Musing on MOS 6500s - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2021, 04:53:04 pm
content: So, I came across this MOS 1980 catalog (sorry about the glare).Apparently, the 6501 was announced in 1975 (a month before the 6502) and it was US$20, an unheard of low pricehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/MOS_6501_Ad_August_1975.jpgHas anyone here ever used one? I would love to hear the story. I have looked around and have seen at least one advertised for sale but at a ridiculous (to me) price.In fact, by 1980, MOS had a number of 6500 'varieties'. I never hear much about them though.OK, no real point to this post, just musing and sharing.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2021, 08:59:45 pm
content: Apparently, the 6503...6513 were bond-out options. I've never seen on in the wild, they seem to only exist on paper (and they're pretty pointless).

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2021, 09:26:33 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on November 21, 2021, 09:15:50 pmI guess I'm just not as smart as you.

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2021, 09:28:12 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on November 21, 2021, 08:59:45 pmI wondered about that and think you might be right. The 6501, btw, does not appear in this catalog at all.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2021, 09:36:17 pm
content: Quote from: DrG on November 21, 2021, 09:28:12 pmMotorola made MOS stop selling them in 1976:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_6502#Motorola_lawsuit

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2021, 11:36:24 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on November 21, 2021, 08:59:45 pmAtari used the 6507 quite a bit, as the CPU in every Atari 2600 and in various 8 bit computer peripherals, they were aiming for a minimal price point and I guess less bonds and leads=cheaper when you need millions of chips.

author: bsdphk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 02:47:51 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on November 21, 2021, 08:59:45 pmCommodore used them in various peripherals.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 07:39:38 pm
content: I thought I'd lost them, but I just found my original blue cover MCS6500 hardware manual and KIM1 users guide from 1976.There is a copy online already, which is good as I don't really want to damage it during scanning.http://archive.6502.org/books/mcs6500_family_hardware_manual.pdfThe Rev A hardware manual dated January 1976 has details on the MCS6501/2/3/4/5, and the MCS6520 and 6530.I also had a thicker white cover manual which I am pretty sure was the programming manual.http://archive.6502.org/books/mcs6500_family_programming_manual.pdfI lent that one to the owner of the local Tandy/Radio Shack store and sadly never got it back. I see they now sell for over US$200...I have a vague recollection that I acquired a 28-pin 650x chip via a local PCB designer doing a workbench cleanup (circa 1983/4), along with lots of other stuff. I'll keep an eye out for it in my collection. I hope I also still have the KIM-1's in a box somewhere. Sadly I didn't keep all of my 6809 gear from back then.

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 08:18:20 pm
content: Yes! I had forgotten about the documentation with my KIM (see post herehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/vintage-computing/what-was-you-first-computer/msg2894062/#msg2894062).When it arrived to me, the documentation, while original), had been ripped and placed in a binderI was always impressed by how thorough it was.