Connecting an IDE-CDROM to an Amiga 1200 by Shafiq Rahaman 23 June 1996 WARNING: This document is Hackware. If you do not feel confident in opening your A1200 do not attempt this project. (see DISCLAIMER below) Introduction ==================== Having just saved tonnes of money by adding an IDE CDROM to my A1200, as opposed to a SCSI CDROM, I thought I'd produce this document to help others do the same. From what I have read in the newsgroups a number of people have managed to add an IDE CDROM to their A1200, and a number of people keep asking if it can be done. Well it can! Having a CDROM has become as standard as having a floppy drive (or harddrive) in the PC and Mac marketplace with 650Mb of information at your fingertips. The ability to access this has been difficult even for "Big box" Amiga users because the Amiga's IDE interface lacks buffering. Well, this is the reason I have heard from everyone who has told me that it is impossible to attach an IDE CDROM to an A1200. To get around this there are a number of software patches that provide a software fix for this problem. The only problem remaining is where to put such a large device as a CDROM if you own an A1200? Well from what I can see you have two options. One - have the CDROM sit next to your A1200 with the IDE and power cables coming out of the side of the case, either by not screwing down the case on that side (which I am currently living with) or cutting some "ports" in the side of your case (joy). Two - buy a case, either try to get it into a PC case based on the information that can be found on Aminet and some WWW sites, or get a custom A1200 case like Ramiga or Micronik's Infinitiv. Of course you may already have your 1200 in a case in which case you one up on me. Requirements ======================== This method requires that you have a 3.5" harddrive already installed. I don't know if it will work without a harddrive but I wouldn't recommend it. As for 2.5" drives, if you can find a way to add a 40 pin connector to your IDE chain -let me know! Of course since you have a 3.5" harddrive you have a large power requirement. If you also have an accelerator you are really living on the edge, so if you are planning to add a CDROM you will more than likely need a larger power supply. I have a Goliath that provides 200W for my system and is more than adequate. Micronik sell PC power supplies that provide power to you system as well as external devices. If you get one of these you will not need the power splitter cable. 23/6/96: I have heard someone has got an A500's supply to work, so it may be worth a try. You will require: Hardware: --------- - 1 IDE ATAPI/EIDE CDROM (the faster the better) NOTE: The drive MUST be ATAPI/EIDE compliant. All drives that are quad speed or above should comply to this standard but if you are looking to get a cheap double speed ensure it complies to this standard. See the CDROM FAQ for more details (see "Documentation" below). - 1 40 pin IDE Cable able to connect two IDE devices (Maplins order code: DG40T) This is long to allow enough cable to reach outside the case. | v <----------------------------> I==========I============================I I==========I============================I I==========I============================I I==========I============================I ^ ^ ^ | | \- This is for the CDROM | \- This is for the 3.5" drive \- This is to connect to 44-40 pin IDE connector. - 1 Power cable Splitter (Maplins order code: DG43W) /----\ /----\ /---------|oooo| One for the harddrive.... |oooo|-------- ---- ---- \ /----\ ^ ---------|oooo| .... and one for the CDROM. | ---- \- Connects to the power connector the originally went to the harddrive Software: --------- (All software mentioned is available from Aminet Archives throughout the world) idefix.lha disk/misc 247K Newest Demo (104.1) of the IDE-fix packa - full version available at 49.95 UKP from PDsoft and Intrinsic Computer Systems (see "Commercial Suppliers" below) Atapi_PnP212.lha disk/cdrom 130K V 2.12 Atapi cd.device for A4000,A1200,A - registered version costs 40 DM, I think :-) These include the latest devices to handle an IDE CDROM, but I have to date only tried idefix.lha as Atapi_PnP212.lha is only in German and Italian. I have also heard that ASIM CDFS 3.0 has the appropriate device driver. Price: 49.99 UKP REMEMBER: register you're software and support the Amiga Community. Documentation: -------------- These are not required reading (perish the thought) but provide background. CDROM35.lha docs/help 54K CDROM FAQ 3.5 fro Amiga deu/eng CDROM1993.txt docs/misc 46K Amiga CDROM survey 1993 (from comp.sys.a Amiga Format July 1996 Issue 86 P26: "Atapi days are here" Installation ==================== 1. TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER. Remove all cables and drives. This makes it easier and safer to open. 2. Open you're A1200 by turning it over and unscrewing the three screws at the front of the case and the two at the sides of the base. (WARNING: opening you're A1200 will void any Warranty on it). 3. Carefully open the top of the case, taking care of the cables that go to the LED's. You can disconnect the cables from the motherboard or the LED's from the case quite easily. 