#Toaster & A3000
22 messages in this thread
I am trying to install a Toaster in my A3000 and am having a little
trouble. If anyone has installed one in a 3000 please let me know if there
are any problems you encountered.
The problem I am having is that after I cut the case of the 3000 and
installing the board it wouldn't come on, no light or fan would come on.
After a couple of tries it finally started (don't know how) and I
installed the software. After shutting off the machine I can't get it to
start with the Toaster installed. Has anyone run into this problem in a
A2000 or A3000?
I had heard that there is a power supply fix for the 3000 but am not aware
of it. I think it is a power supply problem, but the only thing that I
added to the 3000 is another HD and I even tried to disconect it without
success.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
A wiser choice would have been a Toaster Cozzy. It saves cutting the case,
has it's own power supply, internal black burst and a 2nd video slot. Power
supplies in the 3000's have been known to have problems when adding power
hungry accessories. Micro R & D has power supplies if you need one.
"Only Amiga can make it happen…"
This may be true but it was not possible due to money $$$ (This is for
personal use not a business). Since I know it IS possible to add a Toaster
to the A3000 without a Toaster Cozzy I opted to go that route. I am
spending enough on the Toaster as it is.
I had heard of power supply problems but that was only with A3000s with
`several' accessories like TBCs and such, I have only added 1 HD(internal)
and ram to 18 megs.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
There doesn't seem to be a common denominator on model of 3000 that could
experience PS problems. I suspect that it's due to component tolerance. To
some it happens when the 040 goes in, to others it's the Toaster or some
other piece of hardware. As I mentioned before Micro R&D makes beefier
power supplies. I think the're in CO or OR. Good Luck K
"Only Amiga can make it happen…"
I think you are right about there not being a common denominator within
3000s and PS problems. The local Amiga dealer near me has installed many
Toasters in 3000s without any problem like I have had, which has lead me
to believe that my particular machine has a weak PS which was unoticed
until now.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Tony, I also have had NO problems with a Toaster in the A3000, even with an
040, 18MB, a bigger hardrive (replaced 40 with 210) and a Doubletalk
network board. It does get flakey if I put the sunrise board in, too. so
it lives on another networked 3000. I did see an ad somewhere recently
(Amigaworld) to get your powere supply amped up for around $89. Might help
in your case,m though sounds defective to me. Another thing to check is the
"slot board" as it has to transfer the power, et al. I know mine heats up
with a big load on it. Good luck.
I took the Toaster and intalled it in my friend's 2000 and it works fine
so I am pretty sure that it is my power supply at fault. I let him keep
the Toaster until I get my PS fixed. Ain't I a nice guy? :^)
I have been looking for info on upgrading power supplies but the only one
I have seen is from Micro R&D and they are charging $149.00 + shipping. If
you find it for $89.00 please let me know since I am planning to send mine
to Micro monday.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
The problem you are experiancing is the powrer suply, you need to upgrade
it. I beleave Micro R&D does a replacement/upgrade. you have to ship your
computer to the, for the upgrade. I beleave it is under $300..
The better solution, is the Toaster Cozzy, it has its own power supply
for the Toaster, and includes a Black Burst, and no case modification
needed…
Forrest
If you find it is a power shortage problem, you might want to check to see
if the A3000T 200watt power supply would fit in your standard A3000
chassis. Worth a look-see, and since you might have to get other cards in
the future, it's a definite must.
Vance
I was told that the A3000T's PS is not the same as the A3000's but thanks
for pointing that possibility. I am going to get my PS upgraded by Micro
R&D.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
You didn't mention wether you tried booting with the cover off.You might be
experiencing a ground problem. Some 3000 owners report that their systems
won't work with the cover on… The Toaster was designed for the 2000…..
If you have further questions, please call me
BobAnderson NewTek TechSupport
I did try to boot it up without the cover on with the same results.
I do realize that the Toaster was deisgned for the 2000 but since I
already had a 3000 and had heard that people were able to use a Toaster in
one that I decided to try it. I just couldn't ignore the advancements you
guys (NewTek) have done with the Toaster, especially with LightWave.
I tried the Toaster in a friends 2000 and it worked fine. I have been told
that some 3000s work fine with the Toaster others require a beefed up
power supply (which is what I am in the proccess of getting), it would
seem that I have a weak power supply.
I'd like to thank everyone for their help, it was appreciated.
