A4000 64mb motherboard mod and Warp Engine

trixster · 20 October 2018, 17:31

Hi,

Is anyone running a Warp Engine in an A4000D that also has the 64mb motherboard mod?

I have a Warpengine that works perfectly in my A3000 but refuses to work in the A4000 - I just get a rapidly flashing power light and occasional yellow flashes on the screen. The jumpers on the mobo are correctly set to EXT. I am wondering if the A4000’s 64mb hack is causing the problem. I have tried removing all ram from the Warp Engine and the motherboard but it still does not work.

deling · 20 October 2018, 18:03

Check this
http://www.l8r.net/technical/t-warpengine.shtml

trixster · 20 October 2018, 18:24

Thanks for the link, yes I have seen that page.

Toni Wilen · 20 October 2018, 18:29

Does behavior change if you remove Warp Engine's ROM chip? (Confirms if it is boot rom code that causes the crash or something else)

btw, is it A3000 or (modified) A4000 Warp Engine model?

trixster · 20 October 2018, 18:46

It is the standard A4000 model, unmodified, V2

deling · 20 October 2018, 18:47

https://www.a1k.org/forum/showthread.php?t=67667

looks like original 4040 because simm are straight up

check cpu slot both on motherboard and warp

I got similar symptoms few year ago with A3640

try with empty simm slot

trixster · 20 October 2018, 18:52

Cpu slot should be ok as I’ve tried csmk2 and A3640/060 today, both work fine. Have tried removing both WE ram and motherboard ram, no joy. Have tried removing Deneb, no joy.

Grelbfarlk has confirmed that he is running a rev1 WE with the 64mb motherboard mod ok.

trixster · 20 October 2018, 18:55

Both J100 and J104 on the motherboard are set to EXT

deling · 20 October 2018, 18:56

conclusion ? broken card ? if you can check again without daughterboard

trixster · 20 October 2018, 19:15

The card is not broken - I have tested it in my A3000 and it works perfectly

Two things left to try - 1) yes, with the mediator removed
2) maybe I will try an 060 (with adapter) on it, see if the change of cpu makes a difference.

Sadly I do not have a 25 or 33mhz crystal to try.

Dynamic_Computi · 22 October 2018, 07:20

I have a 4000D with a Warp Engine designed for the A3000 (two simm slots, not four) - and it works perfect. You have tested it (A) without the RAM installed on the motherboard and (B) without the RAM installed on the Warp Engine, right? That would eliminate the memory overlapping somehow I suppose. There are quite a few important jumpers on the Warp Engine - check those too. Try disabling the SCSI on the Warp Engine and booting to floppy with it.

Toni Wilen · 22 October 2018, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynamic_Computi

Try disabling the SCSI on the Warp Engine and booting to floppy with it.

This is why I asked to remove the ROM chip (but it requires chip puller, it is too dangerous to use anything else). It disables all "useless" stuff (including the boot tune), jumper only disables ROM code partially. I have WE A4000 with broken SCSI and ROM removal works without disabling whole board.

Warp Engine SCSI is separate virtual Z3 autoconfig board so mainboard modifications should not affect it. Possibly.

trixster · 22 October 2018, 10:06

Hi chaps,

I have tried with both motherboard and WE memory removed. Just to reiterate - the board seems to work fine in my A3000 but I have not tested SCSI in that machine.

SCSI on the WE is disabled, jumpers K J and H are not set. Toni, I had a look at removing the rom (it is socketed) but on the V2 board the socket is next to a header which means my removal tool is a little too large to grip the rom, so I have left it in place for now.

I am wondering if it is a power issue. I have a 600W ATX PSU but I wonder if a 40mhz 040 is very power-hungry and my motherboard has issue distributing power? Maybe the 25mhz crystal will answer this when it arrives.

deling · 22 October 2018, 11:18

I told you there is no WATT important :-) but strong +5V , modern ATX psu work often with strong 12V , 5v is weak
I think You have to make mod on Yours mobo that mean add more one wire from 5v to C187 Caps

A4000Bear · 22 October 2018, 15:04

I have three A4000 motherboards, all modified for 64MB and two A4000 Warp Engines. All work perfectly together.

trixster · 22 October 2018, 19:46

Thanks Dave; yes, another user has confirmed his WE is working fine with the 64mb hack, so I’m pretty sure it’s not that.

trixster · 24 October 2018, 17:35

Tried removing crystal and replacing with 25mhz one - does not work
Tried removing the scsi rom - does not work
Tried swapping out 040 for 060 with adapter - does not work

CSmk2 and A3640 continue to work perfectly.

WE continues to work perfectly in the a3000!

So... do I sell the WE... or have it converted to have 2x simm slots removed and angled ones put in so it can go full time in the 3000?

deling · 24 October 2018, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by trixster

Tried removing crystal and replacing with 25mhz one - does not work
Tried removing the scsi rom - does not work
Tried swapping out 040 for 060 with adapter - does not work

CSmk2 and A3640 continue to work perfectly.

WE continues to work perfectly in the a3000!

So... do I sell the WE... or have it converted to have 2x simm slots removed and angled ones put in so it can go full time in the 3000?

