Intermittant CS PPC

[DarrenHD]

Does anyone know why my CS PPC would be flakey?

The 060 socket was already replaced by Amiga Centre France. Here is what happens:

-If the Amiga 4000 is off for a long period, then turned on, the machine normally boots up fine into 060, with OS 3.9.

-soft rebooting into OS4.0 usually results in a red screen (kernel panic), so PPC isn't working.

-Power off machine for less than 5 minutes then turn on, normally:
-ide drive will not power on/spin up OR zorro cards will not be initialized, recognized

-Leave machine off for 5 minutes, then it usually boots OK, everything works including PPC and normal boot into OS4. However, sometimes zorro cards will not be recognized

Basically the CS PPC does not like quick power offs and power on's. And sometimes the IDE drives will not power up or be recognized. Sometimes it is the zorro cards not being seen.

It is like the machine isn't initialized properly.

Before you ask, with another CPU card in the A4000 everythine is fine, so it's not the A4000.

It's like the CS PPC is intermittant and doesn't like frequent power-on's after a cold start.

Is there a specific component on the CS PPC that could be causing this?

thanks

[rkauer]

I can only think on the dead electrolytic SMD capacitors.

[DarrenHD]

Originally Posted by rkauer

I can only think on the dead electrolytic SMD capacitors.

Those aren't the big ones near the CS PPC are they? At least those ones don't appear to be "bad" - no buldging or leaking anything.

It's a board revision 2 according to WhichAmiga.

Darren

[Loedown]

Greetings,
From what you describe, it sounds like a heat related fault, could be a component, or a joint.

From what Rkauer says, replacing the caps is always a good start in older equipment, but I am thinking that's half your problem. I would suggest cleaning the Ram contacts with a pencil eraser and reseat them.

Paul

[rkauer]

Also some IPA can do wonders for contacts. Submerge the entire board into IPA for an hour and let it dry for a day, then check again.

[DarrenHD]

Originally Posted by rkauer

Also some IPA can do wonders for contacts. Submerge the entire board into IPA for an hour and let it dry for a day, then check again.

Sorry but what is IPA? Do you mean Isopropanol alcohol? It is SAFE to do that????

I have a bottle of "Isopropyl Alocohol 99%". Is that the right stuff?

It says it's a topical antiseptic for temporary relief of bruises, sprains, musclar aches lol

[orange]

yeah, that is IPA. but I'd use it only on contacts..

I'd also check the power connector on motherboard, esp +5V it can get loose and heat up, limiting the current.

[DarrenHD]

I cleaned the board a bit using some IPA....but just specific areas. Cleaned the RAM too. But problem is still there.

If I leave the machine powered OFF for >5 minutes, then power it back on..it's fine...boots right into OS 4...

If I power off or soft reset I can lose the zorro slots (I know because the mediator doesn't display on the voodoo, workbench comes up on AGA via the attached 1084S). Sometimes a soft reset works.

But definately having the machine off for upto 10 minutes, then power on works...

Go figure

At least it works! I may sell it since I have two other stable CS PPC's.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by DarrenHD

I may sell it since I have two other stable CS PPC's.

Wimper Wimper... and I thought I had some good stuff.