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From: jhs@disunix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.atari16
Subject: Re: 520 vs 1040
Message-ID: <8605131618.AA10686@mitre-bedford.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 13-May-86 12:18:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: mitre-be.8605131618.AA10686
Posted: Tue May 13 12:18:55 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 15-May-86 07:29:13 EDT
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Organization: The MITRE Corp., Bedford, MA
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1040s have a heat problem, reported in one case to cause sagging of the
plastic case.  They also have a disk drive reliability problem, said to be
possibly due to the heat problem.

520s can be upgraded but the MMU has been alleged to not have enough drive
capability, thus requiring resistor "fixes" to protect it or something.  Other
sources say it is the power supply that is the culprit, not having enough
current capacity and thus causing various components to operate at the wrong
voltage.

Sounds to me as though an upgraded 520ST with a better-grade external power
supply might be the way to go.  5-volt DC supplies of good quality are widely
available or can be built at fairly low cost.  I think if I were buying right
now it would be this approach.

Down with little black transformers all over the place!  The time for REAL
power supplies has come!  (What voltage/current do the monitor and disk drive
require, while we are at it?)

-John Sangster
jhs@mitre-bedford.arpa