Best NTSC CPU board

[bernie]

I need to swap out what I think is a bad CPU board.

 

1. Which CPU is best/most desirable

- Rev 5 or 6

- 6502, B, C

- CTIA or GTIA

- Another one (like the super color CPU card) but that works with NTSC?

2. How can you tell pal from NTSC cards apart?

3. Are there incompatibilities with motherboards or do they all work the same?

4. Are the 400/800 ones the same?

[Bryan]

I would say...

 

Use either Revision. They're completely compatible (but be aware they require a different CPU chip). GTIA is more desirable for use/compatibility. CTIA is more desirable if you're collecting rare artifacts.

 

You can tell PAL/NTSC apart by the Antic/GTIA part numbers. I don't know if the C0.... number on the board itself is different.

[Kyle22]

PAL CPU cards have a crystal on them, and NTSC ones do not.

 

The new supercolor card works with NTSC or PAL, Sally or 6502B.

 

400/800 are interchangeable.

[BillC]

I believe the 6502C(Sally) CPU card is the only version for PAL, the supercolor CPU card would also allow using a 6502B(or 65816) processor in PAL 400/800s.

[+tf_hh]

I believe the 6502C(Sally) CPU card is the only version for PAL, the supercolor CPU card would also allow using a 6502B(or 65816) processor in PAL 400/800s.

 

I think the answer depends on the area where you live... from my personal experience I would say:

 

- Most NTSC 400 or 800 computers have the 6502B CPU with discrete HALT logic (74LS74, 74LS02, two more 74LS244) on their CPU boards

- Most PAL 400 or 800 computers have the 6502C CPU without these extra parts installed on their CPU boards

 

But also I have had NTSC computers on my desk using a CPU board with 6502C CPU. And also PAL computers with the old CPU board and the 6502B. Of course untouched boards...

 

Jurgen

[Kyle22]

I believe the 6502C(Sally) CPU card is the only version for PAL, the supercolor CPU card would also allow using a 6502B(or 65816) processor in PAL 400/800s.

 

An 802 will work fine. That's what I'm putting in mine when it gets here. The 816's pinout is different and will not work without modification. There is the one-wire mod for using an 816 on the original 6502B CPU card. That may work if you know where to find that particular signal on the new card.

 

More info here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/230283-nice-and-simple-65816-upgrade-for-original-800/?do=findComment&comment=3083180

 

I did notice one strange issue with the one-wire 816 method. Incognito forgets its settings (but the clock is never wrong). Possibly a timing issue?

 

The 802 is good enough for me until I figure out an easy way to add linear RAM @ $10000.