exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

Exxos was kind enough to send me an STe 536 to build up, here is my progress.

Here is the board:

I need to find out which is GND on the JTAG in order to find the correct orientation for programming it. I buzz out the GND pin.

Here is my Pi Zero2 Xilinx programmer, back in action! I literally only use it once per year or even less, so I have to remind myself how to use it every time! Luckily I keep notes.

I hook up 5v and GND to my bench power supply (it's important NOT to plug in the 3.3v pin on the JTAG!)

Flashing successful!

Now time to remove the incorrect buffer chips.

Hey presto! I used low-temp-solder to remove the chips easily and quickly. It's my favoutite way of removing SMD chips, even though I do have a heat gun etc.

Time to solder in the 030 socket!

Now to solder the 68k header pins! I like to firstly put a dab of super-glue on the plastic, which holds the headers in perfectly straight ready for me to solder on the other side!

Voila! I also put some double-sided tape on the bottom of the dummy cpu, to hold it in place.

Close up shot of the top header soldering

IDE header installed!

All finished and ready for testing!

I am currently testing, but so far I am just getting a white screen. So I am thinking it's something ROM related. I have tried the on-board ROM, still white screen. I also tried putting my other spare ROM from my TOS switcher into the STe536, but this also just showed white screen.... hmmm I wonder what's up.

I did buzz all the 68k header pins and only the ground connections were linked. So that shouldn't be an issue.

I usually have a socketed TOS switcher installed, but I have unplugged it for this testing of course.

There's a solder pad and a cap to add on yet.. I'll not be home until late Sunday night to take a image unfortunately..

:bravo:

Well done.

I guess you will find out the white screen issue quickly.

Very nice.

White screen sounds ROM related, perhaps the missing parts @exxos mentioned are the problem.

I probably should have started with something easier than this to solder SMD! But (with the exception of a damaged pin from mishandling while opening the package) I got it installed and no shorts from testing. But I cant get the CPU to seat in the socket..

I probably should have started with something easier than this to larn how solder SMD! But (with the exception of a damaged pin from mishandling while opening the package) I got it installed and no shorts from testing.

But I cant get the CPU to seat in the socket.. I have checked all the sockets by putting in a spare round pin, they are all clear.

After looking at the images, I need to clean the board, I blew dust all over it (installed my new exhaust fan the wrong way and covered my work area , then went to bed :P )

@Dead_Cat it does take a lot of insertion force. I had to put my desk weight on top of it to press down, couldn't do it with my hands.

Thank you, I was afraid to force it.

Well, it's in, I hope I never need to remove it! That was way way more force than I wanted to put on this. there is still a small gap between the CPU and the socket, but I'm fairly certain that all the pins are in good contact so I'm going to stop before I break something.