Single Board Computers (PC) inside big box Amigas

[YouKnowWho]

I've seen a video of someone put one of these nice SBC PC boards into an Amiga 2000. Anyone try one in an Amiga 3000/4000?

I'm thinking of getting this (image) Pentium III setup, trimming off the PCI connector so it doesn't get in the way, and plugging it into the Amiga slot. Pentium III, WideSCSI, VGA, 128MB, should run all kinds of stuff. Windows XP, Amithlon, etc.

Why? Because it is possible, because it would be fun and because it is WAY cheaper, more capable and easier to find than a BridgeBoard. Plus, would be awesome to have XP running inside an Amiga 4000.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Anyone try it already?

 

[Timtheloon]

This has been tried but it does required the removal of a Zorro slot on a standard A4K daughter board due to its location directly behind the ISA slots I expect this to be the same on the A3K daughter boards.

I have done this with my A2000 but I added the required slot to make the last two 8 Bit slots into 16bit ISA slots to allow me to fit the SBC in the A2000

I believe a member was selling such daughterboard a while back which was modified to work with a SBC

 

[YouKnowWho]

My understanding is that these SBC boards that have both PCI and ISA can be powered by either one or the other, and not both.

As such, the plan on this board is just to trim the PCI slot pins to clear the Zorro slot. I'm hardly going to damage anything on the Amiga daughter board to install this thing. The rule on this idea is, there will be no harming the Amiga! Put it in the top slot on the daughter board, and it will be up high, not radiating heat on boards. It's almost like it's meant to be!

As a side note, there are some 486 or 586 version that are half-length board. Here is a 486DX SBC, where trimming a small section of the rear would easily clear the A4000 Zorro slot that's inline with ISA. I've seen similar 586 version in half-length ISA too.

 

[YouKnowWho]

By the way...both of these SBC PC board examples happen to have AMIBIOS...AMI...BIOS!

 

[Timtheloon]

Yes my SBC is like the second image you uploaded I have the other version too, but not tested it yet

If your surgery to the chosen SBC doesn't affect it, then it should work fine with the A4K

 

[qz3fwd]

Chris Edwards channel:

 

[YouKnowWho]

Yes my SBC is like the second image you uploaded I have the other version too, but not tested it yet

If your surgery to the chosen SBC doesn't affect it, then it should work fine with the A4K

So you have an SBC in the 4000 yourself? What else is in your setup board/drive wise? I ask to see if the stock A4000 power supply is sufficient to drive a 4000 with an 040 for example, a few cards in the Zorro (Picasso II, VLAB, 2091) and then this Pentium III thing.

 

[YouKnowWho]

Chris Edwards channel:

YUP! This is the video I saw that made me look into this. The is a no-brainer thing to do to a A2000. It has useless ISA space, that's basically begging to have an SBC put into it. And...the A2000 has the power supply guts as well at 220W (right?)

The one thing that bugs me about this board in the video (as an Amiga user) are the 21 SDM capacitors on it. I found a few models that have half or even third of the SDM capacitors on them...just for less headaches. Some of the 486/586 boards appear to have none of these. Check out that half length board photo above for example - capacitor-less.

 

[YouKnowWho]

LOOK AT THIS ONE! ISA and Dual Xeon on a SBC. This would be a monster board to put into a useless ISA slot in an A2000.

Sweet mercy - this would be one sizzling PC setup inside an Amiga.

Second photo added of a loaded card. This would need the upper two slots in the A4000, and some of those side blowing laptop fans on top. My goodness.

 

[Timtheloon]

So you have an SBC in the 4000 yourself? What else is in your setup board/drive wise? I ask to see if the stock A4000 power supply is sufficient to drive a 4000 with an 040 for example, a few cards in the Zorro (Picasso II, VLAB, 2091) and then this Pentium III thing.

Nope mine is fitted in my A2000 I just have an ISA sound card and 1mb video card with mine it's just a 486 SBC. I'm just saying if your surgery doesn't hurt the SBC it will work fine in the A4K it will only use the ISA bus

I use a BMON switch to switch video signals between the Amiga and SBC.

I don't know if yours has a built in Video card this would help on the higher spec SBC's due to the lack of PCI slots this will also help with the lack of space in the A4K

 

[YouKnowWho]

WOW! That's a nice setup, and thank you for sharing Timtheloon.

