Eprom burners help

pixeljunkie

pixeljunkie

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Really thinking about grabbing one of these. With the Razoola's stuff for CPS2, the various software revisions for stuff on world of arcades...it would just be cool to have.

I was looking at this one. Primarily the Rommax one for $179. It has support for a lot of sizes and stuff. How hard are these to use? Is there any others you guys can recommend? The less techno-babble I need to learn to use it, the better.
 
S

supergoose

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i'd suggest to try to find a usb programmer. mine (a batronix) was a special offer and cost 180€, about 2 years ago. they are said to be faster (can't compare) and are more modern. setting mine up is a still a pain.

what you'll need for the uni bios is a 27c1024 or a M27c1024 chip, which should be supported.

you should also factor in another $50 to $75 for a uv eraser.
 
mainman

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pixeljunkie said:
Really thinking about grabbing one of these. With the Razoola's stuff for CPS2, the various software revisions for stuff on world of arcades...it would just be cool to have.

I was looking at this one. Primarily the Rommax one for $179. It has support for a lot of sizes and stuff. How hard are these to use? Is there any others you guys can recommend? The less techno-babble I need to learn to use it, the better.
Click to expand...


I don't know much about the rom max but the chip max I have used to burn eproms with raz cps 2 fix, works great, support a wide variety of microprocessors/eproms. Its parallel though. I kind of got it good because I just the chipmax here at work to burn my eproms. By the way fixing all your cps 2 board weather their dead or not even burning the chip yourself can add up to some serious cash, I know from experience.
 
Bishamon

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I use an enhanced Willem programmer, which costs a lot less (around $50), and works beautifully. Well, I have only used it to burn the UNI-BIOS revisions and alter the region code on Seibu SPI carts, but it has worked wonderfully for both of those tasks. :)
 
pixeljunkie

pixeljunkie

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Bishamon said:
I use an enhanced Willem programmer, which costs a lot less (around $50), and works beautifully. Well, I have only used it to burn the UNI-BIOS revisions and alter the region code on Seibu SPI carts, but it has worked wonderfully for both of those tasks. :)
Click to expand...

interesting...I'll look into this one. Do I still need an eraser? Also would this one work with CPS2 Eproms?
 
stuffmonger

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Bishamon said:
I use an enhanced Willem programmer, which costs a lot less (around $50), and works beautifully. Well, I have only used it to burn the UNI-BIOS revisions and alter the region code on Seibu SPI carts, but it has worked wonderfully for both of those tasks. :)
Click to expand...
Which model of the willem programmer do you have? The model I have (the dual powered one) doesn't support 27c1024 chips (although it says it should :angry: )
 
ttooddddyy

ttooddddyy

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pixeljunkie said:
Really thinking about grabbing one of these. With the Razoola's stuff for CPS2, the various software revisions for stuff on world of arcades...it would just be cool to have.

I was looking at this one. Primarily the Rommax one for $179. It has support for a lot of sizes and stuff. How hard are these to use? Is there any others you guys can recommend? The less techno-babble I need to learn to use it, the better.
Click to expand...


The Rommax has as 32 pin socket. The 27C1024 bios has 40 pins.
In the device listing 1024 is supported, but you will notice u2 behind the device which means an adaptor is required- these can run anywhere between 50-100 bucks.( I couldnt find that adaptors price ?) So you may be better off getting something like the Chipmax if you intend programming those devices.
 
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stuffmonger

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ttooddddyy said:
The Rommax has as 32 pin socket. The 27C1024 bios has 40 pins.
In the device listing 1024 is supported, but you will notice u2 behind the device which means an adaptor is required- these can run anywhere between 50-100 bucks.( I couldnt find that adaptors price ?) So you may be better off getting something like the Chipmax if you intend programming those devices.
Click to expand...
adapter
 
dogtoy

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I got my adapter here http://www.sivava.com/

16-bit 32pin to 40pin adapter was $4 but now out of stock (item B05). But they have the dual 16 bit supporting all 27Cxxxx chips of 40 pins and 42 pins (even PLCC) for $12 (item B12).

I also have this programmer http://www.sivava.com/Product_A02.htm

But mine is from a different company (the schematics are free for anyone) I got it on ebay for $35. Supports an amazing number of devices (many via adapters). Adapters are so cheap on saviva that I don't think you can find a better programmer for the price. Check out the supported devices at the bottom of the page.

