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Determining the function of Logic chips, and CPUs — Parallax Forums

Determining the function of Logic chips, and CPUs

SONIC the HedgehogSONIC the Hedgehog Posts: 321
edited 2012-03-29 08:23 in General Discussion
SO the problem here is simple. My dreamcast ended with a bang, and I mean that literally as the power source exploded and a spark came out from it. While I know it may be old, it would make sense that the power source has some kind of voltage-spike protection, and my question is, how could I detect what hardware is still functional.

Comments

  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2012-03-28 19:10
    If you are lucky it may be that only the power supply is bad. If you can determine what voltages and currents (almost certainly +5 and +12V as a minimum) the rest of the console required you could use external supplies to see if the rest of the system is working. Once you have determined everything else is working you could make your own supply or buy one. If there are more problems than that I would suggest flea markets and garage sales.
  • SONIC the HedgehogSONIC the Hedgehog Posts: 321
    edited 2012-03-28 19:53
    I did that and didn't get any output, but m console has been doing that for a while anyways, plus I didn't quite get the twelve volts required and only used nine, so I figure thats not helping, but was wondering if there was some sort of scope tool or something that could determine function within the chip...
  • codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
    edited 2012-03-28 20:10
    as the owner of several of the dreamcasts ( and every other sega system sold in the US)
    i find the DC is very modular i say get another and save this one for parts.
    all mine have a power block a main board a controller port board....ect.
    so switching parts is simple.
    the DC uses a semi custom CPU and logic and has not even been well emulated yet.
    but its cool you can write software for it. have fun:smile:
  • SONIC the HedgehogSONIC the Hedgehog Posts: 321
    edited 2012-03-28 20:13
    Omg be my friend! I love Sega and have quite a good number of consoles! But that was my main thinking, I'll just you parts. Plus it runs WinCEm and snippets of DirectX so I imagine that it wouldn't be too hard to write software for it.
  • codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
    edited 2012-03-28 20:19
    there is an old program that will let you write code for it, but i stick to programing my segaCD :lol:
    sega is a wonderful company that had the unfourtunate curse of being ahead in one way but behind in others.
    Tha SMS is a personal FAV of mine with the 3D shudder glasses it rules :smile:
  • SONIC the HedgehogSONIC the Hedgehog Posts: 321
    edited 2012-03-29 04:13
    codeviper wrote: »
    there is an old program that will let you write code for it, but i stick to programing my segaCD :lol:
    sega is a wonderful company that had the unfourtunate curse of being ahead in one way but behind in others.
    Tha SMS is a personal FAV of mine with the 3D shudder glasses it rules :smile:
    I agree with ya there! The Sega cd has that way of generating those polygons that look so retro hut do amazing! But I've of seen the 3D on the Sega glasses.:innocent:
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-03-29 06:01
    My experience with repair of old RS232 terminals is that the power supplies are certainly the first thing to go - but.... transients can easily destroy the CPU as well. It there are EEPROMs, those are subceptible to harm.

    So you have to either repair the power supply or duplicate it to do a complete diagnositic. If the unit doesn't come alive, replacing the CPU chip is a second step. Then see if it is clocking. After that you would try to run a memory diagnostic verification.
  • SONIC the HedgehogSONIC the Hedgehog Posts: 321
    edited 2012-03-29 07:02
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    My experience with repair of old RS232 terminals is that the power supplies are certainly the first thing to go - but.... transients can easily destroy the CPU as well. It there are EEPROMs, those are subceptible to harm.

    So you have to either repair the power supply or duplicate it to do a complete diagnositic. If the unit doesn't come alive, replacing the CPU chip is a second step. Then see if it is clocking. After that you would try to run a memory diagnostic verification.
    Thanks a bunch! That's a great help and I will fix it over spring break! Woo!!
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2012-03-29 08:20
    This should help when checking out the power supply. Apparently these use the same voltages as a PC. You may want to read all three pages, the power supply part was toward the end.

    http://www.ultimateconsoleguides.com/Dreamcast3.htm
  • SONIC the HedgehogSONIC the Hedgehog Posts: 321
    edited 2012-03-29 08:23
    RDL2004 wrote: »
    This should help when checking out the power supply. Apparently these use the same voltages as a PC. You may want to read all three pages, the power supply part was toward the end.

    http://www.ultimateconsoleguides.com/Dreamcast3.htm
    Thanks for the link, that was pretty interesting.
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