I've been Coleco'd

[rubber_jonnie]

@rubber_jonnie

Ouch, quite hot for 4116 RAM...

Better to fit heatsinks or maybe replace them with 4164 RAM for reliability ?

That's not unusual for 4116 TBH, it's the dead one that is cold that bothers me more

[HigashiJun]

That's not unusual for 4116 TBH, it's the dead one that is cold that bothers me more

The cold one is definitely dead.

[rubber_jonnie]

That's not unusual for 4116 TBH, it's the dead one that is cold that bothers me more

The cold one is definitely dead.

Definitely dead:

IMG20240930120304.jpg (309.46 KiB) Viewed 47 times

[stephen_usher]

I was going to say that's VRAM problem.

Yes, replace then with hacked 4164 chips and you will probably not need the -5V or +12V.

[HigashiJun]

Yes, replace then with hacked 4164 chips and you will probably not need the -5V or +12V.

A wise advice !

[rubber_jonnie]

I was going to say that's VRAM problem.

Yes, replace then with hacked 4164 chips and you will probably not need the -5V or +12V.

Indeed, I'm about to hack a 4164

I did have some 4116's but I think I used them in the last Spectrum I resurrected, so the 4164 is my only option.

I'm just going to replace the dead one for now though.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so RAM hack done:

IMG20240930131409.jpg (342.2 KiB) Viewed 31 times

And things are looking much better:

IMG20240930130404.jpg (307.38 KiB) Viewed 31 times

IMG20240930130504.jpg (379.47 KiB) Viewed 31 times

IMG20240930130446.jpg (395.87 KiB) Viewed 31 times

IMG20240930131311.jpg (596.4 KiB) Viewed 31 times

So I think next I'll have a look at if I can get a composite signal out of this thing.

[stephen_usher]

No need to solder pin 1 of a 4164 as it's not connected, so just cut it off.

You should be able to get RGB out of it with a daughter board which fits underneath the TMS VDP chip. https://videogameperfection.com/product ... -v2-board/

[rubber_jonnie]

Seems my excitement was short lived...

IMG20240930133633.jpg (391.47 KiB) Viewed 28 times

Looks like another RAM IC has died. No huge surprise, just not 100% sure I have enough RAM to replace it all.

[rubber_jonnie]

No need to solder pin 1 of a 4164 as it's not connected, so just cut it off.

You should be able to get RGB out of it with a daughter board which fits underneath the TMS VDP chip. https://videogameperfection.com/product ... -v2-board/

I have sometimes used 41256's so it's a habit I have of soldering it to GND. Also, I don't like cutting pins off good IC's

BTW I have seen the RGB out mods but I don't have any RGB displays, so I usually use composite out via a Retrotink to HDMI.