Amiga.org

Amiga.org specific forums => New User Introductions => Topic started by: Miked on April 28, 2006, 04:23:01 AM

Title: Greetings
Post by: Miked on April 28, 2006, 04:23:01 AM

Hey All

My first computer was a Commdore 64 (got it in 1982). Moved up to a Commdore Amiga 500 and then they went out of business.  

Actually,  I just found my Amiga in the attic.  IS there anything I can purchase to revive this thing?  It still boots up (workbench 1.2 can you believe it).  

So how can I max this baby out.  I think I want to make this a project.  Or is the A500 architecture just too antiquated?

Miked

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: Amiduffer on April 28, 2006, 06:51:20 AM

Well, an accelerator is always a good area to start. The CSA mega midget racer worked flawlessly for me, and the company is still going! Links below.

Upgrade the Roms, ebay, softhut, craigslist (look in San Francisco area, a guy is selling 2000/500 chips)

There are HD's that go on the side car, that you can also find on EBAY too.

That's the beginning. Look at the A500's that people have posted on Amiga.Org and get some ideas there.

Happy hunting.

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: InTheSand on April 28, 2006, 07:27:59 AM

Welcome to A.Org!

Happy upgrading!

 - Ali

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: cpfuture on April 28, 2006, 11:10:51 AM

@amiduffer:

Are these actually still for sale anywhere (the CSA Mega Midget Racer)? I can't see the links you were referring to in your post. I'm looking for an accelerator for my A500 as well. Preferably one that goes in the CPU socket, since I'm already using my sideslot for an A590 harddisk controller. :-)

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: amigakit on April 28, 2006, 11:14:38 AM

Welcome!

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: Miked on April 28, 2006, 05:10:03 PM

Quote

Amiduffer wrote:
Well, an accelerator is always a good area to start. The CSA mega midget racer worked flawlessly for me, and the company is still going! Links below.

Upgrade the Roms, ebay, softhut, craigslist (look in San Francisco area, a guy is selling 2000/500 chips)

There are HD's that go on the side car, that you can also find on EBAY too.

That's the beginning. Look at the A500's that people have posted on Amiga.Org and get some ideas there.

Happy hunting.



-Thanks for the start.  I must admit, I thought about going "full Amiga" but there just isn't the sotware support.  Maxing out this A500 will be fun and take me down memory lane.  

BTW- It's been so long, can the A500 upgrade to 2meg chipram?  And can it run any type of OS 3.x software?  I need to do my research.

-Miked

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: countzero on April 28, 2006, 05:22:10 PM

Quote

Miked wrote:
BTW- It's been so long, can the A500 upgrade to 2meg chipram?  And can it run any type of OS 3.x software?  I need to do my research.

-Miked

Yes, AFAIK all amigas can be maxed to 2meg chipram. 68000 amigas can have upto 8 meg fastram (I wonder if this causes issues with other hardware, especially in a600's case). You have to upgrade your kickstart rom for the workbench. You need 3.1 roms for 3.X workbench for the Amiga 500. If you have a Rev 5 board (which is most likely since you have wb 1.2) you need to do some mod on the kick start chip to use kickstart 3.1. I recommend you get hold of some 40 pin riser/adapter slot and do the mod on that instead of the original chip.

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: estik on April 28, 2006, 08:37:27 PM

Welcome!

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: Amiduffer on April 29, 2006, 12:59:24 AM

Hi cpfuture. I found it after a long search.

CSA Computer Systems Associates (http://www.snoopez.com/)

There should be a link below, right Mr. Webmaster?

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: cpfuture on April 30, 2006, 10:37:35 AM

Thanks, Amiduffer! Currently checking it out! :-)

Title: Re: Greetings
Post by: cpfuture on April 30, 2006, 03:21:18 PM

Unfortunately the email addresses on the site aren't valid anymore... :-( It looks like the site hasn't been updated in a while. Ah well, keep looking then :-)