A1200 - Hardware upgrading

[Niding]

So, been thinking about doing some small upgrades of the Amiga 1200 that has been sitting idle for a good while. I use it at times as a Jukebox and looking at my old code Im now unable to understand

But after watching Kookytech (techguruuk) and Epsilon treating their Amiga hardware with the respect it deserves Ive decided to get at the very least a CF and internet connection.
I do have Amiga Forever+Amikit, so I can get my Classic kicks from there, but there aint a substitute for the real thing.

Once I get my A1200 updated Im seriously considering installing Amikit Real 1.0.

The details;

A1200 No. 530311
Blizzard 1230/50
FPU 68882
Kickstart 39.106
Memory 2+16 megabyte
Workbench 3.0 Floppies (hopefully still in working order)
Monitor Amiga M1438s

What I would like is,

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=883

There is an option of a cable 30 cm with 3 connectors. Can I connect CDrom and my old harddrive on those remaining connections?
If I cant connect a CDrom to this cable, how would I be able to get around this?
Details on my old harddrive is; Western Digital 2340 (340 megs), and it contains a fair bit of things I would like to perserve for nostalgica etc.


Then, for getting on the internet with the old lady;

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=121

As for memory; I got 16 megabyte, but I would love to get some more if possible, and within reasonable price. Anyone know what is the max memory these Blizzard 1230 boards would accomodate and where to get hold of these ram chips?

I do have a old Samsung 920 Syncmaster Ive been pondering If I would try to get connected to the A1200, but I assume that would require Indivision. So for now Im holding off on that.

The Amiga has gotten somewhat yellowish color on its exterior. Im sure I could search the net to quickly get tons of info regarding this. But if someone here got good expirience maintaining the A1200 exterior, then I would love to hear it.

[Duce]

You have a great start with that well kitted out A1200.

Few years back I bought an A1200 and suffered through the misery of the "floppy shuffle", and after buying a CF kit for it as well as a networking card for it, it was a *world* of difference in terms of enjoyment.

Being able to use the CF card and grab stuff via my other network servers with the PCMCIA networking card just brought the machine to life.

AmigaKit are great to deal with and should have both items in stock.  

Depending on what you want to do with the thing, the Indivision scan doublers are a big, big bonus to have as well.  Being able to crank the A1200 directly to a 27" LCD is real nice.

As for the case yellowing, do a search here for "Retrobrite".  Many people here have had good luck with the method of using the Retrobrite technique on Amigas.

Check this link as well - http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/

[Niding]

Thanks for the reply!

I will read the retr0bright blog and sort my A1200 out.

One question that kinda dawned upon me;

With Workbench being 3.0 and on floppies, how best get a upgrade?

CD rom or just download file images from the net and upgrade that way?

Also, whats the highest version of Workbench 3.x recommended for my current hardware?

From what I can see WB 3.9 requres ks 3.1

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=153

Tho reading this indicates that 3.1 seems to be the prefered version;

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=49293

[pyrre]

The details;

A1200 No. 530311
Blizzard 1230/50
FPU 68882
Kickstart 39.106
Memory 2+16 megabyte
Workbench 3.0 Floppies (hopefully still in working order)
Monitor Amiga M1438s

A nice setup. sufficient for most Amiga applications...

What I would like is,

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=883

There is an option of a cable 30 cm with 3 connectors. Can I connect CDrom and my old harddrive on those remaining connections?
If I cant connect a CDrom to this cable, how would I be able to get around this?
Details on my old harddrive is; Western Digital 2340 (340 megs), and it contains a fair bit of things I would like to perserve for nostalgica etc.

The 3 connector cable only lets you connect two devices to your controller.
Combining the cf card with a HDD should work just fine. that should enable you to copy out any data from the hdd to the cf card.
And then combining CF card with a cd-rom should work just as fine.
at least it does in my A1200...

If you wish to run the hdd together with the cf card and the cd-rom, you must go to e-pay (or anywhere they sell amiga gear) and find yourself an ide interface that allows four devices connected. something like the ide fix....

But then again. when the data on the hdd is copied out you never need the hdd again... appart from backing up any important data...
(due to the nature of flash media not so resilient to excessive write cycles...)

