WTB: VXL*30 PAL chips

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I have a Version 2.0 VXL*30 that I've upgraded from the stock 25MHz 68EC030 to 40MHz 68030/'882.  In order to run the board at this speed I've found I need the three PAL chips described here under "Fast PAL Upgrade":

http://amiga.resource.cx/manual/VXL30-Configuration.pdf

(it won't boot at 40MHz without these chips)

I realize it's a one-in-a-million shot, but does anybody have these chips available, or any other VXL*30 parts?  I've read some interesting guides online about overclocking them and would like to try a few things out.  

Thanks!

[Iggy]

Good luck with that.
If you can find NOS PALs, a PAL programmer, and the code necessary to program them you might be able to make the needed components.
Sounds outlandish, but that is what a friend is doing for me in order to set up a PT68K5 motherboard for me right now.
These old obsolete parts can be a bitch to find though.

[AmmoJammo]

What happens if you clock the faster processor at the stock speed? or 30Mhz? or 35Mhz?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

What happens if you clock the faster processor at the stock speed? or 30Mhz? or 35Mhz?

The faster processor works fine with the 25MHz oscillator in there.  I'm going to try to bump it up a hair, 28MHz, 30, 33, 35, but I don't have the right oscillators right now.  Gotta go shopping!  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

What happens if you clock the faster processor at the stock speed? or 30Mhz? or 35Mhz?

Just a quick update on this:  I ordered a couple 30MHz oscillators, popped one in, and the system booted right up.

As a preventative measure I stuck some of those little RAM heatsinks on the PAL chips (already had them on the CPU & FPU, it's a habit of mine), and tapped a little fan into the +5V line going to the floppy drive, just to move a tiny amount of air around inside the case.  Wohoo, a +5MHz overclock on the board, balanced out with a still -10MHz underclock on the CPU & FPU.  Oh well, whatcha gonna do?  SysSpeed says she's pushing around 9 MIP's, vroom-vroom!  :lol:

[mechy]

Just a quick update on this:  I ordered a couple 30MHz oscillators, popped one in, and the system booted right up.

As a preventative measure I stuck some of those little RAM heatsinks on the PAL chips (already had them on the CPU & FPU, it's a habit of mine), and tapped a little fan into the +5V line going to the floppy drive, just to move a tiny amount of air around inside the case.  Wohoo, a +5MHz overclock on the board, balanced out with a still -10MHz underclock on the CPU & FPU.  Oh well, whatcha gonna do?  SysSpeed says she's pushing around 9 MIP's, vroom-vroom!  :lol:

nice...

Most PAL chips can be replaced with GAL's which run cooler and should suport the higher speed. Of course you need the code.Pal code can be translated to GAL code with pal2gal software. I wonder if the onboard pals can be read out or if the protection bits are set?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

nice...

Most PAL chips can be replaced with GAL's which run cooler and should suport the higher speed. Of course you need the code.Pal code can be translated to GAL code with pal2gal software. I wonder if the onboard pals can be read out or if the protection bits are set?

Hummm, good point!  A bit out of my experience but I'm not above learning something new.    A google search on Pal2Gal yielded some interesting links that I'm going to bookmark for future reading...

Suspect I would need the code for the V3 chips to support the faster board speeds, however.  I don't think it's just a matter of cooler running chips, it doesn't even try to run at 40MHz with the V2 chips (yellow screen at power on).  Good luck finding that, I know!  

[mechy]

Hummm, good point!  A bit out of my experience but I'm not above learning something new.    A google search on Pal2Gal yielded some interesting links that I'm going to bookmark for future reading...

Suspect I would need the code for the V3 chips to support the faster board speeds, however.  I don't think it's just a matter of cooler running chips, it doesn't even try to run at 40MHz with the V2 chips (yellow screen at power on).  Good luck finding that, I know!  

Yes, i am sure you would still need the faster code,but i just thought i would alert you to the possible use of low power,cool running GAL chips.. they work great for replacing the 4 pals in the A3000's also.

[giZmo350]

Yes, i am sure you would still need the faster code,but i just thought i would alert you to the possible use of low power,cool running GAL chips.. they work great for replacing the 4 pals in the A3000's also.

 Go For It Mikey!!!

[Lurch]

I own a VXL*30, could never find the RAM board for it so it sits in it's original box on a shelf.

It's a New Zealand board so I would assume it's the PAL version, what do I need to check?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I own a VXL*30, could never find the RAM board for it so it sits in it's original box on a shelf.

It's a New Zealand board so I would assume it's the PAL version, what do I need to check?

Sweet!  I'd start with what revision is it (should be printed on the board or on a sticker), and what speed?

............................

Microbotics made three different versions of the board, but each of the old versions (V1 or V2) could be upgraded to V3 via different kits.  Of course there was different ways of doing this, involving swapping different chips, or adding a wire, etc.  Then to make things even more confusing, there was ways of upgrading an older board to support the RAM32 that didn't include the ability to run at 40MHz or 50MHz.

This guide has some info:  

http://amiga.resource.cx/manual/VXL30-Configuration.pdf
 
http://amiga.resource.cx/manual/VXL30-Upgrade.pdf

 To the best of my understanding "Upgrading a V2 to support RAM32 requires replacing chips 2, 7, 8, 10, and 12.  Upgrading a V2 to support 40MHz/50MHz requires replacing chips 3, 9, and 11."  I have the former, but not the latter, LOL.  And of course the chips aren't even clearly marked whether they're Version 2 or Version 3.  Maybe I should have picked an easier board to mess around with!  :lol:

[orcish75]

I'm also desperately searching for those PAL chips, best I can get out of my VXL*30 is 28MHz.

[Lurch]

Sweet!  I'd start with what revision is it (should be printed on the board or on a sticker), and what speed?

I shall go out to the dark dungeon known as the garage and look through my storage boxes :-)

[Lurch]

Version 2.0 so might be out of luck :-/

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Version 2.0 so might be out of luck :-/

Yeah, 'fraid so, I suspect.  Looks like yours is the same as mine was before I started tinkering with it, maybe even a little older.  I.e., some of your chips that say "902" - some of mine say 904.  Of course, lord only knows what those numbers actually mean, LOL.  

Shame that this board is pretty much useless without its ram.  I only have 2MB, but I configure it to load as much of the OS & libraries into that memory as possible, and leave the 16-bit fast on my GVP sidecar for applications.  She does allright, like that.