Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    Dangerous Inactive Member
    woody.cool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Northampton UK
    Posts
    412
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Different A500 versions

    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

  2. #2
    Adventurer Speed Biker Champion, Tadpole Champion, Pearl Hunt Champion, Spacerunner 2 Champion, Marble Mayhem Champion, Galaxians Champion, Starfrosch Champion, K Tire Racing Champion, Way of the stick Champion Phantom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Colossal Cave, Valaii
    Posts
    551
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    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.
    [b]To Be A True Adventurer, You Ought To Play Real Text Adventures[/b]

  3. #3
    Dangerous Inactive Member
    woody.cool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Northampton UK
    Posts
    412
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Phantom View Post
    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.

  4. #4
    Adventurer Speed Biker Champion, Tadpole Champion, Pearl Hunt Champion, Spacerunner 2 Champion, Marble Mayhem Champion, Galaxians Champion, Starfrosch Champion, K Tire Racing Champion, Way of the stick Champion Phantom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Colossal Cave, Valaii
    Posts
    551
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Ah, ok. No problem m8y.
    [b]To Be A True Adventurer, You Ought To Play Real Text Adventures[/b]

  5. #5
    Dangerous Inactive Member
    woody.cool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Northampton UK
    Posts
    412
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    I'm just wondering whether there's any more different versions/specs of the A500?

  6. #6
    I am Legion for we are many. Staff Member
    My location

    Buleste's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Staffordshire Moorlands
    Posts
    4,079
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0
    Have you checked the Amiga Hardware Database?
    A1200 Power Tower
    OS 3.9 / CGX4 / OS4.0
    Blizzard 210Mhz (overclocked to 266Mhz) 603e PPC with 25Mhz 040 (Overclocked to 33Mhz) 256Mb RAM
    ZIV
    CV64/3D
    3.2Gb HDD + 20GB HDD

  7. #7
    Adventurer Speed Biker Champion, Tadpole Champion, Pearl Hunt Champion, Spacerunner 2 Champion, Marble Mayhem Champion, Galaxians Champion, Starfrosch Champion, K Tire Racing Champion, Way of the stick Champion Phantom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Colossal Cave, Valaii
    Posts
    551
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    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
    [b]To Be A True Adventurer, You Ought To Play Real Text Adventures[/b]

  8. #8
    Dangerous Inactive Member
    woody.cool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Northampton UK
    Posts
    412
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Buleste View Post
    Have you checked the Amiga Hardware Database?
    Quote Originally Posted by Phantom View Post
    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.

  9. #9
    Harmless Inactive Member
    Spirantho's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    22
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    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.
    --
    Ian Gledhill
    [email]ian.gledhill@btinternit.com[/email] (except it should be internEt of course...!)
    Now released: Numerix for Android! [url]http://www.mutant-caterpillar.co.uk/numerix/[/url]
    Current Amiga project: Ubercassette! [url]http://www.retroreview.com/iang/UberCassette[/url]

  10. #10
    Retro Addict Administrator
    My location

    Burger Time Champion, Sonic Champion Harrison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    16,654
    Blog Entries
    1
    Downloads
    6
    Uploads
    14
    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.

    If you haven't played a classic game in years, it's never too late to start!


Similar Threads

  1. I got an A500
    By Stephen Coates in forum Hardware
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 18th April 2010, 15:12
  2. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 18th February 2010, 15:46
  3. Which Workbench versions have you used the most?
    By Harrison in forum Polls and Opinions
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 27th January 2008, 17:51
  4. 2 x A500 plus games.
    By Buleste in forum Ebay Picks
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 17th December 2007, 13:25

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Copyright classicamiga.com