Upgrading Classic Equipment

[Fedorenko]

First off, if this is in the wrong forum, im sorry, please move it.

Now, with the talk of OS4, I have decided its time to actually buy an amiga. Thing is, im poor  :-D, and I need to get some OS4 goodness the cheapest way humanly possible.

Now, my understanding is that I would need an Amiga 1200 or 4000, updated with a PPC card. Reading some other posts, I have seen that it is cheaper to get AmigaONE.

Now surely, with so many people buying an AmigaONE now, wouldnt an amount of these upgraded amigas come on teh market....cheaply. Im probably wrong though....so correct me pleae by asnwering my question.

What is the cheapest (including second hand stuff) way to get a computer capable of OS4 (preformance is no problem)?

Thanks for reading this rambling post.

[odin]

Amiga hardware isn't cheap. Especially PPC hardware as it's in quite big demand. A not too earthshattering BPPC goes for ~400EUR on EBay (someone with better guestimates feel free to adjust this :-).

But you'd also need an A1200, a tower, keyboard interface, some kind of networking hardware (at least if you have broadband). I'd say ~200EUR for that lot. I think if you're really serious about running OS4 and have to start from scratch with Amiga h/w you'd be better of buying an A1. But then again, I'd wait until OS4 is actually buyable :-)

Oh and should you get a BlizzPPC: GET ONE WITH ONBOARD SCSI. Don't bother with the non-scsi species, the slow-as-frozen-crap onboard IDE of an A1200 ain't worth the money you'll save.

[pjhutch]

For AmigaOS 4 you would probably need:
A1200
BlizzardPPC
Mediator board
IDE Booster board
Hard disk
CDROM
Graphics card (see Mediator for  compatible cards)

Talking about £1000 for all of the above!

[itix]

Amiga hardware isn't cheap. Especially PPC hardware as it's in quite big demand. A not too earthshattering BPPC goes for ~400EUR on EBay

Huh?! :-o I sold my BPPC (175MHz, no SCSI, 128MB) for 120e. BVision
went for 80e and tower went for 40e. Selling A1200T was very difficult
but luckily I got two customers and I could ask more money :-D

(Those were not sold in eBay.)

Oh and should you get a BlizzPPC: GET ONE WITH ONBOARD SCSI. Don't bother with the non-scsi species, the slow-as-frozen-crap onboard IDE of an A1200 ain't worth the money you'll save.

I'm not so sure. I was using A1200T/BPPC/BVision with on-board IDE for
years and 2MB/s transferrate is bearable if you install SFS (FFS is
slow without caches). Not to mention you can use your IDE HD on A1
later on if you upgrade.

IMO you can get usable OS4 system for 300e. A1200T, BPPC and BVision,
small 4GB IDE HD.

But of course new system is always better.

[EDIT]

Also CDROM is needed but old 1x-8x drive is currently more than
enough...

[Noster]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if my information is correct, the
BlizzardPPC won't be supported by AmigaOS 4.0 :-(
The first release of OS 4.0 should be for the CyberstormPPC, so
you will need this kind of turbocard and an A4000 (or an A3000T
if you are able to patch the mainboard).
The Blizzard will only be supported, if the OS 4.0 for the A1
and the CyPPC is very good selled and there is still a market for
that version...

Noster

[logicalheart]

If you aren't already an Amiga user, and your main interest is OS4, then wait until it is released and buy and AmigaOne.

[odin]

Noster, yes you are right that OS4 for BlizPPC is still kinda shady. But I myself are quite certain that it will happen :-). Otherwise I might as well chuck my A1200 cos OS4 really is the only reason I'm holding on to it :-).

[Fedorenko]

Im fairly certain that Amiga announced that Blizzard was going to be compatable. Well, thats my understanding from reading Amiga-World.

Amiga hardware is damn expensive  :-o Remind me, how much would I be looking at for an AmigaONE these days?

Thanks for your replies, you have been quite helpful.

Ah yes, to the person that said 300e (I cant remember your name right now), could you please give me details on what this exactly entailed.

Thanks once again.

[Karlos]

odin wrote:
Noster, yes you are right that OS4 for BlizPPC is still kinda shady. But I myself are quite certain that it will happen :-). Otherwise I might as well chuck my A1200 cos OS4 really is the only reason I'm holding on to it :-).

I am quietly confident that OS4 will run on the BlizzPPC.
That said, I expect it would be released after the A1 and CSPPC versions...

[kgrach]

Just as a side note the version of AOS4.0 running in my Aone right now was set up on my A1200. I took a copy of my A1200 HD upgraded it to 4.0 and stuck it into my Aone. Looking at the code that is there and running some of the programs on my A1200 I can say it should be fairly easy to get AOS4.0 to run on the BPPC with only two caveats That is Bvision and the Onboard SCSI. Those two options will be the only impediment to getting OS4.0 to work on the BPPC.

The only thing standing in the way of that being a snap is a member of the original Phase V team who wrote the libraries in question and owns the right to them. This individual does not want to release the information.

One last thing seeing on how many of the Original Phase 5 boards have blow up or are malfunctioning due to some really piss poor engineering. I have repaired mine a few times and now the onboard clock has conked out, grrr!!!  The chance you getting one used that works or will last the year are not in your favor.

I suggest getting an Amigaone.
cheaper faster and better in the long run, than any of the alternatives at this time.

[Fedorenko]

Went over for a looksie at Eyetech....360 GBP...not so bad. Even when converted to AUD its not high enough for me to fall down in pain due to the cost :-)

I think..I shall think about an AmigaONE  :-D

[itix]

Ah yes, to the person that said 300e (I cant remember your name right now), could you please give me details on what this exactly entailed.

A1200 in a tower, BlizzardPPC, BVision, IDE HD+CDROM, Win95 keyboard,
mouse, 128MB RAM. That is the basic system which should be ok for OS4.
Forget IDE boosters, Mediators and other things like that.

BPPC and BVision are getting somewhat rare collectors items today but
cheap standalone A1200Ts are floating everywhere... IDE HD & CDROM
can be reused in A1 later on if you decide to upgrade (or in Peg...
:-D)

If you can find BPPC+BVision+some RAM for reasonable price (max 200e)
then A1200 system makes sense. Really don't spend more than 300e for
classic Amiga.