Workshops / Background reports / Book introductions
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Workshops / Background reports / Book introductions
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While the first part was concentrated on the Phoenix board, I will now go on to the specifications and show you some selected pictures.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to publish all the pictures we have made, there are far too many. If I find the time, I will publish all pictures as well as the scanned-in manual and the software on my homepage.
So let's get going:
The only means of identifying an A1000Phoenix are a sticker and 2 switches in the front cover.
On the right side, near the floppy drive, you'll see two switches. One is for selecting the Kickstart ROM (the board can be equipped with three different ROMs) and a DF0/DF2 toggle switch which makes it possible to boot from an external floppy. This is ideal for games on 5.25" disks. The connectors on the back are identical to the ones on a standard A1000. The only thing added was an (optionally available) external SCSI connector. The little box on the video slot has nothing to do with the original computer, it is just a modified A500 flickerfixer that has been adapted for use with the A1000. I still have the complete instructions for the modification, if anyone is interested. Just mail me :-)
Now on to the (really interesting) inner life.
By the way: All (and I mean all) ICs have sockets, which makes repairs and trouble shooting a lot easier.
The SCSI host adapter
In the lower right is the SCSI host adapter with one connector each for internal and external SCSI devices. It's possible to mount a 3.5" SCSI hard disk (1" high) inside the shielding plate. Mounting angles were available as an accessory, you only had to make the notch yourself. The device (pbscsi.device) already supported Autoboot (with Kick 1.3 or higher), RDB rootblocks and SCSI Direct according to Commodore standard. I have successfully used CD writers, streamers and scanners with this computer - something you cannot say with some of the "modern" SCSI adapters.
The Chip-RAM
There are 8 sockets available for several types of DRAMs.
Possibilities are:
1MByte Chip RAMOf course you can use different Agnuses, you just have to set the right jumpers.
The Video-Slot
The computer has a video slot completely compatible with the A2000B. It is only useable in combination with a 90-degree adapter, since you couldn't close the case otherwise. According to the manual, such an adapter was available as an accessory.
The ZorroII-Slot
A fully compatible ZorroII slot, again only useful with an adapter.
Memory-Slot
A proprietary slot developed by Phoenix Technologies to support their own memory boards and IDE controllers. This "standard" wasn't compatible with anything else. I've never seen any of these cards, I didn't even find out if they were ever produced.
Kickstart socket
Below the floppy is room for 3 Kickstarts. Two sockets for standard Commodore ROMs (A500/A2000) and one is prepared for EPROMs of the series 27C512 to 27C2048. These are widely used EPROMs which are easily obtained.
Turbo boards
You can use all turbo boards for the A500 which were mounted below the MC68000. I had an MTEC020 and MTEC030 working without problems. Currently, I'm using a Blizzard from phase5 because it has the best compatibility.
This concludes the technical description. I hope to have answered all question and remain
yours
Werner Brennecke <wb@pag.mayn.de>
