G-Rex 4000 installation part 1

[fitzsteve]

Hi!

I'm going to write a more in depth article for my blog but wanted to share the pics here first

Yesterday I received my GREX 4000 for which I have been searching for a long time! I have decided to install my GREX 4000 in my A4000D powered by a CSMkIII 060/50mhz.

First here are the pics of the GREX:

And the A4000 I will be installing it into:

This was how things were setup before installing the GREX:

Installed were a CV64/3D with Scan doubler, Deneb USB, DKB3128 + 128mb and Toccata 16bit Sound Card.

I will be reusing the CV64/3D for a dual boot setup assuming here are no conflicts and the Deneb of course. I'm also tempted to keep the Toccata in place of a PCI sound card however I do have an FM801 Sound Card here that I can use.

Here's an overview with the Daughter Board and Zorro cards removed!

I noticed the riser board slots were not very clean so thought best to give them a little clean

All cleaned up and ready to install the GREX 4000

First thing to do was update the CSMkIII flash with the GREX version.

Please note you *must* do this with the SCSI disabled and boot with no startup-sequence. You must run the flash update from floppy disk, any IDE HDD's must be disabled in the early startup too.

As expected, flash done with no problems

Next to install the hardware!

One small problem, the mini PCI connector does not make a very good fit due to a slight warp in my CSMkIII

Lastly for this stage of the install/test I secured the GREX 4000 and installed a Voodoo 3 for testing.

Sadly at this stage I cannot get it to boot fully into Workbench, the first test (pre-installed OS3.9 configured for GREX take from my A1200) loaded up the OS3.9 Rom and then sat at the Insert Disk 3.9 Screen oh: The good news is the image was displayed also through the Voodoo so hardware would seem to be ok...

Next boot gave only black screen and repeated pressing of Caps lock gave a constant lit LED suggesting CPU not responding. After re-seating the GREX I was able to get it to load in the OS3.9 Rom again (this time from SCSI) but again no further booting from there.

With everything removed the CSMkIII is booting fine (from SCSI & IDE) so I'm sure it's a connection issue between the GREX and CSMkIII at the Mini PCI slot.

I'm worried about flexing the MkIII upwards to make a better connection so will be doing a bit of research on the matter

That's all for now!

 

[mfilos]

I'd suggest you to remove the CSPPC and then connect the Grex into CSPPC and then push both into their slots.
That way you'll have a better and more firm connection and you won't have to push the CSPPC so much
Keep us posted man.

 

[fitzsteve]

I'd suggest you to remove the CSPPC and then connect the Grex into CSPPC and then push both into their slots.
That way you'll have a better and more firm connection and you won't have to push the CSPPC so much
Keep us posted man.

Thanks my friend, I will try this and report back

---------- Post added at 16:12 ---------- Previous post was at 15:50 ----------

Good news, with mfilos' fitting instructions it's booting to Workbench albeit crashing after the CyberGraphX splash, I need to check the libs, etc but making progress

 

[stachu100]

"One small problem, the mini PCI connector does not make a very good fit due to a slight warp in my CSMkIII
"

Put some support beneath CSPPC; something like I did here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MSr94nlwX7hpHkpleej9FNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_K9wAaAltMXv3p4shmJrddMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Worst case ou can crack your CSPPC PCB if you will install-remove G-REX few times.
Picture (hopefully CSPPC was not mine):

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/srCSsAO0g8peYyI_eQN_CNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

 

[tlosm]

Steve if you install the Os4.1 please download the sysmon benchmark and do it just for compare the real advantage of the grex vs the mediator and the prometheus


I do this and prometheus is 10% faster of the mediator mkII in bus speed performaces

 

[stachu100]

Steve if you install the Os4.1

It's not possible. G-REX is not supported by AOS4.X.
Only MOS 1.4.5 or AOS3.X.

 

[tlosm]

... sure?... there is the grex fix option for the os4.1 during the installation progress

 

[mfilos]

This GREX fix is for OS4.1 NOT to crash upon installing!
For example you can install OS4.1 using AGA (ROFL) or using a PIV in the Video slot of GREX.
I tried that in the past but with PIV on the GREX I couldn't boot into OS4.1 Installation.
(possibly it could be low voltage with all these devices on, or other problem).

