It's dead Jim (4000D)

[x56h34]

I have experienced the same thing as doctorq in regards to being able to power up A4000 motherboards so far, without them being installed in the original, or any computer case for that matter. It seems that having to have the board grounded with the case in order to for it to work is an old wives' tale, after all. :-)

[Ronmor]

Thanks eveyone, I tried all suggestions but I think it is the CIA chip there are two of them is that correct? If I try swapping out a CIA chip which one should I try first?
  ps. I'm pleantly pleased with all the information I got from this site thanks again. :-D

[alx]

I think it is the CIA chip there are two of them is that correct? If I try swapping out a CIA chip which one should I try first?

I believe that a common trick is to swap the "odd" and "even" CIAs around.  If one of them is faulty, then the Amiga will fail with a different problem.

[Ronmor]

Thanks for info. Alx, but the CIA chips on the 4000D are surface mounted (I think) that is why I asked which one should I try first.

[X-ray]

@ Ronmor

Leave the Miggy off for a while and let the chips cool. Then place two fingertips of your left hand on the CIA chips (one tip per chip) and switch on with your right hand. The CIA that gets quite hot compared to the other one, is the faulty one.
At least that is how they found which CIA of mine was faulty all those years back.

[whabang]

For a second I thought Red had come back... :-(

[Plaz]

For a second I thought Red had come back...

Guess he's still mad at us.

This is a method I've used in the past with some success.
It's a bit extreme but will give you a 50/50 chance of finding the bad CIA first try.
Use that "hot finger" trick to get a good guess at which is the bad CIA.
Cut the pins away from your choosen CIA and remove it from the motherboard.
A sharp xacto blade makes a good tool.
Power up see if you get a screen. Yes? You found the bad CIA, yea!
No? Drat, it was the other one.

Of course a good amiga repair center is always the best ;-)
Plaz

[Argus]

@doctorq

Yes, I remember bench testing an old a4000 motherboard just on some antistatic plastic, it did boot fine.  Guess that means I'm not one of the old wives.

@Plaz

In the true Amiga spirit, maybe we should start a petition to bring back Red.  If enough people signed on, maybe he'd drop his C=128 long enough to post here.

[Ronmor]

Thanks Plaz, X-ray & Whabang. I try the hot finger trick, sometime the best trouble shooting tools is common sense!
   Where would a trouble shooter buy CIA chips. I looked at software Hut site but didn't see CIA for the 4000?

  I was thinking wouldn't it be great if everyone that visits this site was in the same room full of Amiga hardware & software. :lol:

[nadoom]

arent all the cia chips the same through out the amiga range? its old tech i think it was even used on some old commodore models.. so maybe any old cia chip will do?

[Argus]

no, the cia chips in the 4000 are small square plcc type chips, different from the larger dip style in the 500, 2000, 3000, etc.  I think they're the same as the ones in the a600 and a1200.

[Plaz]

I think they're the same as the ones in the a600 and a1200

I know the CIA's are the same in the 1200 and 4000, not sure about the 600 snice I've never seen the inside of one. There was a vendor in Flordia I bought CIA's from, but I dont' think they're around any more. You might email softhut.com and amigakit.com to see if they have any stashed in the closet. You might also post for a non-working 1200 you can scuttle the CIAs from. I'll post or pmail if I see another source.

Plaz

[Plaz]

@Argus

In the true Amiga spirit, maybe we should start a petition to bring back Red.

I don't know, he was very sore when he left. Didn't even answer an email when I wanted to buy some thing. I see some of his ami/c= auctions on ebay, so he's still out there. I like to think he'll be back one day. But it did seem there were a few here that did enjoy sticking it to him. As long as that still exsist, he'll stay in they 40 colum/16 color pond I guess. :-)

Plaz

[Dr_Righteous]

My own experience tells me the CIA chips are not likely the source of the problem. CIA problems would manifest themselves as problems with sound or floppy access, followed by eventual lockups (as with my DOA A1200 board). The red screen of death is usually do to a failure in the CPU, ROM or RAM... Such as an improperly seated CPU card (which I see all the time as I am lacking the little plastic feet), the CPU itself, ROMs or loose SIMM. I've even gotten it when my SCSI card is loose.

PS: Benchtesting ANYTHING on antistatic bags is a BAD IDEA!! They're made of an electrically conductive material, which will cause short circuits across all of the pins along the botom of the board.

[dawiper]

Dawiper to the rescue.
Here's one source for spare parts:

http://www.amigashop.com/shop.php?k=64f22fd4ae33fe70bfea6e60c382fafd&s_2=&grp=2

Here's a link to their: "For foreigners" info.
http://www.datakompaniet.no/index_e.html

This is where I get all my Amiga stuff. They are ok!:)

The price is in NOK(norwegian currency). One cia chip equals $35.

[dawiper]

Dr_Righteous wrote:
PS: Benchtesting ANYTHING on antistatic bags is a BAD IDEA!! They're made of an electrically conductive material, which will cause short circuits across all of the pins along the botom of the board.

Really? I guess its a miracle I haven't blown up 10's of pc-motherboards + my a1200. If the bags was electrically conductive they wouldn't give much shielding for static electricity...