Memory Mod: Difference between revisions
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==The Modification== |
==The Modification== |
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[[Image:Memory_Mod_Pic1.jpg|thumb|right|AV7110 and SDRAM |
[[Image:Memory_Mod_Pic1.jpg|thumb|right|Fig.1. The AV7110 and SDRAM chips before modification]] |
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The chip select for the second SDRAM chip is not available on the pcb itself, so the [[TI AV711x|AV7110]] processor and the memory chip have to be modified. |
The chip select for the second SDRAM chip is not available on the card's pcb itself, so the [[TI AV711x|AV7110]] processor and the memory chip have to be modified. |
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In |
In Fig.1 at the side of the page, you can see both chips as they are found on the card prior to any modification; with the [[TI AV711x|AV7110]] processor on the left and the, completely visible, 2MByte SDRAM memory chip on the right. The area conveyed in the image is roughly equivalent to that of the face of a 1EURO coin. |
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The modification process is outlined as follows: |
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In performing the Mod, you will have to scratch one of the thin lines on the processor until the protective coating is removed, and then afterwards solder a thin wire on to it. Next, a second SDRAM chip has to be soldered on top of the existing one. For this step, you have to ''carefully'' bend the pins on the second SDRAM chip so that they all, except for pin 18, connect 1:1 to the first SDRAM chip's pins. The exception, pin 18 (the /ChipSelect), has to instead be connected to the thin wire that you soldered to the processor earlier in the modification process. After these steps have been completed, and provided that a [[Firmware]] cognizant of the additional memory is made available, the processor will then be able to use the full 4Mbytes now residing onboard the card. |
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*Step1: carefully bend the pins of the new SDRAM chip, i.e. by pressing the chip on a surface. You have to bend all pins except pin 18 CS (the 8th pin of the bottom lne, starting from the right). Have a look at the picture. |
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| ⚫ | *Step3: carefully scratch through the protective coating of the [[TI AV711x|AV7110]] |
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*Step4: soldering to the line |
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*Step5: Connect it to the pin 18 of the SDRAM. Use a very thin wire of approx 0.1mm diameter. |
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{{Note|It is also highly recommended that you review the [http://escape-edv.de/endriss/dvb-mem-mod/index.html information provided by Oliver] before proceeding}} |
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A completed modification should look similar to the results shown in the image at the side. |
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*'''Step1''': By gently pressing on the surface of the new/second SDRAM chip that you are adding to the board, ''carefully'' bend its pins such that they all, except for pin 18, can be made to connect 1:1 to first SDRAM chip's pins. Pin 18, which is the /ChipSelect and is the 8th pin of the bottom line, starting from the right, will instead be connected to a thin wire soldered to the processor (see steps 4 and 5 of the modification process). To get a better idea of what this should look like, have a look at Fig.2 |
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| ⚫ | *'''Step3''': You will have to ''carefully'' scratch through the protective coating of the [[TI AV711x|AV7110]] until the protective coating is removed and a thin trace wire/line to the processor is exposed. Looking at the image in Fig.2, you will see that there are 6 round areas, the wire beneath the sixth with the small step is the one we need. Do not scratch too deeply - if you see the copper shining, then that is enough/sufficient. If you scratch too deep, it will become impossible to solder onto that trace line, as is required in next step. |
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*'''Step4''': Using a very thin wire of approx 0.1mm diameter, solder the wire to the processor's trace line that you have just exposed in Step 3. |
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*'''Step5''': Connect/Solder the other end of the thin wire to pin 18 of the new SDRAM chip. |
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After these steps, a completed modification should look similar to the results shown in Fig.2. If all went well, and provided that a [[Firmware]] cognizant of the additional memory is made available to the card during system boot/startup, the processor should be able to use the full 4Mbytes now residing onboard the card. |
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==List of suitable SDRAM chips== |
==List of suitable SDRAM chips== |
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Latest revision as of 15:53, 10 January 2008
Memory Mod refers to upgrading a, so called, "full-featured" DVB card equipped with 2MByte SDRAM to 4MByte of SDRAM by means of placing another memory chip over an existing chip. The idea for this modification was introduced by Oliver Endriss.
