eightbit Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) Just curious as to what others have done to their vintage computers recently. What I have done: Amiga 500: I was lucky to obtain a Rev 6A board (which is the easiest to mod) and had to try to remember what I did with certain modifications back in the day. Oddly enough, internet searches for this have become harder to find with some modifications (maybe because Lemon Amiga is down). Anyway: 1. Pal/NTSC switch installed 2. 1MB Chip mod performed 3. Barrel clock battery removed from trapdoor expansion (just in time!) and new CR-2032 battery installed with diode to stop the Amiga from trying to recharge it (I have accurate time now!) Others (which are not mods really) is a PS2 controller adapter and a PS One joystick and a PS2 mouse adapter and a Microsoft intellimouse. This computer is wicked fun now! C128: 1. JiffyDOS installed w/switch in casing Color Computer 3: 1. Triad 512kb memory expansion upgrade That's about it for me for the year of 2014. Some things came back to me while performing the Amiga modifications that reminded me how much I loved this computer as a kid. And, my mods are MUCH cleaner now that I am older and have more attention to detail Edited April 10, 2014 by eightbit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Probably nothing in the last 12 months. 800XL has VBXE, U1Meg & IDE+2. I've got an external USB drive case that died so the plan is to make that the home for IDE+2 and use the ribbon cable rather than directly plugged in. Got an RGB -> S-Video/Composite adaptor that suits VBXE, needs to be put into a case and have a power socket added. Only bought it so I could do video captures. Might get a cheap LCD TV so I can use it with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I built a high-reliability Apple //e pcb. No sockets, mil-spec extended temperature range components - all of them. 128k/80col, z80, disk controller, clock, ssc and grappler+ onboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seob Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Added atari compatible controllers to my cdtv. fixed my zx81, that had a broken keyboard cable and bad rf signal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylon Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 added a hard drive to my Tandy 1000SX and expanded the memory of my 1000EX to 640k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 These are all for a Texas Instruments "TI-99/4A" Modifications 1) Added an 80 track upgrade to the FDC which doubles the storage capacity the internal 3.5" drives. 2) Added the "HDX" modification to the RS-232 card which makes my PC a 'server' for the TI (works like a Hard Drive). 3) Added an "F18" which gives the TI VGA output and allows it to use modern VGA monitors or TV's. Add On's 4) Added a Lantronix UDS-10 so the TI could Telnet to BBS's connected to the Internet. Next On The LIst 5) A WiFi Bridge (to connect to the UDS-10) so the TI can be in another room and still get on the Internet with no router cable. Some Day Hopefully 6) A real time clock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20ohm20 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 In the last 3-4 months: Installed a F18A in a TI-99/4A Swapped the AC fan with a substantially quieter 12VDC fan in a TI PEB Installed JiffyDOS in a C64C and two 1541-II's Upgraded a Mac SE FDHD from 2MB to 4MB of RAM and a (failing) 40MB hard drive to a 230MB one Upgraded a PowerMac 5400/180 from 24MB of RAM to 136MB of RAM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbit Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 Cool stuff! Keep em coming! It's interesting to see what people are doing nowadays with the vintage hardware. I've been considering the Vic-20 S-Video mod for some time myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertB Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Lately, all of the mods (and repairs) have been happening to my classic Amiga computers. See http://retro-link.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=2qh80ihtms79th3o0t753aknq3&topic=1182.new#new Truly, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group http://videocam.net.au/fcug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Can you put some sort of modern storage in an Amiga 500, like an SD card adapter or some such? I've been looking for something like this for that specific model, but haven't yet found it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seob Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Have a look here for a sd card solution http://www.lotharek.pl/category.php?kid=26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 If you don't mind CF and also are looking for a RAM expansion and a little processor upgrade, there also is the ACA-500: http://www.vesalia.de/e_aca500.htm Not sure if there are any US suppliers, otherwise I think you would be allowed to order it from overseas even if you risk import duties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Replaced the hard drive in my Amiga 1200 with a dual CF card interface.I installed CFFA cards in a couple Apple IIs. I wouldn't exactly call that modding.Swapped out the 6502 in a Franklin Ace 1000 with a 65C02.Added an incognito to my Atari 800.I have a VZ200 and MC-10 here waiting for a couple parts to do some major surgery.After that I have a couple ADAMs that I'm going to do RAM upgrades on by piggybacking chips. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 I put one of these in my A500+, and I'm very happy with it: http://www.students.tut.fi/~leinone3/ide/ide68k.html 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zylon Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Just performed the 64k upgrade to one of my surplus 600xl's. Works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertLM78 Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Installed an F18A a few months back on one of my TI-99/4a consoles. I'd like to get an extra E/A module so that I can make a supercart. I'd also like an HFDC so I can get a hard drive running for the TI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 (edited) My latest upgrades were done almost 2 years ago, but I gave my Atari 1200XL a 512K memory upgrade, dual Pokey chip stereo sound board, PAL Antic chip for European software compatibility, 32-in-1 OS upgrade, SIO2PC board, 10502PC board; for loading from PC and writing from PC to Atari floppy and vice versa, Supervideo 2.1 circuit upgrade for quality S-video and composite ouput. Removed RF box for more upgrade room and no interference. Much more to come soon. Edited May 5, 2014 by Gunstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_Atlus Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Replaced the Motorola 68B09 with a socket and a Hitachi 63C09. I didn't know you could do this until recently when I was reading up on the Tandy Colour Computer 3. Been running it for 15mins now and still no smoke! