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Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 22 Dec 2023 13:56
by rubber_jonnie
HigashiJun wrote: 22 Dec 2023 13:36 @rubber_jonnie

Ouch, looks pretty bad...

Even the plastic inside the connector is fubar.
Like Transformers, theres more than meets the eye. Seems like not only are the pins a mess, but it's also bent:

PXL_20231222_133738384.jpg
PXL_20231222_133226304.jpg

But at least it desoldered cleanly with no pad damage, though it took some time as the damn solder is way hard, and the ground planes huge:

PXL_20231222_135007251.jpg

Will give the internals a clean as very dusty, though pretty clean compared the that PS3!

So I'm ready to go once the replacement HDMI port arrives.

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 22 Dec 2023 22:55
by Tomswork
I changed a hdmi connector on a ps5 it was a nightmare its at the maximum of my skill level.
Tom

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 22 Dec 2023 23:28
by HigashiJun
rubber_jonnie wrote: 22 Dec 2023 13:56
Like Transformers, theres more than meets the eye. Seems like not only are the pins a mess, but it's also bent:


PXL_20231222_133738384.jpg


PXL_20231222_133226304.jpg


But at least it desoldered cleanly with no pad damage, though it took some time as the damn solder is way hard, and the ground planes huge:


PXL_20231222_135007251.jpg


Will give the internals a clean as very dusty, though pretty clean compared the that PS3!

So I'm ready to go once the replacement HDMI port arrives.
Very neat !

And yes, more than meet the eye:

Traansformer.jpg

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 23 Dec 2023 10:09
by rubber_jonnie
Tomswork wrote: 22 Dec 2023 22:55 I changed a hdmi connector on a ps5 it was a nightmare its at the maximum of my skill level.
Tom
They are particularly difficult on this model of PS4 as there are 4 EMI filters and the HDMI encoder under a small shield very close by, making heating from below rather difficult if you don't want to remove those as well. I learned from my past mistakes and used aluminium tape to prevent hot air getting under the shield and desoldering the filters.

I haven't tried on a PS5, I can imagine it's just as difficult.

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 23 Dec 2023 10:10
by rubber_jonnie
HigashiJun wrote: 22 Dec 2023 23:28

Very neat !

And yes, more than meet the eye:


Traansformer.jpg


Sorry, I couldn't resist...
:dizzy:

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 24 Dec 2023 11:24
by rubber_jonnie
HDMI ports are out for delivery, fingers crossed they'll come at a reasonable time of day and I can get one fitted and the PS4 back up and running today.

In the meantime I'll get the case dusted out and ready for reassembly.

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 24 Dec 2023 21:37
by rubber_jonnie
Well that's annoying, HDMI port replaced, and everything buzzes out bar pin 16. It buzzes out from the port to the mainboard, but not from the mainboard to the next hop ☹️

The pin is definitely soldered, and the other 2 ps4s buzz out correctly. Meh!

May have to try bodge wiring it.


Pfft

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 24 Dec 2023 21:57
by stephen_usher
*grumble*

Maybe the trace is broken, but it's not obvious.

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 24 Dec 2023 22:16
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 24 Dec 2023 21:57 *grumble*

Maybe the trace is broken, but it's not obvious.
Very possible, and wouldn't be the first time.

Re: PS4 of Doom...

Posted: 26 Dec 2023 15:41
by rubber_jonnie
Well, today has been a good day PS4 wise. I decided to go straight in and bodge wire pin 16 from the HDMI socket to the next point on the board:

PXL_20231226_132135164.jpg

And a quick run with the HDMI tester and the EDID light had returned.

I then hooked up to a TV and it worked in 480P mode, the last mode it was left in. I logged on and changed resolution to 'Automatic', rebooted and there we were in full 1080P, automatically detected :)

PXL_20231226_145331436.jpg

So i whacked on some solder mask and set it with UV, and also put a bit on the wire to stop it moving around.

PXL_20231226_140020649.jpg

Not as neat as I would have liked, or as short, but I was struggling to make it work with shorter wire, so went with what worked.

These two tools have been exceptionally useful in troubleshooting:

PXL_20231226_145409494.jpg

The purple board is an HDMI tester, not cheap at about £40, but it will tell you exactly if HDMI output is working, with lights indicating 5v, EDID and all the data lines, so no need for a display to tell if you have output.

The other board is a breakout board which aside from acting as a sacrificial board (They are about £4-£5 on eBay, so disposable), they make it very easy to buzz out from the connections on the inside of the console and see whats missing. It also makes sort work of testing for shorts between pins, it's really very useful for such an inexpensive item and helped me find the problem with pin 16.

I'm not intirely sure what went on with pin 16, either sone damage to traces that was not obvious, or maybe heat damage from removing the old port. The main thing is that it's fixed and working, so I'm pretty happy on that front now :)

What is also very helpful is that the other WLOD PS4 has no EDID light either, which I now know requires pin 16 to be connected, so it's potentially given me a clue as to what is going on with that one too.