My A1200 Desktop (Not a Wedge!)

[GrizzlyAdams]

Started out with an A1200 I found on ebay for $50, the IDE header had numerous broken pins, so first order of business was replacing the header.
Somehow I managed to NOT burn the board in the process

Now I've got it stuffed into an old VAXStation 3100 desktop case:


So then I got an ACA1230 28MHz accelerator, IDEfix, and 3Com ethernet.
But wouldn't you know the case won't fit the pcmcia card! Only thing to do was get a right-angle pcmcia riser, and hack it.


So next we need good video out for my 23" LCDs and 42" plasma.  In comes the IndivisionAGA MK2, which does an awesome job. But what about a power supply? Well I managed to find a 90W 1U powersupply from work one day, and I built a mmkeyboard interface (which I still can't get to switch the PSU on/off)

Now just having gotten some birthday spending money, I bought a mediator busboard, Radeon 9200 video card, AHA2940W scsi card, and I already have a SB128 & suitable USB2 card.  Because of the case I'm using I've gotta use a pci riser to fit everybody.  I also have to make a custom mounting bracket for my 3.5" bay since the old tray would block the mediator.

Updates coming as more parts arrive!

[NovaCoder]

Hiya,

Interesting project, thanks for sharing.

Not sure why you are going to the trouble of adding a Mediator, I think it will be pretty pointless to use RTG and other PC cards with an ACA1230 28MHz.

I think Mediators are pretty pointless period but that's another story

[runequester]

Good work! Thanks for sharing

[Hattig]

I just wish that there had been an "A1200 in a desktop case" offering from C= originally, as a step up from the A1200, but still a lot cheaper than the A4000. A couple of SIMM slots would have been nice on this product. The "trapdoor" expansion slot could still have been present (and compatible), and there would have been a lot more space vertically in the case for the '040 heat sink and fans! Of course the case would have had room for two internal floppies and an internal hard drive.

But there wasn't, so it's no use dreaming about it and all the other options that were never. :-(

[Karlos]

Somebody did rehouse an A1200 in a slimline desktop case. I can't remember where I saw it, though. Probably here someplace

[GrizzlyAdams]

Getting a decent SCSI and Ethernet setup are my main reasons for the mediator. The Radeon is just a bonus to speed up RTG compatible stuff that doesn't run well at 1280x720 on AGA.

[GrizzlyAdams]

Mediator is in now, but any attempt to access it (even with no cards) locks the amiga solid, requiring a powercycle to reset.

[NovaCoder]

Getting a decent SCSI and Ethernet setup are my main reasons for the mediator. The Radeon is just a bonus to speed up RTG compatible stuff that doesn't run well at 1280x720 on AGA.

The best SCSI performance is one that is attached directly to your CPU card, I would assume that anything going through the Mediator is going to be slow because of the bus it uses to connect to your 1200 motherboard.

The Mrk2 will eventually be able to support a workable 1280x720 desktop.

[Bamiga2002]

You gotta have a graphics card installed in the Mediator I think, otherwise the miggy won't start. Oh, and try these settings on Mediator with an ACA card
"Jumper Wait open
Jumper Config open
Memory window 8MB"

[cv643d]

AGA is faster than Mediator, try running Hippoplayer with a scope in AGA VS Mediator!

[danbeaver]

What interesting advice y'all give; such imaginations!

[yssing]

Now that you have the Mediator, do you then really need the PCMCIA NIC?

[GrizzlyAdams]

@yissing:
Nope, infact I removed the PCMCIA nic.

@Bamiga2002:
the mediator by itself is supposed to work even with no cards present, and some cards (10mbit 8029 ethernet) are polled I/O so don't need memory.
the install disc has a option during setup for no videocard.
also I've tried all possible combinations of jumper settings. (yes all 12 possible)

I have a 2MB S3 Virge, which provides 1MB framebuffer and 1MB shared use. Any programs that touch pci.library instantly lock the machine.

I think it comes down to a timing issue with the rev 2B board I have. Guess I need to get ahold of the inductors and capacitors that jens recommends.

[Rob]

Mediator is in now, but any attempt to access it (even with no cards) locks the amiga solid, requiring a powercycle to reset.

At the risk of asking a stupid question.  Have you actually supplied power to the Mediator's P8 & P9 connectors or was it just not connected up when you to the photo?

[shaf]

Grizzly, where are you located. I may have a spare Voodoo3 Card that you can use on the Mediator. It's far better than using a S3 Virge.