Released 1992: The Amiga A570 is a single-speed external CD-ROM drive for the Amiga 500 computer launched by Commodore in 1992. It was designed to be compatible with Commodore CDTV software as well as being able to read ordinary ISO 9660 CD-ROM discs.

Because of a mistake, it was first given the designation A690 that was intended for an expansion unit for Amiga 600.  Pre-production devices under this name were delivered to developers (my unit is one of these). The A690/A570 used a proprietary Mitsumi CD-ROM interface. It contains an 40 pin expansion header for optional memory expansions for 2 MB fast memory and a rear expansion slot for optional plug-in cartridges with SCSI controllers.

My A690 (A570 Prototype) and repairs

It was in a ruff state when I got it, missing power supply and the front “knot” that got two functions. It works as a volume knot  for the headset output and  when turned to the bottom its switches from CDTV mode into a regular CDROM drive that can be access in Amiga OS using a device driver.

I connected a ATX power supply by attaching the wires to nails inserted in the correct pin outs on the A690 power connector and connected the A690 to the Amiga 500. The A690 didn’t worked and I got no CDTV startup screen. Then pulled the A690 apart and found that it in opposite to the retail version had a battery hidden underneath the drive mechanism unit. The battery had leaked and I measured that two tiny traces on the circuit board in the battery leak area was damaged. I fixed this with wire wraps, and then it worked, I got the CDTV boot screen on my Amiga 500.

Then I found a suitable modern brick power supply from an old external network hard disk, I soldered on the connector taken from a broken Amiga 500 power supply, the A690 actually uses the same “square” type of connector. This worked out great.

Then I made 3D model of the missing volume knob and 3D-printed that one, painted it with prime filler and then with car-paint. Didn’t got an exact color match, but close enough I think.

 

Amiga A690/A570 CD-ROM

Remi Jakobsen


I'm collecting classic computers and video games, stretching from the 70's into the 90's. Restoration, history, usage ...


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5 thoughts on “Amiga A690/A570 CD-ROM

  1. Hello,
    I am looking for the ROM image file of an A690 or A570, as I am restoring my A690 and I think the 27C400 eprom is damaged.
    thank you

    Thierry

      1. Good evening,
        Yes I had found this site but everything is protected, for the moment I replaced the battery with a 2032 battery. My A690 works almost normally except that I do not have the start screen with the CDTV logo but all the rest works CDTV, audio CD and CDROM games visible by the workbench. my A690 was badly damaged by the battery. I wanted to find a ROM to be sure mine was not bad. you will find pictures of my A690 on the Amiga Facebook page, I remember you asked me for pictures on Facebook. if I find a ROM I will tell you.
        thank you
        Thierry

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