Commodore Amiga 600 vintage computer A600, CBM A600, retro computer

Amiga 600

The Commodore Amiga 600 is a 16-bit home computer, based on the Motorola MC68000 processor. It was produced by Commodore International from 1992 to 1993. Other names by which the Amiga 600 is known are: Commodore A600, CBM A600.

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Commodore Amiga 600 vintage computer, CBM A600 retro computer

My collection of vintage computers was missing… Commodore Amigas. So, I decided to buy this retro computer, together with other computers, in summer 2021. Here is the video of the purchased lot:

The Commodore Amiga 600 comes with the original Commodore mouse paired. In addition to the mouse, in the purchased lot there is also the transparent case for the keyboard and a PCMCIA compact flash reader. Inside, instead of the mechanical hard disk, there is a newer 4GB compact flash, with appropriate IDE adapter. The keyboard has a German layout.

Commodore Amiga 600, computer vintage CBM A600, con mouse

Caratteristiche tecniche dell'Amiga 600

CPU: Motorola MC68000, 7.09379 MHz (PAL) oppure 7.15909 MHz (NTSC)

Chipset ECS (Enhanced Chip Set): MOS 8375 / CSG 318069 Fat Agnus (memory controller e blitter), MOS 8373 / CSG 391081 Super Denise (video), MOS 8364 / CSG 391077 Paula (audio e I/O), CSG 391155 Gayle (I/O e IDE interface)

ROM: 512 KB

Software incluso in ROM: KickStart 2.0 (nel mio computer, c'è la versione 2.05 37.300)

RAM: 1 MB espandibile

Grafica: MOS 8373 / CSG 391081 Super Denise

Modalità grafica: 320x200 to 1280x512, fino a 4096 di colori, scan rate orizzontale 15KHz - 31 KHz, scan rate verticale: 50 Hz - 72 Hz

Audio: MOS 8364 / CSG 391077 Paula, 4 canali, uscita stereo

Tastiera: QWERTY a 78 tasti, con frecce e tasti funzione

Porte di espansione (interne):

1 connettore IDE 44 pin, per hard disk 2.5"

1 connettore 34 pin per floppy disk 3.5"

1 slot di espansione 80 pin, accessibile da sportello inferiore

Porte di espansione (esterne):

1 PCMCIA, tipo II, 68 pin

1 seriale DB25 maschio, RS232

1 parallela DB25 femmina, Centronics

1 video DB23 maschio, RGB analogico

1 RCA video composito CVBS

1 RCA antenna (collegamento RF a TV)

2 RCA audio stereo

2 mouse e joystick, DB9 maschio

1 floppy disk drive esterno, DB23 femmina

I had to work a bit on this Commodore Amiga 600. First, occasionally, it did not turn on. I discovered that there was a faulty solder on the circuit board, related to the power connector. In addition, I had to do a complete recap: the capacitors had started to leak the electrolyte liquid and could have corroded the tracks of the printed circuit board.

Commodore Amiga 600, vintage A600 computer, recap, smd capacitor replacement, motherboard mainboard motherboard, soldering iron, desoldering iron, tin, tester

Technical characteristics of the Amiga 600

CPU: Motorola MC68000, 7.09379 MHz (PAL) or 7.15909 MHz (NTSC)

Chipset ECS (Enhanced Chip Set): MOS 8375 / CSG 318069 Fat Agnus (memory controller and blitter), MOS 8373 / CSG 391081 Super Denise (video), MOS 8364 / CSG 391077 Paula (audio and I/O), CSG 391155 Gayle (I/O and IDE interface)

Commodore Amiga 600, vintage A600 computer, motherboard mainboard motherboard, MC68000 16 bit, processor, RAM 1MB,

ROM: 512 KB

Software included in ROM: KickStart 2.0 (in my computer, there is version 2.05 37.300)

RAM: 1 MB expandable

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Graphics: MOS 8373 / CSG 391081 Super Denise

Graphics mode: 320×200 to 1280×512, up to 4096 colors, horizontal scan rate 15KHz – 31KHz, vertical scan rate: 50Hz – 72Hz

Audio: MOS 8364 / CSG 391077 Paula, 4ch, stereo output

Keyboard: 78-key QWERTY, with arrows and function keys

Expansion ports (internal):

  • 1 44 pin IDE connector, for 2.5″ hard disk
  • 1 x 34-pin connector for 3.5" floppy disk
  • 1 x 80-pin expansion slot, accessible from the bottom door

Expansion ports (external):

