| Vampire V2.0 Power & Video Out Fix | |
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Christopher Spitzner
Posts 5
12 Nov 2018 10:05
| Hello,
I have an Vampire 600 V2.0 from Majsta. On weekend I made the C3 & C6 Power Fix and also the Video Fix. On Majstas Page I read that there´s a better solution for the Power Fix.
Here the Text from Majstas Page:"There was much better solution I did in final production. Solution was very slick and did the job perfectly. C3 and C6 capacitors were replaced with 22uF values, but real fix happened on bottom side of the card replacing 0805 100nF ceramic capacitors with 22uF 0805 ones. This ensured more power to the FPGA and real professional production could start." I changed C3&C6 with 22uF and want to do the same on the bottom side. But which one should I replace? Only C63,C64,C65,C66 or C32,C33,C34,C35 too? The Video out Fix works perfect!
Now I have a stable Picture in Higher Resolutions without the Black Screen. I was able to test the Vampire Demo, before the Fix my Monitor turned on and off the whole Time.
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Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6258
12 Nov 2018 10:30
| Christopher Spitzner wrote:
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I changed C3&C6 with 22uF and want to do the same on the bottom side. But which one should I replace? Only C63,C64,C65,C66 or C32,C33,C34,C35 too?
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Personally, I would not replace but solder the extra cap on top.
You can upgrade this way as many as you like.
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Chris T.
Posts 139
08 Dec 2018 19:53
| Christopher Spitzner wrote:
| | I changed C3&C6 with 22uF
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What Kind of capacitors and voltage have you used?22uF 0805, which voltage? Thanks in Advance.
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Igor Majstorovic
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 409
09 Dec 2018 09:52
| Like shown on pictures on my site just add 2 electrolytic capacitors, that's the easiest solution if you don't have hot air soldering station. Add something like 220uF 10V or more.
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Chris T.
Posts 139
09 Dec 2018 12:23
| Igor, you mean 22uF not 220 uF? Got you now. Means this would be the easiest but uggliest solution hahaha...I really have to get in Deep with that soldering Things!! Now depending what Kind of skills my colleague has, we will try to manage it.
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Sean Sk
Posts 488
09 Dec 2018 13:09
| No. He means 220uF.
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Chris T.
Posts 139
09 Dec 2018 15:15
| Thank you. The community is helping itself :-) But I thought that already.Nevertheless a confirmation is Always useful and much appreciated.
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Christer Sigfrids
Posts 11
30 Apr 2020 01:56
| I just removed my v600 v2, and im attending to put it back in place with a 3D printed frame to make it stable once and for all. I like killed 1 or 2 sockets becouse of it wobling around the 68000. But before that im going to make the last hardware mods on it becouse i intend to have it permanent placed in in my A600 and never touch it again. I got the right tools and im asking for which caps to change.
I already made the c3 and c6 mod. What left is the hdmi mod With all respect i understand that the caps might not be super important. But im willing to change them anyway. Incase it disturbs any new cores in the future. Soo im looking at C30-C34 and C63-C66. The 30 i understand it might not needed to change. But anyway. Which one is it and is there any other mod i should do before i glue it with epoxy and swap a duct tape around the whole motherboard? 🤔
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Angel Valdes
Posts 6
09 Feb 2021 15:44
| I am in the same situation with my V600 v2. I don't have any soldering experience and even to find those capacitors to purchase is challenging without more guidance.
If I mess with the soldering, I would completely lose my ~$500 board.
Could you offer a "better" support option for "normal" none super heros. :)
I would suggest two options:
1 - To offer a service to do it for the clients, where clients sends in the card and you do all modifications (Call back option). Client pays for postage. Better client satisfaction.
2 - Provide links to purchase everything needed (or sale the package) and a link to a "better video" with "talking" explanation on how to make the modifications. like a tutorial.
We are very exited about Vampire cards, and enjoy them very much, but a big reason we go to vampire vs other accelerators is the possibility of continuously growing functionality by software. That was the biggest sale point. we lose that when hardware issues come up. Please help us, help you maintain Vampire as the best option! :)
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Igor Majstorovic
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 409
09 Feb 2021 19:49
| Hi, you can read about that here:
EXTERNAL LINK
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Angel Valdes
Posts 6
09 Feb 2021 22:44
| I am really debating between "trying" to fix it on my own or just sell the thing and buy a new v2.2.
Maybe you can answer these questions to help me make a desicion:
- what other hardware "issues" (besides the power issue) do you know of for the close future with V600 v2? will it support Gold cores after 2.12 or will I have another "hardware" fix very soon
- What is the waiting list if I want to buy v600 v2.2?
- Is that a special clay he uses in the video to hold the capacitors in place?
Note:
there are comments in that post you sent me about additional capacitors been installed... so is that something that I also need to do to avoid future problems?
Thanks!
Note: Can you point me to where to find the right capacitors in a store that sells to US? I could not find those specifically.
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Igor Majstorovic
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 409
11 Feb 2021 15:26
| For the future no one could tell, but let's say that with this concept for V600 using Cyclone 3 as a base we are pretty much close to the end what we did, what we needed regarding power consumption and what is Cyclone 3 capable of. I m at least 95% sure that hardware design is final and that there won't be need for any hardware modifications.
Fixing this is very easy, just adding two capacitors mentioned on my article. Fixing video out is more complex but most people won't need it at all. Capacitors can be found everywhere, they have standard capacitors values used in every electronics device nowdays.
As for V600 production, new batch is planned this year but I can't tell when.
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Angel Valdes
Posts 6
12 Feb 2021 03:26
| OK, I already ordered the capacitors, I got a digital soldering station and all the other required tools. I am now watching some soldering tutorials and going to practice a bit before doing the real thing. Hope for the best! :) Question about you comment. You said that V600 is close to reach its final stable hardware design. but what about software based features... like combining both video outputs in Gold3? is that still part of the plan for V600 or not any longer? Thanks a lot for all your other clarifications!
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Igor Majstorovic
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 409
12 Feb 2021 09:55
| You could do it in any mobile phone or TV repair service.
As for core side, there is still room for improvements regarding V600 but that is not priority now. Right now I m more focused to bring production on acceptable level after bad affects covid19 had on it in 2020.
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Documentation about the Vampire hardware