Newbie with an A1200

[som99]

@stuntmachine - I was looking at the one on e-bay.


I've also been REALLY happy with my ACA (1230/28).  Great card.  I know some people have had "timing fix" issues with some of their 1200's, but mine didn't need any.
(It's not specific to the ACAs, and related to the inconsistencies of Commodore's quality control, but some 1200's need a "timing fix" (removing a few resistors), and a lot don't.  Just something to be aware of...)

As for 3.1, one of the nice features of the ACAs is that it lets you "softkick" a ROM.  So you can off of a 3.1 ROM.  You do need a copy of the ROM and a line in your startup-sequence.  Also, you need to set a jumper on the ACA to tell it you are running 3.0 originally.

Of course, a actual 3.1 rom in your machine is a bit nicer, but the option for the softkick is nice to have...

desiv

I am also happy with my ACA 1231, I had to do the dreaded timing fix, but it was no biggie

[danbeaver]

Amiga RAM addressed through the motherboard is limited to 8 MB, the higher addresses are used by the system to access chips and such. The PCMCIA slot, being on the motherboard "uses" the lower "addresses" that would be used as RAM, so that anything taking more than 4 MB overlaps those addresses.

On the other hand a add-in CPU board WITH it's own RAM addresses that RAM over the CPU-board's address lines and being separate from the motherboard, does not interfere. The maximum "buy-able" CPU card with RAM is 256 MB; the maximum usable RAM is 2 GB by Amiga OS; you will find this on AmigaNG motherboards. The Maximum RAM on a Classic Amiga is a Amigakit demo of 1 GB of RAM; this is in the Z3 address range and precludes use of adds-in boards on the Z3 bus making the machine very limited.

I appreciate clarification if some of this information is incorrect

[som99]

Amiga RAM addressed through the motherboard is limited to 8 MB, the higher addresses are used by the system to access chips and such. The PCMCIA slot, being on the motherboard "uses" the lower "addresses" that would be used as RAM, so that anything taking more than 4 MB overlaps those addresses.t

Pretty much spot on, if he want loads of ram and do not want to loose the PCMCIA then a accelerator card with CPU is needed.

[Damion]

I play most early 3D games without any trouble on my ACA1231, ALien Breed 3D 1-2, Fears, Breathless, all Gloom games are some of the ones I can run fullscreen Even aDoom runs decent enough after some tweaking

Just fired these up on my ol' GVP 1230, and was surprised to find they play well on the '030, much better than I expected! For kicks I gave Quake a try... results weren't quite as impressive, but it runs.

[som99]

Just fired these up on my ol' GVP 1230, and was surprised to find they play well on the '030, much better than I expected! For kicks I gave Quake a try... results weren't quite as impressive, but it runs.

Nice, I have not given AGA quake a try yet, but won't be playable but must try some day, I want to try and see how Napalm and Exodus last wars run on the ACA1231
Have you tried above mentioned games on your trusty GVP 1230?

[Damion]

Nice, I have not given AGA quake a try yet, but won't be playable but must try some day, I want to try and see how Napalm and Exodus last wars run on the ACA1231
Have you tried above mentioned games on your trusty GVP 1230?

Tried the Napalm demo, it runs great in PAL low-res, no problem at all. Kick it up to PAL laced and it slows way down (not too playable IMHO)..