Amiga 4000 revD?

[tonyvdb]

So, got the A4000 and took a couple pictures. Any thoughts?

A4000 case
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/images/3551/3_image.jpg

Inside, revD motherboard
I removed the A3640 for a better view.
http://www.amiga.org/gallery/images/3551/4_image.jpg

It was mentioned that some revD motherboards shipped without the 50mhz oscillator, where is it located and can someone see on the above photo if it's there?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

If it were me, I'd start by looking right here:

I think the first spot is for the 68030 oscillator, and the second is for an optional FPU oscillator (which could be clocked independently).  Neither of which you appear to have, hence why no oscillators, either.

Disclaimer:  I found this information on Google.  :lol:

[tonyvdb]

So, how does that effect the use of this if I put the A3640 in? Will it run normally as a video toaster system?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

So, how does that effect the use of this if I put the A3640 in? Will it run normally as a video toaster system?

I don't know, how well will a computer run without a processor in it?  :lol:

Hint: I think it will run a lot better with the A3640 (or some other processor card) installed.  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Amiga.resource.cx has a picture of a fully populated Rev. D CR board on it:

http://amiga.resource.cx/photos/photo2.pl?id=a4000&pg=1&res=hi&lang=en

Obviously yours, lacking the motherboard processor, will not work at all without the A3640 installed.  

[tonyvdb]

Ok, but I have the a3640 so all is good right? Not having the oscillator won't make a difference if I have the 3640 installed

[SACC-guy]

So, how does that effect the use of this if I put the A3640 in? Will it run normally as a video toaster system?

The video toaster ran quite well in the a2000 with 030
It will run with a 030 card in the 4000 as well...
But it (toaster or toaster 4000)will run better with an 040 card! or...

At the end of toaster 4000 time, I was using an 060 card with 128 megs. It was great!

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Ok, but I have the a3640 so all is good right? Not having the oscillator won't make a difference if I have the 3640 installed

Correct.  The empty space on yours for a 50MHz oscillator would be to drive the 68030 processor, which yours also doesn't have.  And the other empty oscillator space would be to drive the 68882 FPU.  Remember, Commodore was cheap and did a lot of weird things back in the day.  So your MB has the space for these components, but no actual components installed.  It was most likely sold with the A3640 already installed, so why bother including them?  You could probably add them, but not really any point in that, since even the A3640 will give you much better performance than having a 68030 on the motherboard.  

Edit:  If it weren't already obvious, the A3640 appears to include it's own oscillator:  http://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/media/download_photos/a3640_2_big.jpg

[tonyvdb]

Ok, thank you. I understand now
Now to swap my old glitchy board for this one.

[tonyvdb]

Just curious, is there issues with the a3640 version 3.1 as that is what it came with? I know some had issues with caps or something being installed backwards?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Just curious, is there issues with the a3640 version 3.1 as that is what it came with? I know some had issues with caps or something being installed backwards?

There are various notes about the revisions here, and in many other places on the web:

http://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/product.aspx?id=250

It's a well-documented board.  Honestly if it were me, and not knowing anything about the history of your particular A3640, I'd send it off to a reputable tech for inspection and cap replacement "just to be sure" before I put it into day-to-day use.

But that's just me, and I might be a little over-cautious about these things.  

After that, if you intend to stick with the A3640 (and not mortgage your house to be able to afford a PPC board), do something fun like throw a Quaddoubler on there.  

[tonyvdb]

After that, if you intend to stick with the A3640 (and not mortgage your house to be able to afford a PPC board), do something fun like throw a Quaddoubler on there.  

That looks interesting!

[danbeaver]

It should, but you will need the Toaster hardware and software for the "full fairy land" experience of a  Video Toaster System.

[tonyvdb]

No problem there as I already have everything. True it's obsolete but it's fun to play with and Lightwave projects can be exported between the Amiga and my PC.

[spaceman88]

Just curious, is there issues with the a3640 version 3.1 as that is what it came with? I know some had issues with caps or something being installed backwards?

On my rev. D the 3640 ver. 3.1 the caps were installed correctly (they looked wrong if you went by the markings on the board), but you would have to compare yours to some pictures on the Web to be sure.

[tonyvdb]

Ok, The a3640 has the caps installed correctly. I switched out everything and Im up and running fully again Yay!

Thanks everyone for all the help