Unsuccessful attempt to install 604e@350MHz onto Blizzard PPC

[guest7146]

i can change any componet so im not limited.

What about the CPLDs? Do you have spares of those? If yes, are they parts you've salvaged from other dead boards or just new parts? If the latter, how will you program them?

I'd be interested to have a separate chat with you if you have access to the necessary code to program the devices with.  Assuming you'll share the information, that is.

Apple Hammer

[guest7146]

I just had a look through the pdf that Tasmanian Guy posted, and read the following:

"The 604 is not pin-compatible with
the 603, as it requires additional power and ground pins
to feed its 10-W (typical) power consumption"

This suggests that it might be possible to fit a 604 to a Blizzard PPC provided that an adaptor board were made and that the extra power pins were taken care of.  If it is possible to design an adaptor board (need to read the rest of the document and digest it first) then the outer SMT connections could be used for the adaptor board itself.  This would make for much easier CPU swapping at a later time!

A lot more work, though...

Apple Hammer

[guest7146]

Out of topic:
Today the biggest tragedy happened for Polish Nation in the modern history.
I kindly ask all of you for one minute of silence.
 
['] ['] ['] ['] ['] ['] ['] ['] ['] ['] ['] ['] [']

I just had a look on the BBC news site to see what you were talking about.  That is a horrible tragedy.

Poland was the first country I visited when I got my passport (last year).  I went to Warsaw.  I'd love to go back, but this time I think I'd like to visit Krakov.

Sorry to hear your bad news.

Apple Hammer

[delshay]

I just had a look through the pdf that Tasmanian Guy posted, and read the following:

"The 604 is not pin-compatible with
the 603, as it requires additional power and ground pins
to feed its 10-W (typical) power consumption"

This suggests that it might be possible to fit a 604 to a Blizzard PPC provided that an adaptor board were made and that the extra power pins were taken care of.  If it is possible to design an adaptor board (need to read the rest of the document and digest it first) then the outer SMT connections could be used for the adaptor board itself.  This would make for much easier CPU swapping at a later time!

A lot more work, though...

Apple Hammer

thats not the real problem why a 604 will not work,an adpator board will not fix the problem.

[bloodline]

Anything to do with the 604 requiring a 64bit memory controller, while the 603 can use the 32bit one on the BPPC?

[delshay]

Anything to do with the 604 requiring a 64bit memory controller, while the 603 can use the 32bit one on the BPPC?

jackpot!

well done!

pin-compatible was never a issue as most are n/c on the Blizzard card anyway. but there are many signals that are not tied it does not seem to effect the 603e or does not show up but never the less even on the 603e their should be tied. this will effect other processors which some signals are marked as critical when useing a different processor on the Blizzaard card.

according to some of the docs iv read *all* signal should be tied if not used. the Blizzard PPC card has as many as 65 signals from my last count but it seems only about half of the 65 signals i can get away with not being tied.

critical signals must be addressed otherwise the processor will not work.

i can add some of the missing tracks on the PCB and tied some of the critcal signals but this can only be done with BGA socket.

[guest7146]

Anything to do with the 604 requiring a 64bit memory controller, while the 603 can use the 32bit one on the BPPC?

Ah yes, of course.  But I believe the 603 can use a 64-bit memory controller as well as a 32-bit one, is that right?

The 604 doesn't have that ability?

Apple Hammer

[guest7146]

Hmmm, I wonder if something can be done about that.

[tasmanian guy]

jackpot!
 
well done!

In all honesty it would of been easier to say this in your first post than let it go on to numerous pages.
 
Least we know why now.  
 
Thank you for sharing your knowledge................................ in the end.

[guest7146]

@Tasmanian Guy

So it appears there are two problems.  First is the fact that it's not pin compatible, as you mentioned, and second is that there may be an incompatibility with the memory controller, as bloodline mentioned.

It'd be an interesting project to design a work around for this!

Apple Hammer

[tasmanian guy]

@Tasmanian Guy
 
So it appears there are two problems. First is the fact that it's not pin compatible, as you mentioned, and second is that there may be an incompatibility with the memory controller, as bloodline mentioned.
 
It'd be an interesting project to design a work around for this!
 
Apple Hammer

Hmm is it worth it though?  The Amiga was a great computer and served me well from 1989 through to about 1994 or so.  My current Amiga while not being the fastest Amiga on the planet, does it job with a 68030 at 50mhz with 64mb of ram, perhaps we should put our money and effort into the clones that are coming out this year with the fpgaarcade and the natami (hopefully).
 
I have a fond love of the Amiga and though setting it up has been a frustrating but rewarding experience, it has been worth it!  I look forward to the clones where we can have Amiga's running at crazy speeds for those that need the speed (serious apps, eg Imagine 3d, etc) but also have a very high level of compatability with game software / etc.

[stachu100]

Blizzard PPC with 604e which I did is not working with two SIMM's (the same size SIMM's). Tried with different pairs of SIMM's. Sorry.
 
As my attempt was just simply trial to check if it is working without any adapter board and additional Blizzard PPC hardware/software modification (well, I did one connection on 604e processor as described in Hardware Specification to adopt 604e to 603e system) I can assume my trial as failure.
 
Some Amiga users from Poland declared to look inside flash dump to check what they can do here; if someone else is interested I'm ready to send this file by e-mail or upload this file somwhere.

[Akiko]

@stachu100

Do you have any plans to attemp this modification on a CSPPC?

[delshay]

ok lets get something clear.

was is right for alexh to call me a TWAT?

[the_leander]

ok lets get something clear.

was is right for alexh to call me a TWAT?

Yes.

Moving on.

[mfilos]

Come on man... he haven't used any F or C word...

Could be another meaning as well...


Anyway thx for the enlightenment of issue related to the failure