Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Nagging hardware related question? Post here!
User avatar
t0nyt
Aurora
Posts: 984
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:46 pm
Location: UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by t0nyt »

Interestingly, although the layout is the same, the boards are a bit different

(also the 0k board has all the chips socketed, in 2 different colour sockets, but I'm thinking someone may of done that)

IMG_4516.png


User avatar
XorA
Site Admin
Posts: 1643
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:31 am
Location: Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by XorA »

I see some obvious component difference on both boards, wire link vs diode, missing capacitor, and possibly missing diode on right hand board, its a bit blurry to tell.

Are you sure the rams have power supply and that wire link isnt pulling chip select to 0 or something like that?


User avatar
t0nyt
Aurora
Posts: 984
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:46 pm
Location: UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by t0nyt »

XorA wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:27 pm I see some obvious component difference on both boards, wire link vs diode, missing capacitor, and possibly missing diode on right hand board, its a bit blurry to tell.

Are you sure the rams have power supply and that wire link isnt pulling chip select to 0 or something like that?
I don’t really follow as I know very little about electronics

The board with the missing capacitor and wire link is the good board

I could have another go at imaging them?


User avatar
XorA
Site Admin
Posts: 1643
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:31 am
Location: Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by XorA »

Swapping the PALs between boards would be an obvious test!


User avatar
t0nyt
Aurora
Posts: 984
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:46 pm
Location: UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by t0nyt »

Hopefully this is a better image

Many thanks

IMG_4522.jpeg


User avatar
t0nyt
Aurora
Posts: 984
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:46 pm
Location: UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by t0nyt »

XorA wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:44 pm Swapping the PALs between boards would be an obvious test!
Good point, will give it a go


User avatar
XorA
Site Admin
Posts: 1643
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:31 am
Location: Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by XorA »

t0nyt wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 5:44 pm Hopefully this is a better image

Many thanks


IMG_4522.jpeg
Thats much better, the hardware gurus should be able to analyse that better!


User avatar
t0nyt
Aurora
Posts: 984
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:46 pm
Location: UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by t0nyt »

I put the PAL from the 256k in the 0k board and it became a 256k board (according to Minerva)

I couldn't get the PAL from the 0k board to work in the 256k board though (got black and white stripes or nothing)

Put the PAL's back in their original boards and 256k is 256k & 0k is 0k (as expected) so I didn't damage them it seems

But I noticed something I hadn't noticed before, the 0k PAL has 3 legs cut off...

IMG_4523.jpeg


User avatar
Pr0f
QL Wafer Drive
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:54 am

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by Pr0f »

I suspect if you 'joined the missing legs' it would work in the other board too


User avatar
t0nyt
Aurora
Posts: 984
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:46 pm
Location: UK

Re: Memory IC's for PCML Q+?

Post by t0nyt »

Pr0f wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 6:55 pm I suspect if you 'joined the missing legs' it would work in the other board too
It did cross my mind that putting the legs back was worth a try

Am not sure there’s enough left to be able to solder to though, but I’m willing to give it a go in the next few days


Post Reply