amiga-bootcamp/01_hardware/ocs_a500/README.md

100 lines
5 KiB
Markdown
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

[← Home](../../README.md) · [Hardware](../README.md)
# OCS Chipset — A500 / A1000 / A2000
## Overview
The **Original Chip Set** (OCS) ships in the Amiga 1000 (1985), A500 (1987), and early A2000 boards. It consists of three custom chips: **Agnus**, **Denise**, and **Paula**, supported by the MOS 8520 CIA pair.
## Chip Summary
| Chip | MOS Part | Primary Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| **Agnus** | 8361 (PAL), 8367 (NTSC) | DMA controller, Copper coprocessor, Blitter, address generation |
| **Denise** | 8362 | Display: bitplane fetch decode, sprite decode, colour output |
| **Paula** | 8364 | Audio DMA (4 channels), floppy disk I/O, serial port, interrupts |
## Contents
| File | Topic |
|---|---|
| [chipset_ocs.md](chipset_ocs.md) | Chip internals, DMA priorities, bus arbitration |
| [custom_registers.md](custom_registers.md) | Full OCS register map $DFF000$DFF1FE |
| [copper.md](copper.md) | Copper coprocessor: WAIT/SKIP/MOVE, copperlist format |
| [blitter.md](blitter.md) | Blitter: channels A/B/C/D, minterms, line mode, fill |
| [paula_audio.md](paula_audio.md) | Audio DMA: AUDxLCH/LCL/LEN/PER/VOL, interrupt |
| [paula_serial.md](paula_serial.md) | Serial port: SERPER/SERDATR, baud rate |
| [sprites.md](sprites.md) | Hardware sprites: SPRxPTH, control words, attach mode |
| [cdtv_hardware.md](cdtv_hardware.md) | CDTV platform: DMAC, CD-ROM, IR remote, NVRAM |
---
## OCS Machines — Per-Model Details
### A1000 (1985) — Writable Control Store
The A1000 is the original Amiga. Its most distinctive feature is the **Writable Control Store (WCS)** — Kickstart is loaded from floppy into RAM at every cold boot, rather than residing in ROM.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | 68000 @ 7.09 MHz |
| Chip RAM | 256 KB base (daughterboard adds 256 KB = 512 KB total) |
| Kickstart | Loaded from floppy into 256 KB WCS RAM at `$F80000` |
| Bootstrap ROM | 256 bytes at `$FC0000` — just enough to load Kickstart from floppy |
| Expansion | 86-pin sidecar bus (predecessor to Zorro) |
**WCS boot process:**
1. Power on → bootstrap ROM displays "Insert Kickstart disk"
2. User inserts Kickstart 1.x floppy
3. Bootstrap loads 256 KB Kickstart image into WCS RAM
4. Hardware write-protect latch activates → WCS becomes read-only
5. System resets and boots from the now-protected WCS as if it were ROM
> [!NOTE]
> The WCS is the reason the A1000 can run different Kickstart versions without swapping ROM chips. Third-party "Kickstart Eliminators" add actual ROM chips, bypassing the floppy-loading step entirely.
The A1000 daughterboard (256 KB Chip RAM expansion) sits inside the case on top of the motherboard. The 86-pin sidecar connector on the right side accepts external expansion chassis for memory, hard drives, and other peripherals.
### A2000 (1987) — The Expandable Workhorse
The A2000 is the first "big-box" Amiga, designed for professional expansion. It shipped in two major variants:
| Variant | Board Revisions | Chipset | Chip RAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **A2000-A** (German) | Rev 3.x | OCS (Agnus 8361) | 512 KB | Original design by Commodore Germany |
| **A2000-B** (US) | Rev 4.x | OCS (Fat Agnus 8370/8372) | 512 KB + 512 KB slow | Redesigned for US market |
| **A2000-C** | Rev 6.x | ECS (Super Agnus 8372A) | 1 MB Chip | Late production with ECS chips |
#### Expansion Architecture
| Slot Type | Count | Bus Width | Address Space | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Zorro II** | 5 | 16-bit | `$200000``$9FFFFF` (8 MB) | Autoconfig expansion cards |
| **CPU slot** | 1 | Direct 68000 | — | Directly wired to CPU socket — accepts accelerators (A2630, GVP G-Force) |
| **Video slot** | 1 | 36-pin | — | Internal video signals for genlocks and framebuffers |
| **ISA (PC bridgeboard)** | 2 | 8/16-bit | — | For A2088/A2286 PC compatibility cards |
The CPU slot is the A2000's most important expansion feature. Accelerator cards plug directly into the 68000 socket, replacing the CPU with 68020/030/040/060 processors. This makes the A2000 the most upgradeable classic Amiga.
> [!NOTE]
> Late A2000 boards (rev 6+) shipped with ECS chips and are sometimes listed under ECS. Architecturally they remain A2000 boards with the same Zorro II bus and expansion layout.
### CDTV (1991) — CD-ROM Set-Top Box
The CDTV is an A500-class OCS computer in a consumer set-top box form factor. See the dedicated article: **[CDTV Platform Hardware](cdtv_hardware.md)** — covers the DMAC/WD33C93 SCSI CD-ROM controller, 512 KB Extended ROM, 64 KB NVRAM, infrared remote, and real-time clock.
---
## OCS Limitations vs ECS/AGA
- Max **512 KB Chip RAM** on A500 rev 5 and earlier (Agnus 8361/8367 addresses 512 KB only)
- A500 rev 6+ allows 1 MB with Fat Agnus (part of later OCS run)
- No productivity display modes (ECS adds BEAMCON0)
- 32 colours max (or 64 EHB, or HAM 12-bit) in standard bitplane modes
- Blitter is 16-bit; no 64-bit fetch (AGA adds FMODE)
- No ECS Denise border features
## References
- ADCD 2.1 Hardware Manual: http://amigadev.elowar.com/read/ADCD_2.1/Hardware_Manual_guide/node0000.html
- *Amiga Hardware Reference Manual* 3rd ed., Chapter 58