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Daystar Turbo 040 firmware versions/EPROM replacement

ttb

Well-known member
Hello,

I've got a Daystar Turbo 040 (ASIC version) with a "4.01i" firmware (chip is labeled 2984). My SE/30 adapter (courtesy @Bolle) is arriving soon so I'm trying to gather information on my path forward. Right now the Turbo 040 has a 68LC040 in it, but I have a full 040 I'm planning on dropping in. As a result, I've got a few questions:

  1. I've read here that the 4.11 firmware adds support for 7.5 and fixes virtual memory issues. Does this mean that 7.5+ will not work at all with firmware 4.01? Or does it just mean it will be less stable? Or is it actually totally fine?
  2. Are there different firmware versions for the LC and full 040 variants? I ask because I believe the "Turbo 040i" was the version shipped with the LC 040 (like mine) and the firmware on my device is listed as "4.01i". If so, will the FPU only be enabled with the non-"i" firmware?
  3. (The reason this is in this forum) Is this 128kx8 32-LCC EPROM-OTP an equivalent part to the TI TMS27PC010, or can someone link to one that is? https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/microchip-technology/AT27C010-45JU/AT27C010-45JU-ND/1008559



I'll be able to answer 1 and 2 myself later this week, but if anyone knows now that would give me a chance to order a replacement EPROM if needed.

Thanks!

 

ttb

Well-known member
To answer 2) above, you can drop a full 040 in a Turbo 040i and the FPU will be recognized without issue: 

A06081B1-0E3D-4A00-8714-AD09F3A4E03E.jpeg

and it performs accordingly:

5AAD23A4-A90F-4BE5-AEFB-A2478E1DFA31.jpeg

yet the firmware will still say it is an “i” model:

68892E45-EA8B-4EA4-BB09-AEE23D58E376.jpeg

I am going to order those EPROMs for the heck of it and will answer 3) as well. 

 

EvilCapitalist

Well-known member
I've read here that the 4.11 firmware adds support for 7.5 and fixes virtual memory issues. Does this mean that 7.5+ will not work at all with firmware 4.01? Or does it just mean it will be less stable? Or is it actually totally fine?
I know for a fact that trying to run a Turbo '040 with ROM revision 2.x in a IIci will lead to nothing but crashes in 7.5.5; the second you try and open a menu the whole system goes down.  That same Turbo '040 works fine in System 7.1.  

(The reason this is in this forum) Is this 128kx8 32-LCC EPROM-OTP an equivalent part to the TI TMS27PC010, or can someone link to one that is? https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/microchip-technology/AT27C010-45JU/AT27C010-45JU-ND/1008559
I've seen what I assume is a faster speed version still available for sale (assuming that the A-15FML part that seems to be stock means 15ms, and the A-12FML part you can still find means 12ms), and I've got some on the way to me now so if they work I'd be happy to burn you a 4.11 version.

 
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ttb

Well-known member
Interesting. Mine appears to have no trouble running 7.5.5. The only remaining issue is related to startup, but I'll probably create another thread in the compact mac area to discuss that. Basically on power on, it will show a simasimac screen for the duration of RAM check. When it's done, the regular grey screen with a cursor appears. Then it will go to a flashing question mark and not boot. If I blip the power switch (apparently enough to reset the SCSI2SD), it will restart and boot straight away, no RAM check, find the SCSI2SD immediately, no drama. Two different logic boards and two different AB/PSUs do this. So pretty weird, but maybe not related for firmware.

That said, I'd like to upgrade it to 4.11 just in case, so please send me a message when you flash those chips if you have an extra!

 

Bolle

Well-known member
Can you make a dump of your old version and share that one somewhere?

There seem to be only versions 4.01 and 4.11 floating around the usual places.

 

Bolle

Well-known member
Might be small enough to attach it to a forum post right here.

Might also help to attach it to the Gardens post on the Turbo040 drivers for the sake of completeness.

 

pax

Well-known member
F/w 3.07 works just fine with System 7.5 on my SE/30. 

B0B83225-B00C-4E4E-A5CD-FE4C2BD23C90.jpeg

505D4B32-2A29-4DEC-8D7D-0ED6EBCEEA7B.jpeg

IMG_4619.jpg

 
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ttb

Well-known member
Thanks to @EvilCapitalist I am now rolling with 4.11:

IMG_1445.jpeg

Note that it appears the processor speed is encoded into the ROM. This was originally a 33MHz accelerator but is currently running at 48MHz with a 24Mhz crystal.

Relevant to this thread about firmware differences: with the 4.01(i) firmware I had an issue I briefly discussed above. Starting up after a full power off, it would always do a RAM check regardless of the fact that I disabled it in QuadControl. For the duration of the RAM check (a minute with 68MB of RAM), it would show a simasimac screen. Then it would finally show the regular gray screen and then a flashing disk (that part persists). Now with the 4.11 firmware it actually skips the RAM check and doesn't show the simasimac screen. It goes straight to the flashing disk. (As above, it will then boot if I blip the power switch.)

So based on my experience it seems like 4.01(i) to 4.11 may fix some RAM issues. It at least now appears to pay attention to the QuadControl setting for skipping ram checks. Perhaps that option was only added in the 4.11 firmware?

 

ttb

Well-known member
Also, adding to this thread since I happened across this and someone in the future might find it useful as it's relevant to question 2 in the OP. The Artmix site had a page that talked about firmware versions here: https://web.archive.org/web/20070814112501/http://www.artmix.com/romver.html

On that page, they claim that the "040i" version doesn't enable the FPU on a full 040 without a ROM change. I believe that's not correct per my above results.

image.png

 
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