the Start Sequence (SS) to edit it? And then do i type:
 
C:ACATune - maprom Devs ROM3.0 -cache on -burst on>NIL:
 
is this right?? Do i save this into the start sequence somehow?
 
I need a computer wizard or wizardess to advise!

[desiv]

By the sounds of things i need to be altering my Start Sequence in order for the computer to recognise the card (I think this comes back to having rom 3.0?)

Yes and no...

When you tried the CPU command and it said 68020, that meant your computer wasn't seeing the ACA.

I booted my Amiga with no startup-sequence (from the boot menu) and used the CPU command, so there was no acatune loaded...

It said I had a 68030...

So yours should say that also, even without the software.

Once you get your Amiga recognizing the ACA (using the CPU command should show you), THEN you need to add acatune to the startup-sequence.

I usually just use
ed s:startup-sequence

desiv

[Snoozy]

But are you using rom 3.1? As i think rom 3.1 auto detects the ACA card, i gather rom 3.0 does not auto detect the card? so do i need to install rom 3.1 into the devs folder and change the SS command line to ROM3.1 hmmmm

[desiv]

But are you using rom 3.1? As i think rom 3.1 auto detects the ACA card, i gather rom 3.0 does not auto detect the card? so do i need to install rom 3.1 into the devs folder and change the SS command line to ROM3.1 hmmmm

No, I'm using ROM 3.0.  I softkick to 3.1 (using ACATune)...

With ROM 3.0, you should see the 68030 with the CPU command..

desiv

[Snoozy]

In that case i think i am going to have to remove the metal shielding and have a clean up of the motherboard !
 
Does all the metal shielding come away in one large piece, it seems slighlty annoying to remove :angry:

[DonutKing]

You shouldn't need to load ACATUNE in your startupsequence - mine worked just running it from within a CLI window in workbench. Once its working you can add it there.

The V102B6 version was linked earlier, that's the one that I'm using with my ACA1230. I'm using ROM 3.0 so that shouldn't be a problem either.

Make sure that the metal heat shield is not touching the accelerator at all; mine wouldn't work if it was touching.
The heat shield is in two pieces which should lift away cleanly, there are small tabs around the edge you have to fold back.
Also make sure its pushed onto the connector firmly, its a pretty tight fit.

[Iggy]

Right now, you could pick up a relatively cheap replacement at:
 
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Phase5-Blizzard-1230-Turbokarte-fuer-A1200-inkl-RAM-TOP-/140612820024?pt=Klassische_Computer&hash=item20bd2d5c38

[Snoozy]

Thanks donut king i have tried bending back the metal shield but this has made no difference either....there is just no way this card is being recognised by my amiga (firmly pushed in and its a blank or green screen, move back a touch and it loads wb but no card recognised.
 
I think i am defeated and will ask in my local retro computer shop if they can install the accelerator for me..

[portarinos]

I'm the one that sold him the card. I've been trying to help snoozy install the card and enjoy every bit of it (as i did with it, which means that the card was and still is working) via PM over Amibay. I suspect that the problem lies in the motherboard revision. it is highly possible that he'll need the PCMCIA reset fix in case he has a moterboard that refuses to collaborate with the card.

So, please inform us about the motherboard revision and we'll see what happens.

 I also strongly believe that for the card to be recognized easily he should at least soft kick rom 3.1 or even better buy a pair and install it. I remember that with an A1200 that had rom 3.0, I had to play around a little bit in order for the card to be recognized.

We'll stay in touch m8.

[NovaCoder]

Thanks donut king i have tried bending back the metal shield but this has made no difference either.

The best place for the upper RF shield is your nearest bin.....

[bbond007]

I'm the one that sold him the card. I've been trying to help snoozy install the card and enjoy every bit of it (as i did with it, which means that the card was and still is working) via PM over Amibay. I suspect that the problem lies in the motherboard revision. it is highly possible that he'll need the PCMCIA reset fix in case he has a moterboard that refuses to collaborate with the card.

So, please inform us about the motherboard revision and we'll see what happens.

 I also strongly believe that for the card to be recognized easily he should at least soft kick rom 3.1 or even better buy a pair and install it. I remember that with an A1200 that had rom 3.0, I had to play around a little bit in order for the card to be recognized.

We'll stay in touch m8.

I believe the card should still be recognized regardless of motherboard revision, just the motherboard needs mods if it has stability issues.

The PCMCIA reset is to fix (entirely different) issues with PCMCIA cards not resetting properly on boot. Can't remember if it is cold or warm boot, but it does not matter because its not relevant the the ACA not being recognized.

I would recommend bending the metal RF shielding all the way back and to make sure that you did not damage any traces on the accelerator.

Read carefully what Jens says concerning the timing mod : "Only remove them if you really have stability problems.  By removing them if you don't have any problems, you're likely to introduce timing issues. In other words: If it ain't broke, don't fix it"

stability problems - you'd to have the ACA recognized in order to know if you have stability problems :0

At any rate, here is the A1200 timing info:

ACA specific info:

http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=726765&postcount=1359

here is something on general A1200 fixes for 040/060:

http://www.ianstedman.co.uk/Amiga/amiga_hacks/A1200_Mobo_fix/a1200_mobo_fix.html

Good luck