  • 1 PCMCIA, Type II, 68-pin
Commodore Amiga 600, A600, side view, PCMCIA port
  • 1 external floppy disk drive, DB23 female
  • 1 serial DB25 male, RS232
  • 1 parallel DB25 female, Centronics
  • 2 RCA stereo audio
  • 1 x DB23 male video, analog RGB
  • 1 RCA CVBS composite video
  • 1 RCA antenna (RF to TV connection)
Commodore Amiga 600 vista posteriore, porta seriale, parallela, drive esterno, monitor, audio, RF, alimentazione

Caratteristiche tecniche dell'Amiga 600

CPU: Motorola MC68000, 7.09379 MHz (PAL) oppure 7.15909 MHz (NTSC)

Chipset ECS (Enhanced Chip Set): MOS 8375 / CSG 318069 Fat Agnus (memory controller e blitter), MOS 8373 / CSG 391081 Super Denise (video), MOS 8364 / CSG 391077 Paula (audio e I/O), CSG 391155 Gayle (I/O e IDE interface)

ROM: 512 KB

Software incluso in ROM: KickStart 2.0 (nel mio computer, c'è la versione 2.05 37.300)

RAM: 1 MB espandibile

Grafica: MOS 8373 / CSG 391081 Super Denise

Modalità grafica: 320x200 to 1280x512, fino a 4096 di colori, scan rate orizzontale 15KHz - 31 KHz, scan rate verticale: 50 Hz - 72 Hz

Audio: MOS 8364 / CSG 391077 Paula, 4 canali, uscita stereo

Tastiera: QWERTY a 78 tasti, con frecce e tasti funzione

Porte di espansione (interne):

1 connettore IDE 44 pin, per hard disk 2.5"

1 connettore 34 pin per floppy disk 3.5"

1 slot di espansione 80 pin, accessibile da sportello inferiore

Porte di espansione (esterne):

1 PCMCIA, tipo II, 68 pin

1 seriale DB25 maschio, RS232

1 parallela DB25 femmina, Centronics

1 video DB23 maschio, RGB analogico

1 RCA video composito CVBS

1 RCA antenna (collegamento RF a TV)

2 RCA audio stereo

2 mouse e joystick, DB9 maschio

1 floppy disk drive esterno, DB23 femmina
  • 2 mouse and joystick, DB9 male
Commodore Amiga 600 side view mouse joystick floppy disk drive 3.5"

Emulation

It is possible to emulate the Amiga 600, as well as other models of Amiga computers, on a common Windows PC, via WinUAE. In this way, you can try to start programs and games, as well as program the back computer, in a simple and convenient way... without even owning the Amiga! WinUAE comes without WorkBench and without KickStart ROM, which must be downloaded separately, looking for them on the internet.

A600 power supply

The power supply of the Commodore A600 is external and has the following output voltages:

  • 5V direct current, 3A
  • 12V direct current, 500mA
  • -12V direct current, 100mA

View of the power steering wheel connector, contact side.

Commodore Amiga 600 A600 pinout connector pinout for switching power supply PSU 12V 5V

Amiga 600 boot screen

The Commodore A600 has a proper operating system, windowed. For this reason, it is not easy to determine which is to consider the actual start screen.

If the hard disk is not present and no floppy disk is inserted, the Amiga 600 starts with the screen that requires the insertion of a boot disk.

Commodore Amiga 600, vintage computer A600, KickStart ROM 2.0 2.05 37.300 boot screen startup, boot screen diskette, Copyright 1985-1991 Commodore-Amiga Inc

From here, little can be done, if not insert a boot floppy or install a hard disk with the WorkBench, which is the desktop environment available on AmigaOS (the operating system of the Amiga platform).

To select from which device to boot the Amiga (600 or 1200), you can hold down both mouse keys at power on, as explained, in detail, in this article. The Amiga starts with the screen of Boot Menu.

Commodore Amiga 600, CBM A600, boot menu, select boot partition, startup menu, select boot device, hold down both mouse buttons, DF0, CC0, advanced options

The WorkBench screen depends on the WorkBench version. While also working with other versions of the WorkBench, the A600 came with the WorkBench version 2.05.

Commodore Amiga 600, CBM A600, Kikstart 37.299, 37.300, 37.350, Workbenck AmigaOS 2.05, 37.71, clock windows, Workbenck screen, Workbench2.0

Papers

  1. Commodore A600 introduzione (ITA)
  2. Commodore A600 user’s guide by Peter Hutchinson
  3. A600 schematics
  4. Workbench 2.0 using the system software
  5. Commodore Amiga BASIC

Date of entry into the collection: 08/25/2021

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