Important question...so you have an SBC on ISA and it recognizes additional other cards on the ISA bus? Like a bridgeboard? You just popped them into the ISA slots and Windows running off SBC found them, you installed drivers and that was that? Please share more about some details.

Most of these have some VGA/CGA capability. The one I chose here can do 800x600 in 24bit over VGA, I'm thinking that's sufficient for this experiment. Some of these boards do have some proprietary connectors for add-ons like a video board or network. I see on one of these (manuals not always available) that it notes to have have "Plug and Play Ready" designation and "Resource allocation for PCI PnP/Legacy ISA" - is this what makes the add-on boards on ISA recognized by these in the Amiga ISA bus? That is SUCH A BONUS if you can additionally put boards on ISA bus for these SBCs! This appears to be so. Can you confirm? Really appreciate the feedback and info. This is starting to be an amazing idea in my view.

 

[Timtheloon]

Yes it all works as a separate computer along side the Amiga obviously you have to have a separate keyboard and mouse for the SBC

 

[Timtheloon]

I'll have to get it all setup again I was doing maintenance on my Amiga not got round to setting the SBC side up again too many projects lol

 

[YouKnowWho]

Timtheloon, you're thinking always one step ahead...obviously having the setup on your Amiga.

VGA switching is an easy issue, but is there a way/switch to connect original Amiga mouse/keyboard to a PC? Surely someone out there has insisted on having an Amiga emulation but with original Commodore keyboard/mouse input devices for a touch of authenticity, and thus allowing Amiga input devices to be switched into the PC PS/2 or USB inputs, right?

As you rightfully point out, this is the last piece of the puzzle in this idea...for simplicity and desktop cleanliness.

 

[YouKnowWho]

I'll have to get it all setup again I was doing maintenance on my Amiga not got round to setting the SBC side up again too many projects lol

Oh...I can relate to "too many projects". I have two, what I would say are MAJOR Amiga projects on the grill right now, and now I decided to complicate my life with this SBC idea to go. I think one thing is certain about this...the Amiga 4000 power supply will need new guts to deal with the power requirements of this idea.

Now that you've pointed out that ISA boards maybe possible, I will probably add a sound card to the remaining open ISA slot in my 4000, as the GBAPII++ graphic card only takes up the Zorro portion. This is going to be an AWESOME setup...I hope.

I need to sort out that keyboard switch challenge, and this thing will be simply incredible.

Oh...you got Windows running your SBC as well? ...and then an Amiga emulator on said Windows? MAME?

 

[MicKnvL]

My EATX 2000. With a P4 2.4Ghz SBC, soundblaster awe64 gold and prelude2,TF536.

 

[Timtheloon]

View attachment 2454048My EATX 2000. With a P4 2.4Ghz SBC, soundblaster awe64 gold and prelude2,TF536.

Nice case for it too does that SBC have its own integrated GFX?

 

[YouKnowWho]

My EATX 2000. With a P4 2.4Ghz SBC, soundblaster awe64 gold and prelude2,TF536.

That is sweet MicKnvL. I'm going to have to be very selective in an A4000 with what I can put in there.

Winder if there is a way to connect one CD-ROM to both systems and have it switchable with a switch? I'm thinking SCSI would be the way, as the board in top post has SCSI, and I have a 2091 and SCSI CD-ROM in the 4000 already. All about optimizing space!
I have to find a way to dual-use the Keyboard, mouse, CD-ROM. Monitor is easy.

 

[MicKnvL]

Nice case for it too does that SBC have its own integrated GFX?

Thanks. Its has VGA integrated into the chipset and some other connectors.

 

[YouKnowWho]

Single CD-ROM SCSI idea looks a go. 68pin to 25pin cable from Pentium III SBC to switch, 50 internal to 25 pin cable from A2091 to switch, and 50 internal to 25 pin for CD-ROM to switch and the A/B DB25 manual switcher does the trick, right?

Since SCSI isn't hot swappable, the switch would have to be done before power-up, but it would it would mean that a single CD-Rom could be seen where needed.

VGA switching easy.
SCSI CD-Rom switching doable.
Now I need a way to use an Amiga keyboard and mouse on a PC under PC/2 or USB. Looking for adapter/switch right now.