Terrible Fire Accelerators

[plasmab]

Originally Posted by dalek

Longshot, but you got J301 open on the A2000 right? There can be issues like this if only one floppy drive connected and the jumper is closed (e.g. previous owner had 2 drive setup).

Expletive Frenzy

[plasmab]

Originally Posted by Black68

Can you (or someone else) remind me the exact ISSI RAM chips that can be used?

Alliance AS7C4096A-12TIN
ISSI IS61C5128AL-10TLI

These really need ot be on the tf530 wiki...

https://github.com/terriblefire/tf53...fied-Ram-Chips

[Black68]

Originally Posted by plasmab

Alliance AS7C4096A-12TIN
ISSI IS61C5128AL-10TLI

These really need ot be on the tf530 wiki...

https://github.com/terriblefire/tf53...fied-Ram-Chips

Thanks for that! I'll see if I can get some ISSI chips to test myself.

As for the info on the wiki, I've ordered some Alliance chips from UTSource (AS7C4096A-12TI) and they did not work. I didnt have the time check it with diagrom so I cannot say why, but as soon as I exchange the RAM chips with the AS7C4096A-12TIN from RS Components the board worked perfectly.

If you use 3.3v chips how do you power them? Lifting the legs and hooking'em to the 3.3v line?

[plasmab]

Originally Posted by Black68

Thanks for that! I'll see if I can get some ISSI chips to test myself.

As for the info on the wiki, I've ordered some Alliance chips from UTSource (AS7C4096A-12TI) and they did not work. I didnt have the time check it with diagrom so I cannot say why, but as soon as I exchange the RAM chips with the AS7C4096A-12TIN from RS Components the board worked perfectly.

If you use 3.3v chips how do you power them? Lifting the legs and hooking'em to the 3.3v line?

I havent tested 3.3V yet.. but we had success on the TF328 simply powering them at 5V. I figured it was worth trying them... but please dont try it until i verify unless you want to blow the chips up.

TIN vs TI = Lead Free vs Not Lead Free.. confused why they didnt work.

[EzdineG]

Originally Posted by plasmab

Alliance AS7C4096A-12TIN
ISSI IS61C5128AL-10TLI

These really need ot be on the tf530 wiki...

https://github.com/terriblefire/tf53...fied-Ram-Chips

The ISSI chips don’t fail RAM tests on Rev 3, but the two boards I built with them had mild stability issues I could not reproduce when exchanged for Alliance. The boards were good enough to use but not 100% stable; you had to use them for a good amount of time to get a crash. Looping the Frontier intro would generally do it within 15 minutes.

@plasmab
At one point you mentioned the difference between floating pins in Rev 2 and 3 that may be the differentiator here. I believe this is why @alenppc has no issues with ISSI RAM on Rev 2. It may be a simple matter of cutting a few traces. I don’t have schematics in front of me to tell for sure.

[plasmab]

Originally Posted by EzdineG

The ISSI chips don’t fail RAM tests on Rev 3, but the two boards I built with them had mild stability issues I could not reproduce when exchanged for Alliance. The boards were good enough to use but not 100% stable; you had to use them for a good amount of time to get a crash.

@plasmab
At one point you mentioned the difference between floating pins in Rev 2 and 3 that may be the differentiator here. I believe this is why @alenppc has no issues with ISSI RAM on Rev 2. It may be a simple matter of cutting a few traces.

The Rev2 doesnt have A21 wired up to the NC ram pin. Thats pretty much it.

[8 Bit Dreams]

Originally Posted by plasmab

Expletive Frenzy

what is it?
A broken jumper?

[plasmab]

Originally Posted by 8 Bit Dreams

what is it?
A broken jumper?

Yup.. hardly visible but it was jumpering 301.

[plasmab]

Originally Posted by EzdineG

The ISSI chips don’t fail RAM tests on Rev 3, but the two boards I built with them had mild stability issues I could not reproduce when exchanged for Alliance. The boards were good enough to use but not 100% stable; you had to use them for a good amount of time to get a crash. Looping the Frontier intro would generally do it within 15 minutes.



@plasmab

At one point you mentioned the difference between floating pins in Rev 2 and 3 that may be the differentiator here. I believe this is why @alenppc has no issues with ISSI RAM on Rev 2. It may be a simple matter of cutting a few traces. I don’t have schematics in front of me to tell for sure.

