Video: VDP Problems with SVI328

Resident (55)

13-08-2020, 16:30

I'm sure some of you experienced MSXers will just laugh at me for getting the wrong VDP. At least I had the excuse I couldn't see the exact VDP number under the heatsink! :-)
https://youtu.be/KSrMwfn-jZ8

By lintweaker

Champion (474)

13-08-2020, 17:30

Good to see the SVI328 finally working

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6088)

14-08-2020, 00:35

Indeed, great to see it finally working! When your 3rd VDP failed you, I really felt horrible for you. At least on the video it seems that you take these challenges anyway pretty well... If this had been my video, I would have probably needed to replace some parts of the audio track with SOUND 8,15 type of effects.

BTW As you probably noticed while opening the keyboard, you can replace the keyboard cable same way as the video board cable... but if you managed to pull all this off without actually breaking it, then I would leave it alone for now.

By Briqunullus

Paladin (755)

14-08-2020, 20:12

Wait. You can still get replacement keys for this? I have a 728 with a broken '+' key on the numeric keypad.

By llopis

Resident (55)

14-08-2020, 22:17

I just asked on the Spectravideo FB group and people had spares there.

Speaking of spares: I've been told that TMS9929A are mostly fake on Ebay and Ali. I have a second one on its way, but I suspect it'll be just as fake as the first one. Anybody knows where I can buy a *real* TMS9929A (preferably not costing an arm and a leg)?

Thanks.

By Manuel

Ascended (19676)

14-08-2020, 23:34

love your videos! you have such a clear and calm voice

By NC92

Supporter (4)

15-08-2020, 09:48

Hi.
I bought the original TMS9929A from polida on ebay.
https://ebay.to/31SKegl

I also bought a fake chip from another seller but got a refund.

If what you receive looks different than the picture, open a dispute.
Good luck.

By llopis

Resident (55)

15-08-2020, 09:51

Good to know! I might buy one from that seller. I have two supposedly coming, but a) they're probably fake and b) it's never a bad idea to have a couple of these on hand.

The one I bought was from seller huayi-components. Fortunately I didn't even have to show that it was different than the picture. I explained that I had tested it with other ones and this one didn't work at all and I got an instant refund. This wouldn't have been so easy had I purchased it over at AliExpress.

By jltursan

Prophet (2619)

15-08-2020, 11:14

Thanks for let us know the name of the seller. I've also received a lot of fake parts (VDPs, PSGs among others) from adeleparts; so beware...

By llopis

Resident (55)

15-08-2020, 15:36

jltursan wrote:

Thanks for let us know the name of the seller. I've also received a lot of fake parts (VDPs, PSGs among others) from adeleparts; so beware...

Haha, go figure. That's one of the sellers I'm getting one VDP from.

At this point I have 3 different VDPs on their way to me. I think when I get them, I'm going to make a video showing all of them, posting the seller names, and showing which ones are fake. Fun.

At least Ebay makes it trivial to get your money back.

By Briqunullus

Paladin (755)

15-08-2020, 22:49

llopis wrote:

I just asked on the Spectravideo FB group and people had spares there.

Thanks for the tip, I will definitely try that. I dropped my 728 when I was a kid and that one key broke. Of course my parents were quite upset, but I didn't need that to realize that I made a terrible mistake. Luckily the machine kept working just fine.

Fun fact, somewhere mid nineties I got a second 728 that I later traded to Wammes Witkop. My parents said I should give away the one with the broken key, but I couldn't. That one was my machine. With all the memories good and bad. I could never switch that with a surrogate machine. Around the start of the millenium I also got a 328 from a friend. I never really knew what to do with it so eventually I sold that one.

Later this month I hope to be reunited with my original 728 and I will asses the damage I have done to it many moons ago. I will also give it a go to see if it's still working. If I run into problems, your video is inspiration to see what I can do to get it up and running again.