Making use of a CD32

[Grapple Convoy]

I still have my CD32, working OK-ish, in my loft (unlike my beloved 1200HD, sold eight years ago unfortunately).

Can the CD32 innards be re-cased in one of those 1200 tower kits, to make a sort-of tower 1200?

[Dazxy2001]

Anything is possible I guess if your determined enough lol
I wouldnt think it would be possible as the CD drive itself would be the main stumbling block as it uses a ribbon similar to the keyboard connector on the A1200 rather than an IDE connector then theres the lid switch etc etc to contend with.... I guess with an SX1 expansion and some hackery you could come up with something a little out the norm

[Tripitaka]

It is possible to loose the CD Drive and use an IDE one, you need to make the IDE drive CD0 too if I remember rightly. Someone did this ages back but I can't remember all the details. Damn sight easier to use an A1200 IMHO.

[paul1981]

It is possible to loose the CD Drive and use an IDE one, you need to make the IDE drive CD0 too if I remember rightly. Someone did this ages back but I can't remember all the details. Damn sight easier to use an A1200 IMHO.

Yes, but a towered A1200 wouldn't have Akiko! :afro:

[Tripitaka]

Yes, but a towered A1200 wouldn't have Akiko! :afro:

Very true, but it could have RTG. Having said that, I see nothing wrong with towering up a CD32, it's a hobby after all and no one says it has to make sense. Well, some people do but they are a bit boring.

It's kind of funny, I still love the CD32, it's my second favorite Amiga, and I would really, really, really, like to see someone make a new '030 based add on like the SX32pro, they are about as rare as rocking horse manure.

[kedawa]

I'm thinking of using mine as a way to get stuff onto my A500, using the serial port, but I'm not sure quite how to go about it.  I've had no luck getting my PC and A500 to communicate, so I figured that putting stuff on CD-ROM and using the CD32 might be a better option.

[Rebel-CD32]

Unless you can find a SX- expansion with IDE for your CD32, you won't be hooking up an IDE drive to it, and without the proprietary CD drive connected you won't be able to load anything. You are really better off keeping it in its original case, maybe sticking it under the TV and hooking it up via S-Video, burn some game compilations onto disc and play them from the couch. You can easily put the compilations together yourself with this Windows program, which works in Wine too: http://mygurumeditation.wordpress.com/cd32-toolkit-assistant-help/

You can use the CD32 to send ADFs to the A500, but you will have to wire up a serial port to the AUX port. You can make a splitter that has both the serial and keyboard port and use them both at the same time too. Check this out: http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/CD32-Amiga11

[kedawa]

That's what I was thinking.  When I first checked out the expansion connector pinouts, my first thought was that I could build some kind of break-out box for serial, keyboard and RGB, but I have been told that I'd need some additional electronics if I want to use the RGB signal.

[olsen]

I still have my CD32, working OK-ish, in my loft (unlike my beloved 1200HD, sold eight years ago unfortunately).

Can the CD32 innards be re-cased in one of those 1200 tower kits, to make a sort-of tower 1200?

In case nobody noticed, the CD32 is still a more than decent CD player, sound-wise. In fact, when I first got one to develop software for (the fabled "Kodak Photo CD" player application for the CD32, which unfortunately never went to market) I was stunned how good the audio playback sounded. That's what prompted me to ditch my trusty Sony DiscMan (then barely three years old) and look for a replacement. That was back in 1994, if I remember correctly.

Now, CDs being soooo 1990'ies today, this may sound very quaint today  But some guys are positively crazy about the audiophile attributes of gaming consoles. For example, there is a certain PlayStation 1 type model for which Sony inadvertedly ended up using high quality audio components, and which is something of a collector's item.

[Matt_H]

Unless you can find a SX- expansion with IDE for your CD32, you won't be hooking up an IDE drive to it, and without the proprietary CD drive connected you won't be able to load anything. You are really better off keeping it in its original case, maybe sticking it under the TV and hooking it up via S-Video, burn some game compilations onto disc and play them from the couch. You can easily put the compilations together yourself with this Windows program, which works in Wine too: http://mygurumeditation.wordpress.com/cd32-toolkit-assistant-help/

You can use the CD32 to send ADFs to the A500, but you will have to wire up a serial port to the AUX port. You can make a splitter that has both the serial and keyboard port and use them both at the same time too. Check this out: http://aminet.net/package/docs/hard/CD32-Amiga11

An SX-1, SX-32 or the incredibly rare ProModule are the best options - no need to rehouse anything, and they give your CD32 a full complement of Amiga ports, some Fast RAM, IDE interface, and floppy interface. These are great systems for games and light productivity!

[Grapple Convoy]

An SX-1, SX-32 or the incredibly rare ProModule are the best options - no need to rehouse anything, and they give your CD32 a full complement of Amiga ports, some Fast RAM, IDE interface, and floppy interface. These are great systems for games and light productivity!

Sounds like I'm better off selling the CD32 and buying a 1200 if I can find one, SX-1s and so forth aren't cheap or easily obtainable.

(How much are CD32s worth on the secondary market? )

[dougal]

If possible i would keep the cd32 and get an A1200. Ok the A1200 is much more expandable and you can do much more with it but the CD32 is a lovely console and so great to have. I would never sell mine.