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Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: snuci on May 27, 2015, 01:55:38 AM

Title: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: snuci on May 27, 2015, 01:55:38 AM
Were these bare A4000 Rev B desktop PCB boards available at some point  in time?  I purchased one the other day and this actually might be  "rare" as the seller described but I am skeptical.  It's a wall hanger  (and I'll frame it with a decent presentation) but you guys must know  how common these are.

More detailed pics here:   http://vintagecomputer.ca/bare-amiga-a4000-desktop-pcb-board-found/
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on May 27, 2015, 02:01:33 AM
That's one way to get a board with no battery damage!  :lol:  Congrats, don't know how rare, but definitely a nice find!
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Matt_H on May 27, 2015, 02:27:46 AM
I recall a batch of 4000T blank PCBs in circulation some years ago, but never a desktop 4000. Congrats! Enjoy it.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: mechy on May 27, 2015, 02:35:31 AM
Quote from: snuci;789966
Were these bare A4000 Rev B desktop PCB boards available at some point  in time?  I purchased one the other day and this actually might be  "rare" as the seller described but I am skeptical.  It's a wall hanger  (and I'll frame it with a decent presentation) but you guys must know  how common these are.

More detailed pics here:   http://vintagecomputer.ca/bare-amiga-a4000-desktop-pcb-board-found/


They are not rare, revision B of the A4000 motherboard was the most common board of all of them.Commodore never sold bare boards though,they were likely left over from production runs that were not finished when they went under..
i would say revision 1 and C(printed as revision2 on the board and stickered revision C) is way less common.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: snuci on May 27, 2015, 03:04:28 AM
Thanks for the feedback.  I have seen the A4000T bare boards that were reproductions but not a desktop either.

In terms of it being from when Commodore went under, I would have guessed the last rev (Rev D) bare boards may have been left over and they would have used up the previous revs.  

It's definitely interesting and is a great looking board.  Too bad it's more than two layers or it might have been useful for reproduction.  I do have an A4000D with the same Rev B board that can use some fixing :)
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: mechy on May 27, 2015, 03:24:10 AM
Quote from: snuci;789972
Thanks for the feedback.  I have seen the A4000T bare boards that were reproductions but not a desktop either.

In terms of it being from when Commodore went under, I would have guessed the last rev (Rev D) bare boards may have been left over and they would have used up the previous revs.  

It's definitely interesting and is a great looking board.  Too bad it's more than two layers or it might have been useful for reproduction.  I do have an A4000D with the same Rev B board that can use some fixing :)

You may be right, but commodore had outside companies making a4000's also ,CEI comes to mind. Maybe leftover from them? who knows.

I have fixed many a 4000 boards, so i know where you are coming from. It was known batteries did damage pretty early on,i wonder why so many people ignored them.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: scuzzb494 on May 27, 2015, 08:23:30 PM
Quote from: snuci;789966
Were these bare A4000 Rev B desktop PCB boards available at some point  in time?  I purchased one the other day and this actually might be  "rare" as the seller described but I am skeptical.  It's a wall hanger  (and I'll frame it with a decent presentation) but you guys must know  how common these are.

More detailed pics here:   http://vintagecomputer.ca/bare-amiga-a4000-desktop-pcb-board-found/


Well they are either surplus or faulty. They represent a point in a process cycle so I am assuming there could have been boxes of these lying around at some stage. The rarity is down to two things really. The first being the number that are in circulation and the second being the number of folk that want to acquire the board. Personally I wouldn't do anything with the board other than place it in a sealed container out of the light. And then look after it. If you are unable to do that then I would be more than happy to look after it for you.

Having a mint board just has to be valuable. The trick now is not to damage it. Please don't damage it.

As to value, well that can only enhance as time goes on.

One of the most common items that I get asked for is my unused, still in its original box, Amiga 4000T case [Escom]. No motherboard just the case mint. And I bought that for a couple of quid off Ebay.

Look after the board. And well done. And wow am I jealous.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Brian on May 27, 2015, 08:57:18 PM
Yah... never seen a source for bare 4000D either. If i recall correct it was from Vesalia I bought the two A4000T bare boards I have framed in my office... think they where like 9$ a peice back then.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Rob on May 27, 2015, 10:13:35 PM
You should take some high resolution photos and submit them to The Big Book Of Amiga Hardware for inclusion in the A4000 page since there are currently no photos of unpopulated boards there.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: danbeaver on May 27, 2015, 10:38:40 PM
You know using it as a work of art,

If you stand back far enough from the wall it is hung upon and slightly blur your eyes, it does look like Renoirs' "Luncheon of the Boating Party"