The Idea
"Full-featured" DVB cards are equipped with a 2 MByte SDRAM chip. Using the Linux DVB drivers, OSD memory space is limited to approx. 80 KBytes. Therefore, it is not possible to have a full-screen, 256 color OSD when using VDR. However, the onboard AV7110/7111 MPEG-2 Decoder used by these cards is able to handle/address two 2MByte SDRAM chips. Doubling the amount of addressable memory onboard these cards would effectively resolve the limitation outlined above and, hence, users could gain a full-screen 256 color OSD in VDR. Additionally there would be more space for the video buffers. Given the obvious benefit, why not add the second one?
The Modification
The chip select for the second SDRAM chip is not available on the card's pcb itself, so the AV7110 processor and the memory chip have to be modified.
In Fig.1 at the side of the page, you can see both chips as they are found on the card prior to any modification; with the AV7110 processor on the left and the, completely visible, 2MByte SDRAM memory chip on the right. The area conveyed in the image is roughly equivalent to that of the face of a 1EURO coin.
The modification process is outlined as follows:
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Warning !!! | |
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This modification is only for experienced people having knowledge and experience with SMD parts. It involves work upon intricate structures around 1/10 mm in size. Any failures with handling these parts or damage to the nearby surfaces of the card may be risky for its overall health! If you undertake this modification, we take no responsibility for any damage caused or which may be incurred to your card through the process. You proceed entirely at your own risk |
- Step1: By gently pressing on the surface of the new/second SDRAM chip that you are adding to the board, carefully bend its pins such that they all, except for pin 18, can be made to connect 1:1 to first SDRAM chip's pins. Pin 18, which is the /ChipSelect and is the 8th pin of the bottom line, starting from the right, will instead be connected to a thin wire soldered to the processor (see steps 4 and 5 of the modification process). To get a better idea of what this should look like, have a look at Fig.2
- Step2: Attach the second SDRAM chip onto the top of the existing one by soldering all the pins of the new chip (with the exception of pin 18) to the pins of the old one. Ensure that you have successfully connected the pins and that there are no short circuits.
- Step3: You will have to carefully scratch through the protective coating of the AV7110 until the protective coating is removed and a thin trace wire/line to the processor is exposed. Looking at the image in Fig.2, you will see that there are 6 round areas, the wire beneath the sixth with the small step is the one we need. Do not scratch too deeply - if you see the copper shining, then that is enough/sufficient. If you scratch too deep, it will become impossible to solder onto that trace line, as is required in next step.
- Step4: Using a very thin wire of approx 0.1mm diameter, solder the wire to the processor's trace line that you have just exposed in Step 3.
- Step5: Connect/Solder the other end of the thin wire to pin 18 of the new SDRAM chip.
- Step6: Fix the thin wire and check the connection again
After these steps, a completed modification should look similar to the results shown in Fig.2. If all went well, and provided that a Firmware cognizant of the additional memory is made available to the card during system boot/startup, the processor should be able to use the full 4Mbytes now residing onboard the card.
List of suitable SDRAM chips
This list may be imcomplete. The AV71x needs 3.3Volt IO-Ports, therefore a 3.3Volt SDRAM in TSOPII packaging is needed. Some of that chips are on old graphics boards.
| Producer | Part Name | Informations |
| ESMT/EliteMT | M12L16161A-7T | homepage datasheet |
| EtronTech | EM636165TS-8 | homepage datasheet |
| Samsung | K4S161622E-TC80 | homepage datasheet |
| Goldstar | GM72V161621 |
Software Requirements
DVB driver with 4MB support and Firmware 261c or newer.
External Links
| [1] | vdrwiki:osdtest256-plugin | Plugin for testing of modded cards |
| [2] | vdrwiki:text2skin-plugin | plugin for loading of skins |
| [3] | http://www.rightchoiceelectronics.com/cr.html | Reference list with different ICs. Needed: 1Mx16 SDRAMs. |
| [4] | http://www.pcstats.com/ramfinder.cfm | RamFinder - Infos about RAM-ICs |
| [5] | http://www.wolfsoft.de | DVB Card Upgrade 2MB->4MB (~45 Euro) bzw. SDRAM (5,00+9,70)Euro |