TQFP Soldering Gods Required! (PAID WORK)

[Kai Robinson]

So...i managed to pick up a very rare Mac accelerator - the Daystar PowerCard 601 for my Macintosh LC475 - unfortunately, the main die of the PPC601 is...well, it's cracked. like 1/3rd the way across. Dead.

However, i'm seriously a little nutty and want to try and resurrect the card.

The chip is a TQFP304 part, and i have no doubt i can remove it, but i dunno if i have the skills to solder a new one on in its place...

As for where i got some PPC601's - well...i found a seller that has 720 NoS ones for sale for $500 and i'm seriously considering buying that, too!

So to circle back - does anyone here have the skills, to do such a job? I'd obviously be happy to pay for the service!

[exxos]

You might be best looking for rework companies who can change chips... They tend to have xray machines to check for duff joints and shorts..

[Kai Robinson]

Well i went halves with a friend and now i own 360 PowerPC 601's - 80Mhz Original's

Anyone want a few? :p

[Tomswork]

You may need a expert with a microscope

Try contacting Bruce with some pictures

https://recapamac.com.au/


Tom

[cmorley]

TQFP is fine really. You can even do them without a microscope and inspect them after with a magnifier. A hoof tip on the soldering iron, good flux, a microscope and practice make it pretty easy though.

On a rare card I'd cut the old chip legs to minimise risk to the PCB removing the cracked package rather than go full tilt with the hot air.

I could swap it but i don't know the first thing about Macs and wouldn't be able to test or guarantee success. If you can't find a trusted pro mac repairer I'd take a look for you. I'm in Oxfordshire...

[Kai Robinson]

It

TQFP is fine really. You can even do them without a microscope and inspect them after with a magnifier. A hoof tip on the soldering iron, good flux, a microscope and practice make it pretty easy though.

On a rare card I'd cut the old chip legs to minimise risk to the PCB removing the cracked package rather than go full tilt with the hot air.

I could swap it but i don't know the first thing about Macs and wouldn't be able to test or guarantee success. If you can't find a trusted pro mac repairer I'd take a look for you. I'm in Oxfordshire...

Yes, i had thought that cutting the legs would be the way to go, too, i need to get a dremel, i think. Any excuse to get one finally

The board isn't too populated in the area where the chip sits, it should be doable - i'm just useless at soldering TQFP parts, even with drag soldering (K-Tip and Amtech 559) always seem to create bridges behind pins where it's nigh impossible to get out.

I'll take a picture, close up, if you're up for it - well, the card is already dead, so it can't get any deader! DM me with your hourly rate

[cmorley]

post the pic here for all to see

[Kai Robinson]

post the pic here for all to see

Okay - here goes!

The Daystar PowerCard 601 Itself, naked without the heatsink - just look at that crack!

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Closeup of the TQFP PPC601 itself

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Backside of the card

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Optional L2 Cache Card included, though

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I did these full size so you can see all the detail, but if needed, i can resize downwards.

[Kai Robinson]

The chip covered by the CE/FCC ID sticker is the first known ARM chip used in a Mac - it handles the 040 to PPC bus translation. A lot of people would kill to have the schematics for this thing...

No luck finding the IC through anyone dealing with NoS or used - not even UTSource.

ppc601-apple-vlsi-arm.jpg (88.11 KiB) Viewed 3596 times

[cmorley]

Yes I could do that if you strike out finding an Apple specialist who can do a proper repair. I would just be able to swap the chip - that is all, no testingg, no diagnostics.