Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga.misc:2596 comp.sys.amiga.introduction:338 comp.sys.amiga.hardware:8215 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!helios!mtecv2!al158305 From: al158305@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx (Gustavo Cordova Avila) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc,comp.sys.amiga.introduction,comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: Hardware/Software Questions: New A1000 owner! Message-ID: <3159@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx> Date: 14 Apr 91 00:20:19 GMT References: Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.misc Distribution: comp Organization: ITESM. Campus Monterrey Lines: 144 kentd@FtCollins.NCR.com (Kent.Dalton) writes: >Hardware: >========= > >1. I have a 30Mb RLL drive mech that's currently unused. What is required > to get this thing running with an A1000? I'd like a simple 3rd party > solution. I figure I probably need some kind of host adapter and > SCSI controller. If anyone has a used solution for sale definitely > let me know! Hmmm... If you plan to connect it to your machine via a scsi controller than get yourself an adaptec a4000/a5000 [?], a little thingy that connects an mfm/rll drive to an scsi controller. [not 100% sure about the part#] >2. Are there any 'PD' hardware hacks I can do myself? Like a text file > explaining a DIY RAM upgrade or other stuff like that? YUP! One thing that's available and quite popular is the lucas/frances hack, lucas is a 16mhz 68020/881 accelerator board that you build, and frances is a 4 mb 32bit expansion ram for lucas. If you want more info on the board, there's a file on ab20.larc.nasa.gov called '/amiga/hardware/lucas.lzh' which contains info about the beast. I don't know if the author of the lucas/frances pair is still around. FOR EVERYBODY ELSE: Has anybody gotten hold of Brad Fowles? Then, there's also in the same directory the amscsi.lzh file, which detailes how to make your own scsi interface, but it doesn't have a driver yet; it's supposed to have also a ram expansion module, but the author hasen't been able to finish that yet. Also, there's a file called 'bynery.zoo' which talks about building your own IBM HD controller adaptor, but I don't know more about it. If you have any trouble give me a ring. >3. What expansion/upgrade options are available for the A1000? (I know it's > generally not compatible with hardware expansions for the 500/2000.) > If you have experience with *any* A1000 hardware upgrades please share your > experiences: how they performed, how difficult they were to install, etc. Hmmm.. there's still available the insider/spirit boards, also, spirit tech. also sells an a2000 memory board with an a500/a1000 expansion slot. ALSO, a guy some posts ago said he had plugged in a GVP S2 a500 harddisk/memory expansion into his a1000, the 1000 expansion slot is supposed to be identical to the a500 one, only that rotated 180deg HORIZONTALLY. > 1. Kwikstart - allows installation of 1.3 or 2.0 ROMS Hmmm... I'd get one of those just to eliminate all the bus noise in my machine. > 2. Rejuvenator 1000 - Allows use of ECS, extra 1Mb RAM, Kickstart ROMS. I'm > especially interested in info on this. That's a really nice one. I'd get one but I still haven't scrapped up all the money :) > 3. CSA Turbo Amiga - I saw one of these advertised used on the net. It said > it added Zorro II slots (same as A2000, right?), this means you > buy A2000 cards and just plug 'em in and go right? That hasen't been commercially available for a long time I think, although I do have the amigawhirled mag where it was mentioned in the what's new column, it also had a cpu slot and another two slots for STATIC MEM boards. You could connect an '020/'881 thing and make it SCREAM.. [I think] :) > 4. Processor upgrades/accelerators - which ones are A1000 compatible? > I've heard of Sapphire, MidgetRacer, and AdSpeed. Hmmm... I think they're all compatible. The Sapphire is advertized for the 500 and 1000, I *think* that the AdSpeed is for all machines, and definitely the MR is for both the 500 and the 1000. Although I like more the MMR ;^) > > 5. Ram expansions: Insider II, minimegs, others... Some say internal, > some say external, what's the difference? Insider II, I think it only takes 1.5 megs, internal (plugs in cpu socket, cpu plugs in board). minimegs, goes into the expansion slot, takes up to 2 megs, no passthrough. I think the external ones are less noise prone, besides being easier to install, but then I could be wrong about the noise thing. > > 6. I've heard that the A1000 can be made compatible with A500 expansion > bus. Is this true? I think so. It's supposed to only be rotated 180deg horizontally. Besides, it's WELL known that commodores own HD for the a500 WILL work with the a1000 just by turning it around, I think that the others take into consideration the same signals as commodores, so, at least theoretically, they should work. A RUMOR: A guy said that it's possible to plug an A2000 cpu slot accelerator into the expansion slot of an a1000 or a500, just by changing the gender. Can anybody corroborate this? > How compatible are these upgrades with one another? For example, can I > install an Insider II *and* rejuvenator? I think that the rejuvinator will work with the insider, the designer wanted it to be compatible with internal expansion boards. >All replies/followups greatly appreciated. >Thanks for reading, >KD >-- >/**************************************************************************/ >/* Kent Dalton * EMail: Kent.Dalton@FtCollins.NCR.COM */ >/* NCR Microelectronics * CIS: 72320,3306 */ >/* 2001 Danfield Ct. MS470A * */ >/* Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 * (303) 223-5100 X-319 */ >/**************************************************************************/ >Fortune: >Jone's Law: > The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone > to blame it on. -- | Gustavo Cordova Avila | al158305@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx | | Electronic Systems Engineering | PL158305@tecmtyvm.bitnet | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+