Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Re .0:
    
>   Amiga 8520  =  6526 Complex Interface Adaptor
    
    Wow!  There IS a use for an otherwise-dead C=64!  It's got two of these
    critters in it (socketed, even).  Failing that, the Memory Location has
    (or at least HAD, a year ago) these in its spare parts inventory.

Yup, Memory Location has em. I picked one up about 3-4 months ago. I think
it was $24.

John

> >  Amiga 8520  =  6526 Complex Interface Adaptor
    
  >  Wow!  There IS a use for an otherwise-dead C=64!  It's got two of these
  >  critters in it (socketed, even). 

    Stupid question from a non-engineer.

    Could someone tell me where these chips are located physically on both
    the A500 and the C=64.

    i Have been drooling over Ami for quite some time but i also don't have
    an Engineers pocketbook!

    Recently i have come across a GOOD deal on an A500 set-up because the
    "printer interface" chip is blown.  i Assume it is this CIA chip.

    Paragon didn't tell me which one it might be over the phone because
    they want me to bring it in of course, for around $80!

    Now if i can just grab that baby from the old dead C=64... !

    Is it easy to identify?  Is the one in Ami also socketed? Does it
    actually have 8520 on the chip, or does it have 6526?

    Any help would be MOST appreciated.

    The deal?...    A two year old A500 with 1meg, (probably with 1.3 OS?)
                    1084S monitor,
                    Epson NLQ printer (don't remember which one)
                    Pro-write 2.5,
                    A few other pieces of SW and games,
                    Nice Desk, too!
                                  ...for $500!!
   With no other problems, is this as good a deal as i think it is?!!
                                                                     jOHN

    
    I'm also assuming i should ground myself, right? Would a water mist do
    any good while pulling it out or is that a stupid idea?

    Re .3:
    
>   Could someone tell me where these chips are located physically on both
>   the A500 and the C=64.
    
    Though I've been inside my A500 on several occasions, I haven't gone
    looking for this particular chip.  Besides, the chips move around as
    Commodore revises the motherboard.  Fortunately, they've been kind
    enough to identify each chip with both its component number (e.g. U102)
    and its name/type.
    
    Start in your C=64.  The 6526 CIA is the only chip of which there are
    twins.  There should be one in the upper left (near the user port) and
    another at the far right (near the joystick ports).
    
>   Recently i have come across a GOOD deal on an A500 set-up because the
>   "printer interface" chip is blown.  I Assume it is this CIA chip.
    
    By elimination, you're probably right.  It IS possible that a static
    discharge zapped the CIA (a common problem on the C=64/128, but less so
    on the Amiga).  I assume it worked with the printer for some reasonable
    period of time, so we can eliminiate mis-cabling as a likely cause. 
    Find out how/when the parallel port died.
    
>   Is it easy to identify?  Is the one in Ami also socketed? Does it
>   actually have 8520 on the chip, or does it have 6526?
    
    The first two answers are probably, "yes".  As for the third, check
    each 40-pin DIP for either number and for the legend "CIA" or "8520" on
    the board next to it.  BTW, you should use a Torx-10 screwdriver to
    break in to the A500.  A small screwdriver will work, but it really
    isn't the right tool.
    
    In response to your query in .4, you SHOULD take static precautions,
    but that just means you should make sure that you and the system are
    both grounded before you touch any of the chips.  Radio Shack sells a
    cheap wrist strap (#276-2397, $3.29) that should do the trick.
    
>   The deal?...    A two year old A500 with 1meg, (probably with 1.3 OS?)
>                   1084S monitor,
>                   Epson NLQ printer (don't remember which one)
>                   Pro-write 2.5,
>                   A few other pieces of SW and games,
>                   Nice Desk, too!
>                                 ...for $500!!
>   With no other problems, is this as good a deal as i think it is?!!
    
    It's a fair deal on a two-year-old system.  Depending on when it was
    bought, you might have either V1.2 or V1.3 of the KickStart ROM and
    AmigaDOS.  You almost certainly have the older (512KB) Fat Agnus.
    
    Commodore's "Power-Up" program expires on December 31.  Under it, you
    can buy a basic A500 for $300, which would include V1.3 and the 1MB
    "Fatter Agnus" (unenabled).  With a little swapping, you could end up
    with a "productivity" A500 on the desk and an "entertainment" A500
    connected to your TV set.  (If you have kids, you'll appreciate the
    merits of such an arrangement.)
    

    The C64 chip MAY work in the Amiga.  I tried one in an A1000, it booted
    OK but would freeze the mouse when a window was opened.  I think the
    chip was not quite fast enough.
    
    Jean
    

    On rev 5 of the 500, the CIA's are up towards the top of the board,
    close to the ports they support (parallel and serial).
    
    Does anyone have any diagnostic software to test the whole machine and
    determine chip functionality?  I forgot to rip one off from Paragon
    before I left (probably illegal) but I'd like to be able to test at
    home.
    
    I'm starting to suspect a problem in one of mine...
    Mike