Picasso II+ / WinnerZIV / Mediator ZIV problems

[Tahoe]

Hope someone can help me out but I am having lots of troubles with my Picasso II+ in my current config.
My config is like this:
Amiga 1200 rev 2B mainboard
Elbox Tower
Winner ZIV board
Mediator ZIV
Picasso II+
Internal DCE FF/SD (linked through Picasso II)
Blizzard 1230IV

First I had real trouble getting the card recognised as 2 boards in the early startup menu. First I tried only the ZIV board with the Picasso. Only one board was found (+ the blizzard).
Connecting the Mediator and fiddling with the jumpers (now set at 4MB High) it finds 2 boards, ID 11 and 12 if I remember correctly. (+blizzard +mediator?)

Installed OS3.9 (used to run this trouble free). Installed Picasso96 and on startup it guru's.
Reinstalled 3.9 and it works fine until I install Picasso96 again.
Tried CGFX (the one bundled with OS3.9). It sees the card, I can select a screenmode but when I boot the AGA output goes blank but the Picasso doesn't come up, my screen just stays black. My monitor says it gets a 50Hz vertical sync signal but no horizontal sync?? Switched the 2 jumpers on the Picasso for support on the EnergyStar and BNC connectors (the picasso is on my second VGA port which is BNC)

This is really driving me nuts. Will probably this evening try to install 3.1 with the old bundled Picasso software to see if the hardware works... Any thoughts guys?

[keropi]

for me, the OS3.9 romupdate caused problems... I solved it using SETPATCH SKIPROMUPDATES QUIET
try to make 2 reboots... reboot after the romupdate does it's own...

[Framiga]

Hi Tahoe

maybe you alredy know this but . . .

When you switch from CGX to P96 (or viceversa for testing porposes or such), remember to remove always the libraries of the other RTG system.

i.e if you will install P96 again, remove cgxsystem.library or you will not be able to boot your system

Another point: IF you will install OS3.9BB2, you will need at least CGX 4.2pre7.

No problems with P96 2.0

Good luck :-)

[Framiga]

Hi keropi

this sounds like the other guy with the RetinaZ3 card problem, don't you?

[keropi]

too bad rtg cards have so many probs to get'em started...

[Tahoe]

keropi wrote:
for me, the OS3.9 romupdate caused problems... I solved it using SETPATCH SKIPROMUPDATES QUIET
try to make 2 reboots... reboot after the romupdate does it's own...

Thanx keropi, but no matter how often I reboot the machine, it will not work. I will try using WB 3.1 to see if that helps.

Strange thing is though that the card does not get recognised if I remove the mediator (te be exact, only as one card)
As soon as  plug in my mediator it shows 2.... But only if I jumper the Mediator to 4MB High....

[keropi]

perhaps it has something to do with the picassoII that can be used in segmented mode, in-line with zorroII (maybe III+IV, I do not know...)
If the p2 is in segmented mode, then it shows as only 1 device
If it is in the normal (speedy) mode, then it shows as 2 devices, one being the memory...

[Tahoe]

It's starting to drive me nuts!

This does not work:
OS 3.9 + Picasso96 (guru)
OS 3.9 + CGFX (Blank screen)
OS 3.1 + PicassoII (blank screen/hangs)
OS 3.1 + CGFX Unable to test, machine will not function at all anymore.

About to trash the whole system, this really is getting to me. Maybe the Picasso itself is dead, but I have no way of testing.
I'll try using another A1200 board, maybe that helps. This system is overall very instable.

[x56h34]

No problems with Picasso II in my A2000 setup with OS3.9BB2.
Perhaps you should get a Voodoo 3 PCI card, as you have a Mediator Z-IV. It is definitely a way better choice for you with the available specs in mind, as an RTG gfx solution.

[magnetic]

hi

Sorry I cant help you with the problems, but I have an on topic question if you dont mind...

On the Picasso which 15pin vga connector is output to monitor please?

tia

magnetic

[JaXanim]

@Tahoe

Just talk to Elbox, they'll sort you out.
You need to register your Mediator first.

Cheers,

JaX

[JaXanim]

@magnetic

I've got a PIV and know next to nothing about it, but looking at this picture, I'd say the 'outer' one is native video (15KHz) and the 'central' one is RTG video (31-64KHz).

Cheers,

JaX

[Tahoe]

@JaX:
That's not a Picasso IV but a standard Picasso II (not the + version).
On this picture, the TOP one is output!

[keropi]

I think that this is strictly a prob with the p2 and busboard... Tahoe, you should really look for a ZIII board (your busboard it ziii right?)
I got yesterday a PiccoloSD64 4MB (ZII / ZIII) and it works great , I can even use the os3,9 romupdate again :-)

[Tahoe]

I have the Winner ZIV (Zorro IV is an invention of Elbox)
Basic Zorro slots are Zorro-II, not III. It is alround known as the most compatible busboard of them all.

This weekend i'm going to try my other A1200 mainboard. I don't trust the one which came with the tower, it already gave me the impression it's not stable, even without the busboard/mediator I often got crashes and hangups. The other a1200 was solid as a rock.