ST536 STE EDITION

[exxos]

@Badwolf So I think the IDE mystery might be solved.. Your card works with the later STE536 versions which isolate the IDE databus properly.. On your STE536 (rev 4.5A) , it was before those IDE mods were done.. it's totally unreliable.. But it works fine with one of my CF cards.

I can only guess that yours being a older 256MB card is somehow "not compatible" with how the original TF536 IDE logic works. Maybe its very slow on releasing the bus after CS and then shorts out the data buffers on the next bus cycle and it all gets into a bad state.. I assume its the CF which doesn't like anything above like 5.10V either, Somehow makes the problems worse. But it *sometimes* (IIRC) would mostly run on 5.00V.

Your CF now removed.. I've got the current BETA1SS firmware in it.. SR98 with 5.30V.. and its now running GB6! Before it was just stuck in a rebooting loop just after checking ROM CRC on boot up..

[exxos]

Left @Badwolf board on overnight running GB6... This is with the new SDRAM clock wire mod and BETA1SS firmware.

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Won't be able to do many more tests for the next three days as got running around to do and it's the weekend...

[Badwolf]

Top work!

BW

[exxos]

Being running all day, doing memory test and not tripped up once... It's pretty much been running continuously 24 hours now..

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[exxos]

I'm pretty sure trying to solder this regulator not going to end well...

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EDIT:

Hmmm.. I think this may be pre-soldered..

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[exxos]

Whos stupid idea was it to use these regulators in the first place

So attempt one...

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The damn thing skidded all over the place while heating up which probably didn't help

It seems stuck down at least... As to actually if it works or not is another matter....

[exxos]

Hooked up to my bench PSU.. oddly it pulls 38mA for a few seconds then jumps up to like 90mA..

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and....

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Nope




EDIT:

Spot the mistake...

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EDIT:

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Well we have power now.. just its supposed to be 3.3V

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[exxos]

Attempt number 2:

Went with a different method this time....

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Cleaned off all the solder on the PCB. Then blobbed solder on the IC itself. Then soaked up the solder on the large center pad. Then put a small blob of paste on the center pad on the PCB..

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He went on holiday again.. so I had to keep dragging it back !!

Once it looked soldered, I then went around the pins on the outside with a bit more flux and paste to make sure the pins are soldered down..

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Cleaned up and bodged wire back on...

and.......

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[exxos]

PLD and PGA socket now on

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[exxos]

Started a second board...

Cleaned up the pads with low temp solder paste.. cleaned up the solder after..

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Went over the IC with solder paste again.. Blob on the PCB itself..

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Time for some cooking...

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Quick clean up with some IPA wipes..

Also went over the edges with a soldering iron to make sure they connecting..

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Bodge wire on..

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Success !

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PGA socket now on.. Then will solder the PLD..

So both boards will then go in the UltraSonic .. Then onto the mods..

This will all certainly keep me busy for today......