exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

So if I put in a C101643 and cut the wired and it doesn't work, can it damage my Atari STE, or can I just try it to see if it works?

Reluctant16bitter wrote: 30 Aug 2025 10:13 So if I put in a C101643 and cut the wired and it doesn't work, can it damage my Atari STE, or can I just try it to see if it works?

Putting a genuine blitter IC in the STE board won't damage the STE, even if it doesn't work. As for cutting/soldering wires etc... that's always another matter. It is not a mod I'm familiar with so you'll need to rely on your own research and advice from the others above.

Putting a fake/re-marked IC in the board is a different question though. Low chance of causing any damage but not impossible. You'll need to decide for yourself if you're confident it's a real part from a trustworthy source and take the (probably low) risk of trying it in the board.

Reluctant16bitter wrote: 30 Aug 2025 08:46 Sorry for asking again, but I'm quite new to Atari computers. So I found a C101643 on eBay and https://www.best-electronics-ca.com/custom-i.htm seems to confirm this is an STE blitter. Am I right?

If you look at the STE motherboard picture I linked to earlier in the thread, it has a C101643 blitter installed, so I'd suggest it'll be fine.

My STE also has a C101643-011 installed.

Previously it had a MM9092V - which worked fine - I just swapped it out due to an early MonSTErbo incompatibility (now fixed)

rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Aug 2025 11:12 If you look at the STE motherboard picture I linked to earlier in the thread, it has a C101643 blitter installed, so I'd suggest it'll be fine.

It's a bit hard to read, but yes, thanks!

chronicthehedgehog wrote: 30 Aug 2025 12:54 My STE also has a C101643-011 installed.

Thanks for confirming!

Expecting delivery of my Blitter today. Seeing as some on this forum damaged socket pins, what is the best way to place it? Any tips or other things I should take into account?

Also, it is square. How will I know which way to point which side?

Reluctant16bitter wrote: 04 Sep 2025 12:49 Also, it is square. How will I know which way to point which side?

PLCCs usually have one chamfered corner on the edge with pin #1 - and also a dot/dent in the chamfered edge exactly at pin #1.

The dot might be at the corner on some ICs but they all have the chamfered corner and the socket has it too so you should be able to tell which way it goes if you look carefully. If in doubt, photo both and post here :)

On close inspection, I could see the chamfered corners, both in the socket and on the chip, but I saw something on the chip that doesn't look good:
Will that be a problem? And can I repair that?

Reluctant16bitter wrote: 04 Sep 2025 14:10Will that be a problem? And can I repair that?

Apparently, it probably was, but, using a pair of tweezers, I could:
I appear to have a blitter now!

:girldance:

The pins often get like that when not removed carefully, but as you've found are able to be adjusted quite easily. For reference one corner is notched differently to key it and there is usually a dot in the middle of one side that indicates pin 1, and the silkscreen usually shows pin 1 as well.

Glad to see it working, and I'd suggest that you reinstall the clamp :)