PAL on A2000

[tonyvdb]

Is there a jumper on the Amiga 2000 like on the A4000 that allows you to "lock" the computer into either NTSC or PAL?
So putting a toggle sw on these two contacts will keep in in PAL or NTSC depending on where you have the switch set? Now that I have changed the startup and have the reboot line in there to accommodate the new libs PAL wont stick in the early startup menu if booting into workbench so this would be a good workaround.

[blakespot]

It depends. I tried to go down this road a while back, but found it was blocked.

http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=33492&forum=25&6


bp

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I suppose it might work if you stuck a PAL Agnus in there? No jumper, it's a little more complicated on an A2k. Personally thanks to WHDLoad, an Indivision, and a good monitor, I haven't cared about or had to switch between PAL & NTSC in years. Don't know what all the fuss is about anymore.

Although back in the '90s it annoyed me that I had a PAL A1200. Was always having to switch it to NTSC every boot, lol.

[psxphill]

Is there a jumper on the Amiga 2000 like on the A4000 that allows you to "lock" the computer into either NTSC or PAL?

It depends on the Agnus revision.

OCS Agnus was fixed to 50 or 60hz and couldn't be changed ever.

Some ECS Agnus detected 50 or 60hz through a pin, but on some ECS Agnus that pin was used for something else and the 50 or 60hz default was internally set but could be overridden by software.

I'm sure there is a commodore service bulletin online that covers what needs to be done to replace one Agnus with another and the details about the different Agnus were in there. It's possible that the decision to revert to specific Agnus chips may have been as a result of the extra work required when servicing old motherboards that didn't have the 50/60hz jumper.

[tonyvdb]

 I haven't cared about or had to switch between PAL & NTSC in years. Don't know what all the fuss is about anymore.

NTSC is my normal configuration however there is a handful of games that load from workbench that need PAL. I guess I will just live with it as its not a huge deal.

[Matt_H]

If you have a 1MB Agnus you can switch to PAL in software. Search for Degrader on Aminet. As its slogan says, get dumb programs working!

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

NTSC is my normal configuration however there is a handful of games that load from workbench that need PAL. I guess I will just live with it as its not a huge deal.

Have you tried searching for a WHDLoad installer for them?   Then you can just set the PAL tooltype and fuggedaboutit.  

[amiman99]

According to schematics there is a solder blob J102 connected to Agnus chip PIN41 TEST.
Normally the pin is connected to GND, but when you break it, the pin goes to 5V (through resistor).
I'm pretty sure I made that mod before and it worked.

I love schematics!

[psxphill]

According to schematics there is a solder blob J102 connected to Agnus chip PIN41 TEST.
Normally the pin is connected to GND, but when you break it, the pin goes to 5V (through resistor).
I'm pretty sure I made that mod before and it worked.

I love schematics!

It depends on the Agnus chip. This document should cover it.

http://www.amigawiki.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=de:parts:agnus_reworks.pdf

It looks like rev 6.4 boards should ship with J102 open on NTSC and PAL machines.

I have no idea what revision of motherboard or agnus that tonyvdb has.

[amiman99]

I'm going to say that Motherboards v4.3 and up should have the 102 jumper and the FAT AGNUS that supports 1MB Chip RAM.
The jumper is next to the Agnus chip and probably needs to be cut.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I'm going to say that Motherboards v4.3 and up should have the 102 jumper and the FAT AGNUS that supports 1MB Chip RAM.
The jumper is next to the Agnus chip and probably needs to be cut.

AFAIK 4.x boards only came with the 8370 or 8371 (fixed) Agnus.  It wasn't until the 8372A that they became software-switchable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_Agnus

In any case, back to OP's original question, no.  Not just a simple jumper.  Use Degrader or WHDLoad to make it easy on yourself, unless you want to make it be PAL 100% of the time.  

[amiman99]

I looked at the BBoA website picture of v4.3 motherboard and the FAT LADY is written on it and has a J102 jumper next to it, so it looks like v4.3 MBs had the FAT AGNUS installed.
I would say that if you are into hacking, go ahead and install the switch.

http://www.bboah.com/download_photos/a2000rev43mb.jpg

[tonyvdb]

I've got a rev6.4 motherboard but not into doing any sort of hacks like that so will just enjoy it the way it is now.
Now just need to find an *affordable* excellorator for it.

[Honkybear]

You probably have a solution by now but I found this article on pg 27-28 of ACAR Amiga Annual 1993

https://archive.org/details/Commodore_Amiga_Annual_1993_Saturday_Magazine_AU

[psxphill]

I looked at the BBoA website picture of v4.3 motherboard and the FAT LADY is written on it and has a J102 jumper next to it, so it looks like v4.3 MBs had the FAT AGNUS installed.

Fat agnus just means it's not the A1000 agnus, which was also used in the german A2000. It only refers to the packaging size and the only functionality change was support for ranger memory @ c00000. Later changes like 1mb or 2mb chip ram and switchable 50/60fps can only be determined by the part number, they were all fat agnus.