Difference between A500 models

[djkoelkast]

Hi all,

I've got a bunch of A500s, but there's one odd one between them.
All others have the small square Commodore logo beneath the power/disk LEDs, but this one had a larger badge, the one that is used on the 500 plus as well, but it just says: Commodore A-500.
Is this a later version? Is there any difference between this version and the normal small logo ones?

[djkoelkast]

I haven't tested the machine yet, I was busy with making one working A2000 out of 2 half working ones, so I'll test that.

I know the A500 with an original 1.2 kickstart has a red power LED, the 1.3 ones usually have a green one. Maybe I'll just open in up then

[djkoelkast]

Ok, just opened it:

It has an 8A mainboard inside, it says A500+ but the + is crossed out.
It has 512K ram and no battery. I haven't booted it up yet, so my best guess is it has KS 1.3.

Also the connections on the back vary slightly, the MONO port is yellow, not red. The L/R audio ports are white/black, not red.

[djkoelkast]

Last picture

[djkoelkast]

I've managed to hook it on, it is indeed a normal 1.3 version.
This one is made in Hong Kong, all others either in W. Germany (old version with C= key) or Germany (all others).

Only thing is: it doesn't read a single disk. I've swapped diskdrives (had a spare A2000 drive lying around, in DS0 mode) but the same happens: the kickstart logo disappears, the diskdrive gives 3 clicks and I get the kickstart logo back.
It could be both drives are broken, but I think that would be strange. Anything worth trying?

I wanted to swap the drive from another A500 that is so yellow and has a German keyboard layout (we use the US layout around here) but that drive was definatly broken, made all the wrong noises

Attached: LED colors.

[djkoelkast]

I've tried using a cleaning disk (not one with the alcohol fluid, but a dry one that doesn't spin) but that did not work.
Strange thing is: both diskdrives do the same, shouldn't I look somewhere else for the drive error?

About the Agnus, I'll look later today what it says.
@Mike: what trapdoor expansion was in the A500+ originally? I've played on one about 19 years ago, a friend of mine had one, but I've never opened his A500+

[djkoelkast]

I'll try both drives in my A2000 today, I know that machine is in perfect working order as I fixed and tested it yesterday.
I do have an A500 for spare parts, but that's an older version, I don't know if they're interchangable.

[djkoelkast]

I've got it running now. The head was stuck because of old grease, or at least that's my best guess. Put some new grease on, cleaned the heads and now it's running perfectly.
I put a KCS power board in the trap door: also works (or at least the 512K expansion works). Without it it's just another Amiga 500 with 512K, but the keyboard itself is an A500+ as well: it has two blank keys on the US layout.
One right of the left shift and one left to the bottom of the Return key.

About the Agnus chip, see attachment:

[djkoelkast]

I edited my post, attached a picture of the Agnus chip now

[djkoelkast]

That's great. Now let's see if I have the ECS Denise as well, if so I actually have a A500+ except for the chipmem/kickstart (I do have 2 2.04 chips lying around).
I also have some A501-like cards here and there.
Always wanted an A500+

[djkoelkast]

SysInfo says 1MB ECS Agnus, but the chip is actually the 2MB one.
The Paula chip seems to be the ECS version as well.

The 1.3 kickstart is actually smaller than the socket, the 1st pin is not used.
Even stranger: the 1.3 chip I had lying around that did not work on my A2000 (where a 2.04 and 1.2 chip did) works just fine when I skip the 1st pin on the socket.

How should I put in the 2.04 chip, also skipping the 1st pin? Or do I need a completely different chip?

[djkoelkast]

Yeah the top 2 pins

.  . << not used
.  .
.  .
.  .

Actually I meant ECS Denise and it's there
So this really is an A500+ except memory, battery (happy me!) and kickstart.

[djkoelkast]

It does not boot with the 2.04 chip I tried (that one did work on my A2000)

[djkoelkast]

Is there a jumper wire between 2 pins on the chip? You might have to remove it for the A500+.

Not that I've seen, no, but I didn't pay that much attention to it.
For as far as I know it's just the chip itself, I have 2 versions though.