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Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB (Read 1560 times)
RaverX
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #45 - 24.05.07 at 20:57:20
 
There's quite a few versions of Voodoo2 with memory only on one side, the other side doesn't even has the traces for other modules.

Most newer Voodoo2 are "single sided", i have 2 Powercolor with new logo chips and some others brands, but I didn't want to tear them apart just to try to mod other boards.
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Komponent
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #46 - 28.05.07 at 18:06:57
 
OK; I saw pics of a couple of Voodoo2 models with 1Mb RAM chips. Ofcourse, for someone that wants to try to do a mod for more memory with a Voodoo2, those cards are the way to start. But I think that it is not enough to solder other extra memory modules of 1Mb each one "piggy-back" style and to connect the RAS pin of every extra chip to the second RAS pin on the TMUs. There will still be the strapping resistors to be changed. Because the Voodoo2 cards have no BIOS, the configuration is done in hardware for the memory registers, so one need to update those settings, before the memory could be fully used.
Just to make my point here: I have not heard yet of Voodoo2 cards with 10Mb, allthough this value can be calculated for 2Mb FBI plus 2x 4Mb TMU. Just for fun, I modded a regular Voodoo2 12Mb from 4Mb to 2Mb for FBI; I only had to disconnect two resistors at the RAS traces so the FBI could now only "see" 2Mb. This part worked OK; see for yourself in the next image. By the way, this is no hoax, no edited sreenshot...

...

2Mb for FBI, plus 2x 4Mb for the TMUs, equals an strange 10Mb Voodoo2. OK, the FBI can see only 2Mb, but... the card itself is configured by strapping resistors -not yet found by myself-  to 12Mb, with 4Mb for FBI and allthough the 3DFX Voodoo2 info tab show a correct new value, the device when initialized tries to access 4Mb for the FBI and it locks with artifacts onscreen when 3D acceleration is called by programs.
Now, I do not say that the mod for more memory cannot be done for the Voodoo2; no way am I stating anything like that. I for one, I am realy sure that it can be done and I hope for it arrive soon; but the main problem is the lack of technical info's, so the work has to be done by trial and error until the right strapping configuration is found. I might be wrong, but I think that this is alot about luck, intuition and hard work.
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« Last Edit: 28.05.07 at 22:43:51 by Komponent »  
 
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NitroX infinity
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #47 - 29.05.07 at 11:03:09
 
Quote:
...I have not heard yet of Voodoo2 cards with 10Mb...

Quantum3D Obsidian2 SB90-2440 Smiley
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #48 - 29.05.07 at 20:04:54
 
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Komponent
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #49 - 29.05.07 at 21:16:40
 
Thanks dudes; that Quantum3D Voodoo2 card is a very nice piece of hardware; I wish I had one myself...
This only show that the configuration that I wanted to try to get with a simple modding is possible, but this info does not help understand how to "play" with the strapping resistors to change the hardware registers.
But for a collector that allready has a number of cards of different models, like 12Mb single sided, 12Mb double sided, 8Mb, 10Mb and maybe even the rare 6Mb, it would be possible to study the items and to compare them to identify the strapping resistors and the variations of theyr configurations and so the settings for future memory amount values could be calculated, in theory....
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« Last Edit: 29.05.07 at 21:21:39 by Komponent »  
 
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outlaw
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #50 - 31.05.07 at 23:56:36
 
I don't think comparing the 90-2440 with plane v2s is correct (to a basis of total memory) because the quantum's "extra" 2mb (compared with an 8mb v2) are probably for the 2d engine.
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