(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Pierre-Auguste_Renoir_-_Luncheon_of_the_Boating_Party_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: TheBilgeRat on May 27, 2015, 10:57:39 PM
Quote from: danbeaver;790012
You know using it as a work of art,

If you stand back far enough from the wall it is hung upon and slightly blur your eyes, it does look like Renoirs' "Luncheon of the Boating Party"



Philistine :)

Its obviously Mondrain's "Broadway Boogie Woogie"
(https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/204/flashcards/1558204/jpg/broadway-boogie-woogie-145B4D2018416F9921A.jpg)
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Rob on May 28, 2015, 07:33:00 AM
@TheBilgeRat

Who's Philip Stein?
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on May 28, 2015, 09:00:09 AM
I still have my very first C64 motherboard.  Someday I'll figure some kind of creative way of hanging it on the wall! :)
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: zipper on May 28, 2015, 09:14:22 AM
I still have the first LP I bought, nailed on the wall ;)
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: snuci on May 28, 2015, 01:00:16 PM
Scuzzb494,

Thanks for the reply.  I actually have a couple of other boards that are pretty cool but they are not Amiga's.  My most favorite is still my bare MITS Altair Rev 1 CPU board.  

I will take good care of it.


Quote from: Rob;790011
You should take some high resolution photos and submit them to The Big Book Of Amiga Hardware for inclusion in the A4000 page since there are currently no photos of unpopulated boards there.


Good suggestion.  Email and pictures sent.

As for the artwork, while it is awesome looking, it is a symbol of what killed Commodore.  I'll frame it but I'd much rather frame a bare Commodore 64 motherboard; a representation of their success.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: snuci on May 28, 2015, 02:06:43 PM
Quote from: snuci;790027
As for the artwork, while it is awesome looking, it is a symbol of what killed Commodore.  I'll frame it but I'd much rather frame a bare Commodore 64 motherboard; a representation of their success.


I seem to be replying to myself but I had a "Ahah!" moment.  I have a couple of KIM-1s.  I will frame both together.  KIM-1 representing the first Commodore board and the A4000 representing the last.

Technically, this would be accurate, right?  Or is there something I'm missing?
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: cunnpole on May 28, 2015, 03:13:19 PM
Quote from: snuci;790028
Technically, this would be accurate, right?  Or is there something I'm missing?


Would the last not be the CD32?
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: snuci on May 28, 2015, 05:24:27 PM
I just wanted to mention that you too can have your very own Amiga A4000D bare PCB board.  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331567819561

I am not affiliated to the seller.  Just wanted to let you guys know about it.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Rob on May 28, 2015, 06:04:44 PM
Quote from: snuci;790037
I just wanted to mention that you too can have your very own Amiga A4000D bare PCB board.  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331567819561

I am not affiliated to the seller.  Just wanted to let you guys know about it.


It would be cool if someone resurrected a dead A4000 using that board and documented the build.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: tonyvdb on May 28, 2015, 06:06:52 PM
My understanding is that because they used multiple layering traces that would be near impossible to do at home.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: danbeaver on May 28, 2015, 08:33:26 PM
Quote from: snuci;790027
Scuzzb494,

 ... it is a symbol of what killed Commodore.  I'll frame it but I'd much rather frame a bare Commodore 64 motherboard; a representation of their success.
So the greed of the board of directors, bad marketing, lack of vision in bringing new, competitive products to market is just a cover up for the fact that production of the A4000 is what ACTUALLY killed Commodore?

AMAZING!!! [Put hands above head and show "Jazz Fingers"]
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: tonyvdb on May 28, 2015, 08:53:42 PM
The 4000 was really well liked by many. Coupled with the Video toaster it sold hundreds (maybe more) of units to TV and production studios all over North America. It defiantly was not the cause of Commodores demise. Their customer service in North amarica was awful and certainly was part of its issues.
Wasn't the Amiga the number two selling platform in Europe next to the Mac in the early 90s?
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: snuci on May 28, 2015, 09:24:57 PM
Quote from: danbeaver;790063
So the greed of the board of directors, bad marketing, lack of vision in bringing new, competitive products to market is just a cover up for the fact that production of the A4000 is what ACTUALLY killed Commodore?

AMAZING!!! [Put hands above head and show "Jazz Fingers"]

Sorry, "killed" was the wrong word.  I did watch "The Deathbed Vigil" and I agree with you.  According to that documentary, the CD32 could have saved them if they had the money for parts.  It was definitely bad upper management.
Title: Re: A4000 Rev B Bare PCB board?
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on June 04, 2015, 07:32:17 PM
For anybody that was interested, it looks like this auction closed at $73.  Just mentioning it because I had it set to "follow", and ebay sent me an email about it.  It is a damn shame that these boards are too complex to be populated, as that would fix a lot of people's problems with their A4000's.  :(