DFB1X installation question

[Swissfalcon]

Hi, my friend got his DFB1X and I will install it in his Falcon. I’m not sure if the latest firmware that require the bodge wire is installed, can I check the version somehow?
If this is the old firmware, I wondered if it’s possible to use the DFB1X without using his embedded ROM while deactivating it with the jumper and continue to use the motherboard rom to avoid removing it?

[exxos]

There should be a sticker on the bottom saying what firmware version but is likely 104.. I answered the same question about two days ago that version 105 hasn't being tested by anyone but myself yet. So I am not going to flash basically a untested firmware at this point. I need feedback from users. Otherwise it will stay at version 104.

As mentioned in the install instructions once you program the flash in the DFB1X, you just remove the MB ROM, its not needed anymore (unless you want to flash again).

[Swissfalcon]

ok, make sense for the firmware, thanks!

Yes, I understood that if I want to use the ROM on the DFB1X I have to remove the ROM on the motherboard, but I wondered if it's possible to use the DFB1X with the ROM on the motherboard by putting the jumper on the ROM jumper, will it work? Can Maprom be used with the original ROM to recognise the TT ram? The goal is to be able to disable the DFB1X for the softwares that show compatibility issues.
Thanks for the precision.

[exxos]

The goal is to be able to disable the DFB1X for the softwares that show compatibility issues.

Just use the disable jumper?

[Swissfalcon]

Yes, but then the ROM on the motherboard is mandatory. This is why I wanted to do a compromise: let the original ROM on the morherboard to be able to use the machine as stock and using the original ROM instead the ROM embedded in the DFB1X in accelerated mode. But my question is: is it possible tu operate the DFB1X with the original ROM, can the TT RAM be recognised?

[exxos]

But why? Whats wrong with the using the flash on the dfb1x? There is a disable flash jumper but I just don't see the point in it.

You cant mix modes of stuff either. You have to enable the booster to use its features. The original cpu cannot access TTram.

Maybe find someone local to update the firmware if you can't do it yourself.

[dml]

Absolutely not recommending this at all - but I found if the ROM on the mainboard is identical to the ROM in the flash, it works fine with the ROM left in the mainboard :D

But this is probably a really bad idea if you want to be sure its always going to work perfectly. I'm not really sure how/why its working as it is. But It has worked with 2 boards so far, on 2 mainboards. I think what is happening is it 'kinda works' just long enough to get booted then the flash image is preferred and doesn't conflict after that point...

exxos is now going to tell both of us, and everyone else - DON'T DO THAT! :p

(YMMV!)

[exxos]

exxos is now going to tell both of us, and everyone else - DON'T DO THAT! :p

Yeah if both ROMs are identical than it can work. Probably not a great idea no in having 2 chips driving the bus at the same time. But chip enables should keep them from killing each other.. In theory..

There is disable flash jumper though.. But I've never used it. I assume it does disable the flash and use MB ROM only. Probably best way is to erase the DFB1X flash, then disable flash with the jumper (you need to power cycle) then it should use the MB ROM.

[Swissfalcon]

But why? Whats wrong with the using the flash on the dfb1x? .

Why? To be able to use the machine with and without the DFB1X activated with a switch.
Correct me If I didn’t understood correctly. What I understood is that to be able to use the falcon without the DFB1X, the original ROM is needed on the motherboard ( logical) but to be able to use the DFB1X with the ROM in the flash, the original rom has to be removed. Therefore, using the original rom for both stock mode and DFB1X mode seems a logical compromise to me.

[exxos]

Why? To be able to use the machine with and without the DFB1X activated with a switch.

That's what the DISABLE jumper does..

What I understood is that to be able to use the falcon without the DFB1X, the original ROM is needed on the motherboard ( logical)

Correct.

but to be able to use the DFB1X with the ROM in the flash, the original rom has to be removed.

Correct with V104 firmware.

The V105 firmware solves those issues.

Therefore, using the original rom for both stock mode and DFB1X mode seems a logical compromise to me.

Like I said, try the FLASH DISABLE jumper. I assume it would use the MB ROM all the time then.

I don't remember off-hand if the CPU runs at 16MHz or 50MHZ with flash disabled. So possible there might be a speed penalty. Or it may run the MB ROM at high speed also. So you may need to make sure you have a 55ns ROM in there. Probably best just to benchmark both without and without FLASH DISABLED and see what speeds you get.