What is a good EPROM programmer for the Classics?
RadioJockey
for the Classic Arcades. Which ones do you use?
I have found parallel port, serial, USB devices, with power
supplies, without power supplies, different voltage ranges for the
chips.
Which one covers the largest range of roms that were used in the
Classic Games?
Thanks.
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gamefixer
> I've been looking for a good EPROM programmer that can program roms
> for the Classic Arcades. Which ones do you use?
>
> I have found parallel port, serial, USB devices, with power
> supplies, without power supplies, different voltage ranges for the
> chips.
>
> Which one covers the largest range of roms that were used in the
> Classic Games?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> --------------------------------- --- -- -
> Posted with NewsLeecher v3.9 Beta 7
> ------------------- ----- ---- -- -
Up until recently I've used a Needhams EMP-20. Covers all of the old
stuff but doesn't program PROMs or test IC's. Now I'm using a Modular
Circuit Technologies EMPU but its really finicky about the PC you use.
Matt
pac man alex
Alex
Steve
muti-pak plug in. This will program most EPROMs
up to 1 meg, and the fuse link PROMs. There is
software that lets you interface it to your computer.
PromLink?
Steve
John Hermann
newer/larger sized EPROMs; it can generally handle upto 4MB EPROMs.
Also, it does not program 2708's; so I have a older stand-alone
Data I/O unit for those and similar; but seldom need it.
Best Regards,
John Hermann
Buy, Sell, Trade, and Repair Video and Pinball Machines.
Located near Dallas, TX.
http://www.geocities.com/jkh9081
Hobbyroms
Well as someone who professes to know a thing or two about eproms , ;-)
here are my thoughts...
I actually have 7 programmers and each have their strengths and weaknesses.
Needham EMP-20
==============
VERY reliable burner. My steady workhorse for 4 years.
Covers a very very wide range of eproms (up to 48 pins ),
but requires plug-in modules for the more exotic types.
Thankfully, module "1A/1B" will do 95% of all arcade eproms.
Still, I bought all 23 modules from Needham's
before they discontinued them.
To date I've only ever used 5 different ones...
The unit plugs into the parallel port of a PC
so it has fast image downloads.
It's also "fairly" portable so it "could" be used on the road.
The only significantly bad thing about the EMP-20
is that, as mentioned, it does NOT do bi-polar PROMs,
which, if you seriously want to burn chips, you must have.
Cost : $125-$200 depending on the plug-in modules you get
Modular Circuit Technology (MOD-EMUP)
=====================================
A surprisingly versatile burner.
It does Eproms AND most PROMs and does not require any plug-in modules.
It does however require a special ISA card in the host PC.
[ NB. Many EMUPs on eBay do NOT come with the host card.
The burner is useless without it. ]
The fact that it requires an ISA port necessitates an older PC.
(..in fact anything over a P2/366 is too BIG and probably won't work ! )
The EMUP has a 40-pin ZIF socket so it can program eproms up 8MB
and some 16bit eproms (27c4096), but won't do 16Mb eproms
as found in some later games ( Cruisn' Exotica, Sega Naomi, etc... )
Along with my EMP-20, I use this burner alot
(...I burn with one, and verify with the other
so that I know I get verified results from two separate burners ).
I do all my PROMs with this burner.
Cost : $30-100 (which is an under-valued item in my opinion )
>>>> For the arcade enthusiasts, I would recommend this unit
as the best bang (and most versatile) for the buck. <<<<
Data I/0 29B
===========
The tank...
Considered by many to be indispensable,
it is indeed the only programmer that will handle
all the older obscure chips ( 3 voltage eproms like 2708, etc...),
as well as the high-current PROMs such as the Intersils.
The 29B is limited to 4Mb eproms , but with a 9.6Kb serial port,
you would want to download anything any bigger than that anyways.
The 29B is big, bulky and noisy.
I also find it to be disturbingly un-reliable.
I've actually owned 4 different 29B's, and all were flaky
in one way or another. I think the Datapak module that plugs into it
gets poor connections over time, and the ZIF sockets deteriorate after
long-term use. The one I have now is "fairly" reliable,
but I only use it when I can't program the chip with anything else.
