I've had some strange graphics glitches running an optimised Blitter code running on my Atari 1040 STE with the original PSU. Interestingly the issue was mainly visible within the first hour after cold starting the machine. At first it wasn't noticable but got worse every minute. However, the problem settled down after about one hour runtime. Replacing the PSU fixed this fortunately. Any ideas what may have been the cause?
Video after about five minutes (original PSU):
Video with the new PSU:
Edit: program added
PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
- sascha.springer
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:56 am
PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
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- fastbobs.zip
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Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
Bad caps in the PSU. There are a whole bunch of mandatory fixes for various machines listed .. https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =17&t=1585
Cool demo BTW!
Cool demo BTW!
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
- sascha.springer
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:56 am
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
Thanks for the link.exxos wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2020 2:13 pm Bad caps in the PSU. There are a whole bunch of mandatory fixes for various machines listed .. https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =17&t=1585
The old PSU looks quite ok but I guess that's not important to know that after 30 years the PSU caps need to be replaced, right?
- sascha.springer
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:56 am
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
Probably strange wording: I meant that you have to replace your PSU for sure after 30 years even when the caps look ok!?sascha.springer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2020 2:26 pm The old PSU looks quite ok but I guess that's not important to know that after 30 years the PSU caps need to be replaced, right?
Well, I have to add that the issue is not visible while using the Blitter in a regular way so I have had no problems with games or demos which are using the Blitter.
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
The caps dry out over time, which changes the way they work, so instead of a nice smooth voltage output you'll be getting something very different.
So its definitely a good idea to change them and also relatively cheap and easy.
So its definitely a good idea to change them and also relatively cheap and easy.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
I think @PhilC is suggesting that you just change the caps in the PSU, you don't need to change the whole PSU.
There are kits in the store for several different ST PSU types but if you have a different PSU version from these I'm sure someone on the forum will be able to confirm what components need to be changed.
I can vouch from personal experience how strange & inconsistent the system can be when the PSU starts to fail...unless you were to change the PSU and keep everything else the same you'd almost never expect the fault to be with the power supply alone.
It can also be the start of a gradual degradation of the PSU performance, so it will potentially begin to show more symptoms the longer you leave it.
There are kits in the store for several different ST PSU types but if you have a different PSU version from these I'm sure someone on the forum will be able to confirm what components need to be changed.
I can vouch from personal experience how strange & inconsistent the system can be when the PSU starts to fail...unless you were to change the PSU and keep everything else the same you'd almost never expect the fault to be with the power supply alone.
It can also be the start of a gradual degradation of the PSU performance, so it will potentially begin to show more symptoms the longer you leave it.
- sascha.springer
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:56 am
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
Probably the program can be used to check if you have issues with your Atari STE as well so I've attached the program.
- Attachments
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- fastbobs.zip
- (691.66 KiB) Downloaded 157 times
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
Awesome, next time I have a STE on the bench I will leave that running!sascha.springer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2020 11:14 am Probably the program can be used to check if you have issues with your Atari STE as well so I've attached the program.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
@sascha.springer Thanks for that...though in my case the problem system is my original 1040STF from 1987...and the PSU that allowed it to work just fine was borrowed from one of mt STEs...sascha.springer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2020 11:14 am Probably the program can be used to check if you have issues with your Atari STE as well so I've attached the program.
The STF worked ok with the original supply...but would then fail to boot if i plugged a dongle into the cartridge port (Notator or Cubase)...until I swapped the PSU & then it booted & ran the programs just fine.
Since then, the video output from the STF has started to show more noise (with the original PSU) and again is much less evident with the PSU from the STE so I have the recap kit ready to use.
Re: PSU related Blitter issues (Atari STE)
that really strange bad PSU has so visibie impact on the BLiTTER
Lynx I / Mega ST 1 / 7800 / Portfolio / Lynx II / Jaguar / TT030 / Mega STe / 800 XL / 1040 STe / Falcon030 / 65 XE / 520 STm / SM124 / SC1435
DDD HDD / AT Speed C16 / TF536 / SDrive / PAK68/3 / Lynx Multi Card / LDW Super 2000 / XCA12 / SkunkBoard / CosmosEx / SatanDisk / UltraSatan / USB Floppy Drive Emulator / Eiffel / SIO2PC / Crazy Dots / PAM Net
http://260ste.atari.org
DDD HDD / AT Speed C16 / TF536 / SDrive / PAK68/3 / Lynx Multi Card / LDW Super 2000 / XCA12 / SkunkBoard / CosmosEx / SatanDisk / UltraSatan / USB Floppy Drive Emulator / Eiffel / SIO2PC / Crazy Dots / PAM Net
http://260ste.atari.org