Universe Bios 3.2 released!

[aha2940]

This morning I tested a 3.2 bios and about 5 different home carts. My region settings saved over multiple resets and power cycles. I'm not sure what could be going on with you system. What revision motherboard do you have?

Hi NTM

It's an AES 3-5, which I use with a 9V @ 2A power supply (also tried a Sega Genesis Model 1 one). The region always survives a reset of my AES, but very rarely survives a power off:



Thanks!!

 

[Razoola]

Did you get a chance to run that test bios yet?

Raz

 

[aha2940]

Did you get a chance to run that test bios yet?

Raz

Hi Raz

Sorry for the delay, yesterday was a busy day for me. Here's the result I got:



Thanks!!

 

[Razoola]

I have sent you a new test. From the result above its clear the Neo Geo is not getting good information from the card at boot time on your system for some reason.

Raz

 

[aha2940]

I have sent you a new test. From the result above its clear the Neo Geo is not getting good information from the card at boot time on your system for some reason.

Raz

Thanks Raz. That scares me, because I love my Neo and do not want it to have any issue :o

Second test results:



Thanks!!

 

[Razoola]

Your neo has issues for sure, there is defo something wrong with the memory card slot, the new result shows that it does start working eventually but its very slow in starting.

What you need to do now is try a few different carts/converters with this test bios and let me know if the 0x00005632 value appears less than 7 times. It does not matter if it appears more.

Raz

Raz

 

[aha2940]

Hi Raz, I tried like 10 different carts, from nam1975 to SSV and the least I got the number was 9 times. I also noticed its not consistant as sometimes the number appeared 9 times and turning off and on again it appears more times then less, it does not seem to depend on the cart. I will test the third bios and report back.

 

[Razoola]

Yes I expected it to be like that, the main thing being that you don't see a screen with only 00005632 appearing once at the bottom. Providing that did not happen and I got the code right the next bios should work.

Raz

 

[gusmoney]

I am looking to purchase and install a Universal Bios for an MV-2F PCB.

Are there any instructions or videos for the socketed install?

(Full disclosure: I am a noob to this type of modification and am not completely sure where the bios chip sits on this board. It looks to be just above the memory card reader and to the right a bit, however, I am not completely certain.)

 

[Razoola]

Yes its just above the memory card reader in a socket. Install is easy, you simply slowly wedge out the bios from each side using a flat headed screwdriver if you don't have the proper IC removal tool. Just be sure to place the screwdriver tip between the socket and bios chip and not the socket and PCB.

Raz

 

[aha2940]

Yes I expected it to be like that, the main thing being that you don't see a screen with only 00005632 appearing once at the bottom. Providing that did not happen and I got the code right the next bios should work.

Raz

Hi Raz

Just tested the third file you sent me and so far, so good. The region has loaded successfully every time since using the new file. Some questions tough:

- What do the 0x numbers mean?
- Should the system also save the DIP settings?
- What should I do when upgrading to version 3.3 of UniBIOS (when it comes out)? will this fix be included?
- What can I do to properly fix the AES? because it works fine now, but it obviously have some problem.

Thanks!!

 

[Razoola]

The numbers are simply displaying the contents of the memory cards memory. On a normal system the top number would be 0x00005632 with a region of Japan/Console. The next bank of numbers is simply reading the same memory again in the same way but after a small delay. On your system you can see it gets incorrect data until a time has passed.

The AES does not have SoftDIPs so there is nothing to save.

I will add this delay to 3.3 also when reading the memory card at power on. Maybe it affects some other systems also, you never know.

You have to find what the problem is and I really don't know what that is but something is wrong somewhere. Could be the solder points of the memory card or even some issue with NEO-E0 or traces that go from the Bios to E0, see below.

-------------------------

This info is taken from NEO-AES3-6 and NEO-AES3-4 revision boards
and should be valid for all boards that have the bios to the right
of the cart slot. The older board NEO-AES which has the bios
above the cart slot is partly different.

