A1200 G-REX problems

[a1200freak]

Hello,

I got a G-REX for my A1200. Here my hardware:

- A1200 Rev.1D4, Kick3.1
- BPPC 68040/175, boardtype 2
- Voodoo3 3000, Terractec soundcard
- HD and CDROM on standard IDE-port
- Elbox Winner Tower

I flashed the BPPC with the update from G-REX driver CD (V1.3). In the config menu of the BPPC the Voodoo3 is recognized. I choose 31 KHz Monitor in the System Setup but there is no output on the Voodoo. After installation of OS39 and CybergraphX4 with latest update for G-REX the system hangs when I choose a screenmode for the Voodoo. PCIScan shows from time to times as class for the Voodoo "Mass Storage Controller" and not "Display Controller". This also happens in the BPPC PCI menu.

So I flashed the BPPC with the latest update from grex.amigaworld.de. After that the Amiga is in a reboot loop. I neither get into the early startup menu nor into the setup menu of the BPPC.

I have tested another Voodoo3 which works with a mediator board -> same results.

Does anybody knows about these problems ?

Regards
 

[CLS2086]

Hi,
1st : check your PSU (200w at least), more than 4.86v for +5v.
2nd : have you well modified you 1D4 motherboard ?
3rd : Have you well put the right GREX 2.2 bios for 040 ? did you use FORCE ?
4th : are you sure you have a rev2 ? did you try board type ?
5th : try to put only the voodoo on the last slot, and the terratec on the 2nd slot.

Normaly the BPPC boot menu and the early must be also displayed on the Voodoo.

[a1200freak]

Hi,

thanks for your answer.

1.: it has 200W and more than 4.86v
2.: what do you mean with "modify" ? I didn't modify anything
3.: yes
4.: yes, boardtype from aminet says revision 2
5.: I tried but same result

[keropi]

hi, g-rex user here....

remove the g-rex, RE-FLASH with removed g-rex (and the LATEST flash on the unofficial g-rex support site) and power off. then re-install the g-rex and see if it works now.
also check if the voodoo works OK on a pc and be sure you have plugged power to the g-rex board!
the A1200 mobo revision and it's fixes are irrelevant IMHO, I have an unmodified 1.D4 mobo here working fine...

[x56h34]

I've seen this problem in the past. I doubt that flashing to v2.2 will solve the problem, but he may as well try.

It's a defective Grex1200 unit. You most likely need a new Grex1200 logic board (the piece that connects the PPC card to PCI slot board). Speaking from personal experience. :-)

One last thing to try would be to put Voodoo in PCI slot #5 and see if that makes any difference. You don't need a DMA capable slot for Voodoo 3, so in general don't use it in slots 1 or 2.

[a1200freak]

Hi,

I did as supposed (new flash) but with the same result in the end.

The Voodoo works together with a Mediator so it should work with the G-REX.

I have plugged power to the G-REX.

After all I think x56h34 is right. The G-REX is defective. I'm searching for a logic board. What's the price for such a piece of hardware ?

Regards

A1200freak

[keropi]

oh, too bad it is broken...  :-(
I doubt u will be able to get only the logic board, u will find the complete set... Got my rev2 g-rex for 100euros...

[Boot_WB]

Sounds a lot like the issues I have with my rev2 Grex.

When it _does_ boot a sysinfo speed check shows it either:

1) Is running as a 68ec020 at 25MHz (ie stock cpu at accelerator board clock)

or

2) Is running as a 68040 at 14MHz.

In both cases WhichAmiga fails to detect the PPC side, the Voodoo never displays anything (or even gives a signal to activate the monitor) and booting up takes forever.

I suspect either the manual jumpering of the rev2 logic/bus board is done incorrectly, or something is shorting.  I'm loth to remove the manual jumpers to find out though.

Funnily, when there are no PCI cards in the Grex everything runs fine, at normal speed, and the PPC cpu is identified OK by WhichAmiga.