diff --git a/_source/_posts/2025-03-23-ti99-4a-restoration.md b/_source/_posts/2025-03-23-ti99-4a-restoration.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f10a72d --- /dev/null +++ b/_source/_posts/2025-03-23-ti99-4a-restoration.md @@ -0,0 +1,93 @@ +--- +layout: post +title: "Restoring the TI 99/4A" +date: 2025-03-23 12:00:00 +0200 +comments: true +categories: +--- + +My father purchased that console in 1982. I was 5 at the time, and it was my very first contact with a computer. +We used it for 5 years, till we got an Amstrad PC1512 in 1987. + +It has been non-working for a number of years, and today I'd like to bring it back to a working condition, if only to show my kids +what the "computer experience" was like back in the twentieth century. + +## What do we have in our hands? + +The machine is a European (PAL) model (6 pin DIN component video output, which we used with a PHA2037 RVB modulator). + +Model PHC004A (silver console), serial R030174 / 44 83 RCI. + +When I opened it up, I first noticed that the VDP was missing! My father mentioned a former colleague opening up the machine at +some point... So I started with getting a replacement 9929 from eBay. + +When connecting the machine to a TV and powering up, I get the typical black screen and continuous tone symptom, which is +consistent with the failure mode I remember from years back when I had last tried to use it. + +## First tests + +### Visual inspection + +The motherboard shows no obvious sign of damage such as corrosion or swollen electrolytics caps. + +### Voltages + +* the voltages provided by the mains transformer look good +* the DC voltages at the output of the power supply board look good + +### Clock signaks + +The four 12V clock signals at the TMS9900 look OKish. They are not super clean, with significant ringing in particular +in the negative region, but the frequency and the phase relationships look right. + +The four TTL clock signals at the TMS9904 also look about right. + +{% figure caption:"12V clocks" %} +![12V clocks](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint3-12V-clocks.png) +{% endfigure %} +{% figure caption:"TTL clocks" %} +![TTL clocks](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint4-TTL-clocks.png) +{% endfigure %} + +The VDP clocks look OK: +{% figure caption:"VDP XTAL2" %} +![TMS9929 XTAL2 (40)](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint5-VDP-XTAL2.png) +{% endfigure %} +{% figure caption:"VDP XTAL1" %} +![TMS9929 XTAL1 (39)](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint6-VDP-XTAL1.png) +{% endfigure %} + +_No CPUCLK on pin 38 as this is an EU console with a VDP9929 VDP: pin 38 is the R-Y video component._ + +GROMCLK taken on pin 37 the VDP loops OK: +{% figure caption:"VDP GROMCLK output" %} +![TMS9929 GROMCLK (37)](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint7-VDP-GROMCLK.png) +{% endfigure %} + +### CPU signals + +* :thumbsup: ~RESET~ seems to be high as expected +* :thumbsdown: A0 and A1 appear to be rippling at odd voltage levels somewhere between logic 0 and 1 +{% figure caption:"TMS9900 address bus A0" %} +![TMS9900 A0](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint9-CPU-A0.png) +{% endfigure %} +{% figure caption:"TMS9900 address bus A1" %} +![TMS9900 A1](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint10-CPU-A1.png) +{% endfigure %} + +* :thumbsdown: ~MEMEN~ seems to be stuck high, I'd expect it to go down regularly as memory cycles are executed +{% figure caption:"TMS9900 ~MEMEN~" %} +![TMS9900 MEMEN](assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint11-CPU-MEMEN.png) +{% endfigure %} + +## Conclusion of first tests + +At this stage of investigation, it looks like the CPU is not working as expected. + +From there I see three possible next steps: +* I'm wondering if the clock signals might be too much out of spec to allow correct operation (in which case + I'd need to first sort these out) +* Could a faulty cap in the CPU's vicinity account for the symptom? + * I'm disinclined to do a full recap in the dark without a positive indication that that's the problem -- visually the caps look + all right, and those from the power supply side appear to be in a good enough state that all voltages look right +* ~MEMEN~ stuck high and A0/A1 at weird level (or high-Z) make me suspect a nonfunctional TMS9900 diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint10-CPU-A1.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint10-CPU-A1.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..650cc65 Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint10-CPU-A1.png differ diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint11-CPU-MEMEN.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint11-CPU-MEMEN.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e06e349 Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint11-CPU-MEMEN.png differ diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint3-12V-clocks.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint3-12V-clocks.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a5f58f Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint3-12V-clocks.png differ diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint4-TTL-clocks.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint4-TTL-clocks.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..93207ac Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint4-TTL-clocks.png differ diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint5-VDP-XTAL2.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint5-VDP-XTAL2.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29102d5 Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint5-VDP-XTAL2.png differ diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint6-VDP-XTAL1.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint6-VDP-XTAL1.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0a95d2 Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint6-VDP-XTAL1.png differ diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint7-VDP-GROMCLK.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint7-VDP-GROMCLK.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cafae5a Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint7-VDP-GROMCLK.png differ diff --git a/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint9-CPU-A0.png b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint9-CPU-A0.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b38841 Binary files /dev/null and b/_source/assets/TI-resto/DS1Z_QuickPrint9-CPU-A0.png differ