Spectrum 128K display corrupt
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- Drutt
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Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Hi all,
After finally acquiring another ULA - albeit from a Spectrum +2 - I replaced the one in my 128K, turned on the machine and was greeted with a screen alternating between these two...
At first I thought it was a problem with the ULA, so swapped them back, but the problem remained. It therefore seems my 128K has developed this fault during the last few weeks of not being used?!
Any suggestions?
After finally acquiring another ULA - albeit from a Spectrum +2 - I replaced the one in my 128K, turned on the machine and was greeted with a screen alternating between these two...
At first I thought it was a problem with the ULA, so swapped them back, but the problem remained. It therefore seems my 128K has developed this fault during the last few weeks of not being used?!
Any suggestions?
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Broken contended RAM chip.
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Not broken, because the CPU can read and write it just fine.... Just out of tolerance.
Write a basic program to write bits to the screen to work out which one it is, and replace it.
It's an issue that only seems to affect Greys.
David
Write a basic program to write bits to the screen to work out which one it is, and replace it.
It's an issue that only seems to affect Greys.
David
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Thanks David.
This is a Spectrum 128k, not a +2.
Do you have a link to a sample program?
This is a Spectrum 128k, not a +2.
Do you have a link to a sample program?
- Flatulentia
- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
I've had 3 RAM ICs fail in quick succession in my +2 since resurrecting it recently. The +5V rail is fine, so I suspect it's just old age catching up with them. It's probably overkill, but all of mine are socketed now just in case.
You may find it easier to order a "Switchable Replacement ROM Module for Spectrum 128s" from Retroleum.
https://www.retroleum.co.uk/128-chips
One lives permanently in my +2 now configured as a 'Toastrack' for slot "A" and Brendan Alford's ZX Diagnostics for slot "B".
Phil also stocks the Unrainer mod now since I requested one a few weeks ago so, if you're handy with a soldering iron, you may want to drop one of those in too while you're in there.
You may find it easier to order a "Switchable Replacement ROM Module for Spectrum 128s" from Retroleum.
https://www.retroleum.co.uk/128-chips
One lives permanently in my +2 now configured as a 'Toastrack' for slot "A" and Brendan Alford's ZX Diagnostics for slot "B".
Phil also stocks the Unrainer mod now since I requested one a few weeks ago so, if you're handy with a soldering iron, you may want to drop one of those in too while you're in there.
Last edited by Flatulentia on Sat Jul 29, 2023 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Gandalf the Grey" Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128 +2 running "Toastrack" ROM with 'EAR' Input Jack Mod.
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- Drutt
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- Flatulentia
- Drutt
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- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Possibly. One of my 3 failed RAM ICs passed the memory test in Brendan Alford's Diagnostics and the screen corruption looked very much like yours.
"Gandalf the Grey" Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128 +2 running "Toastrack" ROM with 'EAR' Input Jack Mod.
- Ast A. Moore
- Rick Dangerous
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
I’m not entirely convinced it’s the RAM, but from the pictures you posted it looks like it’s either IC 22 or IC 13. If you don’t have spares, try swapping them with any other RAM IC and see if the vertical lines change position.
Every man should plant a tree, build a house, and write a ZX Spectrum game.
Author of A Yankee in Iraq, a 50 fps shoot-’em-up—the first game to utilize the floating bus on the +2A/+3,
and zasm Z80 Assembler syntax highlighter.
Author of A Yankee in Iraq, a 50 fps shoot-’em-up—the first game to utilize the floating bus on the +2A/+3,
and zasm Z80 Assembler syntax highlighter.
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Things that make you "hmmmm"...
It looks like bit D7 in the contended RAM is stuck high, hence the stripes. But if that's true then how come the attributes aren't similarly affected? That would the whole display flash.
It looks like bit D7 in the contended RAM is stuck high, hence the stripes. But if that's true then how come the attributes aren't similarly affected? That would the whole display flash.
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
I must say, the QL Minerva ROM has never given me a false negative.
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Is there a way to identify the bad IC using a logic probe?
I don't really want to desolder all 14 ICs and test them in my RAM checker...
I don't really want to desolder all 14 ICs and test them in my RAM checker...
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
OK...I tried the old piggyback technique and found that placing a 4164 on the back of IC19 & IC20 produced the following results in my diagnostic cartridge:
So I decided to quickly remove, test and socket those two ICs even though the diagnostics refer to other banks? But at this stage I don't trust the results...
Suffice to say, in my RAM tester, those ICs were fine and the problem remains. It looks as though I will have to remove them one by one and test them.
So I decided to quickly remove, test and socket those two ICs even though the diagnostics refer to other banks? But at this stage I don't trust the results...
Suffice to say, in my RAM tester, those ICs were fine and the problem remains. It looks as though I will have to remove them one by one and test them.
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Why would bad 4164s cause the whole display to have inverted colours, though?
Ah, bad 4116s would cause the stripe, and maybe force set the flash bit. Is the display alternating at the usual flash rate? What does PRINT PEEK 22528 give you?
Robin Verhagen-Guest
SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Wait a minute!
I think he means that it is flashing.KeplerOfMars wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2023 8:33 pm turned on the machine and was greeted with a screen alternating between these two...
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Correct...I have now removed, tested and socketed 5 ICs...never have I wanted to find a bad RAM IC as much...
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Okay, so that being the case, looking at the 128k schematic, I think it's probably IC13 that's snuffed it. That looks to be bit D7 of contended RAM.
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
But IC13 is one the 5 I have checked, and it passed with flying colours...
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
A bad soldering or cut track would also keep D7 high.
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
PRINT PEEK 22528 gives me 56.
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
I have now checked five RAM ICs and just tested the machine.
The good news is, it is no worse than before. The bad news is mentioned in the previous sentence.
Should I continue and check the rest?
The good news is, it is no worse than before. The bad news is mentioned in the previous sentence.
Should I continue and check the rest?
Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
Is there a little solder splash or wire offcut bridging pins 38 and 39 on IC1 (the ULA)?
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
No.
So...I have now removed all the ICs - and managed to break two in the process - tested them all, soldered new sockets...replaced the broken two ICs, the same...
So...I have now removed all the ICs - and managed to break two in the process - tested them all, soldered new sockets...replaced the broken two ICs, the same...
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
This morning I removed all the RAM ICs and put them back in different positions, same result. Correct me if I am wrong, but does that not prove that it is not a RAM issue, unless of course a faulty RAM IC had been put in the position of a previous bad IC?
- MustardTiger
- Microbot
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
I'm not an electronics expert but could it be the capacitor for the ram chip for bit7 that's faulty?
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- Drutt
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Re: Spectrum 128K display corrupt
I suppose I could test each capacitor without having to remove them...