VIC-20 Motherboard repair/questions/PAL conversion/IC population
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 1:04 am
So I recently got this motherboard for an early (assuming due to the glass capacitors) two-prong VIC-20. I was told it works (at least it would if it were populated with all its missing IC's) with the exception of a bad power switch. I've repaired the switch (just some gummed up flux that was sticking it a bit in the off position), but there seems to be a modification on it where the fuse goes. A small red wire with what appears to be a green capacitor has been used to bridge the connection.
My questions on this are: Is this safe or should I remove it and put a fuse? If it is safe, then is it better than the fuse? And if so, would there be any serious benefit to doing a similar mod to my other VIC-20?
As for the missing IC's, I've managed to source just about all of them (VIA's, CPU, and even an NTSC VIC), but what I haven't found are the ROMs.
What I'd really like to do is turn this into a PAL machine. However, from what I've been told I will need a PAL Kernel ROM and a 6561 VIC. I have no idea where to find these. For that matter, I'm not sure where to get any of the ROMs (Kernal, BASIC, or Character), PAL, NTSC or otherwise. Also, is this all I need to do, or is there more to a PAL conversion on this board?
I've found a few VICs (some of which are even reasonably priced below what I paid for a full VIC-20). But those are 6560's. So not quite what I'm looking for.
As such, I'm putting it out there. Does anyone know a good source to find these chips at a reasonable price (preferably less than $40 collectively)? Or am I out of touch with the current market? It's Just, aside from the VIA's and 6502, I will also need to get a case (just the bottom half, as I have a top) and find the missing keys to my spare keyboard (found most, but the 'INST/DEL' key is nearly impossible to find), and I'm trying to keep this project within my budget (i.e less than what it would cost to import a full PAL VIC-20).
As always any suggestions or advice is appreciated.
Oh! And here's a picture of the not quite complete motherboard:
Screen Shot 2020-12-21 at 10.10.32 PM.png[/attachment]
My questions on this are: Is this safe or should I remove it and put a fuse? If it is safe, then is it better than the fuse? And if so, would there be any serious benefit to doing a similar mod to my other VIC-20?
As for the missing IC's, I've managed to source just about all of them (VIA's, CPU, and even an NTSC VIC), but what I haven't found are the ROMs.
What I'd really like to do is turn this into a PAL machine. However, from what I've been told I will need a PAL Kernel ROM and a 6561 VIC. I have no idea where to find these. For that matter, I'm not sure where to get any of the ROMs (Kernal, BASIC, or Character), PAL, NTSC or otherwise. Also, is this all I need to do, or is there more to a PAL conversion on this board?
I've found a few VICs (some of which are even reasonably priced below what I paid for a full VIC-20). But those are 6560's. So not quite what I'm looking for.
As such, I'm putting it out there. Does anyone know a good source to find these chips at a reasonable price (preferably less than $40 collectively)? Or am I out of touch with the current market? It's Just, aside from the VIA's and 6502, I will also need to get a case (just the bottom half, as I have a top) and find the missing keys to my spare keyboard (found most, but the 'INST/DEL' key is nearly impossible to find), and I'm trying to keep this project within my budget (i.e less than what it would cost to import a full PAL VIC-20).
As always any suggestions or advice is appreciated.
Oh! And here's a picture of the not quite complete motherboard:
Screen Shot 2020-12-21 at 10.10.32 PM.png[/attachment]