520STfm Blitter upgrade

[Yrouel]

Thanks to GadgetUK I now have upgraded my 520STfm with a Blitter My board and specific revision (C070789-001 Rev. B) doesn't have any jumper to alter in order to enable the Blitter, I just had to solder the socket and install it.

 

[GadgetUK]

Great job!!! Glad it got there OK!

[exxosuk]

Welcome to the 'FM Blitter club

[Justin Payne]

So, couple questions.

1. What ST is required for a Blitter upgrade?

2. What was the total cost?

3. Where did you obtain the Blitter?

 

I have my old 520 (original) in storage but eventually I suspect I'll drag it out and I was wondering if this might be a nice little upgrade.

[exxosuk]

I put my blitter in a STFM machine. If its got a socket space for the blitter then it should work. Most people get the blitter off a old STE, or you can buy them from best electronics, though the price they charge it could be cheaper to find a cheap STE to break for spares. Its how I got my blitter.

[Lynxpro]

I put my blitter in a STFM machine. If its got a socket space for the blitter then it should work. Most people get the blitter off a old STE, or you can buy them from best electronics, though the price they charge it could be cheaper to find a cheap STE to break for spares. Its how I got my blitter.

 

But why would you downgrade from an STE? There's less STEs out there than STFM models.

[exxosuk]

 

But why would you downgrade from an STE? There's less STEs out there than STFM models.

 

My STE is a "test bed" for all kinds of experiments, so stealing the blitter out of it to work on another project is a good thing.

[Yrouel]

So, couple questions.

1. What ST is required for a Blitter upgrade?

2. What was the total cost?

3. Where did you obtain the Blitter?

 

I have my old 520 (original) in storage but eventually I suspect I'll drag it out and I was wondering if this might be a nice little upgrade.

 

If your machine has an unpopulated space for a Blitter you can add it. I didn't have to do anything else beside soldering the socket (after emptying the vias) and installing the chip, but some board revisions require 2 solder jumpers (W3 and W4 next to where the Blitter is meant to be) to be opened (unsoldered) in order to enable the chip.

I spent 20£ shipping included, GadgetUK had ordered 2 spares for himself and offered me one after I wrote in another post I was looking for one (I couldn't find the proper kind of socket which is PLCC 68 2.54mm pitch with STAGGERED pins while nowadays the common ones are non staggered)

Edited November 24, 2014 by Yrouel

[GadgetUK]

Ironically Exxos asked me for a socket just after I had sent my last socket, or I could have provided one. You can use a socket from MMU or Glu on a faulty board if you can't find a socket, I think that's what Exxos did. I sent my last Blitter to Exxos as well which is why I ordered a spare. I doubt my original Blitter will ever fail, but I am paranoid enough to need a spare lol!

Edited November 24, 2014 by GadgetUK

[walter_J64bit]

Ok, noob question. What's is the Blitter chip for?

[GadgetUK]

Blitting!

 

Basically speeds up GEM window drawing and GDI stuff. A few games use it as well, but main benefit is making GEM run smoother.

[STEgregory]

...now I'm curious - which games? Thanks:)

[Ayreon]

Thalion/eclipse games like leavin teramis, lethal xcess and some more

[GadgetUK]

Wings of death supports Blitter as well - cool game!

[STEgregory]

Actually I'm kicking myself for asking that the way I did! I knew about the Thalion games as I was only playing WoD last week doh!! Perhaps I should have asked which games other than Thalion games?

But thanks guys, appreciated.

[GadgetUK]

There a fair few games that work within TOS - making use of GEM windows etc, those will all use Blitter. Beyond that I honestly don't know, there aren't many, maybe 20 or 30 if you are lucky but the main benefit for me really is how much smoother GEM runs, especially when coupled with Exxos 16Mhz booster mod.