Closed Commodore 128

[CA-Bay]

EN
Hi everybody,

I'm searching for a C128 with this serial number:

DA4 1695XX

where XX should be a number between 15 and 25. If you have one please let me know, thank you.

Cheers.

IT
Ciao a tutti,

sto cercando un Commodore 128 con il seguente numero di serie:

DA4 1695XX

dove XX dovrebbe essere un numero compreso tra 15 e 25. Se ne possedete uno per favore contattatemi, grazie.

Saluti.

 

[rcade]

Wow, now THAT is specific! You are actually looking for only one of a specific 10 computers (maybe, if they are sequential)?

 

[CA-Bay]

Yes, I know it's like to win the lottery but... I feel comfident.

 

[moggsie]

Yes, I know it's like to win the lottery but... I feel comfident.

Forgive me for asking, but, what is so special about that group of serial numbers?

 

[CA-Bay]

Nothing special at all, the first computer I bought in 1985 was a C128 with a serial number in the same range of numbers, so I'm trying to find the nearest serial number to my first computer. I traded it in for an A500 'cause I was out of money at that time but looking back now, this is the most stupid thing I done in retrocomputing.

 

[Elerion]

Was that an Italian national variant? DA4 in the serial number suggests it was assembled in Germany.

Someone should really start to create a database of C128's serials. (My favorite 8 bit computer btw.... Or favorite computer ever.)
There are so many variants with different ROMs, SID revisions, CIA revisions, different keyboards... even the cases felt a little bit different to the touch depending on assembly factory and the time of assembly.
I have c128's that have standard SID 6581, 6581CBM, 6581R4, 6581AR etc... CIAs range from standard MOS 6526A's, newer CSG6526A's to rare 8521R0's.

In fact. I don't remember I ever saw two absolutely identical C128's, and I've probably seen hundreds.
That was Commodore's philosophy at the time: "Assemble a working computer with whatever parts are available". That's perhaps why they failed with A1200, and went bankrupt. It seems there were no available parts at the crucial moment before the launch of A1200. )

E.

 

[CA-Bay]

Was that an Italian national variant? DA4 in the serial number suggests it was assembled in Germany.

No, it was not an Italian locale variant. The keyboard was the generic USA one and the machine had been assembled in W.-Germany.

I have c128's that have standard SID 6581, 6581CBM, 6581R4, 6581AR etc... CIAs range from standard MOS 6526A's, newer CSG6526A's to rare 8521R0's.

Mine had the 6581R4 SID. I remember the first time I loaded the Green Beret's tape loader, my friend who owned a C64 told me my C128 had some issue 'cause the music sound weird. Only many years after, I discovered my C128 hadn't any issue but simply the SID that was inside was a different revision from the one inside the C64 of my buddy.
I never heard about the 8521 before, could you give me more information?

That was Commodore's philosophy at the time: "Assemble a working computer with whatever parts are available". That's perhaps why they failed with A1200, and went bankrupt. It seems there were no available parts at the crucial moment before the launch of A1200.

If I recall correctly there is a chip inside the Amiga 1200 made by Hewlett Packard, maybe Commodore didn't have the upgraded technology to produce this kind of chip at the time or to make them available in quantity for mass production.

 

[Elerion]

I never heard about the 8521 before, could you give me more information?

Not much. It's a rare HMOS variant of 6526A.

Here is a picture of one found in one of my C128's. They could also be found in 1571's.

I haven't tested it.
I can only say that it produces no heat whatsoever.
Is it more similar to MOS216, MOS216A or CSG216A revision of 6526A I can't say, but I'll test it (again) when I get some time.
For overall compatibility with all fastloaders the best CIA is CSG6526A (216A). We'll see how 8521R0 behaves compared to that one.

 

[CA-Bay]

Not much. It's a rare HMOS variant of 6526A.

Here is a picture of one found in one of my C128's. They could also be found in 1571's.

I haven't tested it.
I can only say that it produces no heat whatsoever.
Is it more similar to MOS216, MOS216A or CSG216A revision of 6526A I can't say, but I'll test it (again) when I get some time.
For overall compatibility with all fastloaders the best CIA is CSG6526A (216A). We'll see how 8521R0 behaves compared to that one.

Thank you very much for these precious and very interesting information!

Cheers!