Storage devices for A500 Plus

[AmigaBruno]

I've just bought an Amiga A500 Plus from eBay. So far, I've only managed to power it on and get the Kickstart boot screen. I've never owned an A500 Plus before. There's a warranty seal on the back of the computer, instead of underneath at the front. I assume this means it's standard with no upgrades fitted. My next step will be to buy some Workbench 2 disks.

Obviously, I'd like the convenience of some kind of fast mass storage device instead of relying on floppies. I wonder what would be compatible and not too expensive to install. I think that anything that works with the A500 would also be compatible. I've read that the following devices can be used - SCSI hard drives, IDE adapters and CF cards, Iomega Zip disk drives, and USB memory sticks. Unfortunately, I don't know how to install any of these, except old SCSI drives made years ago specifically for the A500. There's also this device http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SD-Floppy-Emulator-Rev-C-BLUE-EDITION-/170952527345?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item27cd908df1 which uses SD cards to store floppy disk images.

I hope someone here can advise me.

[derringer3]

Go for it, it is recommended because amiga floppy drivers has a tend to fault. And the sd cards just way faster to read. If you want hard drivers, you need to buy some hd expansion card. (it is fitted to the side expansion port) Or get an accelerator hdd drive combo 2 in 1. (because some accelerator card dont' like some of the hdd cards) or 3:1 with memory upgrade.
Anyway some of the accelerator can use modern (ie 80GB or more) hard drives, but it is really depend on the actual modell. Of course most of the 90' hard drivers works, but you know, most of them not or not working correctly because of ageing.

[Lurch]

First thing to do is to open that puppy up and remove the battery :-)

Second thing is get a V402 ide68k from Mkl on Amibay, this will give you a booting IDE/CF-Card.

http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=7158

3rd thing is to purchase auto config 8MB RAM from kipper2

http://kipper2k.com/amigaforsale/

Only thing missing is a 68010 and CF-Card to install workbench and WHDLoad.

68010 can be picked up for $5 from Ebay. CF-Card and adapter off ebay is around $19.

Would recommend 3.1 kickstart roms from Amigakit or Vesalia but not really needed.

The Floppy emulator is awesome, I have one. Cheaper to buy through his website though over getting it through ebay.

http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/

Oh and do you have the 1MB expansion in the trapdoor, if not you can pickup one of those off ebay for $15-$19 to give you 2MB chip RAM.

[AmigaBruno]

Go for it, it is recommended because amiga floppy drivers has a tend to fault. And the sd cards just way faster to read. If you want hard drivers, you need to buy some hd expansion card. (it is fitted to the side expansion port) Or get an accelerator hdd drive combo 2 in 1. (because some accelerator card dont' like some of the hdd cards) or 3:1 with memory upgrade.
Anyway some of the accelerator can use modern (ie 80GB or more) hard drives, but it is really depend on the actual modell. Of course most of the 90' hard drivers works, but you know, most of them not or not working correctly because of ageing.

I'm afraid I don't understand any of this. Please try again.

[hese7]

I'm afraid I don't understand any of this. Please try again.

You have four kinds of choices to have a mass storage to your Amiga 500.
Either an external one that is plugged to the side expansion port or an internal one that is plugged to the 68000 processor socket inside the computer.
Also both external and internal expansions can come with an own processor which are called accelerators. Accelerator replaces the original Amiga 500 processor with a faster one.

Some examples:
1. External hard drive expansions: BSC Alfapower 500, Commodore A590, SupraDrive 500XP, ...
2. Internal hard drive expansions: Ide68k, AdIDE 40/44, M-Tec AT500 Megabody, ...
3. External hard drive expansions with accelerator: GVP A530
4. Internal hard drive expansions with accelerator: DCE Viper 520 CD, M-Tec Viper 530, ...

If you're just looking for to get a mass storage for your Amiga pick one from list 1 or 2.
External hard drives are easy to install and found quite often on eBay but you don't know in what condition the hard drive is. Of course you can replace the drive with another one if needed.
If you can solder a couple of wires to the motherboard then you could buy an internal expansion Ide68k and use a brand new CF card.

[AmigaBruno]

Lurch and hese7, perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough.

I'd really like to know where I can buy some compatible mass storage devices for my Amiga A500 Plus, complete with the prices. The availability of them and the prices have to be current.

[derringer3]

I'm afraid I don't understand any of this. Please try again.

Exatly what i wanted to write, but too lazy for linking.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Second thing is get a V402 ide68k from Mkl on Amibay, this will give you a booting IDE/CF-Card.

http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=7158

3rd thing is to purchase auto config 8MB RAM from kipper2

http://kipper2k.com/amigaforsale/

I'm looking for similar A500 upgrades.  Does anybody know does this "ide68k" device have a real website, with photos and prices, etc.?  I'm having difficulty understanding all the different versions from just the Amibay thread (and would prefer to purchase from a site like AmigaKit).

