Task: Build an Amiga 500 16-Bit Computer
Needed: Web browser, motherboard, keyboard, case, power supply, video cable, and mouse
Time: 2-3 hours
Introduction
I have previously posted about purchasing an Amiga 500 computer. Another option is to purchase the individual components and assemble it yourself. This is what I decided to do given I wanted a newly made crystal clear case for it. Below are the pieces I sourced and the approximate cost which ended up being somewhat more than purchasing one already assembled. It was a fun but a slightly tedious exercise.
Instructions
Below are the pieces I purchased along with the approximate sales price. I am not including shipping since this will vary quite a bit depending on where you live. It is fair to say I spent at least $150 on shipping total. As always, be sure you are purchasing from a reputable seller with claims that the item has been tested and is working.
- The first thing you need is a motherboard. I recommend a revision 6A or later motherboard that has the Fat Agnus 68030 CPU that can address 1M of chip RAM. You can find these on eBay for between $80 and $200. I purchased my PAL Rev 6A board from the UK for about $100.
2. The second thing you need is a working keyboard. I sourced mine from Germany for around $100. These are much easier to find from Europe or the UK given more units were sold there. You should be able to find a loose working keyboard for around $50 to $150 on eBay.
3. The third thing you need is a case. You can find these on eBay for around $50. I purchase a newly made limited supply crystal clear case with clear mouse from a100.net for about $150. The solid color cases sell for around $75. A nice thing about the new cases is that they have expansion features for new mods and are less likely to crack or break.
4. The fourth thing you will need is a newly made power supply. I purchased a new RetroPower PSU on eBay for about $75. Yes, the new PSUs are expensive. However, I don’t trust the originals.
5. The fifth thing you will need is a mouse. I purchased an original tank mouse for about $50 on eBay.
6. The last thing you need is a video cable. I purchased an RGB to SCART cable on eBay that coverts to HDMI using a RetroTINK 5X-Pro. The RGB to SCART cable runs about $25. I already had the RetroTINK. These are expensive at over $300. However, they do a great job and can automatically convert and display PAL or NTSC video signals. There are Amiga RGB to S-Video cables that provide a cheaper option. I am not sure of the quality.
7. Optional additions include an internal 3.5″ floppy drive that can be sourced on eBay for around $25 to $50. I opted for a modern Gotek SD-card device to emulate the floppy drive. Gotek drives sell for around $50 on eBay. Another optional addition is the PiStorm CPU accelerator that emulates the 680X0 CPUs using a Raspberry PI. These also provide additional RAM and hard drive emulation. I will cover the PiStorm in a separate post. I have both the Gotek and PiStorm working on my a500. You will need one of these original or new drives to boot software.
Comments
Would I do this sourcing and assembly again? I think I would. I am very happy with the final product. The two negatives are the increased price and the waiting for each part to come in.
In all I spent about $500 on the main machine. This does not include about another $150 or more for shipping and some other optional expenses such as the Gotek and PiStorm. If you live in the UK or Europe, you might be able to source some of the parts locally and maybe save $100 or more.
The PiStorm is amazing. I am looking forward to posting about this major modern mod.
I do wish the Amiga parts were more commonly sold in the U.S.