Btw, I'd like to let you know the reason why I was `forced' to buy a
Toaster:
I was told by some friends who went to Siggraph in Chicago that they saw
Allen Hastings and Stuart the author of the modeller (can't remember his
last name) taking notes of the features found on High-end SGI 3D packages.
After hearing this I was finally convinced that the Toaster has a future,
which is not quite evident of other 3D packages.
Oh, I did buy the Toaster mainly for LightWave.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
Anthony,
just wait to see what they have in store. Check out the new LW preview in
the next issue of VTU.
JG.
I already own a Toaster Cozzy, but is that "2nd video slot" a real one?
For example: Can I install the Video Toaster and OpalVision in the Toaster
Cozzy? Can I use both?
I'm led to believe it is. A good friend of mine has a Toaster Cozzy with
the Video Toaster and the Impact24 board. ( The fool insists on using
Calagari instead of Lightwave). I think that qualifies it as a video slot.
The specs also claim "2nd video slot". Karl
"Only Amiga can make it happen…"
Thanks for your reply,
Julio
It is a second Video slot but it is not hooked up. There is a chip and
some cabling missing. When Heifner is done with it and have it working,
they will offer the second video slot upgrade for sale…
Forrest
The Cozzy has a small Toaster shaped card at the end of it's ribbon cable,
that plugs into the 3000's video slot. You can't have one card plugged in
the 3000's slot and another into the cozzy. As Mr. McMckinney mentioned,
Heifner Communications is working on implementing their dual video slot. I
suspect this will be an "A" "B" type set-up. ( you won't be able to use
more than one card at a time.)
BobAnderson NewTek TechSupport
Hi Anthony – I have a toaster in a 3000 with a Kitchen Sync, Sunrize 1012
240 and 52 Meg Quantums and 18meg – I got the Power Supply upgrade from
micro R&D – 149 well spent bucks!! Good, necessary solution. Have Fun!
You have a nice set-up. Did you have any problem trying to add any of this
before the PS upgrade?
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
I ran into a similar problem with my A3000 when I installed an 040
accelerator. I had been running my Toaster, AMAXII+, 50MB HD & 2 floppy
drives w/o problems for at least 6 months. (For 6 months before that, I
was running it with another 200MB drive inside.)
I installed the GVP A3000-040 accelerator, and everything worked fine.
I left the machine on overnight rendering, and the power supply had shut
down the next morning. I turned the PS off, and then back on, and the
machine ran for about 10 minutes, after which it promptly shutdown again.
I was unable to get the machine to come on again UNTIL I removed the
Toaster card. (I even tried it with no accelerator, floppies or AMAXII+
card, just the Toaster – still no go.)
I called NewTek, and described my problems, and exactly what I had
done, they then issued an RMA number and asked me to send in the Toaster.
They sent me a replacement Toaster within 2 days (the week before
Christmas no less!).
During this time I had ordered an upgraded 200W power supply from Micro
R&D 1-800-527-8797 for $129 ($20 more if they put it in the power supply
case – it's JUST the power supply, no case). Making it fit into the old
A3000 PS case was a real pain, so it might be worth having them do it.
(Watch out though, they send it with 2 std 4-pin Molex power connectors,
and only one mini-4pin power connector for floppies – this caused problems
in my system, as I have 2 floppies, both needing mini power connectors. I
have also noticed that the filtration is nowhere near as good as the old
A3000 supply – everytime the HD is accessed, I get a noticable ripple on
display.
However, since replacing the Toaster and getting the beefier PS, I have
had no problems with the Toaster. (Unfortunately, I can only get the 040
to run properly when the case is off, and it's jumpered to run at 25MHz,
not the 28MHz it was sold at. But that's another story. :^)
Hope this is of some help to you.
Keep On Toastin'
<continued>
I am going to try this Toaster in my friends A2000 just to make sure that
it works before I do anything, and maybe try his Toaster in my 3000(just
to check).
I called Micro R&D (thanks for giving me the phone #) and he said they
modify your current PS from 135W to 200W, $149.00 + retun shipping. This
will mean having to ship my PS to them and wait until it returns, oh well
this is the price we must pay.
I was told that none of the wiring will be changed, only an internal
circuit board will be replaced. I am glad you pointed that out to me since
I too have 2 internal FDs and 2 internal HDs, and the wiring is stretched
so that it just works.
Btw, I have to run my 3000 with no cover either because the 2nd HD is
about 1/4" to thick to fit in there, so the cover won't close.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>