#257193 - 30/05/2005 07:41
memory board progress
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old hand
Registered: 20/07/1999
Posts: 1102
Loc: UK
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Hi.
I am building memory boards at this very moment, and the first 35 will ship over the next week or so. The remainder have been delayed by the PCB company cocking it up again, producing the 15 outstanding boards (delayed by a previous cockup) as 1.6mm thick rather than the correct 0.8mm. So they have to redo them, which will take another one to two weeks.
pca
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Experience is what you get just after it would have helped...
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#257194 - 30/05/2005 11:43
Re: memory board progress
[Re: pca]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Are you hand soldering them? Or having it done by the board company? Or using a toaster oven?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Cheers
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#257195 - 30/05/2005 12:14
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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old hand
Registered: 20/07/1999
Posts: 1102
Loc: UK
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Hand built with love and care. Also solder and flux. And a soldering iron.
I was going to get them made by an outside company, but for various reasons this didn't happen this time around. Each one takes about 20 minutes to do, so I'm aiming for about 8 per day so as not to interfere with my other work.
pca
_________________________
Experience is what you get just after it would have helped...
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#257196 - 30/05/2005 14:48
Re: memory board progress
[Re: pca]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Quote: Each one takes about 20 minutes to do
[soldering god at work]
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#257198 - 30/05/2005 15:48
Re: memory board progress
[Re: bonzi]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Yes, the board I have here looks much easier to install than I had thought. The throughholes (for soldering in) are HUGE, making them really easy to line up and get a moderate size soldering tip inside of.
Cheers
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#257199 - 30/05/2005 19:18
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 13/09/1999
Posts: 2401
Loc: Croatia
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Thanks - one of the guys at work will then be able to help me.
_________________________
Dragi "Bonzi" Raos
Q#5196
MkII #080000376, 18GB green
MkIIa #040103247, 60GB blue
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#257200 - 30/05/2005 19:54
Re: memory board progress
[Re: pca]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
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Will these boards be shipped directly to the installer of our choice if we specified one durring our order? Might be easier on you to send a bunch to the same place all at once. Thanks, I'm looking forward to it.
_________________________
- FireFox31 110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set
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#257201 - 30/05/2005 21:29
Re: memory board progress
[Re: pca]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Heh.. So I'm sitting down here tonight to solder on the RAM chips for my own memory board (from PCA), and.. which way 'round do the chips go?
???????????
Cheers
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#257202 - 30/05/2005 21:49
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Quote: Heh.. So I'm sitting down here tonight to solder on the RAM chips for my own memory board (from PCA), and.. which way 'round do the chips go?
Well, to answer my own question, I've traced the RAS lines on the expansion board, and it appears the RAM chips should get installed oriented with pin-1 towards the top (longest edge) of the expansion board.
Cheers
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#257203 - 31/05/2005 00:44
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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Wasn't there an Installation Guide in .pdf being talked about?
_________________________
Brad B.
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#257204 - 31/05/2005 01:43
Re: memory board progress
[Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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I think so, but it probably doesn't exist yet. And I'm actually below that level here.. I get to solder on my own RAM chips. Most of the boards come with the chips already on, courtesy of Patrick.
Anyway, I've put 48MB onto my board, at the rate of about one chip every 20 minutes (as opposed to 64MB every 20 minutes by you know who. Now to doctor it into one of the Mk2a's kicking around here..
Cheers
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#257205 - 31/05/2005 02:04
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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addict
Registered: 29/06/2002
Posts: 531
Loc: Triangle, VA
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I would love to learn to solder but am not brave enough to take the chances learning on my empeg and memory
_________________________
-D
Modifying and Tweaking is a journey,
not a destination................................
MKIIa : 60gig - 040103286 - Blue - v2 + PCATS tuner
MKIIa : 20gig - 040103260 - Blue - v3a8 + Mark Lord Special Edition Cherry Dock
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#257206 - 31/05/2005 11:21
Re: memory board progress
[Re: pca]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Now the big question..
I've populated only 48MB on my memory board, and would like to (continue to) use the existing 16MB of Mk2a memory as bank-0.
Any reason why this should not work (I expect it to, just haven't got that far yet).
And what are those dip switches for again?
Cheers
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#257207 - 31/05/2005 11:52
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Again answering my own questions: PCA wrote: Quote: The board adds 4 identical banks of 16MB, and duplicates the bank0 set currently present on a MK2A. Obviously, this isn't going to work all that well. The idea is that each bank can be disabled by means of a switch on the memory board, so in the case of a MK2A you would turn off the first bank. This would still give you 64M, as the original memory would be used.
And elsewhere I found that RA3 needs to be jumpered over from the main board to enable the final 16MB (to 64MB). The other RA{0,1,2} lines appear to already be present from the test pads.
Now to hook it up, with photos along the way..
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#257208 - 31/05/2005 17:14
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Okay, I attached the board, got it partially working, fiddled with it for hours, and have now removed it again. Removal was suprisingly easy!