Cost : $25-100 depending on condition and RAM size ( 128K to 1Mb)
Data I/0 3980Xpi
=================
The Cadillac..
Geared more for 90's technology ( PLCC, SOIC, TSOP ),
this programmer is at the higher-end of the scale.
Although it will do most of the common 80's stuff,
it really is well beyond the need of the "dated" arcade eproms.
(..the only exception being 32Mb 27c322 eproms
used in Williams Pin2000 such as RFM and SW Ep.1 )
I was very lucky to find one at bankrupcy sale where no-one
really knew what it was, so I got it "cheap".
At $30,000K (new) for the programmer and all the special adapters,
it's not for everyone.
I also have a variety of gang programmers, but these are
"relatives" of the units above ( 8-gang 29B module, EMUP-4gang, etc...)
--
[ Other Programmers I've never actually used ]
Pocket Programmer : I've heard decent things about this one,
but I believe it does not do 2532 eproms. (PacMan )
Willem : You get what you pay for...
I know many people who've come to me after getting frustrated
with their Willem. They are dirt cheap ($50) but crappy.
If you choose to buy one, get the external power supply
as the USB version simply does not have the ability to
keep a constant programming voltage .
So that's it, my 2 cents anyways...
E-mail me if you have any questions,
or need more info on a particular programmer.
Cheers,
Steph
www.Hobbyroms.com
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Pinballer
I never had to do them anyway.
I have one and it is very nice to use and very simple.
"Hobbyroms" <in...@SPAMTHIShobbyroms.com> wrote in message
news:46e872f6$0$16400$8826...@free.teranews.com...
microlo...@yahoo.com
> Yes the Pocket Programmer does do 2532's no problem. It won't do 2516's but
> I never had to do them anyway.
> I have one and it is very nice to use and very simple.
>
Am I the only one that still uses a PB-10? :)
todd...@yahoo.com
II. The only thing I wish it could do is PROM's and maybe it can do
that if I buy an add-on. I also wish the add on's were a little
cheaper because I'd like to burn ATMEL and Microchip microcontrollers
(not arcade related).
chris c. in md
Now I want to go buy me a programmer...
"Hobbyroms" <in...@SPAMTHIShobbyroms.com> wrote in message
news:46e872f6$0$16400$8826...@free.teranews.com...
>
Mark C. Spaeth
: Data I/0 29B
: ===========
: The tank...
: Considered by many to be indispensable,
Got one, but i never use it. It sits in a box in storage.
: Data I/0 3980Xpi
: =================
: The Cadillac..
: Geared more for 90's technology ( PLCC, SOIC, TSOP ),
: this programmer is at the higher-end of the scale.
Use one at work when I need to... the interface sucks, and you have
to keep giving them money to keep up with the latest chips.
On a daily basis, I still use my ISA card-based Needham's PB10.
Ever since programming a DOS-based TSR that'll ROMIDENT the buffer
for me, it's been the workhorse for checking ROMs.
--
Mark Spaeth msp...@mtl.mit.edu
50 Vassar St., #38.265 msp...@mit.edu
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 452-2354 http://rgvac.978.org/~mspaeth
Mark C. Spaeth
: Mark C. Spaeth <msp...@mit.edu> wrote:
: : On a daily basis, I still use my ISA card-based Needham's PB10.
: : Ever since programming a DOS-based TSR that'll ROMIDENT the buffer
: : for me, it's been the workhorse for checking ROMs.
: I have one of these, too. It's sitting in its original box. I remember
: when I was putting Clay's Multi-Willy kit together, I needed it to build
: the program ROM....
:
: Mine requires an ISA slot.
: It doesn't like 32-bit DOS. (I had to use DOS 6.22)
:
: That said, I keep a legacy machine around for such a purpose.
It works fine for me in Win2k... you just have to make sure you start it up
in full screen mode, else it can't find the port base.
Zud
use? Does anyone have a manual or documentation on one?
Michael
Qbert247
I can't suggest a good programmer at this time, but stay away from EE
Tools' "Chip Max".
It is the BIGGEST PIECE OF CRAP that you can spend almost $400 on...
Very flaky, freezes up during programming, and the software seems to
"expire" after one day...
I