Red screen of death with 1230 card / RAM

Just added a Blizzard 1230-IV with 32MB to my A1200 and am having some sort of stability problems. I suspect the RAM is bad and the seller is looking into replacing it, but thought I'd post the symptoms up in case it's just some sort of configuration issue we've missed.

In it's default configuration when I reboot with ctrl-am-am, I get a red screen. It looks like it gets into a reboot loop as it flashes black then back to red and the power LED pulses.

If I turn off at the PSU and back on, it boots up fine.

I've also found that if I boot to Workbench and just leave it, then maybe move a window after a couple of minutes, it crashes. The graphics get corrupted then it reboots to the red screen.

Having looked up the colour codes, I noted that red means bad kickstart ROM - and also that by default the Blizzard uses "maprom" to copy the kickstart to RAM. So I disabled maprom and the reboot problem went away, and so did the OS instability. However if I load a game with whdload (mostly testing with Lotus) it gets so far through the intro then crashes out with "Exception 'Address error' (blah)" which again sounds like a memory issue.

I have tried cleaning all contacts and 2 different A500 PSUs.

It's all running off compact flash (adapter from vesalia, Kingston card) and I had already set max transfer to the recommended setting as mentioned on the forum (I was having corruption issues with large files a few days ago pre-blizzard). Also tried the 60ns timing jumper setting.

Without the RAM installed in the Blizzard, everything is 100% fine (though whdload struggles, obviously, as it can't preload the game).

It's a Rev.2B board but apparently that's only an issue with 040s or faster?

Any magic tricks, or is it just a duff SIMM?

I suppose you could always take the ram out and see how stable it is.

I have done that

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Without the RAM installed in the Blizzard, everything is 100% fine (though whdload struggles, obviously, as it can't preload the game).

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But admittedly not extensively... Will give it a try for a little longer.

Some sockets are a bit tight for the SIMM, so it might pay for you to push the SIMM in harder against the socket contacts than usual before clipping it into place.

If that does not fix the problem then it's more than likely it's a duff SIMM and time to get/beg/borrow another SIMM.

Seems to be seated perfectly... haven't quite gone at it gorilla style though.

Are there any types of 72-pin SIMM that are less than compatible with the blizzard boards? Aside from those that physically don't fit due to height. This is a 1 sided SIMM so I think it's ok that way.

I will check the board for any dry solder joints too. Renewing any solder is a last resort though, not got the steadiest of hands.

You could try setting the jumper for the memory speed to 70ns?
Also, have your tried cleaning the contacts on the SIMM and the A1200 edge connector? :thumbsup:

Yup, done and done (with IPA), also checked the SIMM seating again, it's firmly in place. Thanks for the suggestions. Looking like I will simply await the replacement SIMM, just wanted to be sure before he sent it.

Do you have another simm to test it?

Sadly not, it'd make things so much easier. Might have a scrounge around at work on Monday, my boss is a hoarder so might have a stick somewhere - although I remember him finally throwing away a box of SIMMs about a year ago :Doh:

Have you booted without the maprom feature (i.e., you've put a jumper across the 2 pins next to the 60/70ns selecting pins)?