The Holy Grail for CD32 users - The SX32 Pro

[PaSha]

Yup, last one I saw went for 350 EUR or thereabouts.

The trick regarding stability is to use a later rev 68030 (MC68030RC50C), get rid of the dodgy old C64 power switch and replace it with a solder bridge, and use a 4.3 Amp A500 PSU.


-Paul

[PaSha]

The ultimate CD32 expansion would be a ProModule with a CPU-upgrade (allows for simultaneous use of FMV module, and makes it a nice looking system with internal floppy and so on).
But well, one can always hope that a coldfire-thingy shows up some time... With built-in ethernet

-Paul

[PaSha]

@ PaSha

Could a crappy power switch really cause all these problems? I'm no expert, but it seems like if it powers up, the power switch is working properly. Please explain - I know you're well-versed in this area :-)

Here

Basically, the recycled-from-leftover-C64-stock power switch is prone to having bad connections, restricting the power flow (especially during higher loads). Replacing it with decent thickness links will usually cure any power-shortage related flakyness.

Your mileage may vary, but it's worth a shot.

According to this a CD32 with SX32 Pro and a small 2.5" HD uses 2.19 Amps of +5vdc.
The lightweight type stock CD32 PSU is rated at 2.2 Amps of +5vdc, which is a bit too close to the limit.

The smaller, heavy stock CD32 PSU however, is rated at 3 Amps of +5vdc and should do the trick, as should an A590 PSU (3 Amps). The optimal solution is the lightweight A500 PSU, supplying a whopping 4.3 Amps of +5vdc (optimal because it doesn't have a fan).

-Paul

[PaSha]

Matt_H wrote:

It was designed for the European market and I have NTSC units. One's a Rev 3 motherboard, don't know about the other. Maybe there are timing differences that cause them to fail? Even so, booting into PAL doesn't help.

Rev 3 is the most common revision, rev 2 was IIRC a proto, and rev 4 is the French version (with RGB output and no RF output because of SECAM).

[PaSha]

Matt_H wrote:
@ PaSha

Well, I think I have an appropriate PSU - genuine bigfoot model. As to the switch, does the "bypass" on the linked page mean that if the CD32's plugged in, it's on? Or does it just offer an additional route for current to compensate for the crappy switch?

Oh, and thanks for the motherboard revision info. :-)

The links are instead of the switch, so yes, this means that when the CD32 is plugged in, it's on. (which is why A500 PSUs are nice). The switch itself is removed.

[PaSha]

Hehe, no problem at all. I was just kidding around. It's obvious one way or the other that this baby will go to someone willing to shell out 400EUR or more. I'd be suprised if it got sold for less than that.

Man, this was insane.
In the last 3 minutes of the auction, the price rose from 212 EUR to a whopping 451 EUR!

I myself stopped at 329 EUR.... :boohoo:

Anyways, a piece of advice for people spotting nice things on ebay.de:
Even if the item is listed as "Germany only", most sellers will happily ship elsewhere if you ask them kindly (preferably in German).

Congratulations and the best of luck to mr eisfrei, the winner of the auction.

-Paul
A4000D: CS-PPC, Grex blablabla...
CD32: FMV