Garfield is driving me crazy!!!

[Randy0777]

I just don't get it  ...and I hope its not what I think  

I've been trying to set up Garfield (Ver.0011-07 ). I run the clear chip,then boot with the set chip. It runs through the screens until it gets to where I need to set the denom.,%,and all the other settings( jur.,sound,payout,etc,etc,...). Once I'm done with these options and save it ,it says to install the boot chip(I remove the set chip ) and install the boot chip (Ver.106). It goes through and reads the data... Primary and Secondary cleared messages come up,which is normal. Then it goes into the screen where its loading( which it does for AWHILE,as the CD is steadily blinking). After about ten min.s' it says on the screen "EMT Reports: Task Suspended"


LOL,I just read what I wrote...sorry about the grammer

[cfh]

Yes we know randy. how about you fix the damn thing
and tell me so i can run it on my game!  i've been waiting
for you to fix this for like a month. com'on dude, i'm waiting.
i bought the software, the least you can do is to get it fixed!
hehehe

[Randy0777]

Just an update...
I have three different ver. now,and each one is giving a diff. error. TX error,Task suspended,Rom data. Tried a diff. ver. set chip(which Im not to sure about) and I get the can not boot from error. Waiting for a reply from someone who has one running with a topper. Hoping it will load without the topper...I'll let you know.

[cfh]

Randy any updates on Garfield?
just went through some interesting issues with For Peanuts,
where it was picky about the CPU board used. I was getting
the tXserver error. Put the same software into another CPU
board and it worked fine. I don't know if that helps but maybe
it does...

[Randy0777]

Clay,sorry for the delay . I guess you figured it out by now 

[cfh]

Randy did you ever get Garfield running?
i sure haven't.

[Randy0777]

Hi Clay,as I said it drove me crazy for awhile. I found it's actually a few way to get it to work. Change the processor,increase the RAM and depends on the CD drive,just change the IDE cable to a ultra for faster data transfer.

[cfh]

Hi Clay,as I said it drove me crazy for awhile. I found it's actually a few way to get it to work. Change the processor,increase the RAM and depends on the CD drive,just change the IDE cable to a ultra for faster data transfer.

Do you have to do all those things?
Change the ram to what?
change the processor to what?
can you change the processor without changing any DIP switches or jumpers?
where do you get an 'ultra' IDE cable? where does this cable go?

[cfh]

Ok got Garfield running.
Here's what you need to know to make it work.

There are two types of memory on a uv1700 board.
First is the DIMM memory. this is PC133 (or PC100 on older boards)
SDRam 168 pin RAM, and the max the game will hold is
256meg in this DIMM slot.

But there are also two 72 pin EDO SIMM slots. These can each
hold 64meg, for a total of 128meg of SIMM memory.
Some games that don't require a lot of memory can use the
two SIMM rams for 128meg total, and no DIMM ram.

In the case of Garfield, you need *both* the DIMM and the SIMM
memory, for a total of 384meg. This is different than any other
uv1700 game that I know of.

The problem is, some DIMM memory sticks won't allow the board
to also access the SIMM memory too. So it turns out that the brand
of DIMM memory is important to make garfield work. I wish I knew
more about which brands are 'good', but it's been pretty hit and
miss for me.

The way to test this is to put the SIMM memory in the board
(along with the DIMM), and boot the game. if the memory test
only goes to 256meg, then that particular DIMM won't allow access
to the SIMM memory too. If the game boots and does 384meg
of memory test, then your golden!

After you have the memory sorted out, put the clear chip
in u51 and do a "dallas clear."  Then put the set chip in
u51. This will go through and read the entire CD (like the
game was doing a regular boot.) You will get a "primary
memory cleared" error, which requires the opening and
closing of the front door. Then the game will say "loading"
just like any uv1700 games does as it is about to come to
life. But instead of seeing the game, you will see three
"set" options.

the set options allow you to change the game's denomination
and cabinet denomination. In my case i left it stock at 1 cent
for the game, 5 cent for the cabinet. But one thing i did change
was the payback percentage. this is user selectible (surprise!)
from 89% to 97%. I set mine at 95%.

After all the set options are as you like it, turn the game off
and put the BD Boot chip back in u51. Reboot and wait (Garfield
takes a while to load.) You will get a "secondary memory cleared"
error (open/close front door), and then the Garfield game will
come to life.

I will upload a video of Garfield running in another post.
It really is a good game. Thanks to Randy for helping me
with this project.

[cfh]

someone asked where did we get the RAM for
the sigma 1700 games.

I just bought it on ebay and Randy gave me some.
you have to look closely at the auctions to get the
right stuff. i'll post more details later...

[cfh]

Here's a picture of the DIMM sdram that does, and does not, work
with Garfield. Notice the sdram that does work has these additional
slots cut into the sides of the RAM. All three ram sticks i have that
work have this cut (and they are not the same manufacturer.)
What does that cut mean???

[jay]

Its not the cut at the side that matters its the cut at the bottom on the row of pins.
Its different kind of memory. One is a SIMM the other is a DIMM

Single Inline memory module and the other is Dual Inline memory module.

[brichter]

Those are both PC-133 DIMMs, PC-133 is either packaged in a 168 pin DIMM or a 144 pin SO-DIMM (small outline package used for laptops, mostly). Those are both the DIMM package. Jay, I think what's throwing you (as it di me at first look) is that one is viewed from the front and the other from the back. They both have the same notches on the bottom, just at what appears to be different ends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC133

Clay, I have no idea what the specs are on the lower DIMM, but the upper one (the one that works) is unbuffered and has Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is a way for the chip to identify its operating parameters to the host (usually BOIS). It may be your application is looking for a specific prameter from the SPD.

More on SPD here:
http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci533524,00.html

[cfh]

How can you tell the above RAM has SPD and the lower ram does not?
I'm thinking those added notches on the top RAM are some indication of this.

[Randy0777]

Glad you got it working . It's been so long that I played with the older type ,but you have the dualand single layer...wich both will fit in the sameslot(notcheson bottom are the same),but some boards will take both and others wont. I checked the board manual to seewhat the max the 80 would take(64megs ea slot),but dont recall if it takes single or dual for the other. Not home at the moment,so I'll write more about it later.... sorry for errors,but using my cell

[brichter]

How can you tell the above RAM has SPD and the lower ram does not?
I'm thinking those added notches on the top RAM are some indication of this.

I didn't say the lower DIMM didn't have SPD, it may very well have SPD. What I said was "I have no idea what the specs are on the lower DIMM".

As far as the top one, I googled the part number and read the data sheet.