I need a favor from someone living close to DCE.

[x56h34]

I have a basic 040/25Mhz, no SCSI, rev.0 BPPC card which I'd like to be able to use with G-rex 1200, but as G-rex requires a rev.2 BPPC, I am stuck. I don't plan to send it to DCE, but I was thinking if someone in Germany living close to them would be kind enough to do a walk-in upgrade for my card for a fee? It shouldn't take long, as this is a firmware flash upgrade and not an actual hardware modification, but strangely it can only be done at DCE and not by yourself like when flashing a regular firmware.

I basically already have all the parts necessary for an A1200T system except my BPPC is not rev.2 :-(

Let me know if somebody can help.

[x56h34]

There is a file called "boardtype" that reports firmware revision. Revision 0 is the most common revision and it does not work if used with Grex 1200. Revision 2 is the rarer version that works with Grex 1200 and adds better compatibility with Bvision as well and gives BPPC overall better power management (e.g. no need to provide extra power to the motherboard floppy connector because your Bvision is crashing the system).

There is no physical differences between revision 0 and 2 BPPC cards, but the only difference is that the firmware/logic is a bit better in rev 2 cards. This doesn't concern the flash-rom update which you can download and update your card with. No, this is a special update that can only be done at DCE. If I understand correctly, they attach it to their "update machine" through the Bvision connector and from there apply the update.

Boardtype can be obtained from here.

[x56h34]

@patrik:

Well, there are different reports from different people on what "may" happen. Lempkee for example wouldn't touch a Grex with a 10 foot pole, no matter what revision the BPPC card is. :-) I used a Grex with a rev 2 BPPC fine for about a year, before I sold it. Rev 0 card cannot work with a graphics card inserted in Grex, with the latest Grex flashrom 2.2 (the old 1.x should work, however it is vastly inferior performance wise). There's a Grex yahoo group that answers all of these questions.

@Acill:

It was successfully done, believe it or not. BTW, this is an oooold thread and patrik somehow dug it up again. :-)