It seems trickier than first thought, to get good connections between the memory board and the main board.
Time for attempt number two.
Cheers
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#257209 - 31/05/2005 17:38
Re: memory board progress
[Re: mlord]
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veteran
Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
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Have any pics of the memory board attached to the main board?
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#257210 - 31/05/2005 18:25
Re: memory board progress
[Re: cushman]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Yes, I have pics.. I'll put them up later, once I get this thing working.
I've soldered it back on again now, but bank2 is failing..
-ml
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#257211 - 31/05/2005 23:15
A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: cushman]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Okay, I have 48MB total RAM out of a possible 64MB in my Mk2a. Here is my story, with photos. Cheers
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#257212 - 01/06/2005 01:09
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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My initial attempt at soldering on the memory expansion went well enough, but was a complete failure in the end. The problem was all of those pre-soldered pads that exist on the mainboard. I was clever enough to desolder many of them (with copper braid + flux) beforehand, but not all of them.
It is necessary to desolder all of the pads (on the main board) that will lie underneath the memory expansion board, as otherwise they will cause a gap between the two boards, preventing good signal connections later on.
Absolutely critical, and just enough fuss to turn an easy installation job into one that requires considerably more care and skill than imagined earlier.
Soldering on the expansion board is dead simple by comparism.
EDIT: So, I had to remove the installed memory board and start over. Fortunately, this proved MUCH easier than it looked. I just used a nice solder-sucker device to desolder all of the through-holes, and the board slipped off with no fuss. What a shocker!
After that, I spent an hour removing all of the solder from all of the pads on the main board that would fall anywhere beneath the expansion board. Except I missed a couple in the top right (photos).. but they didn't matter too much in the end. This rework made a huge difference, as the player then instantly reported 48MB working RAM.
The remaining 16MB is not working yet (well, half of it is..), but you'll have to tour the photo link above to see why..
Cheers
Edited by mlord (01/06/2005 01:13)
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#257213 - 01/06/2005 02:45
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
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It looks like for a 32meg upgrade, it'd be easier/cheaper just to stack them. For 64meg, I'm sure this is a better solution.
_________________________
~ John
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#257214 - 01/06/2005 09:18
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: JBjorgen]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Well, for +32MB or +48MB (or any Mk2 upgrade), these boards are rather good -- Patrick is selling them pre-populated, so finishing them off is just a matter of desolding the mainboard pads and then attaching the new board + the RAS3 line.
But yes, for a +16MB upgrade, just stacking the chips was easier for me.
Cheers
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#257215 - 01/06/2005 11:36
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
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For me soldering the RAS line was the biggest PITA. Everything else was quite straightforward.
_________________________
Cheers,
Andy M
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#257217 - 01/06/2005 23:06
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: mlord]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
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Awesome install pics, Mark. But, how can there be "ZERO gap between the two boards"? Won't there be shorts between traces and solder? I'm comfortable using computer hardware, but I'm always nervous about components touching.
<edit>Oh, and what kind of dock is that? Hm......
Edited by FireFox31 (01/06/2005 23:10)
_________________________
- FireFox31 110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set
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#257218 - 01/06/2005 23:20
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: FireFox31]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Quote: Won't there be shorts between traces and solder?
The bottom of Patrick's mem card is all nicely solder-masked, meaning it has a coat of that translucent green insulation goo all over it. So there's nothing on the underside to short out on anything, unless one scratches it.
And there's nothing unmasked on the bottom of the empeg main board either, except for the test pads.
Cheers
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#257219 - 02/06/2005 09:21
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: andym]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Still worrying about that one - I have my stacked RAM, but no RAS line, as I buggered up the soldering once and too scared to try again. I am hoping to bribe someone with a steady hand at Amersfoort to finish the job for me.
_________________________
Rory MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock
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#257220 - 02/06/2005 11:52
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: frog51]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
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Lots of flux (LOTS OF FLUX), a microscopic blob of solder on the iron, and the briefest of touches against the wire/pin.
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#257221 - 02/06/2005 13:46
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: mlord]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Absolutely - I actually found an old chip to practice on, and I had no problem with soldering at the RAM end (after reading your and Genixia's comments about Lots Of Flux ) but can I get a connection to pin 124 on the StrongARM without touching 123 or 125? Can I 'eck as like! Even with the smallest soldering iron and bit I could find, and a helping hands tool, and a magnifying glass. I just can't seem to get a small enough blob of solder. So I have bought a bottle of Highland Park whisky specifically as a reward for someone who has the skill and 5 minutes of their time...they won't get the whisky until afterwards, obviously.
_________________________
Rory MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock
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#257222 - 02/06/2005 16:47
Re: A sample installation.. with photos
[Re: frog51]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
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I was rather naughty in the end and simply lifted the pin off the board, soldered it and encased it in snot (rubbery silicone glue stuff).
_________________________
Cheers,
Andy M
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