Darth Vader - uncommon motherboard?

4fridges · Post by **4fridges** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:29 am

Hey, got a question, i searched the forum, but didn't find useful results...

I planned to build a portable atari from a "darth vader" 4-switch 2600. But the motherboard layout is kinda different. The area shielded with the RF-shield has a small corner on the down-left side. I compared it with a 4 switch woodgrain and the thingies in the corner don't appear on the hacked up 4"x4" motherboard. Is it save to cut it off? I was thinking, maybe it's an issue because I'm from Holland and it is a PAL atari.....

Thanks in advance!

4fridges · Post by **4fridges** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:30 am

And the book also didn't mention anything on the "darth vader" motherboard...

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:19 am

Please search in the future.

4fridges · Post by **4fridges** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:30 am

Sparkfist wrote:Please search in the future.

i can't see what the link you posted has in common with my question? my question is: can i hack up the darth vader motherboard the same as the woodgrain motherboard? i'll post a picture of the motherboard in a few minutes.

4fridges · Post by **4fridges** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:37 am

Post by **gannon** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:55 pm

The reason the link has to do with what you're asking is that it answers your question: yes, the vader can be hacked up like the std. 4 switch

4fridges · Post by **4fridges** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:03 pm

okey, thanks! now it's clear. i thought there's maybe a difference in pal/ntsc motherboards. and my english isn't that good, so i rather ask what to do, then screw up my atari! and i'm not really an electronics expert, it's a new hobby for me!

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:23 pm

I think the TIA chip is different on PAL models, isn't it?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:57 pm

I'm not sure if the TIA is different but I'm sure that the video circuit is different as the people who mod the PAL have to made a more complex composite circuit.

I haven't searched for the specific answer as to if the TIA is different for the PAL version. I will do that later tonight or tomarrow and post when I have the answer.

Post by **gannon** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:03 pm

IIRC it requires 2 crystals to operate, 1 for the TIA and another for the other circuitry. Don't know how many other differences there are.
http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/s ... e_PAL.html

Sword_Gun · Post by **Sword_Gun** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:09 am

Excuse me but, why the HELL would you portablize a vader? What if it breaks? I have one, and those are like RARE around here!!

4fridges · Post by **4fridges** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:28 am

Sword_Gun wrote:Excuse me but, why the HELL would you portablize a vader? What if it breaks? I have one, and those are like RARE around here!!

want some vaders? i have 5 of em lying on my attic. in the netherlands, these are the most common 2600 model you can find, after the 2600jr.

Sword_Gun · Post by **Sword_Gun** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:10 pm

Well Im all the way in Canada, so PAL signals that are outputted from the Vader, wouldnt work on my NTSC tv

.

Also Currency change rate.. is awful isnt it?

I dunno though, depends how much you'll sell 1 for, and how much it would cost me for it (CAN dollars, + Ship and Handle)

Vaders rock!

(And is it the Taiwan Vader or the american one?)