#A2000 REV. question
8 messages in this thread
Sung,
I'm sure that you have the newer motherboard; however, you've worried
yourself over nothing. The reason the sticker is on the motherboard is
because the difference between rev4.1 and rev 4.3 is so minor, that the {
boards themselves could have easily been modified.
The difference between 4.1 and 4.2 was a change in the ferrite beads
on the RGB output lines. The beads aren't actualy on the board itself, but
fit over jumpers near the RGB output port.
The difference between 4.2 and 4.3 was that 2 resistors were added to
the board IN ANTICIPATION of replacing the Hitachi made GARY chip with the
Commodore made (MOS) GARY chip….that is, the change was made before the MOS
chip was even used so that there would be no problems when they started using
the MOS chip.
If in the extremely rare instance that a Hitachi GARY chip went bad
and had to be replaced by an MOS chip (at some time in the future), the
repair tech would also add those 2 resistors.
The newer keyboard connector is a tight fit…it should be so that
the connector doesn't pull out when you move the keyboard. As long as you
have the keyway lined up properly…it's no problem pushing the connector in.
Don
Thanks for your comments. What bothers me most is that it took so long for
the dealer to deliver. Besides, the little sticker could have been put there
by anybody since the plastic covering on the system unit had been opened and
reclosed with pieces of scotch tape. I'd rather there was some way to verify
that what I have is not just a REV. 4.1 board with fake 4.3 sticker on it.
Sung,
You can tell if it's a rev 4.1 board by looking at the 3 ferrite
beads on the RGB output lines (right behind the RGB connector). If the wires
simply go thru the beads…then you have at least a rev 4.2 board, if the
wires loop thru the beads…then it's a 4.1 board. The 4.1 board also has
poor video output (because of the beads).
The next thing to look for would be the GARY chip (under the power
supply). If it's from MOS, and the unit works…then you definately have a
rev4.3 board. If it's from Hitachi (or anyone else), then you won't be able
to tell if it's a 4.2 or 4.3 board since the 4.3 board modifications were
made _before_ CBM started to use the MOS GARY chips (if they are even using
them yet).
A2000's have been in quite short supply, it is very possible that due
to your insistence that you have the latest board…the dealer waited until
he got a new shipment to give you your A2000 rather than take one from his
stock. That order may not have gone in until his store stock was depleted.
Again…the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.3 board is so trivial
that it's not worth worrying about for 1 second. You do have the major
difference between the older and the newer A2000's…the newer keyboard.
BTW, and that is probably the reason for the plastic to have been
opened IF the dealer opened it. (It seems to me that mine was held together
with scotch tape also and I know mine was right off the truck)…if the
dealer opened the A2000, it was probably to make the modification so that you
don't lose the first character typed into a CLI. This problem cropped up
only with the new keyboard and requires 2 capacitors be removed from the
motherboard to fix the problem.
Don
Again, thanks for your comments. I am leaning toward keeping it for now.
Don't even want to think about how much longer it'll take to get a
replacement unit. The thing that gets me is that for the last month or so, I
got the answer 'Oh, we'll ship it today' every time I called. That does
wonders in lowering consumer confidence, don't you think? Well, I'll check
out the pointers you've given as I am going to install the memory board and
power up the unit. Thanks a whole lot.
Sung,
BTW…the actual circuit board is exactly the same for revs 4.1 thru
4.3..there is no difference what so ever according to Dave Haynie..the
designer of the circuitboard.
Don
Thanks. Oh, one other thing. I do keep up to date on these things by
reading notices on national networks like CIS. Maybe the dealer thinks I'm a
dip because my name isn't Smith or such and because I've got this terminal
case of being polite and patient. Well, if that's so, he's going to have a
very vocal, active, and dissatified customer on his hands.
"Maybe the dealer thinks I'm a dip because my name isn't Smith or such…"
If that's the case, and I doubt it, get a new dealer. You don't need to put
up with that sort of aggravation. Those of us who have been around the block
a few times usually come to realize that ethnic heritage (is that redundant?
8) has pretty much nothing to do with who a person is. If I might ask, what
nationality is Yom? Sounds Korean, perhaps?
"… and because I've got this terminal case of being polite and patient." I
wish more people were like you. If your dealer has to put up with the
typical mix of customers, he should be delighted to have you as one; you're a
breath of fresh air. If he's taking advantage of you because of it, it's his
loss. Besides, being another person with a terminal case of "patients", I
know that we can be MORE irritating than the hot-tempered people who explode
and storm out the door. THEY leave… we just keep calling back, day after
day after day after… 8)
Rick
Sung,
My wrapping looked like it had been opened too. I got mine late in December.
I suspect what Don said is true, Commodore did a minor rework. My 2000 has
been working perfectly since I got it. I have the newer keyboard, yet I
don't have the "lost keystroke problem" others have had. I think this means
that my motherboard is the latest and includes the removal of the 2
capacitors that caused the "lost keystroke" problem with the newer keyboard.
Claude