Jeff Walther wrote:
> At 18:26 -0700 08/13/2002, Bolton Peck wrote:
>
> >Here's all the numbers from the flash ROM, or at least I think
> >that's what it is.
> >I have a socket that would fit it (it is, of course, soldered SMT to
> >the board) so
> >could theoretically change it.
> >
> >M28F256
> > -15C1
> >V58MA9722A
> >HONG KONG
> >
> >I presume this means its a 256K rom? And would that be bits or bytes?
>
> Bits. Memory chips' capacities are specified in bits. I'm not sure
> which manufacturer M indicates. I think Macronix is MX. Maybe M is
> Mitsubishi. Oh, I bet it's ST Micro. The 28 is usually for an
> EEPROM, though sometimes it's Flash. 29 is used for Flash memory as
> well as 49. 27 for EPROMs (often have a little window in teh top
> for UV erasing). ROMs seem to use X3 where I've seen X as 5 or 2.
> The F usually goes with 5V parts. The 256 means 256 Kbits. So
> about 32 KB. You'd have to get a data sheet to figure whether its
> X8 or X16 (inputs and outputs 8 or 16 bits at a time) though you can
> often tell by the number of pins.
>
> >Thats all the info I have on hand, unfortunately Matrox isn't exactly going to
> >tell you how to get out of paying twice as much for what is essentially an
> >identical card with a nickel more ROM chip on it.
>
> On Ebay under Business and Industrial/Electronic Components/ICs you
> can often find Flash and EEPROM chips at pretty good prices. I've
> been checking every so often and stocking sizes that might be handy.
> I'm still waiting for a nice deal on 8 Mb 3.3V Flash in a 44 pin
> SOIC...
>
> Anyway, if the only difference is the capacity of the Flash, you may
> just be able to get the M or AT or MX or AM28F512 in the same package
> and install it and then flash it. However, switching manufacturer
> may mean that you've switched some of the finer details of the
> internal workigns of the chip, so it may not work.
>
> Jeff Walther
Well, it sounds like I could replace the chip. It is an ST Micro chip, but this
card isn't that nice. It would take me hours to unsolder it and stick the new one
on. I don't own any SMT solder equijpment either. SO I think I'll just trade it
back in to where I bought it, towards something more useful. Otherwise I'd have
to go out, find the chip, have it soldered on-I'd rather do this experiment on a
card with some modern 3D acceleration.
Wwuld the 'tome viewer' program be able to look into the file? It supports a
bunch of cards, maybe the extraneous data could be taken out so it'd fit on the
smaller ROM. I"ll try that.
Thanks for the great responses, though. I really appreciate the time and
information that's been sent to the list :-)
Bolton
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