Amiga 1200

Released: October 1992 Original Price: $599

Gallery

Amiga 1200 computer
Amiga 1200 computer The sleek Amiga 1200 with its compact design and integrated keyboard.
A1200 motherboard
A1200 motherboard The A1200's motherboard showing the AGA chipset and expansion options.
A1200 games
A1200 games Popular games that showcased the A1200's advanced graphics and sound.

Amiga 1200 (A1200)

“The A1200 was the machine that should have saved Commodore. It had everything: the new AGA chipset, a built-in IDE controller, PCMCIA expansion, and it was priced right. It was the perfect upgrade path for A500 owners and a fantastic entry point for new users. When I see what the Amiga community has done with the A1200 over the years, it’s clear we built something truly special.” - Dave Haynie, Commodore Engineer

The Amiga 1200 (A1200) was a 32-bit home computer released by Commodore in October 1992. As the successor to the popular Amiga 500, the A1200 was designed to bring the power of the Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA) chipset to the home market at an affordable price point. It featured a Motorola 68EC020 processor, built-in IDE controller, and PCMCIA expansion slot, making it one of the most expandable and capable home computers of its era. Despite being released during Commodore’s financial difficulties, the A1200 developed a strong following and remains highly regarded by retro computing enthusiasts today.

The Last Great Home Amiga

The A1200 represented the pinnacle of Commodore’s home computer line, offering impressive multimedia capabilities in a compact and affordable package. It was designed to be the spiritual successor to the Amiga 500, providing a clear upgrade path for existing users while remaining accessible to new customers.

Key Features

  • Motorola 68EC020 CPU: 14.32 MHz (PAL) / 14.28 MHz (NTSC)
  • AGA Chipset: Advanced Graphics Architecture with 24-bit color
  • Memory: 2 MB Chip RAM (expandable to 8 MB)
  • Storage: Built-in 3.5” HD floppy drive, IDE interface for hard drives
  • Expansion: PCMCIA Type II slot, trapdoor expansion
  • OS: AmigaOS 3.0 (Kickstart 3.0/3.1)

Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications

CPU
Motorola 68EC020 @ 14.32 MHz (PAL) / 14.28 MHz (NTSC)
Memory
2 MB Chip RAM (expandable to 8 MB), 512 KB ROM (Kickstart 3.0/3.1)
Graphics
AGA (Advanced Graphics Architecture) - 1280×512, 256 colors from 16.8 million (HAM8: 262,144 colors)
Sound
Paula - 4× 8-bit PCM channels, 28 kHz stereo
Storage
3.5" HD floppy drive (1.76 MB), IDE interface (up to 4 GB)
Ports
2× mouse/joystick, composite/RGB video, audio out, PCMCIA Type II, floppy, expansion
Operating System
AmigaOS 3.0/3.1 (Kickstart 3.0/3.1, Workbench 3.0/3.1)

Design and Features

Physical Design

  • Case: Compact wedge design
  • **Dimensions”: 47 × 26.5 × 7.5 cm (18.5 × 10.4 × 3 in)
  • “Weight”: 3.1 kg (6.8 lb)
  • **Keyboard”: Full-size 89-key with numeric keypad
  • **Color”: Beige with dark gray function keys

Display

  • **Output”: RGB, composite, RF
  • **Resolutions”:
    • 320×200 to 1280×512 (interlaced)
    • 640×400 to 1280×512 (productivity)
  • **Colors”:
    • 256 from 16.8 million (8-bit)
    • 262,144 (HAM8)
    • 4,096 (Hires Lace)

Storage and I/O

  • **Floppy Drive”: 3.5" HD (1.76 MB)
  • **IDE Interface”: For hard drives up to 4 GB
  • **PCMCIA”: Type II slot for expansions
  • **Expansion”: 120-pin edge connector

The A1200 Experience

For Home Users

  • **Gaming”: AGA-enhanced titles
  • **Multimedia”: Music and video
  • “Education”: Learning software
  • “Productivity”: Office applications

For Enthusiasts

  • **Upgrading”: CPU and RAM expansions
  • “Demoscene”: New productions
  • “Collecting”: Limited editions
  • “Modding”: Case modifications