Also the Willem/PCB3 software if easy to use.

Cheers,
-DT
 
dogtoy

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stuffmonger said:
Which model of the willem programmer do you have? The model I have (the dual powered one) doesn't support 27c1024 chips (although it says it should :angry: )
Click to expand...

Are you sure you have the right software for your programmer? I couldn't get mine to work with the newest version of the software (mine is the dual power but not willem brand). Also, I had to use a software patch to make XP let the software work properly on the parallel port. Be sure that you never insert the EPROM before starting the programming software, because windows checks the parallel port regularly for devices and these scans can write to the EPROM.

When I first got my programmer I kept having to reblank my roms. I thought it didn't work right, but once I figured out the correct software and read the documentation where it says not to connect the EPROM before opening the software, it works everytime now!!!

When I had the wrong software (newest version .98 something) everytime I started burning a rom image it would stop w/ an error almost immediately. Reading the rom would show that the entire chip was empty except the first bit being programmed to 00 (I think it was 00, it's been awhile).


cheers,
-DT
 
Razoola

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stuffmonger

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Razoola said:
I just read through that thread.. I just wonder if the guy is trying to program EPROMs that are not blank. Thats a common mistake to make if your a noob to EPROM programming. If you have a EPROM programmer you really need an EPROM eraser to go with it.

Raz
Click to expand...
Umm... yeah... I'm the noob in that thread... that may have been an issue, but the chips should have already been blank. Also, the program couldn't see that the adapter was put in the zif socket like it should have.
 
dogtoy

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stuffmonger said:
Umm... yeah... I'm the noob in that thread... that may have been an issue, but the chips should have already been blank. Also, the program couldn't see that the adapter was put in the zif socket like it should have.
Click to expand...


I've never had my willem software report that there was an adapter, yet it continues to work perfectly. I'm using a filtered UV light (254nm) used for geology for erasing.


cheers,
-DT
 
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Bishamon

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Razoola said:
I just read through that thread.. I just wonder if the guy is trying to program EPROMs that are not blank. Thats a common mistake to make if your a noob to EPROM programming. If you have a EPROM programmer you really need an EPROM eraser to go with it.
Click to expand...

I still need to buy an eraser. About a third of the 'blank' chips I have purchased haven't been erased completely. :oh_no:
 
dogtoy

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stuffmonger said:
Umm... yeah... I'm the noob in that thread... that may have been an issue, but the chips should have already been blank. Also, the program couldn't see that the adapter was put in the zif socket like it should have.
Click to expand...

Set your printer port to EPP or Normal in the BIOS.
Close any software or hardware drivers that may try to use the parrallel port. Read This and install the registry setting.

OK, There is a lot not covered in that thread on willem.org. The Software cannot know if you have the correct adapter installed. The hardware is not designed this way. It says Require Adapter EPROM 16(DIP 40) as a courtesy reminder to you.

1. Upgrade your software to 0.97i+ (http://mpu51.tripod.com/eprom/prog_doswin/epr097i_p.zip) install the latest DLPortIO and keep the drivers in the same directory as the programming software.
2. Click at the top of the screen where it says Willem, it will now say PCB3. NOTE- This will make your dip switch settings VERY different! The only thing this changes, is it shows you the correct dip settings for your board. Willem is only used w/ board willem 3.0/3.5, this is not your board.
3. Start the software, choose 27c1024 from the list, then insert the adapter with eprom already in it.
4. Click "Action > Blank Check". IF this fails then your chip is not blank. This is likely the case, trying to write the eprom with your dip settings wrong will cause bits to write to random places.

If you want to see what bits of the chip are still set after blank check fails, click "Action > Read" then when it finishes click the buffer tab on the bottom of the screen. Now you can see what is in each bit of the chip, a blank eprom will have nothing to read back but FF. If there is anything else, you will either need another chip or an eraser.

5. If you pass the blank check, then click "file > load", choose your rom file.
6. now click "Action > Program/Test RAM"

that's it, you should now have a programmed 27c1024 chip. let me know how it goes.

cheers,
-DT
 
ttooddddyy

ttooddddyy

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The new EE Chipmax for the workshop arrived just this minute :)

Looking forward to trying it out tonight, have an Exerion board rom set to program.
 
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