nRAS3 is for Mk2, not Mk2a. Right?

So does it matter that we are using pin 121 and not 123 as in the old posts? Seems like it would.

Stu

Mk2a should be using nRAS1, pin 123, as per Hugo's posting.

But if you have already used nRAS3 on a Mk2a, then let me know, and I'll respin the kernel appropriately. In the end, it doesn't matter too much, but life is easier for me if they're consecutive.

-ml

Mmm.. actually, it MAY matter.. gotta think about that some more.

Here is blind guess kernel number two, suitable ONLY for mk2a units with 32MB of DRAM, using RAS3 for the second bank:

http://rtr.ca//hijack.mk2a-32mb-ras3.zImage

Both this kernel, and the earlier one (for RAS1 units), require the e000 flash update posted by Hugo earlier in this thread.

Cheers

Has anyone tried one or the other of those special kernels yet?

Care to report back here?

Cheers

I haven't heard anything back from Stu. He was making good progress on the upgrade so I'm assuming non-Empeg things have accosted him. I'll post as soon as I hear something. Thanks for putting the kernel together.

I do not have a player here yet able to use the hack. Stu should have (or already has) received my first test unit around now.

Ahh, okay.

I've just (now!) taken Rita apart, and added two chips to her.

Now trying to figure out how to get the kernel to see it all.

-ml

I need to know how to safely load the Flash upgrade. I wasn't really following Mark's instructions on how to load it with Hijack. Once I know how to load it properly, I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for all of your work.
Stu

I do the flash upgrade by simply using FTP to upload the file Hugo posted into /proc/flash_0e000

I have a new kernel for you:

http://rtr.ca/hijack.mk2a-32mb.zImage

This finds 32MB for me, but later dies with memory errors. I'd like to see if it also dies for you, or if it works.

EDIT: Fixed -- I had a couple of data lines that needed more solder. When I eventually release full Hijack support, it will include a memory test for the extended DRAM to aid in diagnosis.

-ml

Oh yeah.. that latest kernel REQUIRES that you use RAS1 for the extra bank. This will be the only supported configuration in the long run.

-ml

/proc/meminfo:

        total:    used:    free:  shared: buffers:  cached:

Mem:  31924224 31100928   823296  1249280  5005312 13398016

Swap:        0        0        0

MemTotal:     31176 kB

MemFree:        804 kB

MemShared:     1220 kB

Buffers:       4888 kB

Cached:       13084 kB

SwapTotal:        0 kB

SwapFree:         0 kB

Here's a photo of Rita's implants:


For scale, note that the white whispy streak on the left is a hair from our cat!

Aren't implants supposed to be made out of silicone, not silicon?

Sorry, had to make the joke

Is that babe stacked or what!!

For that matter, Hugo's e000 rom code only enables RAS1 (and RAS0). Not RAS3.

Beautiful work!!! Impressive!!!

Actually, that's the uglier of the two chips. I didn't straighten out the pins on that one, so they barely make contact. The other one (which I did second) is nicer, but harder to photograph.

Cheers

Okay, here are the Hijack-v384 kernels for upgraded players:

http://rtr.ca/hijack.mk2-16mb.zImage
http://rtr.ca/hijack.mk2a-32mb.zImage

These will NOT work on ordinary (non-modified) players.
Included in these is a memory test for the newly expanded chips. If this fails, you'll know it from watching the serial logs, and can use the info it dumps to figure out which pins need resoldering.

Also required (before the kernel change) is Hugo's e000 flash update. I would suggest that this update be installed ONLY on upgraded players, not non-upgraded players -- because I may use it to test for upgrades in the kernel some time in the future.

Hugo's e000 update is also available here:

http://rtr.ca/flash_0e000.extramem

To install the e000 update, just FTP to the player (running any recent Hijack), cd to /proc, and put the flash file on top of "flash_0e000". It will install instantly, and is permanent once installed.

Cheers

So the conclusion is that adding more memory works. Has anyone looked to see if the player software actually uses the additional memory, or does it just malloc the amount it thinks the hardware has? Would negative cache settings help?

The player does not appear to use much of the extra 16m I added, but Linux uses it for general operations and disk-caching. I think peter may do something about the player s/w, though..

If so, you may have found a way to get me to load alpha code...

So what memory should I be buying and where should I be sending my player?

Most excellent! Thank you very much!

Okay, we're going to move the line to RAS1 and try later today. I wonder why the e-mail Hugo sent instructed we use RAS3? Oh well. Thanks for the work!

What is needed for the MK2 to have 16 megs? We did a memory upgrade on one which I guess will have to come back so we can move the line to the appropriate line.

Stu

MK2 == RAS3

MK2A == RAS1

There are kernels for each, see links above.

Very cool! So did anyone come up with a memory supplier yet? And like dbrasher said, how much and where do I send it

Hugo pointed us to this supplier earlier in this thread. http://www.memphis-electronic.com/datasheets.htm

As far as the installation, both mlord and maczrool (eutronix) can do the upgrade but you may have to get in line. Maczrool had sourced a series of memory chips but most of these were spoken for IIRC.

Hugo pointed us to this supplier earlier in this thread

Ah, cool. I missed that. Email inquiry sent to eutronix...

-Mike