Restoring CPU card A3640

[vibros]

Hello,

up for the question, what type of MOD is needed to use this modded A3640 (rev.3.2 no wait state or better, 030 wait-state if i have right understood) on a 4000D motherboard, because on a plain and original A3000D motherboard this was very funny to use it...or maybe the fly to Hong-Kong has done some cracks on the card.

Regards
Stefano

 

[vibros]

Hello,

this card is now back to me and, with issue about instability (maybe a track or a via, as reported by chuky in his blog).
I was sure, i had solved everything and sold as working card...anyway i am very interested to discovery what the hell is here.
I like this card..look at the pictures...



I hope to return to play DOOM as soon as possible, with this card.

Stefano

 

[vibros]

Hello,

the card is now fixed (definitively)! It was the cpu socket with poor contact on a solder pad (this socket was replaced time ago, so it speaks, not a canonical aged A3640 issue).
AIBB shows that in all test (except the graphics one) my A3000 (16 mb ram on board) with this A3640 beats the A4000-040.

This card will return to the owner as soon as possible. But first...i can't wait to play with DOOM!

Regards
Stefano

 

[vibros]

Hello,

i have done a module for AIBB and uploaded on AMINET. Now you can do your comparison by yuorself...this card is about 1.2 faster then an original A3640 ( it means 20% faster ).

Regards
Stefano

 

[vibros]

Hello,

good news, seems that it works on A4000D...no other modifications are needed!
The issue was a solder joint (maybe a ring) on the solder pads of the cpu socket.
The first journey to east has done worst the contact (that was not noticed by me during develop of this project).
...maybe the owner will do an AIBB module on his A4000D!

Cheers
Stefano

 

[B00tBl0ck]

This is a genuine, most sincere public thank you to him.

After delivery, the card was sitting idle for a significant number of months because my own motherboard was being professionally recapped. On power-on, the CPU just got warm with a black screen.

Let us be clear, we are dealing with vintage electronics which can fail at any moment or have all manner of minor malfunctions. The sale of such second hand items are "caveat emptor". However he simply went above and beyond, going the extra mile. He simply could have ignored me.

Not only did Vibros help me try to troubleshoot, he went to forums searching for solutions etc. As he only has an A3000 and not an A4000, we incorrectly guessed it may have been some A3000 specific modification done in the cards history.

Finally, he offered to take the card back. We did not even discuss money. I sent it to back to him and he diagnosed the problem very quickly. All he very humbly requested after fixing it was a token payment for his efforts.

This is a golden example of genuine community spirit.

Once again, thank you to Vibros.

 

[vibros]

Hello,

ho thanks you for buy this card!
You can share experience with this hardware, that seems to be not common in this type of MOD.
Pay attention at this two steps: the card is now faster because the cut down of some wait-state; ram access (i means the only fast ram you can have is on the local slot, because as i know, no-one has proved that a ZorroIII ram card may be faster), is now faster.
The tool "SpeedRamsey" set 60ns option for Ramsey (ram controller of the local slot).
So the two steps are: first test without "speedramsey", then check the prestation of your A4000D, with "speedRamsey" activated (you need to have very fast simm modules, labelled -60, -6 or better -50 or -5).

A picture of your working system with this card, is more then welcome

Best regards
Stefano

...Ah! Don't forget to play with DOOM!!!!