PS3 Frankenstein PHAT PS3: CECHA with 40nm RSX

marciolsf said:
So of course now I had to go test it. sure enough, the XMB is not loaded... but I do remember loading it before, so I need to go figure out how I did that.

EDIT: went back and tested ps2 in classics mode -- same, the console reboots on ps2 mode, and no xmb is present. I tested PS1 also, and while the ps3 didn't "reboot" into ps1 mode (no screen reset, no controller disconnected), XMB was unloaded still. I don't have any psp games, but I do have a "minis" game, and that one does keep the xmb loaded.
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The Cell is still working to some extent in the background. The menu that comes up in PS2 mode that allows you to quit back to XMB is present and overlaid on top. So something of the PS3 is still active.

@squeept @vyktormvmpay25 the SB is involved in initializing the EEGS. Emotion Engine Graphics Synthesizer Reset (Abbreviated EGRST) can be seen in the service manual schematics of the PS2 bridge chip and controlled by the SB. So the PS2 Bridge chip is a SB paripheral. My troubleshooting thinking ATM is confirm voltages after enabeling PCI (PS2). If good, then reflow the EEGS. Then reflow the SB. If that all fails, it could be a simple SMD, PS2 RAM module...anything really.

But I haven't been motivated to dig into it. I just set aside and started working on other frankie's, intending to eventually circle back around to it. But I haven't yet. I probably wont until this summer.
 
Well Felix isn't just jump on reball but I will try exchange it EE ic with one good know working from board that had this good cell, guess what this syscon is 201 model but was working fine with ps2 games in his board. Og board got many pads delamination, not ripped pads on rsx and I could not save it or did not want to use it and get merged balls.
I've been inspect last night and desolder both EE and compared some resistance measurement. Og EE ic have different results on some points where second working ic have lower resistance with 20 ohms. Not sure if worth but I'll try to solder second ic later today or tomorrow morning. If won't work I'll swap SB as you suggested.
By comparing with schematic I don't see any missing components. No short no blow fuses. Anyway like I said I don't advice to just jump on reball, all steps should be processed.
Edit
First test explains much more, EE ic not my issue here, after exchange still same condition as before, nothing changed with ps2 in both cases. After SB exchange I'll look at ram exchange then CXD9208 ic. I have a feeling I've desoldered SB without reason but someone has to investigate.
There is one port of tx/rx from EE ic, I wonder what that could say
Edit 2
Update SB exchange nothing changed.
Next is swap of both rams for EE ic, then CXD 9208. If this won't fix it, this is a major problem. I'll cut it in pieces.
 
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vyktormvmpay25 said:
Next is swap of both rams for EE ic, then CXD 9208. If this won't fix it, this is a major problem. I'll cut it in pieces.
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I bet is the CXD9208GP i would try some pressure tests on it and/or to reflow it with lot of flux before replacing it
Or maybe is some component around it (resistors, capacitors, etc.. something easy but directly related with CXD9208GP)

The EE ram chips looks like a posible culprit too, but i guess a failure on them should cause some video artifacts and none of you are reporting that
 
Nah I am going to change this CXD9208. By now all major ic have been swapped with well know working parts.
Edit
Just after CXD 9208 exchange
ac8e6555a969e3d0443d75bde4a5c1a5.jpg
 
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victor youre the best man!!! so that ic CXD9208 is the cause. but whats the issue overvoltage? bad quality chip? i think those ics are in original ps2 so plently of those for cecha fixes
 
Can't say exactly, this board came like that, it was working with ps3 games on 90nm rsx but not working ps2 games.
I run few tests on voltages and all were fine so it was necessary to exchange one by one.
I took all parts from your previous board, NOS 40nm rsx and sorted. All parts means Cell set, SB, EE ic, rams for EE, and last cxd9208.
I'll try to send it this week after is full assembled.
 
youre the best thanks ship it to me anytime you have free time. but that makes me wonder you put my cell back wasnt a diyng one? or the low resistence was problem elsewhere?
 
squeept said:
@RIP-Felix do you still have the frankenstein that went black screen on PS2 games laying around? I need you to perform the dumbest experiment in the world if you haven't tried this already. I just had one that did the same thing, and I apparently "fixed" it, but I don't know if I'm comfortable selling it without a confirmation from someone else or an explanation of what the hell happened....

Anyway, tried a bunch of stuff, new drive, new cables, swapped out some chips and various components. Nothing. I was about to give up and blame the RSX like I normally do, so I was just dicking around. Since I could still access the PS3 menu from the black screen, I hit the "reset game" option and it fired right up. Now, that was unusual enough by itself....but now it works perfectly every time. Removed disc, shut down, unplugged, waited 15 minutes, fired back up and put the disc in.....still working perfectly. It now boots every single time.

I am.... uncomfortable.... with not knowing why it works now.
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I know exactly what happened and the same thing happened to me, it's the temperature that did it for me.
Every time I had manual fan control on and the temp of the CELL (I think it was the CELL) was under around ~65-68C I would get a black screen or lockups when booting the game, I turned off manual fan control and waited a bit, no issues.
This same pattern of behaviour has happened to me on regular 90nm PS3 consoles as well as my 40nm unit, something (probably some capacitor or resistor) is dying and causing them to fail in this way.
Especially since the PS2 EE/GS are extremely low power (like 15W max) and unlikely to have BGA failures.
 
vyktormvmpay25 said:
Nah I am going to change this CXD9208. By now all major ic have been swapped with well know working parts.
Edit
Just after CXD 9208 exchange
ac8e6555a969e3d0443d75bde4a5c1a5.jpg
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Nice, my previous post suggesting to do some pressure tests and reflow it was because i think his BGA solders probbably are very sensitive to the board flexing

You used a stencil for it ? ive seen them on sale
And you used the same solder balls than syscon ?
 
Is it just possible to delid keep fan speed to 40% and not perform the 40nm RSX mod as it requires expert skills a donor console for RSX?
Will taking all these precautions keep my COK-02 fine?
 
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