* The 43256 (work RAM) closest to P1 joystick port

1----5V
2----GND
3----68000-12 (54), LSPC2 (21), NEO G0 (50)
4----68000-12 (55), LSPC2 (20), NEO G0 (49)
5----68000-12 (56), LSPC2 (19), NEO G0 (48)
6----68000-12 (57), LSPC2 (18), NEO G0 (47)
7----68000-12 (58), LSPC2 (16), NEO G0 (34)
8----68000-12 (59), LSPC2 (15), NEO G0 (33)
9----68000-12 (60), LSPC2 (14), NEO G0 (32)
10---68000-12 (61), LSPC2 (13), NEO G0 (31)
11---GND
12---68000-12 (62), LSPC2 (10), NEO G0 (18), 43256* (19)
13---68000-12 (63), LSPC2 (09), NEO G0 (17), 43256* (18)
14---68000-12 (64), LSPC2 (08), NEO D0 (03), 43256* (17)
15---68000-12 (01), LSPC2 (07), NEO D0 (02), 43256* (16)
16---68000-12 (02), LSPC2 (05), NEO D0 (01), 43256* (15)
17---68000-12 (03), LSPC2 (04), NEO D0 (64), 43256* (13)
18---68000-12 (04), LSPC2 (03), NEO D0 (63), 43256* (12)
19---68000-12 (05), LSPC2 (02), NEO D0 (62), 43256* (11)
20---NEO E0 (59)
21---68000-12 (29), NEO E0 (64), 43256 (10), HC259 (01)
22---68000-12 (30), NEO E0 (01), 43256 (09), HC259 (02)
23---68000-12 (31), NEO E0 (02), 43256 (08), HC259 (03)
24---68000-12 (32), NEO E0 (03), 43256 (07), HC259 (13)
25---68000-12 (33), NEO E0 (04), 43256 (06)
26---68000-12 (34), NEO E0 (15), 43256 (05)
27---68000-12 (35), NEO E0 (16), 43256 (04)
28---68000-12 (36), NEO E0 (17), 43256 (03)
29---68000-12 (37), NEO E0 (18), 43256 (25)
30---GND
31---68000-12 (38), NEO E0 (19), 43256 (24)
32---68000-12 (39), NEO E0 (20), 43256 (21)
33---68000-12 (40), NEO E0 (21), 43256 (23)
34---68000-12 (41), NEO E0 (31)
35---68000-12 (42), NEO E0 (32)
36---68000-12 (43), NEO E0 (33)
37---68000-12 (44), NEO E0 (34)
38---5V (N.C. on NEO-AES3-4)
39---5V
40---5V

Fault checking.


If for some reason the system no longer works then obiously some traces
have broken, check everything.

If the Bios is working but you get a memory card error on power up if a
memory card is inserted and a card protected error while trying to format
a memory card then one or more of the socket to NEO E0 traces have
broken (pin 20 to 37).

 

[aha2940]

The numbers are simply displaying the contents of the memory cards memory. On a normal system the top number would be 0x00005632 with a region of Japan/Console. The next bank of numbers is simply reading the same memory again in the same way but after a small delay. On your system you can see it gets incorrect data until a time has passed.

The AES does not have SoftDIPs so there is nothing to save.

I will add this delay to 3.3 also when reading the memory card at power on. Maybe it affects some other systems also, you never know.

You have to find what the problem is and I really don't know what that is but something is wrong somewhere. Could be the solder points of the memory card or even some issue with NEO-E0 or traces that go from the Bios to E0, see below.

-------------------------

This info is taken from NEO-AES3-6 and NEO-AES3-4 revision boards
and should be valid for all boards that have the bios to the right
of the cart slot. The older board NEO-AES which has the bios
above the cart slot is partly different.

