Re: Socket 5/7/SS7 (Voltage Interposer) Tweaker.
Posted on 2022-05-05, 14:59
I love all the pictures. Keep it up.
Re: S3 Virge/GX Repair
Posted on 2022-05-05, 14:52
I don't have many early 90s PCI video cards, so it's a useful addition to my collection. I also wanted to see if the failure was the quad flat pack, as I imagined, which is why I worked in that next, rather than replacing the capacitors. This gives me another good point of reference that this is not …
Re: A graphics card I bought lasted only a few seconds before dying
Posted on 2022-05-05, 14:46
By "freeze spray", do you mean an upside-down can of compressed air or something else?
Re: S3 Virge/GX Repair
Posted on 2022-05-05, 07:12
I can't remember exactly, as it was several years ago. But I got it for a song; something under $250. Maybe $200 or even $150. It's an Amscope and it's probably worth between $500-600 brand new. Many of the repairs I can do now would otherwise be impossible without a proper microscope.
Re: What retro activity did you get up to today?
Posted on 2022-05-05, 06:30
Finished some repairs today. Roland SC-55 Refurbishment S3 Virge/GX Repair
S3 Virge/GX Repair
Posted on 2022-05-05, 06:09
I was given an S3 Virge/GX that had been sitting in a box of random parts for several years. It was very dirty and covered in dust and grime. Despite multiple attempts to get it working and several reseats, it was confirmed dead. I first tried to attack the problem by going after all of the low …
Re: Socket 5/7/SS7 (Voltage Interposer) Tweaker.
Posted on 2022-05-05, 05:46
How many layers do you think the commercial products used? Maybe less because they don't have all of the fancy jumpers like in your design?
Re: Roland SC-55 Refurbishment
Posted on 2022-05-05, 05:22
Here is a photo of the two Roland SC-55s stacked on top of each other. I noticed that the volume nob doesn't have any of that smooth resistance feeling that all of my other Roland synthesisers do. I don't know if this is from wear, a defect, or whether a different part was used during manufacture. …
Re: Roland SC-55 Refurbishment
Posted on 2022-05-05, 05:22
Photos of solder joints after repair. Filename 20220504_230617.jpg File size 656.11 KiB Views 973 views Filename 20220504_230807.jpg File size 289.96 KiB Views 973 views Filename 20220504_230725.jpg File size 231.63 KiB Views 973 views Filename 20220504_230707.jpg File size 215.04 KiB Views 973 …
Re: Roland SC-55 Refurbishment
Posted on 2022-05-05, 05:20
Lots of cracked solder joints and some that are suspect; all of them will get new solder. Taking the case apart like this is an event, so it's better to repair or refurbish more joints now, so as to avoid further problems in the future. There are more joints that I repaired in the photos here, but …
Re: Roland SC-55 Refurbishment
Posted on 2022-05-05, 05:20
Photos of the unit disassembled for testing, with problem stickers having been placed to help locate issues for repair after inspection. Filename 20220504_213314_resize_55.jpg File size 633.89 KiB Views 990 views Filename 20220504_214547_resize_8.jpg File size 471.91 KiB Views 990 views Filename …
Roland SC-55 Refurbishment
Posted on 2022-05-05, 05:20
Today I received the firmware-matched Roland SC-55 I'd ordered. I already have several synthesizers and have had to repair a couple of Roland models in the past, so after some basic validation of function, I disassembled the unit to inspect the most common problem areas, which are all of the ports …
Re: Roland SCP-55 Problems
Posted on 2022-05-05, 05:07
It's possible that there is damage on the board, a capacitor has gone bad, or there is a poor connection on one of the legs of the quad flat pack. I just repaired a dead S3 Virge today that requires the entire flat pack chip to be reflowed. This is not uncommon for older cards and I've experienced …
Re: What retro activity did you get up to today?
Posted on 2022-05-05, 01:31
Has someone got links to its best drivers? See here for the latest drivers. https://www.philscomputerlab.com/aureal-vortex-2.html Note that the latest 2048 drivers have some bugs. Use the older version 2041. You will also lose a lot of features if you use the WDM/Windows 2000 drivers. The VXD …
Re: Falcosoft Soundfont Midi Player + Munt VSTi + BassMidi VSTi
Posted on 2022-05-05, 01:24
I'm very excited to try this multi port playback. I just received a firmware-matched SC-55 but I still need to get another USB-to-midi adapter. Is there any difference in quality of these adapters nowadays or are the cheapest Chinese ones as good as any?
Re: Bought these (retro) hardware today
Posted on 2022-05-04, 20:50
Phil has modified drivers on his website that work around that particular PCI error. https://www.philscomputerlab.com/aureal-vortex-2.html
Re: I recently found this hardware, AKA the Dumpster find thread.
Posted on 2022-05-04, 20:46
Because it's cool! 😀 I mean, hot. Very, very hot!
Re: eBay steal turned out to be a charred wreck
Posted on 2022-05-04, 20:39
I have a very powerful Hakko iron and a large tip accessory. I can assure you that it is very unlikely to come off with heat. Even the teeny tiny bit of ground plane that I'd ripped off of the board would not come free of the MOSFET, and had to scraped off with mechanical force. I performed a …
Re: Bought these (retro) hardware today
Posted on 2022-05-04, 20:22
That's very nice. It's always very rewarding to get a good deal like that.
Re: Bought these (retro) hardware today
Posted on 2022-05-04, 19:27
AUREAL Vortex 2 cards are starting to reach stupid prices. Diamond Monster MX300s, especially. I do want to have a couple of these in my collection, so I snapped up this SQ 2500. It's not gold plated like the MX300, but it should have all of the same features. The AUREAL SQ and DELL Turtle Beach …
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