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?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Maybe a rev. 6A board inside?  What color are the power lights?  Usually red is an older 5 board, green is a newer 6 board, but with Commodore who the he#$ knows, really?  Best to open it up & check!  

[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

[Matt_H]

I have an "A-500" as well. Green and amber LEDs. There's a rev 6A board in it, but I don't know if it's factory original - the machine was serviced many times under warranty. It had 1.3 originally.

[curtis]

I believe there were some rev 8a boards in the "A-500" towards then end.  Same as the 500+ but without the extra memory or battery.

[nickoteen]

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?

Have the same model. Rev 6a inside.

[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

[mrknight]

Commodore A-500.

Sounds like the one I got. The bdge also have a raised silver C= logo on the badge. Green and yellow LEDs. It's a Rev6A inside.

[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.

[mrknight]

Sorry, didn't see your last posts before I posted mine. I had the window open for quite a while. I should have refreshed before psosting. Anyway....

Just curious, what version of Agnus do you have on the mother board?

[Tenacious]

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?

You tried cleaning the heads of the drive?  Cleaning disk?  Swabs?

Also, the lubricant can dry up in the spindle bearings.  If the disk doesn't spin at the correct RPM, you get errors.

[mongo]

You tried cleaning the heads of the drive?  Cleaning disk?  Swabs?

Also, the lubricant can dry up in the spindle bearings.  If the disk doesn't spin at the correct RPM, you get errors.

Also make sure the track 0 sensor is clean. If it's not the drive will always think it's on track 0 even if it's not.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Excellent!  That's the best one!  You should have the 2MB Agnus in there and can easily add the extra chips to the motherboard and trapdoor expansion to bring it up to full ECS, A500+ capability.  Lucky you!  

[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+