The Commodore Amiga 2000 is a 16-bit personal computer, based on the Motorola MC68000 processor. It was produced by Commodore International from 1987 to 1993. Other names by which the Amiga 2000 is known are: Commodore A2000, CBM A2000. It was marketed in parallel with the Amiga 500, with which it shares several technical features. Compared to the Amiga 500, the Amiga 2000 was intended for professional use.
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 2000 comes with a desktop case, a keyboard with an Italian layout and a matching original Commodore mouse. Inside the computer, the battery had already been removed from the previous owner. I recommend removing the battery in buffer to the watch because, over time, it tends to lose acid that corrodes the tracks of the motherboard, damaging the computer.
I did some work on the A2000: I thoroughly cleaned the computer, keyboard and mouse. I also made a complete recap of all the capacitors of the power supply.
Amiga 2000 specifications
CPU: Motorola MC68000, 7.09379 MHz (PAL) or 7.15909 MHz (NTSC)
Chipset:
- per motherboard rev 4: OCS (Original Chip Set): Agnus (memory controller e blitter), Denise (video), Paula (audio e I/O)
- per motherboard rev 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 6, 6.1, 6.2: OCS (Original Chip Set): Fat Agnus (memory controller e blitter), Denise (video), Paula (audio e I/O)
- per motherboard rev 6.3, 6.4, 6.5: ECS (Enhanced Chip Set): Fat Agnus (memory controller e blitter), Super Denise (video), Paula (audio e I/O)
ROM:
- per motherboard rev 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 6, 6.1, 6.2: 256 KB
- per motherboard rev 6.3, 6.4, 6.5: 512 KB
Software included in ROM: KickStart 1.2, 1.3 or 2.04 (on my computer, there is version 1.3)
Storage media: up to 2 internal floppy disk drives, possibility of hard disk with separate controller
RAM: 512 KB / 1 MB expandable (my computer has 1 MB of RAM)
Graphics: Denise / Super Denise
Graphics mode: 320 x 256 up to 640 x 512 pixels, up to 4096 colors
Audio: Paula, 4ch, stereo out
Keyboard: 96-key QWERTY, with arrows, function keys and numeric keypad
Expansion connectors (internal):
- 4 PC ISA connectors: 2 XT (62-pin, 8-bit) and 2 AT (62+36-pin, 16-bit)
- 1 x 86-pole expansion for CPU/MMU
- 5 x 100-pin Zorro II connectors
- 1 expansion 36+36 pin for video
- 1 x 34-pin connector for 3.5" floppy disk
- 1 internal serial 26 pin
Expansion ports (rear):
- 1 x DB23 male video, analog RGB
- 1 parallel DB25 female, Centronics
- 1 external floppy disk drive, DB23 female
- 1 RCA composite video CVBS monochrome
- 2 RCA stereo audio
- 1 serial DB25 male, RS232
Expansion ports (front):
- 1 keyboard, DIN 5 poles
- 2 mouse and joystick, DB9 male
Emulation
It is possible to emulate the Amiga 2000, as well as the 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.
Power supply of the A2000
The power supply of the Commodore A2000 is internal and has the following DC output voltages:
- 5V, 3A – 20A
- 12V, 0A – 8A
- -5V, 0A – 0.3A
- -12V, 0A – 0.3A
- 5V, 0A – 0.5A
The mains voltage that supports the power supply is selectable, via a connector inside the power supply: 120Vac 60Hz or 240Vac 50Hz. Obviously, my computer is set to 240Vac. The maximum power supply is 204W.
It should be noted, in the characteristics of the power supply, that there is a minimum absorption current. The 5V voltage is not adjusted correctly if the absorption is less than 3A. To test the power supply, you must first impose a load of at least 3A on the 5V line. Only with the absorption of at least 3A on the 5V line, it is possible to charge and test the other outputs.
Amiga 2000 boot screen
The Commodore A2000 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 diskette is inserted, the Amiga 2000 starts with the screen that requires the insertion of a boot disk.
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).
AmigaDOS is a module of the AmigaOS operating system and deals with storing data on physical media: hard disk and floppy disk. The AmigaDOS version 1.3 boot screen is as follows.
When the WorkBench desktop environment loads, the screen depends on the version of the WorkBench. While the A2000 also worked with other versions of the WorkBench, it came with WorkBench version 1.2 or version 1.3. My computer has version 1.3.
Papers
Date of entry into the collection: 08/25/2021