Infinity install prob, advice needed please
 

Matrix Infinity installed in v5 PS2 and I don't see the version number under the Playstation 2 logo on boot. The console works fine, exactly as it did before the install, so I stripped it down again to recheck my soldering, all seems ok but I decided to shorten the ground and 3.3v wires, (shame cos' I thought they looked pretty tidy), re-assemble and boot.........same prob :confused: This is my 2nd install, the first was my own v9 and I also did the Romeo mod and it works perfectly, reading just about anything I chuck in the cd tray. I do have pics of the install. Can you point me in the right direction please, ta :confused:

can we see the pics?

I'll sort some pics out and post them this afternoon after I finish work

See pics here

http://groups.msn.com/Colspages/colspics.msnw?Page=Last

thanks

col

Check the 3v3 wire - it doesn't seem to be too good a connection - check it for continuity with a multimeter. Also, try putting insulation tape over the TOP of the chip and the solder points - you may find the chip has just been shorting on the grounding plate :)

is there another point on the board that's common with the 3v3 point, for continuity checking? Also have you seen all pics cos I just put 3 more online, making a total of 5, I resoldered the 3v3 wire when I shortened it but do you think it looks dodgy?

Thanks in advance for your help

Col

What wire have you used there?

It's not Kynar but it's UL Equipment hook up wire size 22 awg for ground and 3v3, and size 30 awg for everything else, worked fine when I installed an infinity on my v9, I got it from RS Components, have you seen all 5 pics?

Regards

Col

um.... isnt his ground huge? its very long on some pics, and a bit shorter on some others, but still long (i think). you know, under your chip, the big orange strip at the side of the board is all ground. scrape a bit on a piece of that, till it looks shiny, then you can solder the ground to that...
like this
hmm wait you got the glue-stuff over that... well, you might be able to get enough of that off to attach a wire...
the picture is for a v5 infinity btw, so you can compare a bit (if you didnt already have it)

further, your B wire might be touching the pad thingey behind it, but it could be just shadow
i dont have the diagram for v5 (too lazy to get it), so you'll have to check the connections yourself :P
nice sharp pics ^^ better than my camera can do :P

(btw, the glue above your chip looks yuck :P as if you sneezed or something :P)

Yeah, try putting GND to the plate at the edge of the board. That could work :)

you linked to my thumb :D

here is the link

http://www.norcalmods.com/graphix/v5-infinity.jpg

@ spedmetal: yeah i just noticed :P

@ bluesman: you could also check if the wires on the right are actually going to the spot you intended... its easy to make a mistake with such long wires, and it's hard to check from a picture

(ok, maybe they're not long, but i've done one myself with spedmetal's short-wire competition entry (v7 infinity) as an example, so mine are a lot shorter :P (here's my install (its an old pic, the bridge you see is cleaned up and the M is fastened)(showing off feels good :P)))

How do you figure they are any shorter? Here is the V7.
http://www.norcalmods.com/graphix/v7...x-infinity.jpg

Here was the short wire competition install!
http://www.norcalmods.com/graphix/v4-nogap-infinity.jpg

EDIT: OHHHH you mean shorter them mrbluesman, sorry!

Ok, I've checked the power and ground wires for continuity using a multimeter, I put one test probe on the ground solder point on the chip and the other probe I moved around various locations on the motherboard and I got continuity every time. I then put one probe on the 3.3v solder point on the chip and the other probe on the 3.3v point on the motherboard that's shown in the installation diagram for a DMS 3, I got continuity. Therefore I must assume that my soldering is ok. The only thing I can think of doing is shortening the ground wire, (but I've already checked it for continuity). Am I to assume that I've been sent a faulty chip and do you think an email to the Matrix team is needed before I contact the supplier of the chip?

Thanks for taking the time to help guys

Regards

Col

Continuity has nothing to do with the ground wire. You could have great continuity but is the ground wire is too long you can get what is referred to as ground bounce. The shorter your ground wire is the less likely you will get ground bounce. However I have yet to see a situation with ground bounce on the Infinity but then again my ground is always very short.

What are your exact symptoms again?

hmm, if its faulty you might be lucky to get a replacement, who did you buy the chip from? Some ppl will do a runner :| or just not email you back. :mad:

But if yours works, I mite be tempted to do mine myself, as I know (no offence meant by this) I can soldier better than that as I have been doing it for two years. But didn't want to risk messing up my ps2 :)

But I spose I could get a cheap ps2 off ebay or somewere and give that a go, and then if it works, sell it and buy another chip...

hmm :D

The console boots normally and plays originals but the "Infinty v1.2" text is not underneath the Playstation 2 logo on the boot screen which leads me to think theres a prob with the power supply to the chip. I appreciate your patience with me on this, I'm an electrician and not an elctronics engineer so please tell me if I'm barking up the wrong tree.

Top site this

regards

Col

I got the chip from the same place I got it from when I did my v9, the same supplier that a certain Mr "LUFCFAN" uses, I don't think my soldering is that bad but no offence taken :)

ground bounce... never even heard of that till now, seems logical. i would just take his advice andshorten the ground. sped is a very smart guy! ground bounce.. wtf lol

yes I sorta got that impression, I did my homework when I chipped my v9 and sped's installations are very tidy, I'll shorten the ground wire tomorrow and keep you all up to speed, this is better than corrie.....lol

regards

Col

Im not bad mouthing your soldiering at all, its just it looks a bit big, if you get me :confused:

In my Systems & Control lessons, the teacher would just put our work in the bin if it wasn't perfect, well basically.

I gotta get a new soldiering iron, wire and solider and anything else im going to need, as I am gonna give it a go. (prob mess up my ps2 :()

Update
 

Ok, I've shortened the GND wire and took it to the edge of the motherboard, it's now about 1/2 inch long. Updated pics of the install can be seen here,

http://groups.msn.com/Colspages/colspics.msnw?Page=Last

I've checked all soldering for shorts, bridges etc both visually with a 10x magnifiying glass and also with a multimeter. I've also sent an email to the Matrix team.
The console works perfectly and plays originals, it's as if the chip is not there. One suggestion I've had is that some Matrix chips have left the factory with no bios installed and the chip needs to be flashed from memory card manager, I'll have to wait and see what the Matrix team have to say.

I'm stumped :confused:

I wonder if you and LUFC_Fan both got your chips from the same batch, if you get me?

Like all made at the same time, so both of you have the same problem... SOunds too me its that.

It's working
 

This is a quote from the Infinitymod website Infinity software upgrades page


- NOTE : You can always recover from a bad flash by hoding the reset button until the blue eject light turns on.
This will let you boot the upgrade disc to reflash your Infinity.


I tried it and managed to install firmware version 1.36, the chip now works perfectly and I think I'll sleep better tonight.....lol.

Thanks for all your help guys

Regards

Col :)

I was just thinking the same buddy. Either way, I'll try that, and I've e-mailed the Infinity team myself. I knew it wasn't me... ;)

Awesome!!!