BlizzardPPC flash update problem.

[Karlos]

Ive seen this error a few times on my machine, usually when it decides to "forget itself" and I have to reflash it to get it going. This happens occasionally for no apparent reason.

The problem seems to be with the v1.4 flashtool. Earlier flash updates using the v1.3 flashtool will happily install regardless of the "sector 0" thing.

The pre-grexx flash and the one before it work well. You can flash with either one and it ignores the write protection gubbins and will happily install. Then you can flash it with a more recent version.

Be careful flashing your system if it doesn't need it. I have to reflash my system once in a while as I said, simply because it suddenly decides to fail (almost like I disabled it using the "2" key). Unfortunately the 10 second reset key combination trick doens't work here because I'm using a PC keyboard that won't hold the reset line that long.

Anyway, generally I seriously don't reccomend any of the later flash updates such as those that support grexx etc., unless you need to use it. I found it stopped warp3d etc. running on my bvision.

[Karlos]

x56h34 wrote:
The card lives! :-)

I've used the 200MHZ comment and it worked. The flashing process lasted longer than usual (5 minutes or so), but I suppose this was due to the previously corrupted flashrom. I can now access the bootmenu again. Thanks Ryu! Also thanks to others who chiped in with tips. ;-)

Actually, it sounds *just* like the problem I have with mine when it decided to "go funny."

It takes ages because your fast mem is not available and the whole flash program runs from grindingly slow, uncached chipram.

You might find this happens again in the future. I know I'm not the only one who has a weird flashrom in a BPPC, so don't worry - you'll know what to do if it does happen again.

As soon as I get a tower case, I am ready to unleash the awesome power of Grex 1200 PCI. :-P

The case will most likely be Infinitiv Tower. :lol:

Oh, I didn't read the bit about th GRrex when I told you not to touch that version of the flash update. Of course if you are intending to use one, of course you need it :-)

You might want to keep any eye on heat etc. with that GRex - IIRC Lempkee said his overheated and died. I dunno if he was just unlucky or what.

[Karlos]

You could do a lot worse than getting a VGA cooler to bold onto the heatsink.

GadgetMaster got hold of one for me, a VanTec IceBerq 4. It has a low profile, is wide enoough to cover the ppc heatsink and has a solid copper construction.

It also comes with a few small copper passive heatsinks for chipsets and thermal pads to stick them on with. I used 2 cut in halld to secure the main fan (it weighs 77 grams) and some thermal paste between the base of it and the surface of the PPC cooler.

It runs at 6000 RPM and keeps the thing nicely cooled. The original fan is totally redundant now and I'm thinking to detach it as it is a chronic source of dust building up inside the ppc cooler. You really need to keep an eye on that side at least, the dust can kill your ppc.

As for the 040, I have a passive (but hefty) heatsink bonded to it. I have shoved a temperature probe into it and have yet to see it go over 32 deg C.

[Karlos]

x56h34 wrote:
@Karlos:

Sounds good. Do you have any pictures of all that, by any chance? :-)

Not of the thing installed (don't have a camera handy), but the fan itself is here (site requires flash).

Look at the system cooling section down the page and select VGA card/CCB-A4C.

The temperature probe isn't a permanent thing, I was just monitoring it to get an idea. Currently it's 29.2 deg C on the 040 heatsink, but if I measure the PPC heatsink (a bit fiddly) it's actually about 20 deg C with the fan going.

[Karlos]

@SWAUG

That's not exactly the same model but very close. As far as I can see, the only differences are that this one seems a bit larger diameter and has "go faster" blue LEDs :lol: