Different A500 versions

[woody.cool]

Hi all,

I know it's been a while since I posted on here, but I'm after some information if anyone knows.

From what I know, there was quite a few different versions of the A500. I'm aware of three different specs (but not mobo revisions) of the A500:



original early spec: Kickstart 1.2, OCS, red Power LED, green Floppy LED, C= key in place of Left Amiga key, embossed Commodore (C=) logo in top right corner (by floppy drive)
the most popular spec: Kickstart 1.3, OCS, red Power LED, grenn Floppy LED, both Amiga keys, flat 'badge' that looks like a piece of plastic glued into the enclosure where the embossed C= logo used to be.
the slightly newer spec: Kickstart 1.3 (but with WB 1.3.2 disks this time), ECS, green Power LED, Yellow/Orange Floppy LED, same C= logo as the popular spec machine listed above.
the late 'lets sell all the remaining A500/A500+ stock we have left in the factory' spec: Kickstart 2.04, ECS, green Power LED, Yellow/Orange Floppy LED, big 'Commodore A-500' badge in top right corner (looks like an A-500 Plus badge, without the word 'Plus' on it)

Is anybody aware of any other specs of A500? What about motherboard revisions used etc.? Pro & Cons of different A500 mobo revisions etc.?

Whatever I find out (via your feedback) I will also use to update the Classic Amiga Wiki.

Thanks in advance
woody.cool

[Phantom]

I remember also that on earlier A500s the Caps Lock LED was red, and after replaced with a green one, if I'm not mistaken.

[woody.cool]

I remember also that on earlier A500s the Caps Lock LED was red, and after replaced with a green one, if I'm not mistaken.
The ones with the red Caps Lock lights had the red Power LEDs too. So when I ment red Power LED, I ment red Power LED & Caps Lock LED .... I forgot to add that.

[Phantom]

Ah, ok. No problem m8y.:thumbs:

[woody.cool]

I'm just wondering whether there's any more different versions/specs of the A500?

[Buleste]

Have you checked the Amiga Hardware Database?

[Phantom]

Taken from there:


Motherboard revisions

revision 3
512 kB Chip RAM on motherboard as 16 chips
Kickstart 1.2 ROM

revision 5
Fat Agnus 8370 (NTSC) or 8371 (PAL)

revision 6
Fat Agnus 8372A (part of the ECS chip set) supports 1 MB Chip RAM
Agnus is rotated 90° counter clockwise
512 kB Chip RAM on motherboard as 4 chips
empty places for other 4 chips giving 1 MB RAM on the motherboard
Kickstart 1.3 ROM

revision 7
-

revision 8
Kickstart 2.04 ROMs and ECS chip set: Fat Agnus (8375), Super Denise (8373)
A500:
512 kB Chip RAM on the motherboard
battery and clock circuit is missing
A500 Plus:
1 MB Chip RAM on the motherboard
battery backed up real time clock

[woody.cool]

Have you checked the Amiga Hardware Database?

Taken from there:


Motherboard revisions

revision 3
512 kB Chip RAM on motherboard as 16 chips
Kickstart 1.2 ROM

revision 5
Fat Agnus 8370 (NTSC) or 8371 (PAL)

revision 6
Fat Agnus 8372A (part of the ECS chip set) supports 1 MB Chip RAM
Agnus is rotated 90° counter clockwise
512 kB Chip RAM on motherboard as 4 chips
empty places for other 4 chips giving 1 MB RAM on the motherboard
Kickstart 1.3 ROM

revision 7
-

revision 8
Kickstart 2.04 ROMs and ECS chip set: Fat Agnus (8375), Super Denise (8373)
A500:
512 kB Chip RAM on the motherboard
battery and clock circuit is missing
A500 Plus:
1 MB Chip RAM on the motherboard
battery backed up real time clock
LOL! I should've checked there first!
When I get round to it, I'll update the Classic Amiga Wiki article for the A500 with the information above.

[Spirantho]

I've just been given another A500...
This one's interesting though, because it has a red power light.

"Aha!", you cry, "That's because it's an early A500!".
However, this one (serial number 522315) has an ECS Agnus and 1MB chip RAM (in the trapdoor slot, natch).

I always though the power light turned green before the ECS chipset was introduced! Not here though!

Incidentally, the warranty seals are both in tact!

Interesting, huh? :)

Edit: Oh, incidentally, the power light doesn't turn off when the filter goes off, it goes dim, as you'd expect.

[Harrison]

Right at the end of the A500's life Commodore were using whatever components they had available to make each batch, which is why some ended up with more A500+ insides that a normal A500 should. Your red LEDs might just have been used from old stock.

[PO15KA]

apologies if i'm reopening old thread...
this is also evident in Amiga 500 carton boxes, there were many Amiga 500Plus machines packed in A500 boxes with the Plus part added using a sticker :)
also the CD32 in many instances was shipped in an A600 boxes with a sticker again used to cover the description.

i'm actually thinking it would be great to have chronological amiwiki page to have these changes outlined with details and pictures.

best regards to all,
Marcin

[Harrison]

Would definitely be interesting to have a page showing all of the different known boxes and packages that Amigas were sold in/as. If we can find pictures of all the packages and details of their contents then we can definitely create something. :)

[Noncorpus]

one of my A500's has Kickstart 1.2, red Power LED, green Floppy LED, and has the (A) key instead of the (C=) key, and the (C=) Logo is not embossed