Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

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Steve
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Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by Steve »

Hi guys,

Just working on Tony's Falcon.

We are doing:
  • PSU recap
  • Falcon motherboard re-cap
  • Reverse old clock patch
  • Exxos clock buffer
  • Exxos NVRAM
  • Exxos RAM board
  • Install FPU
  • Install Fast TOS 4.04
  • Disable wait states
  • Install Openflops drive
Link to motherboard high res photos

PXL_20211105_113558486.jpg
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Just checking to make sure it's working as expected to begin with
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There are two types of NVRAM on a falcon, the ST branded NVRAM is easier to remove because its legs are visible on the topside, so much easier to use solder wick and the heat gun
PXL_20211107_164040607.jpg
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A quick clean up with solder wick
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Socket installed
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NVRAM installed
PXL_20211107_181350710.jpg
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Fast TOS 4.04 installed so we can later disable the motherboards wait states
PXL_20211107_181745439.jpg
PXL_20211107_181745439.jpg (493.49 KiB) Viewed 2525 times
Steve
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Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by Steve »

Clock patch removal / fix / install Exxos version. This resistor is the old ct60 'patch' and is very obsolete/bad
PXL_20211108_153221765.jpg
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Removing the resistor (carefully) reveals the trace has just disintegrated
PXL_20211108_153827788.jpg
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Some fine patch-work to recreate the trace
PXL_20211108_155136243.jpg
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Remove all these resistors to install the Exxos patch
PXL_20211108_153211221.jpg
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PXL_20211108_155553444.jpg
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Voila
PXL_20211108_161754349.jpg
PXL_20211108_161754349.jpg (385.35 KiB) Viewed 2435 times
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Badwolf
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Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by Badwolf »

Looking good, Steve!

BW
DFB1 Open source 50MHz 030 and TT-RAM accelerator for the Falcon
DSTB1 Open source 16Mhz 68k and AltRAM accelerator for the ST
Smalliermouse ST-optimised USB mouse adapter based on SmallyMouse2
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Freadus
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Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2021 1:07 pm

Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by Freadus »

That's a very nice repair on the SDMA, extremely neat indeed!
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exxos
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Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by exxos »

@Steve Don't forget there is a SMT resistor to go one the SDMA end..
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Steve
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Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by Steve »

exxos wrote: Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:17 pm @Steve Don't forget there is a SMT resistor to go one the SDMA end..
I thought we only added that if required, I was going to do some tests to see if it was needed (I've only had to add it to one falcon so far)
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exxos
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Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by exxos »

Steve wrote: Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:07 am I thought we only added that if required, I was going to do some tests to see if it was needed (I've only had to add it to one falcon so far)
It's listed on the install page and I don't mention it's optional. Even if it works for some weeks, doesn't mean it always will. Ambient temperature could change enough to cause things to malfunction.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Steve
Posts: 2570
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by Steve »

Ah okay then. So we should be adding that all the time now, no problems.
Steve
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Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:49 am

Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by Steve »

@exxos Job done boss :2k2:

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exxos
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Re: Tony's Falcon service blog (Nov 2021)

Post by exxos »

Steve wrote: Tue Nov 09, 2021 1:52 pm @exxos Job done boss :2k2:

:bravo:


You may want to put some hot snot glue over it because soldering a resistor to a small track is not very mechanically robust.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
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