Using A2091 in A500

[k4lmp]

I would like to have a HD in my A500, and after losing numerous bids on ebay, due to the external drives going for crazy prices, I came up with an idea, and some questions.  Is the expansion port on the side of the A500 a simple Zorro II slot?  If so, would it be possible to build a custom enclosure for an A2091, and plug it in directly, and maybe mount a scsi CF adapter?  Would this work?  If so, I might try to build some kind of enclosure, and pick up an A2091.  The only problem would be power, but there could even be a PC power supply mounted in the enclosure.  Of course, if the slot isn't a simple Zorro II, it wouldn't work at all.  Any ideas?  Thanks.

[Matt_H]

It's not a Zorro slot, but adapters exist and can be built to connect a Zorro card. There are more elegant solutions out there, though, such as CPU-slot adapters that give you an IDE port or CF card slot.

Someone with more knowledge on the subject can verify for me, but I think Jens Schoenfeld's upcoming A500 accelerators will have some sort of mass storage capability.

[Zac67]

There are "slingshot" adapters for plugging a Zorro II card into the A500's expanionsion slot (yes, it's very close to Z2).
If you're planning to use a CF card, an IDE adapter will be simpler & less expensive overall (since the CF interface is nothing else than IDE, requiring only a simple, passive adapter).

OTOH, "the best upgrade for a 500 is a 1200" might also be a good idea...

[k4lmp]

I would love to have an A1200, problem is, they are expensive, and I already have the A500.  My main Amiga is my 2000, which I use most of the time.  I don't use the A500 much, simply because of the no hard drive.  I don't like wearing my floppy drive out changing disks.  I never did like changing disks all the time.  Also, I have a few of the scsi card readers from Mech laying around, so all I would need is an A2091.  I have a GVP 2000-8 scsi card that I could use.

[JimS]

Over on Aminet there's a schematic for a single slot Zorro II adapter. It's pretty simple, just one chip, if I recall correctly. I used a commercial version of it on my 1000 which has the same sort of slot as the 500.

[Plaz]

Over on Aminet there's a schematic for a single slot Zorro II adapter. It's pretty simple, just one chip, if I recall correctly. I used a commercial version of it on my 1000 which has the same sort of slot as the 500.

I built that adapter for my A500 and plugged in a A2091 card. Worked great and ran a BBS for serveral years back in the early 90's.  I probably still have the adapter here some where. Technically simple but I recall it did require a lot of wire soldering. No problem if you're handy with an iron, challenge if you're not.

BTW, I also recall the connectors required were the toughest issue. I couldn't find the right size cheap enough to make me happy so I hacked some connectors out of some old equipment and made them work. Maybe connectors are easier to find these days or maybe someone got a hacked up 2000 that could donate at least the zorro connector.

Plaz

[k4lmp]

I was hoping it was just a ZII slot.  Maybe I'll get lucky and find a HD on ebay.  I just bid on one last night, it went for $200 plus shipping, so someone wanted it more than I did.  I didn't pay that much for my A2000, or my A500.  I guess it is just this whole supply vs. demand thing.

[amiman99]

Is this what you are thinking about? Works with A2091 too with 2MB RAM and bootable HD.

Check this page for more info: http://lilliput.amiga-projects.net/Indie.htm

[Steady]

Sounds like you're looking for the old Bodega Bay to me.

http://www.bboah.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=76&id=3489&artlang=en

[billt]

BTW, I also recall the connectors required were the toughest issue. I couldn't find the right size cheap enough to make me happy so I hacked some connectors out of some old equipment and made them work. Maybe connectors are easier to find these days or maybe someone got a hacked up 2000 that could donate at least the zorro connector.

Plaz

I've used two ISA slot connectors, cut them in half and glued them together to get Zorro slots before. I've also bought them from Jameco for relatively cheap since then.

https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_1945049_-1

[psxphill]

I've used two ISA slot connectors, cut them in half and glued them together to get Zorro slots before. I've also bought them from Jameco for relatively cheap since then.
 
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_1945049_-1

I'd speak to tomthul
 
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=8373
 
He's sold out right now but if enough people show interest then he might do another batch, but if you want to make them yourself he can probable tell you where to get parts and he's offered to give out the pcb layouts.
 
http://www.amibay.com/showpost.php?p=346299&postcount=75

[k4lmp]

Sounds like you're looking for the old Bodega Bay to me.

http://www.bboah.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=76&id=3489&artlang=en

I would love to have one of those, didn't know they made such a beast.  Must be kinda rare.

[SpeedGeek]

The easiest way to use an A2091 in an A500 is to get an A590! :roflmao:

[k4lmp]

The easiest way to use an A2091 in an A500 is to get an A590! :roflmao:

Thanks for the totally useless post.  Either you didn't read the first post, or were just TRYING to be funny.

[MustangJeff]

I would really just wait for the ACA500 from Individual Computers to get released later this year.  It's board that plugs into the CPU socket and will give you.
 
1) CF Card slot
2) 40 pin ATA IDE connector for CDROM, etc
3) 4MB RAM upgrade
4) 14Mhz 68000 accelerator
5) Amiga 1200 expansion slot for A1200 accelerators.
 
All for around $105 USD..  
 
You can add a 16Mhz 68020 w/128mb of ram for another $120USD and have something MUCH better than those people spending $200 on a 20+ year old SCSI controller.