Operating System

  • **Workbench 3.x”: Improved GUI
  • **AROS”: Modern open-source alternative
  • **Linux”: For 68k architecture

Technical Deep Dive

CPU and Memory

  • **68EC020 Processor”: 32-bit data, 24-bit address
  • **Cache”: None (external possible)
  • **Memory Bus”: 16-bit, 14 MHz
  • **Chip RAM”: 2 MB (upgradeable to 8 MB)
  • “Fast RAM”: Via PCMCIA or expansion

Graphics System

  • **Chipset”: Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA)
  • **Resolutions”:
    • 320×200 to 1280×512 (interlaced)
    • 640×400 to 1280×512 (productivity)
  • **Colors”:
    • 256 from 16.8 million (8-bit)
    • 262,144 (HAM8)
    • 4,096 (Hires Lace)
  • **Sprite Support”: 8 sprites per line
  • **Copper”: Programmable video controller

Audio System

  • **Paula Chip”: 4× 8-bit PCM channels
  • **Sample Rate”: Up to 28 kHz
  • **Stereo Output”: 2× RCA phono
  • “Filtering”: Programmable audio filters

The A1200 Legacy

Commercial Performance

  • **Release”: October 1992
  • **Discontinuation”: 1996 (by Escom)
  • **Price”: $599 (without monitor)
  • **Successor”: Amiga 4000T

Why It Succeeded

  • **Affordability”: Priced for home users
  • “Performance”: AGA chipset
  • “Compatibility”: Vast software library
  • “Expandability”: PCMCIA and IDE

Collector’s Item

  • **Popularity”: Highly sought after
  • **Price Range”: $200-$1,500+
  • **Sought-After Items”:
    • Boxed systems
    • Limited editions
    • Accelerator cards
    • Original software

Notable Software

Games

  • **Super Stardust”: Space shooter
  • “Alien Breed 3D”: FPS
  • “Guardian”: 3D shooter
  • “Worms”: Strategy
  • “The Settlers”: Strategy

Applications

  • **ImageFX”: Graphics
  • **OctaMED”: Music
  • **Final Writer”: Word processing
  • **TurboCalc”: Spreadsheet

Demos

  • **State of the Art”: By Spaceballs
  • **NovaCoder”: By Andromeda
  • “Hardwired”: By Crionics & The Silents

Technical Notes for Enthusiasts

Common Issues

  • **Capacitors”: May need replacement
  • **Keyboard Membranes”: Can fail
  • **Floppy Drive”: Belt replacement
  • **Battery Leakage”: Clock battery

Restoration Tips

  • **Recap Motherboard”: Replace capacitors
  • **Clean Keyboard”: Remove keycaps
  • **PCMCIA Mods”: Power improvements
  • **Case Restoration”: Retrobrighting

Modern Upgrades

  • **CPU Accelerators”: 68030/68060 upgrades
  • **Memory Expansions”: Up to 10 MB
  • **Storage”: CF/SD card adapters
  • **Networking”: PCMCIA Ethernet
  • **RTG”: Indivision AGA

The A1200 Today

Emulation

  • **WinUAE”: Most accurate
  • **FS-UAE”: Cross-platform
  • **Amiga Forever”: Commercial package

Community

  • **Forums”: Amiga.org, EAB
  • **User Groups”: Local meetups
  • **Preservation”: Hardware/software

Uses

  • **Retro Gaming”: Classic experience
  • **Demoscene”: New productions
  • **Music”: Tracker music
  • **Art”: Pixel art and animation

Did You Know?

  • The A1200 was codenamed “Channel Z” during development
  • It was the last Amiga model developed entirely by Commodore
  • Some A1200s were used in arcade machines
  • The A1200 was popular in Europe for budget video production
  • A rare A1200+ prototype had a built-in CD-ROM drive
  • Featured in the movie “Hackers” (1995)
  • Appeared in the TV show “The IT Crowd”
  • Mentioned in the book “The Future Was Here”
  • The subject of YouTube restoration videos