Sad news

trixster · 24 October 2018, 20:31

Yeah, not ideal as I really wanted this for the 4000... but i think I’ll have it modded for the 3000 to replace the [slow] A3640/060. The 3000 will be pleased

eteP · 24 February 2019, 11:36

You mentioned earlier that you have a Mediator. Did you try removing it?

20 October 2018, 17:31	#1
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	A4000 64mb motherboard mod and Warp Engine Hi, Is anyone running a Warp Engine in an A4000D that also has the 64mb motherboard mod? I have a Warpengine that works perfectly in my A3000 but refuses to work in the A4000 - I just get a rapidly flashing power light and occasional yellow flashes on the screen. The jumpers on the mobo are correctly set to EXT. I am wondering if the A4000’s 64mb hack is causing the problem. I have tried removing all ram from the Warp Engine and the motherboard but it still does not work.

20 October 2018, 18:46	#5
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	It is the standard A4000 model, unmodified, V2 Last edited by trixster; 20 October 2018 at 18:54.

20 October 2018, 19:15	#10
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	The card is not broken - I have tested it in my A3000 and it works perfectly Two things left to try - 1) yes, with the mediator removed 2) maybe I will try an 060 (with adapter) on it, see if the change of cpu makes a difference. Sadly I do not have a 25 or 33mhz crystal to try. Attached Thumbnails

22 October 2018, 10:06	#13
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Hi chaps, I have tried with both motherboard and WE memory removed. Just to reiterate - the board seems to work fine in my A3000 but I have not tested SCSI in that machine. SCSI on the WE is disabled, jumpers K J and H are not set. Toni, I had a look at removing the rom (it is socketed) but on the V2 board the socket is next to a header which means my removal tool is a little too large to grip the rom, so I have left it in place for now. I am wondering if it is a power issue. I have a 600W ATX PSU but I wonder if a 40mhz 040 is very power-hungry and my motherboard has issue distributing power? Maybe the 25mhz crystal will answer this when it arrives. Last edited by trixster; 22 October 2018 at 10:24.

24 October 2018, 17:35	#17
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Tried removing crystal and replacing with 25mhz one - does not work Tried removing the scsi rom - does not work Tried swapping out 040 for 060 with adapter - does not work CSmk2 and A3640 continue to work perfectly. WE continues to work perfectly in the a3000! So... do I sell the WE... or have it converted to have 2x simm slots removed and angled ones put in so it can go full time in the 3000? Attached Thumbnails

20 October 2018, 18:03	#2
deling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Moon Posts: 102	Check this http://www.l8r.net/technical/t-warpengine.shtml

20 October 2018, 18:24	#3
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Thanks for the link, yes I have seen that page.

20 October 2018, 18:29	#4
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,505	Does behavior change if you remove Warp Engine's ROM chip? (Confirms if it is boot rom code that causes the crash or something else) btw, is it A3000 or (modified) A4000 Warp Engine model?

20 October 2018, 18:47	#6
deling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Moon Posts: 102	https://www.a1k.org/forum/showthread.php?t=67667 looks like original 4040 because simm are straight up check cpu slot both on motherboard and warp I got similar symptoms few year ago with A3640 try with empty simm slot

20 October 2018, 18:52	#7
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Cpu slot should be ok as I’ve tried csmk2 and A3640/060 today, both work fine. Have tried removing both WE ram and motherboard ram, no joy. Have tried removing Deneb, no joy. Grelbfarlk has confirmed that he is running a rev1 WE with the 64mb motherboard mod ok.

20 October 2018, 18:55	#8
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Both J100 and J104 on the motherboard are set to EXT

20 October 2018, 18:56	#9
deling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Moon Posts: 102	conclusion ? broken card ? if you can check again without daughterboard

22 October 2018, 07:20	#11
Dynamic_Computi 10MARC Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Tucson, AZ, USA Posts: 214	I have a 4000D with a Warp Engine designed for the A3000 (two simm slots, not four) - and it works perfect. You have tested it (A) without the RAM installed on the motherboard and (B) without the RAM installed on the Warp Engine, right? That would eliminate the memory overlapping somehow I suppose. There are quite a few important jumpers on the Warp Engine - check those too. Try disabling the SCSI on the Warp Engine and booting to floppy with it.

22 October 2018, 11:18	#14
deling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Moon Posts: 102	I told you there is no WATT important :-) but strong +5V , modern ATX psu work often with strong 12V , 5v is weak I think You have to make mod on Yours mobo that mean add more one wire from 5v to C187 Caps

22 October 2018, 15:04	#15
A4000Bear Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Taradale / Australia Posts: 95	I have three A4000 motherboards, all modified for 64MB and two A4000 Warp Engines. All work perfectly together.

22 October 2018, 19:46	#16
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Thanks Dave; yes, another user has confirmed his WE is working fine with the 64mb hack, so I’m pretty sure it’s not that.

24 October 2018, 20:31	#19
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Yeah, not ideal as I really wanted this for the 4000... but i think I’ll have it modded for the 3000 to replace the [slow] A3640/060. The 3000 will be pleased Last edited by trixster; 24 January 2021 at 14:26.

24 February 2019, 11:36	#20
eteP Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Bovenden/Germany Age: 45 Posts: 27	You mentioned earlier that you have a Mediator. Did you try removing it?

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