PLCC to DIP adaptor - TF536 on A600

[Lemaru]

I`d love to try one... :D

On my A600 with Furia 020 and 3.1 Rom...the expansion library choked the furia at start up....would not boot unless you enter the early startup menu and disable CPU cashe.....even after that it was unstable...I made a 3.1 rom with 3.1.4 rom expansion library...it booted ok.... :roll:

Yeah I had similar with one of the CPUs I have, but annoyingly with Kick3.1 and the chipram expansion fitted, I can't even get into the boot menu, it doesn't even show the kickstart screen with no drives connected. As soon as the chip ram is removed then it works fine.

I am going to ping one over to 8 Bit Dreams and alenppc to start with as they have a few boards and machines to test with. Depending on how it goes I will release the files and have a few more done to send out. Will give you the heads up how it goes

[Lemaru]

Just a heads up that one thing I have noticed is that it does slightly hit the bottom of the keyboard which makes the TF536 sit slightly at an angle. Only a small amount so it still remains connected and functional with the case closed (or at least it has for me).

The workaround I have is to solder the socket strip that is nearer the rear of the Amiga slightly higher than the lower one. This allows the TF card to sit at the required angle. If using a proper socket then just solder it at a a slight angle, much like the indivision ECS socket is on the A604 ram expansions.

If it works well enough for people to use, then I may tweak the design slightly as there is room to move the socket back a couple of millimeters which would help a little. There ain't much space in these A600s

If anyone has a cheaper source for proper DIP sockets, please let me know.

Thanks

[kludge]

I’m following this with great interest.

Regarding proper dip 64 sockets, I wouldn’t bother. The ones I’ve found have not been cheap, and doesn’t add much value over using strips.

[Lemaru]

I’m following this with great interest.

Regarding proper dip 64 sockets, I wouldn’t bother. The ones I’ve found have not been cheap, and doesn’t add much value over using strips.

Yeah I generally use socket strip, but figure the sockets would be easier to mount at an angle so the front of the TF card site slightly lower than the back. Would just make it easier to solder so they are level and angled than strip.

I guess I could use a socket to hold the strip while soldering. That'd prob work just as well. Found sockets for £1.24 each but on backorder until December :(

[Lemaru]

Had a bit of time for more of a play with this today. Still no joy with Kick3.1 with a 1MB ChipRAM expansion fitted. Couldn't get it to softkick 3.1 at all as just get a purple screen and it freezes will the power is removed.

Remove the extra 1MB and it works fine. Is great to finally have a 68030 A600 back after stupidly selling my Apollo A630.

Stick KS2.05 and the ChipRAM back in and everything I have been playing with works great.

I do have a kick3.1.4 ROM but haven't got a physical ROM to test with. Don't really want to buy one just for testing as I have been generally happy with 3.1.

8 Bit Dreams and alenppc's boards should be with them any day now so be interested to see what luck they have. Aeberbach, your will be posted out on Monday morning.

If anyone has any ideas regarding the KS3.1 and Chip expansion issue, or any ideas of stuff to try or test, then let us know.

[8 Bit Dreams]

Just a small update:
got my PCB today and have built it:
rev.2 TF536 board has a problem on KS 3.1 - it doesn't boot - just hangs on black screen,
rev.1 Tf536 works perfect, have played Supaplex for more than a hour now..
:girldance:

[terriblefire]

Just a small update:
got my PCB today and have built it:
rev.2 TF536 board has a problem on KS 3.1 - it doesn't boot - just hangs on black screen,
rev.1 Tf536 works perfect, have played Supaplex for more than a hour now..
:girldance:

I guess i should take a look at this sometime.. rev2 PCB so similar to rev 1 i cant believe there are many issues.

[Lemaru]

Just a small update:
got my PCB today and have built it:
rev.2 TF536 board has a problem on KS 3.1 - it doesn't boot - just hangs on black screen,
rev.1 Tf536 works perfect, have played Supaplex for more than a hour now..

Excellent, glad it got there OK and thanks for testing.

I forgot to say previously that both my TF536 boards are Rev2, though I only have one working CPU as have given up on RP33s after having one only work with CPU caches disabled, one appears totally dead, and the other gives green artefacts and and corruption on screen.

Did you test both with and without a 1MB Chip expansion fitted? As I find the only time I get the no boot on kick3.1 and black screen is if I have a memory expansion fitted (tried 4 different ones and same with all).

I guess it does rule out my TF and motherboard combo being the issue though.

How did you find the fit? I will prob tweak the design before releasing it once stuff is confirmed working. So if you have any other ideas let us know. Ideally I want the leave the keyboard header and onboard IDE accessible so think the only feasible solution is the angled socket route.

I guess i should take a look at this sometime.. rev2 PCB so similar to rev 1 i cant believe there are many issues.

Hopefully it's be a pretty simple fix if you do get chance to take a look. The more models we can get this going in, and the more choice there is for us then the merrier in my eyes. Great board though. Holding off getting another Furia for now

Cheers

[8 Bit Dreams]

have done all tests without 1MB expansion for now,
also tested Matzes 68EC020TK card and it works like it should, unfortunatly it is quite big, and will never fit under the kayboard, it may be the solution for acrylic housing though..

[Lemaru]

Nice. Though seems odd you just get black screen on KS3.1

Both my boards (using same CPU) boot 3.1 and 1mb chip fine.

Alenppc should have his through soon, so be interesting to see what he finds. Just seems off to me that 2.05 works as it should.

If I had an EEPROM burner I'd try 3.1.4