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkO Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 (edited) Replaced the Motorola 68B09 with a socket and a Hitachi 63C09. I didn't know you could do this until recently when I was reading up on the Tandy Colour Computer 3. Been running it for 15mins now and still no smoke! What are the advantages of the Hitachi over the Motorola?? I have a CoCo 3, NIB and not being a Radio Shack User, I am looking to see what I can do to enhance it... Edited May 19, 2014 by MarkO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 According to Wikipedia, the 6309 in native (non-emulated) mode supports additional instructions and runs on average 30% faster than a 6809. Also being CMOS and drawing less power, I suppose it also gets less hot which always usually can be a good thing unless you want your vintage computer to double as a heating element. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_6309 Previously NitrOS-9 required a 6309 to run, nowadays it is possible to use it with a regular 6809 too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 (edited) I believe the CoCo3's CPU isn't socketed. You have to desolder it and solder in a socket or piggyback the CPU as described here:http://www.coco3.com/community/2009/10/installing-a-hitachi-6309-cpu-the-easy-way/The 6309 offers compatibility with the 6809 on startup.When set to native mode, there are a couple things that may not work the same (stack operators?) but most of the changes are additions.The 6309 adds two more 8 bit registers that can be combined into another 16 bit register and along with A & B can be combined into a 32 bit register.It supports larger multiplies and adds division instructions. It also adds a few instructions for dealing with the D register for shifting and such. Most of the speed enhancement comes from adding an instruction prefetch. Edited May 19, 2014 by JamesD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkO Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 According to Wikipedia, the 6309 in native (non-emulated) mode supports additional instructions and runs on average 30% faster than a 6809. Also being CMOS and drawing less power, I suppose it also gets less hot which always usually can be a good thing unless you want your vintage computer to double as a heating element. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_6309 Previously NitrOS-9 required a 6309 to run, nowadays it is possible to use it with a regular 6809 too. And NitrOS-9 is Open Source and Actively Developed!!!! I am a Very Long time Apple ][ and C64 and Sinclair ZX-81 user, but never worked with Atari 400/800 or TRS80's.. What do the 5.25" Disk Drives for the CoCo 3 look like and how available are they?? Is there a Compact Flash option?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkO Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 I believe the CoCo3's CPU isn't socketed. You have to desolder it and solder in a socket or piggyback the CPU as described here: http://www.coco3.com/community/2009/10/installing-a-hitachi-6309-cpu-the-easy-way/ That's Not a Problem... I have all the equipment to unsolder it... The 6309 offers compatibility with the 6809 on startup. When set to native mode, there are a couple things that may not work the same (stack operators?) but most of the changes are additions. The 6309 adds two more 8 bit registers that can be combined into another 16 bit register and along with A & B can be combined into a 32 bit register. It supports larger multiplies and adds division instructions. It also adds a few instructions for dealing with the D register for shifting and such. Most of the speed enhancement comes from adding an instruction prefetch. I have been looking at the 512K Triad Upgrade from Cloud 9 Tech.. This would be nice to add to it too.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonner242 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 I want to.. But I can remember how to do a damn thing on any of my Amigas. I have a stack of 2000s,3000s and a 4000 and boxes of hardware,CD drives, boards of all types. And I really cannot remember what went in what...which one had the upgraded ROM/faster chips...or what even software works for what. I just DONT have the time or will to figure it all out anymore I guess. I had the 4000 running a few years ago with a new Is and then I had to replace CD drive and then got some other stuff from the net for it. Took it all apart to clean up and try to modernize even more. Then I think my girl move in....lost the extra room. Packed crap up when I thought we got a house...hmm did that a few times. Now got a house and still no time for them. I just see these boxes of stuff every week and say to myself. I wish someone would cherry pic the best of the best and build up my 4000 for me. Or just offer me a trade or cash and take it all off my hands. The only Amiga system I still can operate is my 1000. That hasn't changed since...god...1993. But I haven't even seen that thing unboxed in years... Any one know of any Amiga fans/collectors near Cleveland..lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 And NitrOS-9 is Open Source and Actively Developed!!!! I am a Very Long time Apple ][ and C64 and Sinclair ZX-81 user, but never worked with Atari 400/800 or TRS80's.. What do the 5.25" Disk Drives for the CoCo 3 look like and how available are they?? Is there a Compact Flash option?? The oldest CoCo drive interfaces require 12v which the CoCo 2/3 don't have. I can't remember the model number but you want to avoid setups with silver drives for sure. You can identify older units at a glance because they came with the old full height vertically mounted drives with only one in a case and the controller is also a lot larger (around 2 to 3 times) the size of game cart. The older vertical drives are more temperamental so I'd just avoid them even if you find a white one. Newer units had a single or dual half height drives mounted horizontally and the controller is smaller than the old ones. They should be model 501 or 502. The 501 has gold contacts so it's the most desirable. Cloud9Tech has a CF interface. It is only compatible with floppies at the software level. There is a new micro SD interface that also emulates a drive at the hardware level but I had my name put on the list and haven't heard anything back for months. http://cocosdc.blogspot.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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