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Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 23 Apr 2021 21:32
by exxos
Steve wrote: 23 Apr 2021 21:30 @stween Could you post a screenshot of your RAM card? I'm thinking it might have high latency chips.
Maybe so but the RAM access timings are lightly controlled by the Videl anyway... Might be interesting to see if it has a slightly different part number than later Falcons...

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 23 Apr 2021 22:00
by stween
Steve wrote: 23 Apr 2021 21:30 @stween Could you post a screenshot of your RAM card? I'm thinking it might have high latency chips.
Sure; here's what I've got:

IMG_20210423_221215.jpg

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 23 Apr 2021 22:04
by stween
exxos wrote: 23 Apr 2021 21:32
Steve wrote: 23 Apr 2021 21:30 @stween Could you post a screenshot of your RAM card? I'm thinking it might have high latency chips.
Maybe so but the RAM access timings are lightly controlled by the Videl anyway... Might be interesting to see if it has a slightly different part number than later Falcons...
And here's the VIDEL chip:

IMG_20210423_230153.jpg

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 23 Apr 2021 22:11
by exxos
stween wrote: 23 Apr 2021 22:04 And here's the VIDEL chip:
Exactly the same one as in my Falcon...

Do you have the same oscillators ?

Capture.PNG

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 23 Apr 2021 23:39
by stween
exxos wrote: 23 Apr 2021 22:11Do you have the same oscillators ?
Here's what I have:

IMG_20210424_003430.jpg

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 24 Apr 2021 09:21
by Steve
@stween I think it's because your ram is 80ns, I've seen other boards with as low as 60ns before.

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 24 Apr 2021 09:54
by exxos
Steve wrote: 24 Apr 2021 09:21 @stween I think it's because your ram is 80ns, I've seen other boards with as low as 60ns before.
How would the videl know what RAM speed was fitted ? Same as any other ST, you can fit any speed of RAM from 250ns to 50ns and it makes no odds as the MMU is hardwired to run at the same speed regardless.

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 24 Apr 2021 10:16
by Steve
Oh okay, sorry I had a misconception of how that worked :) I guess I was thinking of CAS latencies on PC's and how they influence speed.

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 24 Apr 2021 10:23
by exxos
@stween

On U63 - pin 19 has a 4.7K, solder another 4.7K across it.. And solder another 4.7K from VCC (pin 20) to pin 2.. It may or may not do anything but worth a try..

Capture.PNG

Re: Falcon maintenance

Posted: 27 May 2021 22:19
by Rustynutt
NEVER seen an Atari 14mb Falcon ST RAM card.
Double wow. Not only the size, but cost at that time was huge.
One expensive Falcon there.