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knowledge base channel: /home/knowledge base/the faqs/graphics cards/merlin graphics card faq

1.What for are the jumpers J8, J9 ?

With jumper J9,J8 you can select memory and blitterclock of the graphicschip. Test them. You can't desturb your merlin, but get an unsecure system, if to high.. 

    J8   J9    Frequency
=========================
   1-2  1-2      65 MHz
   2-3  1-2      60 MHz
   1-2  2-3      55 MHz (default)
   2-3  2-3      50 MHz
When you have tried to high, the merlin freezes immediatly or may be after minutes. The Digitizer needs higher frequencies if possible, to have more memory bandwith. The frequency-table from prodev was wrong!!!

2.Can I have the PINOUT of the Merlin video switcher?

Yes it is the DG894 from Siliconix [Company of temic] PDF document available here

3. What for is the hardwareupdate?

Because of some stupid people of xpert, the design of the merlin wasn't finished before it was produced. So the xpert-merlin makes trouble on Zorro III-bus and in Zorro II. The effects: Garbage when changing the screens or pulling down menues, HD read/write errors from Zorro controlers, other strange things like half of the screen. These mistakes are fixed with the hardwareupdate from me. It includes the new chip for the 060-Fix.

4. Merlin simms

there are three kinds of Merlin-simms.

- 2 MB with 32 Bit bus width. There is only one possible on the merlin. They are labeled as "2 MB 32 Bit" . - 2 MB with 16 Bit bus width. Two of these are needed for a 4 MB merlin. Together they make 4MB 32 Bit. Only one can not work. They are labeled as "2MB" and nothing else. - 4 MB 32 Bit bus width. Exactly the same size of memory as 2 pieces of 2 MB 16 Bit. The only difference is that they have 60 ns access time. Only one is possible on the merlin. All modules have realy nothing in common with PS/2 simms. Only the mechanic is the same.

5. What for is the video-module?

The videomodul converts RGB to Video-FBAS and S-VHS (Y/C-Video). But sometimes it is necessary to correct the colors with a trimmer. The merlin must work in an video-modus: 15kHz horizontal and 50 Hz vertikal. Colors don't matter.

6. The 060-update (-fix) ?

For Zorro II computers with 060-cpu or GVP 040/030 Turboboards. If you have made the hardwareupdate from prodev - not that fake from xpert - you realy only need the new IC25 for 25 DM + postage + bankcosts. This IC works only together with the hardwareupdate. It is included in the hardwareupdate since april 1996 (when 060 were sold), and solves all problems of the merlin with that kind of CPU.

7. Can I do the update?

You can do the hardwareupdate by your own. There are three IC in sockets to be changed, and two wires to be soldered. A discription is included. It is realy not difficult, if you can solder these wires. Nearly 80% of the updates were done that way. But if you want, you can send the merlin to me (for the same price), and I do the update for you, but then you have double of postage to be payed.

8. How can I see if the update is already done?

There should be two short wires on the solderside: IC24 pin 21 to ic22 pin 7 IC21 pin 10 to IC23 pin 19 And three ICs (IC24,21,25) are replaced with new ones, which mostly have the numbers written on it by hand.

9. How can I see if the 060 update is done?

On IC25 should be written: "25-2" If there is only "25" or nothing then the 060-fix isn't done The 060-Fix is included in the normal update since april 1996.

10. 060-fix without normal hardwareupdate?

No. the normal update must have been done before. The 060-Fix is included in the normal update since april 1996.

11. Is a fan neccessary?

Mostly not. But you should test by your own. May be you can run higher frequencies then.

12. How can I get rid of that serialnumber?

Changing the GALs from other merlins has no effekt. Isn't it?

Three oportunities:

- Buy a Zorro III computer with a 060 CPU. In that case the serialnumber can't be read out, so the software doesn't care. - Send the merlin to me and tell me which new number you want. - Use picasso 96. Here is support guarantied for future.

13. NTSC output?

Not with the video module. But external VGA -> TV converters should do that. May be the merlin must be run in VGA 31kHz interlaced.

14. Do you make new things for the merlin?

No. In the past I have made a piggy back genlock-module for prodev. But these nice people changed their mind just for fun, so the hardware was not supported from that very deep sleeping Hans Raaf. And my work was for the trash. Or do you remember that external monitorswitch, Hans ? You see, I have better things to do, than wasting time for amiga-programmers. Sorry.

15. Are you the designer of the merlin?

Yes. And noone else. The digitizer was designed in Taiwan. The video-part is the standard philips-application from "Desktop Video Databook. And the rest is for the I2C-interface of the philips chips.

16. Welche nächstgrößere Ortschaft oder bekannte Stadt liegt Frankenthal am Nächsten?

Ludwigshafen, Mannheim

17. Which graphic chip?

ET4000W32 in 32Bit Local-Bus mode. RAMDAC Brooktree BT482 with hardwarecursor.

18: 24-Bit-Bug?

Yes. Some registers inside ET4000 are to small. So up to 680x576 (or so) are possible in 24 Bit.

19. Digitizer Info:

Max 16 Bit in 800x600. Only FBAS-Video input works with pro-dev software. RGB is a little bit of a fake: It is changed analog to Y/C-NTSC and then digitized. The Merlin must be switched to Zorro 2 modus, if Digitizersoftware is running, because the ET4000 has then only 16Bit bus, instead of 32 Bit.

20. Digitizer Slotbraket not necessary!

You can use the cinch connector of the merlin-board instead of the digitizer slotbraket-cinch. Take away the video module. Pin 8 is the cinch onboard over an 75 Ohm resistor. Pin 6 is GND. On the Digi is Pin 1 the FBAS input and Pin 2 the GND. So connect them right. No warranty. Use your brain.

21. Higher frequencies in 16 Bit!

Cut 9 wires near by the BT482. This is the digital videodata to the expansion connector. These wires were never (and will be never) used. You should also try to change the memoryclock as shown in 1.)

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