CZroe
Joined: 29 Aug 2021 Posts: 24
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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:44 pm Post subject: Original Doctor V64 problem with 3rd memory bank. |
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I’m the original owner of 2 Doctor V64 units, one from 1997 and the other from 1999. I got the 1st from Carl Industries, a US distributor for Bung, and the 2nd from Lik-Sang. Both have 256mbits DRAM. My original began showing DRAM errors on the 3rd bank prompting me to buy another. The 2nd shipped with a bad slimline laptop CD-ROM which would not even turn. I salvaged the 8x Panasonic drive from my original V64 and shoved the bad V64 into the retail box (no drive).
After being hit by an EF-4 tornado this year, I can only find the bad V64 in the box, the 2nd PSU, Emulation Adapter, and port cover. I happened to have another 8x Panasonic drive in an old IBM Aptiva S pop-up/stealth drive bay unit. Works perfectly but it’s mismatched (black). I was also missing the drive power and audio cable so I bodged something together that works. Everything powers on and the drive works. Both original power supplies work fine though I had to repair one many years ago (replaced 4P miniDIN with S-Video cable).
It boots BIOS v2.03 and loads games but the self-test still shows DRAM errors on the 3rd bank (4th is fine). Both modules test fine in the 1st slot and both modules fail one bank in the 2nd slot. I checked every connection between the modules on both slots and followed the unique connections to the nearby “U2 V64” (NEC D65640). Good continuity with nothing shorted to voltage or ground. I hope U2 V64 isn’t bad, because it’s custom and would likely need to be salvaged from another V64. In the mean time, my V64 is only good for 128mbit games.
I saw where a parts board sold on Etsy and U2 V64 was already missing so it seems failure-prone. Does anyone know where I can get one? Also, is there anything else I should check before I start asking around for a salvage board? Thanks!
The novelty of loading games from CD is more fun than 64Drive/ED64 so I’m already making a set of discs with only 32-128mbit games… in case it’s stuck this way forever. |
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