* The 43256 (work RAM) closest to P1 joystick port

1----5V
2----GND
3----68000-12 (54), LSPC2 (21), NEO G0 (50)
4----68000-12 (55), LSPC2 (20), NEO G0 (49)
5----68000-12 (56), LSPC2 (19), NEO G0 (48)
6----68000-12 (57), LSPC2 (18), NEO G0 (47)
7----68000-12 (58), LSPC2 (16), NEO G0 (34)
8----68000-12 (59), LSPC2 (15), NEO G0 (33)
9----68000-12 (60), LSPC2 (14), NEO G0 (32)
10---68000-12 (61), LSPC2 (13), NEO G0 (31)
11---GND
12---68000-12 (62), LSPC2 (10), NEO G0 (18), 43256* (19)
13---68000-12 (63), LSPC2 (09), NEO G0 (17), 43256* (18)
14---68000-12 (64), LSPC2 (08), NEO D0 (03), 43256* (17)
15---68000-12 (01), LSPC2 (07), NEO D0 (02), 43256* (16)
16---68000-12 (02), LSPC2 (05), NEO D0 (01), 43256* (15)
17---68000-12 (03), LSPC2 (04), NEO D0 (64), 43256* (13)
18---68000-12 (04), LSPC2 (03), NEO D0 (63), 43256* (12)
19---68000-12 (05), LSPC2 (02), NEO D0 (62), 43256* (11)
20---NEO E0 (59)
21---68000-12 (29), NEO E0 (64), 43256 (10), HC259 (01)
22---68000-12 (30), NEO E0 (01), 43256 (09), HC259 (02)
23---68000-12 (31), NEO E0 (02), 43256 (08), HC259 (03)
24---68000-12 (32), NEO E0 (03), 43256 (07), HC259 (13)
25---68000-12 (33), NEO E0 (04), 43256 (06)
26---68000-12 (34), NEO E0 (15), 43256 (05)
27---68000-12 (35), NEO E0 (16), 43256 (04)
28---68000-12 (36), NEO E0 (17), 43256 (03)
29---68000-12 (37), NEO E0 (18), 43256 (25)
30---GND
31---68000-12 (38), NEO E0 (19), 43256 (24)
32---68000-12 (39), NEO E0 (20), 43256 (21)
33---68000-12 (40), NEO E0 (21), 43256 (23)
34---68000-12 (41), NEO E0 (31)
35---68000-12 (42), NEO E0 (32)
36---68000-12 (43), NEO E0 (33)
37---68000-12 (44), NEO E0 (34)
38---5V (N.C. on NEO-AES3-4)
39---5V
40---5V

Fault checking.


If for some reason the system no longer works then obiously some traces
have broken, check everything.

If the Bios is working but you get a memory card error on power up if a
memory card is inserted and a card protected error while trying to format
a memory card then one or more of the socket to NEO E0 traces have
broken (pin 20 to 37).

Thanks Raz, very useful information. I was thinking something: is there any chance that the slow read is somehow caused by the Memory card? or is that possibility totally discarded?

Edit: I did some tests using the second bank of my NeoSaveMasta (I had never used it before) and it saves/restores the region fine everytime, even using the stock UniBIOS 3.2, so that might point to the issue being in the card instead of the Neo. Any idea about this?

Thank you again

 

[Razoola]

Thanks Raz, very useful information. I was thinking something: is there any chance that the slow read is somehow caused by the Memory card? or is that possibility totally discarded?

Thank you again

NTM has already said he has tested the card on his AES and had no problems earlier in the thread. Your best bet is to try the card on a friends AES to see if the issue follows are card or not. From the results you have given already it really does not sound like the card is at fault.

 

[aha2940]

NTM has already said he has tested the card on his AES and had no problems earlier in the thread. Your best bet is to try the card on a friends AES to see if the issue follows are card or not. From the results you have given already it really does not sound like the card is at fault.

Thanks Raz, but did you read my Edit to my previous post where I stated that one bank seems to restore fine with the stock UniBIOS 3.2 but the other only restores fine with the modified one? that may be the issue, my card may have some issue instead of my AES. Unfortunately I do not know anybody else near with an AES so I can't test.

Thank you.

 

[Razoola]

Thanks Raz, but did you read my Edit to my previous post where I stated that one bank seems to restore fine with the stock UniBIOS 3.2 but the other only restores fine with the modified one? that may be the issue, my card may have some issue instead of my AES. Unfortunately I do not know anybody else near with an AES so I can't test.

Thank you.

No I did not see that point until you raise it now. That will be one for NTM to answer because I do not know how the switch works on the card. It would have been nice to have this information earlier and I do not know if NTM has tested that.

Raz

 

[NeoTurfMasta]

Edit: I did some tests using the second bank of my NeoSaveMasta (I had never used it before) and it saves/restores the region fine everytime, even using the stock UniBIOS 3.2, so that might point to the issue being in the card instead of the Neo. Any idea about this?

I have no idea. Switching the banks should have nothing to do with the problem you're having. Unless the bank you're trying to use needs to be reformatted and named again. If you think something is wrong with the card, send it back.

Edit: re-re-re-re-re tested several cards with both banks and settings save. Send the card back and I can test it or replace it.

