Conference hydra::amiga_v1

3463.0. "Motherboard Rev 6.0 Problems" by YUPPY::HAMBLY () Fri Feb 09 1990 10:35

    In the UK, the March issue of Amiga Computing published a letter
    in which someone, having purchased a Microbotics Hardframe and hard
    disk, couldn't get it to autoboot on his new B2000 Rev 6.0. The
    response to this letter states that Commodore had found bus timing
    problems on the Rev 6.0 motherboard and had subsequently released
    versions 6.1 & then 6.2 to effect a fix. It went on to say that
    Commodore UK had yet to formulate a policy on this and that in the
    US, Commodore "have been incredibly helpful to owners with this
    problem"
    
    Reading note 3192.5 (?), it is likely that the problem also occurs
    on GVP as well as Microbotics products. I spoke to Commodore UK
    who first denied knowledge of the problem and when I persisted,
    I was asked to call another technical expert on Monday to discuss
    further.
    
    I, too, have a Rev 6.0 B2000 and I am abnout to upgrade to a hard
    disk etc. My dealer, Diamond Computers, says that it is not possible
    to upgrade  to 6.1/6.2 but that Microbotics are able to release
    a different version of S/W (firmware?) to get round the problem.
    
    Does anyone know precisely what the problem is and can anything
    be done to the Rev 6.0 motherboard to eradicate it. What impact
    does the Microbotics workaround have, if any, on performance?
    
    Do GVP acknowledge the problem and finally what is the Commodore
    US solution to owners in this situation?
    
    Any help/comments etc greatly appreciated.
    
    Clive.

    You could scan the list of Rev 6 PCB changes by CBM I posted at the end
    of note 2944.7 (one refered to GVP hardware).
    
    These reference U.S. manufactured systems (and I believe A2000's), so I
    don't know if they mean anything to you. Test at your own risk.