A1200 Build Suggestions

[chestertonic]

Just got my hands on an NTSC A1200 motherboard and have some questions:

1. Are there any alternate cases/chassis that will fit an A1200 motherboard?

2. Is there a way to convert a keyboard for UK or another language to the US layout?

3. What keyboards are compatible with an A1200? (i.e., like keyboards for A500, A2000, etc.)

4. Am I asking too many questions? Should this be moved to another topic?

Thanks

 

[CrazyC]

re #1 - I recently put my second a1200 into a checkmate case. (see the amibay blog in my signature for pics.)

It doesn't allow for PCI cards etc like a tower case would (If you spent loads of money on other bits like a mediator), but is more expandable than the wedge case. I have to say, I also find myself using it much more since putting it in that case. Its just 'nicer'. I am really pleased I did it.

 

[Merlin]

Re: Question 2. Basically you need the keytops for the keys that have different symbols in the US layout, e.g. #, £, etc. You can set the Locale in Workbench to change it to US layout and once you've swapped the changed keys over, that's it. Change the keys, not the keyboard.

 

[chestertonic]

The checkmates look pretty nice, thanks for the suggestion. When you say tower case do you mean like a standard ATX type tower?

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks Merlin. That's good to know about switching out the caps. Just need to figure out how to make an A2000 keyboard work on an A1200.

 

[CrazyC]

Kind of, but made for an amiga so the extra boards fit.
If you look further back on my amibay blog you will see when I got my tower a couple of years ago.

The tower just allows a mediator board or equivalent which allows the use of pci cards, the main advantage of which is rtg graphics. This is only useful in my case for a few 3d games and higher res workbench. Its ended up being more of a "because I could" project as I don't really use it much. If I had to choose one of my two amigas to keep i would keep the less powerful one in the checkmate case, as i tend to play normal aga amiga games.

It all depends what you want to do with your amiga. The tower doesn't have the same amiga feel that the checkmate does and I value that "feel", but each to their own.

 

[PaulUK]

Hi, I would suggest either a Checkmate 1500plus or a A1200.net recreated plastic case. These are now hard to come by but I bought a new transparent one on ebay. The Checkmate 1500plus is also very good but quite pricey. I have one to house my A500++, but you can install a 1200 PCB with the appropriate back plate.