Then, for getting on the internet with the old lady;

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=121

This is still on my own to do list...

As for memory; I got 16 megabyte, but I would love to get some more if possible, and within reasonable price. Anyone know what is the max memory these Blizzard 1230 boards would accommodate and where to get hold of these ram chips?

The blizzard 1230 should be able to handle 32mb ram.
Try e-bay or google

The Amiga has gotten somewhat yellowish color on its exterior. Im sure I could search the net to quickly get tons of info regarding this. But if someone here got good expirience maintaining the A1200 exterior, then I would love to hear it.

Sadly i don't know the cure for this. my wedgies are yellowing too. badly... considering painting them...
there are some threads about painting and whashing off the yellowing...
just search this forum.

[Niding]

Went ahead and ordered Wireless card and the CF card/cable.

Once I get it online and familiar with Workbench again, Im sure ill get the inspiration to "waste" more money on it.

Hooked the A1200 up to the stereo for the first time in ages. Not quite sure what it is, but it feels much more natural and inspiring to use the real hardware than emulation.
Tho not overly fond of this clunky monitor. Got this feeling I might end up taking your advice and go with a Indivision eventually.

[Havie]

Tere's lots of info on returning the yellowed plastic to white using various concoctions of hydrogen peroxide:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU7vXMezW_I
 
and google retrobright.
 
And I agree emualtion is no substitute for the real thing!

[danbeaver]

The simplest way of Retr0Briting the plastic is with "40 Volume Creme rinse developer" which is a thickened 12% hydrogen peroxide solution.  Although not strong enough to put a rocket into suborbital space (80% is required) it will sclerose skin.  Details are available elsewhere, but after you wash off the peroxide, cover the plastic with a clear coat of matte finish to seal the now opened plastic surface from further yellowing.

Oh, keep your Potassium Permanganate away from the 80% peroxide.

[Niding]

Thanks for the replies so far

Went ahead and ordered Indivision AND Kickstart 3.1 roms.
It will be a nice upgrade together with the wireless adapter and CF card.

I was quite certain I would be happy enough with the M1438S monitor, but its a eyesore on my desk. These days Im into minimalistic design, so the CRT doesnt quite fit that picture.

Once I get the hardware installed Im certainly going to harass you about software upgrades.

[amigakit]

Thank you

[Leffmann]

Went ahead and ordered Indivision AND Kickstart 3.1 roms.

There's no need to get new ROMs for your Blizzard 1230; it has a feature called MapROM which allows you to use a Kickstart image from disk during boot-time, for the cost of 0.5MB RAM. Your money is really better spent towards some more RAM for your Blizzard.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

There's no need to get new ROMs for your Blizzard 1230; it has a feature called MapROM which allows you to use a Kickstart image from disk during boot-time, for the cost of 0.5MB RAM. Your money is really better spent towards some more RAM for your Blizzard.

Personal pet peeve, but I don't know why so many people continue to try to dissuade people from buying 3.1 ROM's.  For chrissake, they cost less than $20 and can be easily bought from a reputable vendor all day long.  I know in my Miggy, a half-meg of ram is worth a lot more than $20, and why not just go with the peace of mind of having the latest version?  LOL.  

Regardless, kudos on your purchases, have fun with your upgrade project!  

[Leffmann]

Well, to me it makes sense to make use of the features and hardware you have at hand instead of just pouring more money into the computer to "fix" it. I would like to think I'm helping Niding more by letting him know what his Blizzard can do, instead of telling him where on the Internet he can go to spend more money on stuff he doesn't need. But ultimately it's up to him, at least now he knows there's another option.

[Niding]

I appriciate all the info I can get regarding my options, so i defintly welcome your insight Leffman

[smerf]

Thank you

Hi,

Have some bent pins on my PCMCIA port from the L PCMCIA port you sold me, (my fault old shaky hands), you know where I can get a pcmcia plug to solder back in?

smerf

[Niding]

Im curious about what is the file manager alternatives on Classic?

I know of Dir Master and Dopus, but havent used either for years.
Back in the days I prefered Dir Master over Dopus, but I do like the look
of http://glames.free.fr/products/dirmeup/dirmeup_2.png Dirmeup for OS4.

Any recommodations?