4. Carefully remove the IDE and power cable from the harddrive. Depending on what 44-40 pin connector you have you may have to hack around with it to connect the new IDE cable. Connect the male connector of the power splitter cable to the power cable that was connected to the harddrive. 5. Reconnect the harddrive to one of the power connectors and the first connector on the IDE cable. This should allow enough cable to extend outside the case. Ensure the harddrive is set up as a MASTER device. Some drives may not need the jumper settings changed as they are set up for acting as a stand-alone/master with one setting. Others may require changing the jumpers. The jumper settings for your harddive can be found on the packaging or manual of the harddrive. If you don't have these most, if not all, harddrive manufacturers now have Web sites which include the settings of their drives. If this still fails, try the dealer you bought it from. 6. Close your case carefully leaving the side that the cables exit slightly open, or cut some holes in the case. Make sure the cables are not crushed by the case. 7. Connect essential cables and devices - power, mouse, moitor/tv. Turn on your machine to make sure everything is still running before you add the CDROM drive. 8. TURN OFF THE COMPUTER. Connect the CDROM to the cables, making sure the IDE cable is connected properly (this is important as an incorrectly connected IDE device can damage your machine). Ensure the CDROM is set up as a SLAVE device. The jumper settings for this should be in the manual for the drive or on the packaging. 9. Turn on the computer and install whatever software you are going to use. 10. You should, hopefully, now have a fully functional CDROM drive. System ===================== The CDROM was installed and tested on the following system: Amiga 1200 1220/4Mb Conner 3.5" 425Mb Harddrive External Floppy Goliath 200W Power Supply The CDROM is a BCD Six Speed IDE CD-ROM with ATAPI-IDE Interface: Drive Transfer 8-bit PIO Capability 16-bit Enhanced IDE (in 16-bit mode) Seek Time 1/3 stroke := 180 ms Power saving Enabled within 3 - 6 minutes Power 5V DC 12V DC Speed Comparison ===================== The following information was given by Sysinfo. Conner 425A 3.5" HD - 1.6 Mb/s (after adding CDROM, 1.8 Mb/s before) Six Speed CDROM - 0.8 Mb/s Floppy Drive - 0.022 Mb/s (just to let you know) Price comparisons (UK - June 1996) ==================================== (UKP - UK Pounds/Sterling) Quad Speed IDE CDROM (x4) - 34 UKP Six Speed IDE CDROM (x6) - 52 UKP Eight Speed IDE CDROM (x8) - 96 UKP Cables - 8 UKP Total = 42 UKP (x4) 60 UKP (x6) 104 UKP (x8) Power CDROMS Double Speed SCSI CDROM (including SCSI Squirrel) - 179 UKP Quad Speed SCSI CDROM (including SCSI Squirrel) - 249 UKP DIY SCSI system SCSI Squirrel - 60 UKP Quad Speed SCSI CDROM - 35 UKP SCSI enclosure - 69 UKP Software - ?? UKP Total = 164 UKP SO... you can see the monetary reason to go for an IDE CDROM :) Commercial Suppliers ======================= Micronik Computer Service Bruckenstrabe 2 51379 Leverkusen Tel: 00 49 2171 /72 45-60 Fax: 00 49 2171 /72 45-90 Source: Amiga Format PDsoft 217-219 Hamstel Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK, SS2 4LB Tel: 01702-306060/1 Fax: 01702-300115 email: pdsoft@magic.exnet.com Source: Amiga Format Intrinsic Computer Systems Tel: 01474-357560 / 533500 WWW: http://www.eaglenet.co.uk/ics Insane Ramblings ==================== Hopefully you have now got a functional CDROM drive which can now open your eyes to the great world of CDROMs. I only have one CD so far (Amiga Format CD1) but I'm hooked. There are quite a few places that sell CD's for the amiga, and there is such a wide range: AGA experience, Arcade Classics, C64 games CD, plus the Aminet set - Aminet 11 has just come out with complete Xi-Paint 3.2 package. So get out there and be mind boggled........ 23/6/96 I have a second CD - yay! Disclaimer ========================= I do not take responsibilty for any damage caused to your machine or CDROM drive by following these instructions. Computers should only be opened and tinkered with by qualified technicians and hackers who have a good idea of what there doing. If you open your own machine you take its well-being in your own hands. You have been warned!! Acknowledgements ========================= Neil Brendan Clark - for all the help and advice in setting up an A1200 CDROM, without whom I would never had had the courage to try this out. Bob Franklin - for letting me try out my set up on his double speed drive before committing myself to buying my own drive. Amiga Format - for giving me a reason to get a CDROM drive (so I could look at AFCD1 - Amiga Formats first CD cover disk). Here's hoping it encourages more people to get a CDROM and in turn gets the games industry in on the market. Author ========= Shafiq Rahaman is a graduate of Manchester University with a Bsc(Hons) in Computer Engineering and is currently undergoing the trauma of a Masters degree at the same institution. email: rahamans@cs.man.ac.uk WWW: http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~rahamans A proud member of Team AMIGA