 

[aha2940]

Thanks NTM and Raz for your help with this. I'll try formatting and relabeling the bank I always use. Heopefully that fixes it. If not, then no problem, the card works fine anyway and the modified bios Raz made makes it restore ok so I would not return it.

Thanks!

Edit: I used the test BIOS Raz sent me to test both banks of the card. Here are the results:

Bank 1 (switch to the left) always throws the same result and always loads the region fine. Here's the screen with Japan region:



Bank 2 (switch to the right) works erratically. Tested it with USA region and as seen on the screens sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Before this test I copied all the data from this bank to the other and then formated the card. Tested with the USA region:









Does this shed any light? any more tests I can do to see if I can fix this?

Thanks!!

 

[Razoola]

Those pictures simply confirm what I told you would happen so it does not tell anything new regarding the situation.

It does show the dodgy bank is starting to work faster than it did before. Is it always working this fast now with almost all 5632 in the 2nd bank or does it still drop to only 7 like your first picture? Or are you simply trying a different cart now?

Raz

 

[NeoTurfMasta]

Please just send the card back so I can look at it. I don't want to keep bothering Raz with this issue if the card has been damaged. I'm worried that when you had slot problems earlier this year it may have damaged the card's chip in some way.

 

[aha2940]

Those pictures simply confirm what I told you would happen so it does not tell anything new regarding the situation.

It does show the dodgy bank is starting to work faster than it did before. Is it always working this fast now with almost all 5632 in the 2nd bank or does it still drop to only 7 like your first picture? Or are you simply trying a different cart now?

Raz

These pics were all taken with the same cart I mostly used before, MS5 on a converter. It seems the format of the card did something to improve it behavior, but it's not completely fixed.

Please just send the card back so I can look at it. I don't want to keep bothering Raz with this issue if the card has been damaged. I'm worried that when you had slot problems earlier this year it may have damaged the card's chip in some way.

OK NTM, I'll send the card back so you can test it and don't bother Raz anymore with this. Please PM me your address. Thanks for your help, you guys are the best!

 

[NeoTurfMasta]

OK NTM, I'll send the card back so you can test it and don't bother Raz anymore with this. Please PM me your address. Thanks for your help, you guys are the best!

Well, I got the card today and it works 100%. I am using the same motherboard revision AES that you have with a 3.2 bios. Both banks are saving region settings perfectly. I have no idea why your system would have problems with one bank and not the other. That doesn't make any sense to me at all. The only change I made was renaming your "BANK2!" to completely filling it with characters and ending with the '!'.

I powered it on and off a dozen times over 30 minutes and the settings came back every time.

 

[aha2940]

Well, I got the card today and it works 100%. I am using the same motherboard revision AES that you have with a 3.2 bios. Both banks are saving region settings perfectly. I have no idea why your system would have problems with one bank and not the other. That doesn't make any sense to me at all. The only change I made was renaming your "BANK2!" to completely filling it with characters and ending with the '!'.

I powered it on and off a dozen times over 30 minutes and the settings came back every time.

Thanks NTM, I suspected that would be the results. I'm so glad to know the card is perfectly fine, but worried that my AES has some issue. However it's strange since it has no mods at all (only the socketed BIOS) and everything else works perfectly...anyway, if possible, I'd like to get a second NeoSaveMasta and a NBM with the memory card included, please remind me your PP address and prices.

Thanks!!

Edit: This AES has never been recapped or anything, might that help?

 

[NeoTurfMasta]

However it's strange since it has no mods at all (only the socketed BIOS) and everything else works perfectly

Edit: This AES has never been recapped or anything, might that help?

Just because it has no mods doesn't mean there isn't something else wrong. I doubt recapping would help.

My honest opinion here. You are getting yourself worried over something that really isn't a big deal. You're able to play games, the memory card works, there are no graphical problems or glitches when playing the games. It's not worth pulling your hair out over something so small.

I can't speak for Raz, but maybe the next version of the Unibios could have a delay when loading settings. It's possible other people have a similar card slot problems and just don't know it.

NSMs are not available right now, but I will be posting a thread when they are. Most likely in January.

 

[Razoola]

Don't forget you had reflowed all the memory card pins in the past because of an issue with the memory card slot.

I just have to decide now weather I keep the fix I did in or not. Maybe you can test it again once you receive it back to see how the numbers look