I-Robot / Ice World board, and a ceramic ICY II chip

zero energy

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Hi everyone.
Just reaching out to the comunity to see if you guys have seen the two unusual features I have on an I-Robot board.

First, I've not seen a ceramic version of an ICY II chip. Are these common? I can't find any information about it at all.

Secondly, there are two official looking labels on the Video board, one of which suggests this is an 'Ice World' board. Underneath the label is the regular 'I Robot' print.
I've had this board for around 30 years so I assume the labels have been there from day one, but why label a production I-Robot board as an Ice World?
Has anyone seen this before?

Other than the above, the video and CPU boards seem normal apart from a hand written label on one of the ROMS on the CPU board.

From what I can remember, this is a working unit. I can't find the wiring loom or joystick at the moment to test it but I will locate them at some point.
 

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  • Label - Made in USA.png
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  • CPU board ROM.png
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I'll check mine for ceramic.
Post pics of the other board also so we can see the quad pokey.
The CPU board and Pokey seem normal.
 

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    CPU board.png
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  • pokey.png
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Hi everyone.
Just reaching out to the comunity to see if you guys have seen the two unusual features I have on an I-Robot board.

First, I've not seen a ceramic version of an ICY II chip. Are these common? I can't find any information about it at all.

Secondly, there are two official looking labels on the Video board, one of which suggests this is an 'Ice World' board. Underneath the label is the regular 'I Robot' print.
I've had this board for around 30 years so I assume the labels have been there from day one, but why label a production I-Robot board as an Ice World?
Has anyone seen this before?

Other than the above, the video and CPU boards seem normal apart from a hand written label on one of the ROMS on the CPU board.

From what I can remember, this is a working unit. I can't find the wiring loom or joystick at the moment to test it but I will locate them at some point.
You would see some Atari customs in the ceramic package from time to time. I have seen a few ceramic Pokeys as well.
 
You would see some Atari customs in the ceramic package from time to time. I have seen a few ceramic Pokeys as well.
Interesting. I'll check my other Atari boards when I get the chance.
 
1735584183128.jpeg

Mine also has a hand written ROM in the same location. Weird. Probably just coincidental though. They don't seem similar.
 
View attachment 790030

Mine also has a hand written ROM in the same location. Weird. Probably just coincidental though. They don't seem similar.
I just had a look at my other (non-working) I,Robot board set, ROM 101 has been replaced on that too, and possibly the bottom one (102?)
Seems to be normal with these boards, can't think why though.
 
First, I've not seen a ceramic version of an ICY II chip. Are these common? I can't find any information about it at all.

Production plastic ICY-IIs are labelled 137410-101 (101 is revision). Yours is labelled 137410-001B. That suggests its an earlier rev of the part.

Jess Askey (@mhavoc) and I met with Dave Sherman (I Robot and ICY chip designer) earlier this year, and I believe he mentioned there was an earlier version known as ICY-I... This might be a development test sample before official "ICY-II design release". Wouldn't surprise me if Atari shipped any test samples that worked that were lying around. Also explains why the board has a sticker calling it "Ice World", it strongly suggests you have a pre-release test board before I, Robot design was released for production . Jess might remember more.

1735683263858.png
 
Production plastic ICY-IIs are labelled 137410-101 (101 is revision). Yours is labelled 137410-001B. That suggests its an earlier rev of the part.

Jess Askey (@mhavoc) and I met with Dave Sherman (I Robot and ICY chip designer) earlier this year, and I believe he mentioned there was an earlier version known as ICY-I... This might be a development test sample before official "ICY-II design release". Wouldn't surprise me if Atari shipped any test samples that worked that were lying around. Also explains why the board has a sticker calling it "Ice World", it strongly suggests you have a pre-release test board before I, Robot design was released for production . Jess might remember more.

View attachment 790329
Wow, that must've been an amazing meeting. I bet Dave Sherman had a lot of interesting info and stories.
 
Yeah.. @lordfrito .... I believe that the ICY-I IC's may have had slightly different TTL circuitry as well... it would be interesting to see if an ICY-II chip would work in place of an ICY-I and vice-versa... they ARE pin for pin compatible so no damage would occur. But this is probably not a super pressing curiosity for everyone :)
 
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