Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

Hi team...

PJS and I (along with others) were discussing the technical aspects of the 16 mb upgrade in the post located here:
http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...?threadid=13391
We need some more expertise. Anyone have anything to offer? Links? Advice? Insight? Knowledge? Anyone?

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

Ok peeps...here it is:

The Prism upgrade is mad simple. Either (1) de-solder the old chip and stick down the 16mb chip mentioned in the thread above (hard to find!!); or (2) Solder down a new 8mb chip on top of the old one (pin to pin) with the exception of pin 14. Instead, bend this pin out, and solder a wire running from pin 14, to pin 75 of the Dragonball VZ CPU. Voila--16mb.

The platinum/edge are not so simple--unfortunately, the CPU pins are buried beneath the BGA CPU. (you know FC-PGA? Kinda like that). I'm still working on an upgrade for these, but I'll post my results/pictures when a method is available. Unfortunately, on the Edge, the CPU and one side of the DRAM are VERY close together--could be dangerous. Anyway, let's see if we can't end this Rudenko monopoly. If anyone wants further info, you can find pictures/info on this page (Japanese!!) http://kamakura.cool.ne.jp/mobiletake/kaizou/
I'll put up a webpage with all the details once I finish my exams.

Cheers,
-Stimp.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

Stimpy-

You are, without question, my personal hero. At least for a few days. Nice work.

Have you done this to your Prism yet? Does the resulting two-chip stack still fit in the case?

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: El Segundo,CA
Posts: 374

Due to a cracked screen on my 2 Meg, upgraded by www.stnecorp.com to 8Meg, I had to exchange my unit. Handspring sent me a 2Meg unit and I exchanged the memory board. Could this be done on the Platinum that I will have upgraded by Tony to 16Meg? BTW, I just saw that STNE is now upgrading the Prism for $120.

__________________
My Treo has more memory than I do.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

Ok ok...don't give me the kudos. I wasn't the first and only to figure this out. Most of the credit belongs to the brave pioneers at the page above, and those at many of the other Japanese sites who have boasted this upgrade for some time. I didn't discover...just toyed around, translated, and tried. Just happy to make my experiences publicly available. If you want it done right (ie, with a guarantee) still better to let an expert like Tony do the work.

As for the stack, it does fit, but you must be very careful to get them as *CLOSE* as possible. The big problem here is you probably (well not probably--definitely) have to bend out the legs of the new DRAM to get it to solder nicely to the top of the old one. Take heed: They can easily be broken off. If it is not really snug, you do chance it putting some pressure on the back of the Prism screen. This may cause some *SLIGHT* discoloration in the area. I was actually wondering how Tony gets around/avoids this--I think it is a matter of just being really fussy about how that chip goes down.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

The other possibility is that he actually removes the old 8MB chips, replaces with 16MB, and then reuses the old 8MB in the 2MB to 8MB upgrades that he performs.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

j762538:
Yup...you can swap the boards out if need be.

PJS:
Nope...don't think so. Not only are those chips $43 USD each, but they are also discontinued. And DAMN hard to get ahold of. Believe me, if they are out there, I'd have found them. I have tried every major electronics wholesaler/supplier/retailer out there. I even contacted Hitachi directly. They can't even sample/sell me one, 'cuz they just don't gots'em. Hence the reason I tried to develop an alternate method. If Tony has those chips, he would have had to buy about 2000 of them, back when they actually existed. I simply don't think he has that sort of capital.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 16

Sanyo?

quote:

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Nope...don't think so. Not only are those chips $43 USD each, but they are also discontinued... Hence the reason I tried to develop an alternate method. If Tony has those chips, he would have had to buy about 2000 of them, back when they actually existed. I simply don't think he has that sort of capital.

---

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

Konige:

You find it...and you'll be my personal hero! I'll take a look around and see what I can dig up.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

Stimp-

Even if that part is discontinued, wouldn't you think that something else would be coming out that would work? It just seems odd that you can get the 8MB parts, but not the 16's. Or are both discontinued? I know that PCs aren't using EDO, but it still seems rather abrupt.

