Ultimate A500?

[CSixx]

[Lemmink]

I have butchered together the following beast (all in original case that still closes, also it`s a little bit tight):

A500 with Kick 1.3 on the Board
2 MB Chip-RAM (MiniMegi Chip)
E-Matrix 530 50MHz 68882 Kick 3.1, SCSI 64 MB (couldn`t find a 128 MB that was slim enough)
CD-ROM (internal)
ICD FlickerFree 2 (internal)
Clockportadapter with Subway.

Here are some pictures that will be integrated in my website when I finally update it.

http://home.joice.net/j100513/scans/temp/A500

The cutting for the internal CD-ROM and the denisesocket-extentioncable wasn`t done by me, so I don`t take credit for that.

The CF-Card -> IDE Adapter (located under the Floppy) you see in one pictutre does not work as slave unfortunately so it`s not connected in the final version.

[mr_a500]

Look at mysig for my A500 spec, its not that ultimate but is not stock either. Would Like to get the mega chip so it has more chip ram and something to improve the video out put (scan doubler or graphics card if they even exist for the 500). Also i can play MP3 on it (with MAS player).

Yes, you definitely need 2Mb chip if you want to do anything useful. There are two different chips, by different companies - the Mini Mega and Mini Megi. I think Softhut still has some Mini Megi, but they're damn expensive.

I wouldn't bother with a scandoubler - A500 graphics look much better on a 1084 monitor. (I tried a scandoubler and was horribly disappointed)

I play MP3s on my A500 too. I use DiamondGUI with Mpega.library. DiamondGUI allows you to buffer for smooth playback (A500 is too slow for smooth real-time decoding). Once I decide I like the MP3, I convert to AIFF so I don't have to worry about buffering or decoding.

[mr_a500]

E-Matrix 530 50MHz 68882 Kick 3.1, SCSI 64 MB (couldn`t find a 128 MB that was slim enough)

Holy #$%#! That means YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE VIPER 530!!! I read that E-Matrix 530 = Viper 530. Oh man, I want that thing!

I guess you win the "Ultimate A500" award. (...walks away to stick head in pile of mud...)

[ajlwalker]

CSixx wrote:
I have an Apollo 040 inside my A1200 in a desktop case. It does have a small fan attached directly to the cpu (no heatsink). Haven't had any heat or stability issues at all.

My A500 is a rather hefty machine with a GVP-A530T (030 chip, 40mhz) and 9 megs ram (512+512trapdoor, 8M on A530T).
Has 1.3 roms and softkicks 3.1.

Be sure to check the fan is secure regularly.

I had an Apollo 040 in my A1200.  Unfortunately the fan worked itself loose from the CPU without me realising.

One fried CPU later the board is dead.  I was gutted.Wouldn't want it to happen to anyone else.

 :boohoo:

[drewz21]

Sorry mr_a500...please don't kill him for it.  Besides you have one sweet A500 setup.  I looked at some of your screenshots and it is very sweet!

I'll have a hard time getting an A500 up to your level but I'll keep you informed of my progress.  Once I start, that is.  

[darksun9210]

I had 512Mb chip, then added 512Mb "fast"
then then 2Mb chip ram upgrade,
3.1 Rom,
M-TEC 28Mhz 020+882+4Mb ram.
A570 CD.

the M-TEC wouldn't fit with the 2Mb chipram upgrade  :-(

send the M-TEC back, and swapped my A500 for a non-functional A4000/030 with no keyboard (from the bloke that did the titling and video work for "The Word" TV show). 80quid for a repair, and 80! quid from analogic for a keyboard! all working.

*sigh* happy days  :cry:

[Argus]

My specs:

A500 Rev. 6/ECS/1MB chip
CSA Derringer 50MHz 68030/68882
32MB 32-bit simm (on Derringer)
C= A590 2MB w/ 2.1Gb SCSI drive
3.1 in rom
12x SCSI CD (external off A590)
Individual Computers clockport adaptor
SilverSurfer fast serial
Zoom external 56K modem