If you are in the mood for some experimentation you can try 2 things with the rev 3.



1. Break the A21 track so that it doesnt reach the RAM (but still makes the it to the ram CPLD..)

2. Put a 1K resistor between DTACK (68000 bus) and VCC.



I suspect 2 will help loads but i've never seen the issues you describe.

It basically help DTACK rise faster...

[kgc210]

Originally Posted by Black68

Thanks for that! I'll see if I can get some ISSI chips to test myself.

As for the info on the wiki, I've ordered some Alliance chips from UTSource (AS7C4096A-12TI) and they did not work. I didnt have the time check it with diagrom so I cannot say why, but as soon as I exchange the RAM chips with the AS7C4096A-12TIN from RS Components the board worked perfectly.

If you use 3.3v chips how do you power them? Lifting the legs and hooking'em to the 3.3v line?

They are the same AS7C4096A-12TI RAM chips I got from UTSource and having mither with either the RAM or the CPLD.

I will be getting my Digi-Key order for AS7C4096A-12TCN and new CPLD's in the morning so will be able to see which is causing the issue

[Black68]

Originally Posted by kgc210

They are the same AS7C4096A-12TI RAM chips I got from UTSource and having mither with either the RAM or the CPLD.

I will be getting my Digi-Key order for AS7C4096A-12TCN and new CPLD's in the morning so will be able to see which is causing the issue

I did get some good working CPLDs from UTSource. I belive those RAM chips arent bad, just not compatible for whatever reason...

[kgc210]

I think it's safe to say that UTSource can shove their pretend AS7C4096A-12TI RAM chips up their...

Didn't need to swap the CPLD I just replaced the RAM Chips with ones from Digi-Key

Edit:

I have updated wiki with Digi-Key link

Black68 - Can you confirm this is the link and Chips you used? https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/sram-...chips/0538221/

I will then update the wiki

[Black68]

Originally Posted by kgc210

I think it's safe to say that UTSource can shove their pretend AS7C4096A-12TI RAM chips up their...

I also got the same chips from ebay (different seller) and they didnt work either. I tend to belive that this are not bad chips, but incompatible for some reason...Anyway, stick to digikey or RS

Originally Posted by kgc210

Black68 - Can you confirm this is the link and Chips you used? https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/sram-...chips/0538221/

Yes, those are the chips I bought.

Can you confirm the AS7C4096A-12TCN chips work?

[kgc210]

Yes the AS7C4096A-12TCN (From Digi-Key) work on both of my TF530 REV 3's,
will try them on one of my REV 2's later.

I have provided the link to the exact Chips on the Wiki.
I will update the RS ones as well.

If anyone else has links to confirmed working RAM Chips let me know and I will update the Wiki, also any Zorro Cards that work / don't work in the A2000.

[plasmab]

I should have an update soon for the A2000

[kgc210]

I have been doing a bit of updating on the wiki now I have some information.

[plasmab]

Originally Posted by kgc210

I have been doing a bit of updating on the wiki now I have some information.

Excellent that’s what it’s there for

[kgc210]

For people who don't know where or didn't realise there is a wiki the link is:
https://github.com/terriblefire/tf530/wiki

I have included more detail on the following pages:

Installing-the-TF530

• A500 Installation - Lacking detail as need input

• A2000 Installation

• INT2 & OVR Locations

Verified-Ram-Chips

• Links to verified RAM Chips - Need more input

• Links where to avoid buying them!

Verified-Re-locator-Boards

• Again I need more input esp on what re-locators you need to get the TF530 inside the A500 with the case closed.

I am working on what Zorro boards work / don't work with the TF530 in an A2000

Edit
If you feel uncomfortable adding info to the wiki or don't have an account let me know either on here or by PM and I can update it.

[kgc210]

Started work on
Troubleshooting TF530 Q&A
Zorro boards tested on an A2000

Again I need more input from everyone else, only have so much hardware I can test.

[plasmab]

I've heard things about trying to power the Rev3 ram at 3.3v.. this is not going to help people..

Your address/data bus pins are at 5V.. and if your chip cant cope at 5V they're going to go into SCR latchup if your supply voltage is 1.6V lower than the IO pins. i.e. trying to supply the ram at 3.3V is worse than just trying to run the 3.3V chip at 5V.