You talked me into it - PiStorm32 Lite in A1200

[rubber_jonnie]

Things are looking good now I'm caffeinated:

IMG20251113120723.jpg (275.15 KiB) Viewed 136 times

And it also has a superb A500 mode

IMG20251113141445.jpg (268.56 KiB) Viewed 136 times

Having WHDLoad is definitely a bonus, and now I have internet access too so have been able to connect and update. I did have initial issues with the Miami stack not working, so I switched to Roadshow and that was fine, but Miami is running fine now

[alexh]

There is a great AmigaOS script (AREXX?) that will go through your WHDload games folder and download the latest version of every game you don't have (or ones you select) from the EAB FTP server Turran.

I think this is a Windows equivalent.

https://ftp2.grandis.nu/turransearch/se ... tplinks=on

[rubber_jonnie]

There is a great AmigaOS script (AREXX?) that will go through your WHDload games folder and download the latest version of every game you don't have (or ones you select) from the EAB FTP server Turran.

I think this is a Windows equivalent.

https://ftp2.grandis.nu/turransearch/se ... tplinks=on

Cool, thanks

[rubber_jonnie]

I have to say, this is kind of spectacular, knowing what PiStorm can do when set up correctly has blown my mind a little bit!!

Next stop is to get some sort of decent cooling set up. I have once again set the CPU frequency to 1Ghz, and after sustained load it will get up to about 75C, so heavy duty stuff like 3d games.

Now it states that the CPU will start to throttle at 80-85C, and I've yet to see that, but 75C isn't that far off, so I want to think about it.

[alexh]

I don't see those temperatures with my CM4 @1.5GHz (or at least I don't think so?).

I fitted a 12V heatsink and fan which when connected to 5V runs very slowly, audible but not an issue.

https://amzn.eu/d/hkjCtJe

I'm in the process of getting another CM4 with more RAM. I bought the basic CM4 Lite, 2GB, Wifi but I believe that the work being done to bring PPC to PiStorm (to turn it into a BPPC equivalent) will require more RAM.

[rubber_jonnie]

I don't see those temperatures with my CM4 @1.5GHz (or at least I don't think so?).

I fitted a 12V heatsink and fan which when connected to 5V runs very slowly, audible but not an issue.

https://amzn.eu/d/hkjCtJe

I'm in the process of getting another CM4 with more RAM. I bought the basic CM4 Lite, 2GB, Wifi but I believe that the work being done to bring PPC to PiStorm (to turn it into a BPPC equivalent) will require more RAM.

Mine is a stock RPi 4 not a CM4, so don't know if that makes a difference, 4GB, WiFi. I could swap to a 3B but that uses a full size HDMI port which is proving difficult to use over the micro HDMI of the Pi 4.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so the A1200 + PiStorm Lite is complete!!!

I have managed to add some active cooling that does help a lot. First off is the 25mm micro fan blowing straight onto the Pi 4:

IMG20251116154920.jpg (394.36 KiB) Viewed 84 times

And I added a pot to give some control over the speed. It's the blue thing here attached to the PiStorm board:

IMG20251116155105.jpg (343.28 KiB) Viewed 84 times

And i've been able to adjust the fan speed so that it's fast enough to work, but quiet enough to not be annoying

In that same picture you can see that there is now a low profile fan up in the top left corner. This is a 12v fan, connected to 5v and it provides a decent flow of air and can draw in from the case louvres above it and is blowing out past the Pi.

Temps under load now hovering around 50-55C rather than 70-75C. There is a small amount of fan noise, however it really isn't intrusive and certainly within the bounds of what I'm happy with.

The final part was the addition of an HDMI port at the back of the case for the Pi HDMI out, and for this I just used a really short micro HDMI to HDMI extension:

IMG20251116155158.jpg (104.84 KiB) Viewed 84 times

Before those of you who know me say 'I thought you didn't like to mod cases', well no I don't, but I already modded this case years ago before I changed my mind on the subject to allow for an IDE cable out the side for a CD-ROM drive.

That and the case is really ratty. I don't think the ESCOM cases were quite as robust as the Commodore ones (I may be wrong) and previous owners had done things such as using screws that were too long that caused pimples on the casework.

Overall I'm mega happy with this upgrade, the combo of PiStorm 32 Lite, plus RPi 4 with 2GB RAM and Caffeine OS is quite staggeringly good IMHO.

CPU speed and RAM are impressive, the Caffeine OS workbench feels so modern, and having a dual display Amiga is something else entirely.

Definitely the Amiga I always wanted, but can only now have

[Darklord]

Congratulations - hard work and perseverance (some call it "stubbornness" ) do pay off.

Personally, I have no problem at all with modding cases (thinking of a certain STacy).

[rubber_jonnie]

Congratulations - hard work and perseverance (some call it "stubbornness" ) do pay off.

Personally, I have no problem at all with modding cases (thinking of a certain STacy).

Thanks

I'm not a fan of case mods as I've mentioned before in other posts (Not sure when that happened but...) However as the case is so crappy and new cases are available it just seemed to me that in this case (sic) it wouldn't hurt at all.

[alexh]

Looking good.

Out of curiosity why didn't you run the HDMI port to the AUX / Serial port 2 blanking plate on the far LHS of the rear as you look at it? That's where I route my Pistorm HDMI output to.

Others remove their TV modulator and route it there.