VOGONS

FIC PA-2013 2.0 vs 2.1

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First post, by tpowell.ca

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Hello all.
I just purchased what is marked as being a PCB v 2.0 (near ISA slot in corner), and have heard that some revisions of this board do not handle high current AGP cards such as the Voodoo3 3000.
The problem is that in my reading, I hear conflicting reports of having to look for a VRM that is too weak to handle the current, others mention the opposite; that is that there is no VRM on the earlier boards...
Some suggest rewiring the AGP slot to pull power directly from the ATX power connector.

So, please help clear this up.
What makes a board with rev 2.1 better at handling high current cards? Where is this voltage regulator, if any ?

Btw, the LM78 chip (in front of the AGP slot) is NOT a voltage regulator as some had pointed out in other forums, but in fact an optional hardware/temperature monitor.

Thanks

  • Merlin: MS-4144, AMD5x86-160 32MB, 16GB CF, ZIP100, Orpheus, GUS, S3 VirgeGX 2MB
    Tesla: GA-6BXC, VIA C3 Ezra-T, 256MB, 120GB SATA, YMF744, GUSpnp, Quadro2
    Newton: K6XV3+/66, AMD K6-III+500, 256MB, 32GB SSD, AWE32, Voodoo3

Reply 1 of 7, by tpowell.ca

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Does anyone have hires pics of a v2.1 PCB to compare with?
Other than the bad AGP power, what other improvements were made going from PCB v2.0 to 2.1?

  • Merlin: MS-4144, AMD5x86-160 32MB, 16GB CF, ZIP100, Orpheus, GUS, S3 VirgeGX 2MB
    Tesla: GA-6BXC, VIA C3 Ezra-T, 256MB, 120GB SATA, YMF744, GUSpnp, Quadro2
    Newton: K6XV3+/66, AMD K6-III+500, 256MB, 32GB SSD, AWE32, Voodoo3

Reply 2 of 7, by BloodyCactus

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I have a 2.1, dont know if I still have some hires pics. Changing VRM might not help if the traces are not wide enough to handle the current draw. Ill see if I have some in my downloads folder

--/\-[ Stu : Bloody Cactus :: [ https://bloodycactus.com :: http://kråketær.com ]-/\--

Reply 3 of 7, by tpowell.ca

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BloodyCactus wrote:

I have a 2.1, dont know if I still have some hires pics. Changing VRM might not help if the traces are not wide enough to handle the current draw. Ill see if I have some in my downloads folder

Thanks BloodyCactus. Any idea where these VRMs are located on the board? Mine has none anywhere near the AGP slot.

  • Merlin: MS-4144, AMD5x86-160 32MB, 16GB CF, ZIP100, Orpheus, GUS, S3 VirgeGX 2MB
    Tesla: GA-6BXC, VIA C3 Ezra-T, 256MB, 120GB SATA, YMF744, GUSpnp, Quadro2
    Newton: K6XV3+/66, AMD K6-III+500, 256MB, 32GB SSD, AWE32, Voodoo3

Reply 4 of 7, by BloodyCactus

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well there is a couple of honking big dpaks up next to the caps in the top left corner. I'd check the chips near the two blue jumper pin blocks, one between the ram slots and northbridge above agp slot and the analog devices one at the top between cpu + ram slots.

--/\-[ Stu : Bloody Cactus :: [ https://bloodycactus.com :: http://kråketær.com ]-/\--

Reply 5 of 7, by The Serpent Rider

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I'll post revision 2.1 photos when I'll receive mine. Meanwhile here's some revision research.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 6 of 7, by The Serpent Rider

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Revision 2.1

The attachment FIC PA-2013 Revision 2.1 (shot 1).jpg is no longer available
The attachment FIC PA-2013 Revision 2.1 (shot 2).jpg is no longer available
The attachment FIC PA-2013 Revision 2.1 (shot 3).jpg is no longer available
The attachment FIC PA-2013 Revision 2.1 (shot 4).jpg is no longer available

Also repost from another thread:

After some research I've decided to debunk some myths about revisions.

- Revsion 2.0 and 2.1 have practically identical VRM, so most likely both are AGP friendly.
- Revision 2.1 is the only one with additional "2.0 E-0036" PCB marking and color coded back panel (PC99 standard).
- Revision 2.0 and 2,1 may or may not have LM78 monitoring (usually don't).
- Revision 1.x have different battery and PLL placement, also additional PLL for some reason.
- Revision 1.x usually comes with LM78 monitoring.
- Revsions 1.x VRM can be easily identified by 3 large capacitors at the top left corner (both 2.0 and 2.1 have 4).
- Apparently some or all 2mb cache versions are not very good for overclocking due to worse cache quality (125mhz vs 100mhz).

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 7 of 7, by Ozzuneoj

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The Serpent Rider wrote on 2018-11-12, 19:38:

- Revsion 2.0 and 2.1 have practically identical VRM, so most likely both are AGP friendly.
- Revision 2.1 is the only one with additional "2.0 E-0036" PCB marking and color coded back panel (PC99 standard).
- Revision 2.0 and 2,1 may or may not have LM78 monitoring (usually don't).

Just wanted to add some additional info. I had read your post and then I saw a picture of this 2.0 board on TheRetroWeb, and it has a 2.0 E-O036 sticker under the northbridge. It doesn't have this marking directly on the PCB (or the color coded back panel) as you mentioned, but if someone is trying to figure out what version their board is, it is worth mentioning that those numbers may appear in sticker form on the 2.0 as well.

Now for some blitting from the back buffer.

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