Motherboards in early 520STFMs

[polbit]

Hi, looking at the motherboard revisions, there doesn’t seem to be any difference in 520 and 1040 versions for STFM models. Is that correct, or were there 520STFM specific motherboards that were unique and different than 1040 boards?

[DoG]

All the boards can be 520 or 1040. It's just how much RAM is on the board that differ. 520=512Kb of RAM and 1040=1024Kb of RAM.

[stephen_usher]

Other than the memory the difference between the 520STFM and the 104STFM was that the latter had a blister fitted.

[atari030]

Only the MegaST's had blitters as a factory default. FM's were the same across the board. There are small and big button floppy versions of the 1040. I don't think there was ever a big button 520. If there was it wouldn't have lasted long. The reason being the order of release was 260/520 ST/M, 1040STF (then) FM, 520STFM, 520/1040STE.

[polbit]

Thanks everyone! Exactly what I wanted to hear, was just afraid there were some 520STFMs with weird MBs that would not be compatible with anything...

[DoG]

One more thing. It can have 2 pieces of ROM chip or 6 pieces from factory. It really doesn't matter though, it's the same TOS.

[stephen_usher]

Only the MegaST's had blitters as a factory default. FM's were the same across the board. There are small and big button floppy versions of the 1040. I don't think there was ever a big button 520. If there was it wouldn't have lasted long. The reason being the order of release was 260/520 ST/M, 1040STF (then) FM, 520STFM, 520/1040STE.

Strange then that the adverts back in the day, at least in the UK, specified that the 1040ST had a blitter.

[atari030]

Stores may have retrofitted them under licence? I've never seen one that had a socket let alone blitter.

[stephen_usher]

Stores may have retrofitted them under licence? I've never seen one that had a socket let alone blitter.

Nope, this was across the board, including box shifters.

[DoG]

Maybe in the later years of their lifespan they where equipped with blitters? It must be a small fraction of all 1040STfm sold. Even in the UK. Some boards have layout that can be equipped with blitters.