08/1997
Path: kernighan.cs.umass.edu!barrett
From: steve@bh01.demon.co.uk (Stephen Bridges)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews
Subject: REVIEW: Infinitiv Tower for A1200
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Date: 10 Jun 1997 02:51:29 GMT
Organization: The Amiga Online Review Column - ed. Daniel Barrett
Lines: 206
Sender: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu (comp.sys.amiga.reviews moderator)
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <5niffh$u4v@kernighan.cs.umass.edu>
Reply-To: steve@bh01.demon.co.uk (Stephen Bridges)
NNTP-Posting-Host: liberation.cs.umass.edu
Keywords: hardware, tower case, A1200, commercial
X-Review-Number: Volume 1997 Number 5
Originator: barrett@liberation.cs.umass.edu
PRODUCT NAME
Infinitiv (A1200) Tower [Z-1i rev5.42 Busboard]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
A kit that turns an A1200 into a "big box" Amiga, including;
5 Zorro II slots (2 inline with 2 PC-AT slots, 2 inline with 2 PCI slots
and 1 inline with a video slot)
2 3.5" bays (both exit at the front)
2 5.25" bays (both exit at the front)
200W PC Power supply
PCMCIA slot right-angled adapter
COMPANY INFORMATION
Name: Micronik Computer Service
Address: BruckenstraBe 2
D-51379 Levenkusen
Germany
Telephone: +49 2171 7245 0
FAX: +49 2171 7245 90
E-mail: service@micronik.de
World Wide Web: http://www.starbyte.de
LIST PRICE
369.95UKP
29.95UKP / Extra 5.25" Bay
Blittersoft
6, Drakes Mews
Crownhill Industry
Milton Keynes
Bucks
MK8 0ER
United Kingdom
SPECIAL HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
A1200 :-)
A3000/AT102 (with adaptor) or Win95 Keyboard
MACHINE USED FOR TESTING
A1200
Blizzard 1230 (16MB SIMM)
Blizzard SCSI (16MB SIMM)
Picasso II+
MultiFace III
540 MB 3.5" IDE
214 MB 3.5" IDE
INSTALLATION
Where to begin? Well first; don't buy this product unless you are
sure that you are up to gutting your A1200. I cannot emphasis this
enough.
I don't think this is the place to describe how to take your
A1200 apart, so I'll start at the point where all you have left of
your A1200 is the motherboard, floppy and hard drives.
The kit is made entirely of a hardened plastic, which clips together
with builtin clasps. The A1200 motherboard screws to a "sled" which
slides into the back of the tower. The Zorro busboard is also on
this "sled" and is attached to the motherboard at the CPU (trapdoor)
connector, with a passthru for accelerators.
There is an enclosed "box" on the "sled" and this has a ribbon
coming out of it, this connects to the keyboard interface on the
motherboard. On the outside of the "box" is a new/small PC keyboard
connector, the type used for Win95 keyboards. Amiga specific keys
are transposed on to the Win95 keys.
Right, now is a good time to point out that at the moment the video
slot doesn't work, as the lead that runs from the Zorro busboard to
the motherboard isn't available yet. Also this sounds like a right
kludge, as it attaches with "clips" to various pins on various chips
on the motherboard, and some soldering is required I'm told.
The installation went very well until time came for me to fit the
accelerator, this is when I found that it was too tall to fit in
the tower. It turned out that I needed an extra 5.25" bay, which
snaps onto the top of the tower. This wasn't pointed out when I
brought the kit, even tho' I told the salesperson that I had an
accelerator. So beware.
Also the accelerator needs to be fitted after the "sled" has been
installed. This is a BIG job if you have a SIMM on the SCSI board
as I have. The SIMM needs to be removed and the power supply needs
to be moved while you install the accelerator/SCSI board. Then the
SIMM can be reinstalled and the power supply moved back. To be fair
if you only had an accelerator then it would be fairly easy.
Right where does the SCSI socket exit? OK, you've guessed it, there
isn't a hole for it. An extra thing is due anytime I'm told.
This will enable me to put the side onto the tower, as this is the
only way I can get the SCSI lead out of the tower at the moment.
OK time for the drives. Ah! there aren't enough 3.5" bays (I've got
3 drives). Time to find an adaptor
If you have a 2.5" IDE drive it would be safe to just let it sit
on the bottom of the tower as it is all plastic.
If you have a 3.5" IDE drive, you will need a long (~40cm) 44 to 40
pin ribbon cable as it needs to loop around the Zorro boards, that's
if you want to install it in a 3.5" bay.
And so on to the Zorro boards. Slot in the Picasso, and it doesn't
fit, OK, try the Multiface, that doesn't fit either.
ARGH!!!!!
What is wrong is that the cutouts at the back are not really wide
enough for the boards. This means the sockets at the back of the
boards pull them out of the Zorro slots. It's a bit hard to
explain but it means that the boards are at an angle to the slots
and cannot be screwed into the tower :-(
Oh! and by the way the instructions are ALL in German.
REVIEW
Well there isn't much of a review, as when it is all installed
it works just like an A1200 with Zorro II slots. What more can
I say.
DOCUMENTATION
If you're German I guess you'll be able to tell if it's any good
or not.
LIKES
It works, after a fashion.
DISLIKES AND SUGGESTIONS
It's not right yet.
There's not enough room for the accelerator, it gets very hot
hard up against the side of the tower.
The holes at the back for the Zorro boards need redesigning as
they are not wide enough at the moment.
There's nowhere for the SCSI lead to exit. All it needs is a new
back to the extra 5.25" bay, with a hole for the SCSI socket in it.
The video slot sounds like a complete nightmare to get working.
And of course the manual needs translating
VENDOR SUPPORT
The UK distributors Blittersoft were very helpful
WARRANTY
I'd guess 1 year.
CONCLUSIONS
After I ironed out the many problems it is now happily working
on my desk, so I'm fairly pleased.
3 out of 5 stars
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Copyright 1997 Stephen Bridges
--
Stephen Bridges steve@bh01.demon.co.uk A1200T/A3000
"How do we tell the people in the white coats enough is enough"
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