Overview Features Coding ApolloOS Performance Forum Downloads Products Order Contact

Welcome to the Apollo Forum

This forum is for people interested in the APOLLO CPU.
Please read the forum usage manual.
Please visit our Apollo-Discord Server for support.



All TopicsNewsPerformanceGamesDemosApolloVampireAROSWorkbenchATARIReleases
Documentation about the Vampire hardware

Help With Vampire 600 V2 Unreliable CPU Socket

Carlos Milán

Posts 95
19 Jun 2020 22:51


Hi Vampirers!

I am starting to get a bit hopeless here. I have a Vampire 600 V2 from the original Majsta batch that suffers from stability issues.

The problem is already more than identified: after installing the card, it takes about 2 weeks for the socket over the 68000 CPU to get loose and then the Amiga become way unstable. This is easily fixed by removing the Vampire and putting again in the CPU, becoming stable again. Then after about two weeks the same problem happens again, so I have to reopen the Amiga and repeat the operation.

Last time I tried using two screws attached to the back of the Amiga 600 motherboard to ensure the Vampire was tightly enough hold to the 68000, but no joy, it gets loose again after the same timeframe. Picture here: EXTERNAL LINK 
Do you have any hint about what can I do to stop this nosense of opening my Amiga continuously?



Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
19 Jun 2020 22:58


Well first off, I've had the same issue for a while. I found applying too much pressure to be part of the problem. I've also relocated my V600 inside a Checkmate 1500 plus case, and think since it's in a more rigid casing it doesn't seem to cause issues anymore...
 
  Also I think there supposed to be small notch in the socket to clear a surface mount component, I think I had to make this notch a little deeper to ensure the socket was flush...
   
    Also are you sure that is a Majsta card?, it looks like one of the older Kipper V2 cards, the same one I have. I thought the newer Majsta V600 V2s are on a black board and don't have that older logo on them.
   
    like below:
    EXTERNAL LINK


Carlos Milán

Posts 95
19 Jun 2020 23:21


It is from the original batch at Amibay: EXTERNAL LINK 
It is indeed a green one, old revision, but I got it from Majsta. I am really happy with the card, it has turned my 600 in the Amiga I always dreamed of; but opening so frequently to fit again the card is really spoiling the fun.

About the screws, I have been really careful to not apply excessive pressure and avoid bending the card. Even so, this was happening before applying them.

Maybe I need to sand a bit more the CPU socket?


Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
19 Jun 2020 23:34


Yeah I hated opening it so often, I kept destroying my Keyboard ribbon connector as it seems the third party keyboard Membrane replacements are fragile and the conductive pads would peel off even when disconnecting it properly. It was my biggest reason why I put the A600 in my Checkmate case.


Sean Sk

Posts 488
20 Jun 2020 00:02


Carlos Milán wrote:

Maybe I need to sand a bit more the CPU socket?

   
I sanded down to just above where the pins were but NOT too much so that I had actually started sanding into the pins. I think those sockets may have been a bit deep.
 
You could also try getting another socket. Leigh Russ posted a helpful suggestion in this thread:
CLICK HERE


Carlos Milán

Posts 95
20 Jun 2020 22:05


sean sk wrote:

  You could also try getting another socket. Leigh Russ posted a helpful suggestion in this thread:
  CLICK HERE 

The link is not working, could you revise it?




Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
20 Jun 2020 22:14


Looks like the link should have been this:
CLICK HERE


Sean Sk

Posts 488
21 Jun 2020 01:12


Roy Gillotti wrote:

Looks like the link should have been this:
CLICK HERE 

   
Yes exactly. Thanks! :D


Carlos Milán

Posts 95
21 Jun 2020 09:20


Thank you! I will try to sand the socket a bit more and... if that doesn't work, then it is time to get a bit of desoldering skills, equipment and replace that one.

What is the recommended equipment for doing that? Any guide that is somewhat similar to what must be done in the Vampire?


Paolo Fpm_paolo
(Needs Verification)
Posts 30/ 1
23 Jun 2020 14:44


Carlos Milán wrote:

What is the recommended equipment for doing that? Any guide that is somewhat similar to what must be done in the Vampire?

I suggest to have it done by a professional.
I had my vampire totally revised.
Now it's working FLAWLESSLY.
V2 - especially the ones made by Kipper2K - are very very very delicate. You seriously risk to break some circuits and or vias.
Trust me, man.If you seek my previous posts you'll find all the hassle I had for that board.
Now it's almost like new (unless for some unaesthetic parts but who cares: V2 is INSIDE my A600).


Leigh Russ

Posts 151
26 Jun 2020 08:27


Paolo fpm_paolo wrote:

Carlos Milán wrote:

  What is the recommended equipment for doing that? Any guide that is somewhat similar to what must be done in the Vampire?
 

  I suggest to have it done by a professional.
  I had my vampire totally revised.
  Now it's working FLAWLESSLY.
  V2 - especially the ones made by Kipper2K - are very very very delicate. You seriously risk to break some circuits and or vias.
  Trust me, man.If you seek my previous posts you'll find all the hassle I had for that board.
  Now it's almost like new (unless for some unaesthetic parts but who cares: V2 is INSIDE my A600).

The boards made by Kipper2k are no more delicate than boards made by anyone else. Year the socket wasn't great, but they are being used in a way they are not designed. Going by the photos of your card, whoever you got to try to "repair" it would before Edu did, would have butchered any card. The damage caused by them has nothing not do with who "made" the cards.

You really should stop hating on Kipper2k so much, and take some responsibility for the state your card was in after the attempted "repair". You know he didn't etch the PCBs by hand yeah, and they were made by a board house somewhere. And only the first batch were hand assembled by him, the other batches he had made by a PCB house.

Your original issues were just made worse by whoever you got to butcher and damage your card.

posts 11