Also sent an email to "kipper2k", haven't heard anything back yet, fingers crossed that these items are still available...

[Lurch]

Lurch and hese7, perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough.

I'd really like to know where I can buy some compatible mass storage devices for my Amiga A500 Plus, complete with the prices. The availability of them and the prices have to be current.

TBH I have, follow the links in my post. Prices etc are all there.

Does anybody know does this "ide68k" device have a real website, with photos and prices, etc.?

http://www.students.tut.fi/~leinone3/ide/ide68k.html is the only website there are pictures there too, if you email him he usually provides a list :-)

I would assume the items kipper are selling are still available, but being xmas holidays he could be busy. I'd wait for the new year.

http://kipper2k.com/amigaforsale/

:-)

[hese7]

I'd really like to know where I can buy some compatible mass storage devices for my Amiga A500 Plus, complete with the prices. The availability of them and the prices have to be current.

If you want to buy the Ide68k, go to Amibay and contact the seller (mkl).
If you want something else then you have to search them on eBay or somewhere else. Or place a WTB thread here or Amibay.

[utri007]

You could wait ACA500 http://www.jschoenfeld.com/news/news143_e.htm

79€ is not a much, for accelerator and ide controller.

[AmigaBruno]

I wonder what's stopping me from attaching any SCSI hard drive? Perhaps I need a controller. What would the controller consist of? Would I have to buy an old hard drive made specifically for the Amiga which plugs in at the side?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I wonder what's stopping me from attaching any SCSI hard drive? Perhaps I need a controller. What would the controller consist of? Would I have to buy an old hard drive made specifically for the Amiga which plugs in at the side?

Bruno - the A500 doesn't have an internal SCSI controller (like the A3000, A4000T, do).  Here's a good example of what one looks like:

http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/impact500mk2

The hard drive itself doesn't need to be Amiga-specific, but the controller does (obviously).

They are scarcer than hen's teeth on ebay, etc., however.  :-/

[AmigaBruno]

Bruno - the A500 doesn't have an internal SCSI controller (like the A3000, A4000T, do).  Here's a good example of what one looks like:

http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/impact500mk2

The hard drive itself doesn't need to be Amiga-specific, but the controller does (obviously).

They are scarcer than hen's teeth on ebay, etc., however.  :-/

OK, I see. It seems to me that I'll never add a hard drive to this Amiga A500 Plus. I suppose I'll buy a floppy drive emulator, like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HXC-USB-Floppy-Emulator-/181042623041?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item2a26fb3241 . It will prevent me from buying and cluttering up my flat with lots of floppy disks, at least. I have used a similar device with the Amiga's ancestor, the Atari 8 bit computer, so I already know how good it is! The only thing that worries me is how to install it, because it's compatible with various computers. Does it plug in to the external floppy drive port?

[scuzzb494]

An Amiga these days really is for the enthusiast. The A500 Plus predated the 1200 only marginally and Commodore already were developing the 1200 and 4000 to fill that gap in the market for expansion through hard drives and the like. The 3000 gives this also along with the 600. The 500 Plus really became a bit of a hybrid and most of the upgrades were cleverly manufactured to cope with the form shape and space limitations. In the day the kit was very expensive and consequently much of it has disappeared. And because it was often difficult to identify what was actually in A500's and Plus models they often got junked.

Therefore internal storage is tricky if you want to fit a similar drive to say the 1200. Most these days fit their 1200s with modern flash drives... I am told.

You can fit a side car to the 500 quite easily. The problem is finding one that works and also has the power supply.

These two links from my website show you both internal and external drives. I do buy 500s simply to crack them open in the hope that as with the Viper I find a rare card.

The 500 Plus also was fitted with an internal barrel style battery which leak. So removing that is important. See the attached again for some intenral shots.

As to mass storage, there really isn't a great need. And really I would suggest that your interest is not likely to stretch beyond a disk box full of games. Most want the upgrades these days to use stuff off the internet. Personally I would use the 500 as a pure games machine and play with the disks. Thats how they were made to operate and seriously, the machine is so slender, one more disk box isn't going to clutter.

Then if you do enjoy playing with an Amiga go get an A1200 and then you can still play all the 500 stuff. But seriously, please, please look after the 500 Plus. And don't hack it about. They may not be rare, but they are valuable to the community.

Check out my website for loads of information on the Amiga.

Here are those links:

http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com/amiga/amiga_scuzz48.htm

http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com/amiga/amiga_scuzz382.htm

http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com/amiga/amiga_scuzz105.htm

http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com/amiga/amiga_scuzz493.htm

Have fun.