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Flashing some generic Taiwanese Sil3112 SATA card

adam25255

Active member
So... I will get this card for my Powermac G4 QS 2002:
https://www.newegg.com/sunix-sata2000/p/N82E16815161008
Has this 1mb ROM chip:
https://html.alldatasheet.com/html-pdf/47664/WINBOND/W29C011AP-15/251/1/W29C011AP-15.html
Supported by Flashrom:
https://www.flashrom.org/Supported_hardware#Supported_flash_chips
But I am not sure what firmware to use:
this
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guide-to-flashing-pc-sil3112-sata-cards-for-mac.1690231/
or one of these:
https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?thr...3112-flashing-easier-way-using-flashrom.7013/
And can I flash it from Linux running on my G4 using Flashrom? Will that work? As I do not have access to other PCI based computer.
Thank you for advice.
 

Daniël

Well-known member
The WiebeTech (MacRumors post) firmware will fit on the card currently, but will only work with Mac OS X, you won't be able to boot OS 9 from any attached SATA devices with it.

The SeriTek firmware (68kMLA post) requires modification of the card, namely the replacement of the current 1 megabit (not byte, it's 128 kilobyte) EEPROM with one of the three supported 4 megabit (512 kilobyte) low voltage EEPROMs, either the AM29LV040B, PM39LV040 or MX29LV040.

Another modification that is necessary is to change the supply voltage on the card for the EEPROM to 3.3V. As the low voltage suggests, these three supported EEPROMs work at the lower 3.3V, compared to the 5V of the current Winbond chip. Often this is done by moving an SMD resistor near the voltage regulator responsible for the EEPROM supply voltage (one pad occupied, one pad left empty), however, in the Newegg photos I cannot see any such resistor configuration, so you might need to find another way to cut the 5V supply to the EEPROM and tap 3.3V elsewhere.

As for FlashROM on PowerPC Linux, I sadly do not know. I either flashed mine in a PC, or with an external USB EEPROM programmer as I'd be changing out the EEPROM chip entirely, so I could program the chip prior to attaching it to the card.
 

adam25255

Active member
The WiebeTech (MacRumors post) firmware will fit on the card currently, but will only work with Mac OS X, you won't be able to boot OS 9 from any attached SATA devices with it.

The SeriTek firmware (68kMLA post) requires modification of the card, namely the replacement of the current 1 megabit (not byte, it's 128 kilobyte) EEPROM with one of the three supported 4 megabit (512 kilobyte) low voltage EEPROMs, either the AM29LV040B, PM39LV040 or MX29LV040.

Another modification that is necessary is to change the supply voltage on the card for the EEPROM to 3.3V. As the low voltage suggests, these three supported EEPROMs work at the lower 3.3V, compared to the 5V of the current Winbond chip. Often this is done by moving an SMD resistor near the voltage regulator responsible for the EEPROM supply voltage (one pad occupied, one pad left empty), however, in the Newegg photos I cannot see any such resistor configuration, so you might need to find another way to cut the 5V supply to the EEPROM and tap 3.3V elsewhere.

As for FlashROM on PowerPC Linux, I sadly do not know. I either flashed mine in a PC, or with an external USB EEPROM programmer as I'd be changing out the EEPROM chip entirely, so I could program the chip prior to attaching it to the card.
Thank you! Wiebetech has some utility working in Tiger. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guide-to-flashing-pc-sil3112-sata-cards-for-mac.1690231/page-8

Do you mean that, soldering is necessary for Wiebetech? Or just Seritek.
Wiebetech should be compatible with 5V WinBond as I have read.

I need it just for Lubuntu 16.04 and Leopard, so I do not need OS9 support(it will stay on IDE drive)

And thank you! I just needed some help, because I do not want to brick it.(as it is very rare when bought locally)
 

Daniël

Well-known member
Anyother problem. My QS is not going past the boot chime. Black screen, dead peripherals. Boots ok without card installed.

Hmm, I think for whatever reason, when I typed my previous comment, I had in mind that it was an MDD, not a QS, apologies.

The Quicksilver is a very, very fickle beast. I had one, and mine would not even power up with an SIL3112 card. I was positively pulling my hair out, until I tried it in my MDD and it just worked. There really is no telling what PCI card will or won't work with those, something about the Quicksilver is just... wonky.
 

adam25255

Active member
Hmm, I think for whatever reason, when I typed my previous comment, I had in mind that it was an MDD, not a QS, apologies.

The Quicksilver is a very, very fickle beast. I had one, and mine would not even power up with an SIL3112 card. I was positively pulling my hair out, until I tried it in my MDD and it just worked. There really is no telling what PCI card will or won't work with those, something about the Quicksilver is just... wonky.
Yeah... I have even tried to "hotplug it" when booted to OF console, but it just froze....
 

Cory5412

Daring Pioneer of the Future
Staff member
What slot is the card in? I put one of these (although with the firmware that'll run on OS 9) in a QS'02 and used one of the middle slots, I'll have to power it back open because I don't actually remember which one. OS X 10.4 boots great off a 2TB disk in that machine.

Before writing it off, I'd say try the card in different slots, just in case it's weirdness with what's on the bus.
 

adam25255

Active member
What slot is the card in? I put one of these (although with the firmware that'll run on OS 9) in a QS'02 and used one of the middle slots, I'll have to power it back open because I don't actually remember which one. OS X 10.4 boots great off a 2TB disk in that machine.

Before writing it off, I'd say try the card in different slots, just in case it's weirdness with what's on the bus.
I have tried all PCI slots including Macrumors suggested setup.

My card is unflashed, but something still blocks booting past the chime. I have tried to "hotplug it" while being in OF prompt, but computer just froze.

Which Firmware do you have in your QS? Mine is 4.3.3f2
 
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