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I knew they looked familiar, just couldn't think why.Icky wrote: 15 Nov 2023 13:42 So one RAM and one Flash Memory chip for upgrading my Z88
512K SRAM internal upgrade
512K Flash Memory internal upgrade
Looking good so far.Icky wrote: 20 Nov 2023 18:18 Well that is the RAM chip (front and centre) desoldered. I'll do a separate topic on this Z88 upgrade.
IMG_3299.jpeg
I have a sort of love / hate relationship with these types of upgrades. They are pretty simple to do but half the time I end up plotting how to build a board with a SMD Flash ROM and RAM chip combined that would just plug-in with a couple of fly leads.
LBH These things don't always work out as planned, as long as it works in the end 😁Icky wrote: 20 Nov 2023 19:10I have a sort of love / hate relationship with these types of upgrades. They are pretty simple to do but half the time I end up plotting how to build a board with a SMD Flash ROM and RAM chip combined that would just plug-in with a couple of fly leads.
Damn, that's annoying, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Reminds me I need to get back to my dead HX-20.Icky wrote: 20 Nov 2023 21:36 That’s true. I did have a glitch before I started the upgrade and put it down to low batteries.
The LCD was all blue and after doing a hard reset the screen came up with the menu and low battery sign.
I then went ahead with replacing the RAM chip and am faced with the all blue screen again and hard reset doesn’t fix. Yes, I have used different batteries as well.
This, @rubber_jonnie you are right it’s not always as planned.
Glad to have you back, I can totally relate to the shaking hands and eyesight issues, I have to use at least a magnifying glass for all soldering work now.Icky wrote: 06 Jun 2025 10:13 Oh my I am getting rusty and old.
I haven't been doing much electronics for well over 2 years now due to various reasons and finally I yesterday I decided to tackle a upgrade I wanted to do on my OSSC which involved a very simple remove a SMT 0603 resistor and ptut a fly lead from one of the pads to a SMT chip with a fine pitch. Easy right.
Absolutely not. Eyesight failing, shaking hands, and out of practice contributed in me pulling the 0603 pad off the pad that I actually needed to use.
Long story short I am back in the saddle with fine hardware work after getting hold of a 4K USB microscope and a jig to help with steading for soldering. Stripping back the line from the pad and soldering onto that line.
The OSSC is now upgraded to 1.12 and working fine. https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/OSSC#v1.12
Now I am back in the saddle you may start to see me becoming more active again in the hardware perspective on the forum. It's been quite a hiatus.
Thanks @rubber_jonnie, I now need to get myself up to speed with where I left off some projects with @exxos and @ijor to re-ignite some of them.rubber_jonnie wrote: 06 Jun 2025 10:29 Glad to have you back, I can totally relate to the shaking hands and eyesight issues, I have to use at least a magnifying glass for all soldering work now.