BTW, I did some checking last night and I was not able to find the Samsung k4661612d-tl60, which is the chip that's on the board in my Prism. I did find the k4641612d-tl60, which is the 8k refresh version (or 4k -- whichever one won't work).

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

Alright, I've checked EVERYONE, and no one is making an (128M 8Mx16) [=16 mb] edo DRAM except Elpida. And Elpida isn't even making it yet. Not samsung, not sanyo, not micron, not TI, not mitsubishi, not ISSI, Not NEC or Hitachi (because they ARE Elpida) and not Hyundai. That pretty much rules out everyone. Why? Because this chip is a stacked chip (as discussed earlier) likely composed of two 64M 4Mx16 chips like the ones used in the Prism/Edge/Platinum/Palm Vx/Everything else right now. The bottom line is, you can build this chip yourself using the method described above. Until this chip from Hitachi came along, EDO's just didn't come in 16 mb 128M configurations. The fact is, they still don't...It's really just two 8mb chips!

PJS: I'm not familiar with those Samsung chips...I've used only the Hitachi, the Micron, and the Samsung KM416V4104 (which has changed in its part number recently...) You do need a 4k self-refresh though. I'm going to try another Micron chip soon...if it works, I can always send you one.

-Stimp.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

I would definitely be interested in one of those micron chips. Just got that compusa rebate back. I'll have a much easier time taking a soldering iron to a $250 prism than to a $450 prism.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 28

quote:

---

Originally posted by StiMPy
As for the stack, it does fit, but you must be very careful to get them as *CLOSE* as possible. The big problem here is you probably (well not probably--definitely) have to bend out the legs of the new DRAM to get it to solder nicely to the top of the old one. Take heed: They can easily be broken off. If it is not really snug, you do chance it putting some pressure on the back of the Prism screen. This may cause some *SLIGHT* discoloration in the area. I was actually wondering how Tony gets around/avoids this--I think it is a matter of just being really fussy about how that chip goes down.

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

If you took a Dremel tool to the case plastic right above the chip stack, would that relieve the pressure? It seems to me that the resulting hole would be in the springboard slot area. Not really unsightly, and it could be covered up with tape to keep debris out. Am I understanding the stack-up correctly?

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

Also, johnking, what are you referrring to when you say that he doesn't glue the top right corner? Mine is held togehter only with screws.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 28

I assumed it was glued? There is a screw on each side at top of springboard slot. I'm talking about where the side meets the top, the hairline crack from corner of springboard opening was completely apart and not secured. It had to have been glued.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

Johnking:

That is really sub-standard. I would be sending that baby back to Tony and asking him to repair or replace. There is NO WAY that should be happening. If the chips are too high, they should be resoldered. If the case does not close, then he may have broken off one of the plastic tabs, or stripped the screw post (easy to do). In any case, get it fixed.

Cheers,
Stimp.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

My Prsim has the same crack, and I remember reading other's posts about having it too. John, when you say "completely apart", what do you mean? Is there any possibility that you just never noticed that little crack before? Or do you think it got a lot worse during surgery? Just curious.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 28

That is a complete separation there. Two separate parts coming together, not a seam or ridge in the mold. I believe that corner is intentionally left loose to relieve pressure on the stacked chips.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posts: 63

Johnking:
Well, I've just upgraded another Prism, and there really is no need to have the case separated. There is a *TINY* bulge at the back of the case at the center of the springboard slot (when a module is NOT inserted) but the case comes together perfectly. There is no problem inserting or removing modules. Occasionally, I can see a small bright spot on the screen (top right-hand corner), but it fades after awhile--nothing noticeable.

PJS:
Guess these chips work. I'd be happy to send you one. If you want to e-mail me ([email protected]) we can work out the details.

Ah...16 mb!! -sigh-....