Did my PPC604e die?

McA4000T

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Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Posts
35
Country
Netherlands
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Noord-Holland
I have a CSPPC in my A4000T, but I am afraid that the PPC is no longer working.
I do have the ppc.library (v46.37) and ppcdiss.library, but when I run PPCInstall it says "no ppc.library available".
SysSpeed doesn't mention a PPC either.

Are there any other tests I can run or anything I can check?

Help and tips are very much appreciated.
 
What does sysspeed/whichamiga say?

Or you could try installing warpos and running an PPC application like ADoomPPC

Finally you could try to reflash the firmware

Beyond that I would send it to an expert like Stachu
 
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What does sysspeed/whichamiga say?

Or you could try installing warpos and running an PPC application like ADoomPPC

Finally you could try to reflash the firmware

Beyond that I would send it to an expert like Stachu

SysSpeed does only recognise the 060, Scout says PPC n/a.
Tried earlier WarpOS with no luck.
I just reflashed the firmware with no luck either.

- - - Updated - - -

You could try downloading the PPC Test Disk from here and boot from it. That way you can test the PPC without any OS interfering with the tests.

http://powerup.amigaworld.de/index.php?lang=en&page=24

Tried that, it starts with PPCInstall, so this came with the same result: no ppc.library available and a "ppctest failed" error message.
Also did the WarpOS test, it just says "Starting WarpOS test" and that's it, no results, nothing happens after that.
 
Sorry to hear that, it definitely seems there's an issue with the hardware :(
 
Now I am confused ...

I put some fresh solder on the oscillator of the PPC and the PPC was recognized in SysSpeed, scout and WhichAmiga.
Then I did the ppctest and it failed.
After the next reset the PPC was no longer found and it still isn't.

Still I am convinced that the PPC is working and some other component is preventing it from functioning.

Anybody any ideas what I can test or try next?
 
Having owned one of these card, it probably is the socket. The sockets on this card are extremely fragile. If your handy enough replace the sockets for both cpus, if not find a specialist.
 
Or maybe the PPC chip needs to be reflowed, send to Stachu or similar for a service, maybe even upgrade the chip whilst you're at it. Resist any urge to overclock the 060 as bus speed increase isn't good for the fragile CPLD. Good luck
 
Or maybe the PPC chip needs to be reflowed, send to Stachu or similar for a service, maybe even upgrade the chip whilst you're at it. Resist any urge to overclock the 060 as bus speed increase isn't good for the fragile CPLD. Good luck

Thanks for mentioning that Steve, it may just need a reflow. Stachu does a great job replacing the socket with a heavy duty setup and it works great. He overclocked mine a some and I never had trouble with over clocking, I just had great fans and sinks. Does the CPLD fail with the heat?
 
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Thanks everybody for responding.

I contacted stachu100 to see what repair options there are, as I don't feel the need to upgrade.
 
Thanks everybody for responding.

I contacted stachu100 to see what repair options there are, as I don't feel the need to upgrade.

No worries, I really hope you can save this card having lost one myself ( dead cpld probably from overclocking)

Reason I mention the upgrade is because I believe the chip needs to be removed to reball so might as well upgrade to a faster cooler chip.
 
At this moment my CSPPC is on its way to stachu100, I hope that in the near future both the PPC and SCSI controller will be working again.
 
At this moment my CSPPC is on its way to stachu100, I hope that in the near future both the PPC and SCSI controller will be working again.


Good luck :bounceBoingBall:
 
My CSPPC has returned from stachu100.
My PPC is now a 604e@350MHz, next to that the SCSI problem was repairable without replacing the controller.
At first still encountered SCSI problem, but that turned out to be my faulty UW-SCSI cable.
So my CSPPC is back in business. :)
 
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