Alternate Soldering Points, Matrix Infinity, V9
 

I am pretty positive I have a V9. The serial number matched up and my DVD drivers were v3. I bought the network adapter bundle at the new price.

I got a Matrix Infinity mod, and I'm trying to install it however the main point A,B,I,G,H etc. that go to the main chip on the Mobo are so damned small...

On my Matrix Infinity instructions diagram they show alternates for these points that give you a little more room, however I can't find the alternates on the board. I've found everything where it should be except I can't find the alternates. Can anybody help me out here, thank you.

I just found a post on google that suggests the alt points may be on the underside of the board, I'ma go check that out now...

being pretty sure what version ya have is'nt good ya should know for sure.
if the board on the underside says gh-023then ya know ya really have a v9

It's a V9, I didn't realize the alt. points were on the other side of the board.

However, I can't get to the other side of the board. There are all these flat cables connected that hold it in place, and also a metal cover. I don't know if it is safe, or how to go about removing these cables to get the board isolated from the rest of the PS2. If it's not safe to do this I'll have to soldier to the actual points, not the alternates.

Anybody know how I can get to the other side of the board safely?

just becareful taking the wires off look what your doing.
take your time!
if the shield on the bottom don't just come off pull out the ole hair dryer and get those heatsinks warn and the shield will come right off.

How do you take the wires off safely, the controller/mem card ports for example?

Some of the ribbon cables just pull right out. On others there is a little hinged part on the front of the connecter on top that you click up with a small flat head screw driver, make sure you dont pull these ones out as damage to them could result.

The heat shield will just pull off once you have just the mobo and shield in hand.

the last v9 i did the shield would'nt just come off had to warm the heatsinks a little first to losen it off the EEchip.

Not a bad method, but I have done many many many installs and never once had to heat the shield to remove it. Just a little tug on the heat sink and "POP" there goes the weasel.

I got it off, I'm just now having trouble getting soldier to stick on the board. I am going to get a smaller soldering tip tommarow. I scraped away at the leads a bit, that made the copper show much brighter, I also cleaned the surface with a soft solvent and the solder I'm using has flux in it, so I don't know why it's not sticking, time to do more research.

Get some solder paste. My solder has flux in it too...so why you ask am I using additional flux? Well the reason is that with the tiny amount of solder we are using on the install the little bit of flux that is in the solder isn’t doing much good, thus the need to physically apply some flux paste to the joint your trying to solder.

Yeah, they're a pain. Soldering to the alternative points is soldering to the cluster of vias. I tried lots of liquid flux to remove but sometimes a bit stubborn. I wouldn't recommend this but i use a scalpel and very gently scrape away the coating over the vias until they are bare copper then tin them using lots of liquid flux.

As i say i know a couple of people who have damaged their mobos doing this method but works for me.

Regards