If you want OS4.1 on classics... get a Mediator.
GREX is for the l33t OS3.9ers

 

[fitzsteve]

Thanks for the replies. I think I need to support the MkIII as Stan suggests since after about an hour of setting stuff up I come to test a new installation and Mr Blank Screen is back

I'm worried to try and remove the GREX now since it's a really snug fit

Here's the new Pics...

First I removed the CD/FDD cage to make some more working space:

As mfilos suggested, I fitted the MkIII to the GREX first:

Then installed together in the A4000 (carefully of course!)

Much better connection this time!

And another view

This time booting fine, but garage output with the CF from my A1200.

Next to install everything from scratch... Was going well as you can see CWB3.9 installed and booting:

Added some more file to the CF in WinUAE, came back to the Amiga and damn thing wont boot again - blank screen icard

And I was just about to install CGX4

 

[tlosm]

This GREX fix is for OS4.1 NOT to crash upon installing!
For example you can install OS4.1 using AGA (ROFL) or using a PIV in the Video slot of GREX.
I tried that in the past but with PIV on the GREX I couldn't boot into OS4.1 Installation.
(possibly it could be low voltage with all these devices on, or other problem).

If you want OS4.1 on classics... get a Mediator.
GREX is for the l33t OS3.9ers

i didnt know this ... better know ... means i will not need any more a grex
I already have a Mediator MkII and a prometheus with Os 4.1.6

 

[fitzsteve]

Whoop Whoop! Progress

Kind of working now

I went back to it and she was booting fine again :dry:

So anyway, using MountISO from Aminet I was able to mount the CGX4 ISO which is needed during the GREX install.

I'm not sure, are you supposed to install CGX4 in full first? I installed CGX3 and updated to CGX4 as I'm sure this is how I did it on the A1200...

Reboot time

Hmm anything above 640x480 is giving the same garbage I saw with my A1200's CF card...

Managed to get 640x480 8bit and 24bit working... Kind of...

More work needed but time to rest

---------- Post added at 19:45 ---------- Previous post was at 18:00 ----------

Well I came back to it to fiddle with the screen modes/settings and not booting again oh:

After stripping down and cleaning all connector with IPA, left to dry and re building still not booting. Connector is fully straight and inserted so I'm at a loss, very reluctant to try with my CSPPC in case I damage it and I want to use the CSPPC in my Mirage Pro Tower anyway..

CSMkIII still boots fine without the GREX attached by the way.

Unless it's worth trying another A4000 Motherboard, this one has always been a little flaky with Zorro boards, oh and come to think of it, it's Buster-9 :dry:

Hmmm....

 

[Peter]

Might be another late night mate... have a Beer...

 

[fitzsteve]

Might be another late night mate... have a Beer...

I just noticed when looking at my pics, the camera flash picked it up! Some corrosion from previous repaired battery leakage that went missed!

I've just cracked open the Lemon juice

All the green is now gone, will clean it shortly with IPA but no more tests until tomorrow

 

[keropi]

IIRC , regarding the cgx4 setup, I just inserted the cgx4 cd in the drive and run the g-rex cgx4 update installer from here: http://grex.amigaworld.de/index.php?lang=en&page=40 , I never installed cgx3 or normal cgx4 and then upgraded... this would just cause problems.

 

[fitzsteve]

IIRC , regarding the cgx4 setup, I just inserted the cgx4 cd in the drive and run the g-rex cgx4 update installer from here: http://grex.amigaworld.de/index.php?lang=en&page=40 , I never installed cgx3 or normal cgx4 and then upgraded... this would just cause problems.

Thanks mate, if I can get it booting again I'll try a fresh install with this method, I'm struggling to get it to boot now with the GREX connected.

After last nights extra cleaning I've rebuilt this morning and still not booting.

I swapped out for another Motherboard and it boots but the GREX (or at least the Voodoo) isn't detected.

This other board badly needs a re-cap so I can't rely on it for conclusive tests, I'm sending it off to MJNurney for recapping, when it comes back I'll try again.

So I guess the project is on hold till then!