is this a 512ke?

[Dave928]

I just bought another (what was advertised as) 128k Mac. it's got a good chime and boots System 1 fine. the display has a tiny amount of jiggle.

after opening it I found that both boards are very clean. no battery installed and no battery damage, and no cap leaks with a barely cracked RIFA.

however, it's got 512k RAM, 800k FD and Plus ROMs. it does not have the 512 check box on the LB. it does not have an E after the M0001 model number, nor does it say "512k" or "512ke" in the Macintosh badge on the rear case. it does have this do-hickey next to the CPU:

so is this a 128k upgraded to a 512ke, still in the 128k case?

 

[JDW]

I just bought another (what was advertised as) 128k Mac.

It would be false or highly misleading to advertise what is clearly a 512K Mac as being "128K," especially because collectors who seek a 128K machine want a virgin machine, not upgraded.

...it's got 512k, 800k FD and Plus ROMs. it does not have the 512 check box on the LB. it does not have an E after the M0001 model number, nor does it say "512k" or "512ke" in the Macintosh badge on the rear case. it does have this do-hickey next to the CPU:
so is this a 128k upgraded to a 512ke, still in the 128k case?

The presence of an 800K drive makes the "128K Mac" claim all the more bogus, as a true 128K machine will have a 400K floppy drive.

So we see that...

• Your ROMs are indeed 128K Mac Plus ROMs.
• Your RAM is indeed 512K.
• The do-hickey is required for the 512K RAM upgrade from 128K.
• 800K drives came with the 512Ke or Plus, but they will work on 128K RAM Macs just fine.

It is up to you whether to keep the machine or argue with the seller about misleading you. But I personally find far more value in 512K machines because you can more easily make them a 128K machine at the flip of a switch if you install @Kay K.M.Mods 's Fat Mac Switcher:

SMC Fat Mac Switcher | infinityproducts

Feb19 2024, Notice of change in shipping method: Cards can be sent by international registered mail from Japan, but there is a very high possibility that this product will be considered an electronic component and will be returned. Therefore, we are no longer able to send this item by registered...

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If you need more reasons to get yourself a Fat Mac Switcher, I provide 1 full hour's worth in this video...

Just make sure your machine is working well and the Analog Board has been recapped before starting with upgrades. You should recap the Analog Board even if you don't plan to add anything to the machine. It's not hard. Here's a video about that.

 

[Dave928]

thanks for the insight. cap kit already ordered.

I've dealt with the seller before, I believe he just looked at the case when he bought it (he's a local reseller) and thought it was a 128. I don't think any deception was intended.

so I don't know if this is fortuitous, or just dumb luck, but I see it as a win. my other 128k, that I've had for 35 years, is a 128k LB in a 512k marked case. the guy (his name WAS Guy) demo'd it and I bought it. back then, bad caps wasn't even a question. when I asked about the case, he said it came back from a dealer visit with the wrong case and they didn't notice until it was too late.

so this actually gives me the opportunity to put a 128k LB in a 128k case, and a 512k LB in a 512k case. they wouldn't be original builds, but built as originally intended. they'll probably be left stock.

BTW, love your videos.