Re: Another ZipGSX Mod Success!

[Warren Ernst <wernst@gmail.com>]

On Oct 6, 12:44 pm, Steven Hirsch <snhir...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I took the plunge and modified my ZipGSX to 64k cache and 12.5Mhz. CPU clock.
>   Polymorph's howto was extremely helpful with respect to locating the parts.
> In particular, I did not realize that WDC would sell small quantities directly
> to individuals!
>
> Instead of cutting the sockets, I tool the plunge and used my aging OK
> Industries desoldering station to remove the originals outright.  Went very
> smoothly.  The Zip PC board seems to have fairly heavy cladding and robust
> plate-through on the vias.  Managed to do the job without (God forbid) tearing
> any traces or lifting pads.  My 55-year-old eyes are not up to this task
> without a good magnifier between them and the PCB :-).
>
> When first fired up, it crashed repeatedly.  After some shameful language, I
> calmed down and went through the cards one-by-one, reseating chips and taking
> a pencil eraser to the edge connectors.  That seems to have taken care of
> things, and it's now been running for about 20 minutes without problems.
>
> I'll keep my fingers crossed, but so far, so good!
>
> Steve

Steve,

WTG.

And take this anecdote to heart: you couldn't have done worse than the
factory.

When I got mine, it came with 8KB cache, and when I added the full 64,
I was getting regular crashes. Setting the DIP switch to 32KB made
everything work fine. When I looked closely at the rightmost ram
sockets, 4 of the socket pins weren't soldered to the card at all!
They were just there hanging in space, but were slightly bent to make
partial contact with the lined holes in the card. Can you imagine?

A few minutes with a soldering iron fixed those bad solder joints and
the card is working perfectly.

-Warr