Best Eprom Programmer?

Loxlow

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Hey everyone -

Starting to look into getting my own eprom programming setup... Wondering what you guys are all running?
 
I have both a GQ-4x4 and a MiniPro TL866CS.

I bought the Minipro first, but then noticed it didn't do 2532 eproms, which I need.
The MiniPro does GAL16V8 devices though, which the GQ-4X4 doesn't.

You probably need to see which devices you want to burn before you decide on a particular one.
 
For Old stuff 70 to early 80... Data IO 29B I typical use it when I have to program anything 2764 or below.

Anything above, I use a cheap china usb eprom burner.
 
I use a Tandy 386SX33 with SAC-201 ISA card driving a Modular Circuit Technology MOD-EMUP (or MOD-EMUP-A, I have both). I also have a BK Precision parallel port unit on it, and I have a Needham's EMP-10 I haven't put on it (as I'd need another parallel port frist :) ).

I have PC-NFS installed speaking to my Linux server where all my rom images get put (don't want to put too much faith in the old 100M internal IDE drive :) ).

I also have a DATA-I/O model 22B (actually 3 of them (I need to sell the excess :) )).

The only thing I don't have is a USB/Windows based programmer :)

Between all the ones I have, I haven't run into a device I've needed to program that I can not. Though I have not done PAL/GAL/etc, just bipolar PROMs and EPROMs.

If you are into the older stuff, there is a KLOVer here who regularly sells Needham programmers complete with a laptop all setup to use. (I forget the person's handle, but you should be able to find it with a search).

If you are dealing with mostly newer stuff, you'll just want to go with a 'generic' USB based programmer that has everything you would want to program on their supported device list.
 
Thanks everyone!

Im looking at doing kinda a variety, sounds like ill need a couple different setups! probably everything from late-ish 70s to early 90s. To start im working on a Sega 16B board that is no longer functioning... Definitely would prefer programmers that work with windows. I'll take a look into what you all suggest!
 
See if you can find a Needham's EMP-20 with at least the 01A/01B, 02A/02B, and 03A/03B modules.

Then grab a computer running WinXP with a parallel port, and PM me.

-Brad
 
See if you can find a Needham's EMP-20 with at least the 01A/01B, 02A/02B, and 03A/03B modules.

Then grab a computer running WinXP with a parallel port, and PM me. -Brad

^ this. Needham's is the only thing you'll ever need. In your entire life. Nothing else is needed. Ever. #hyperbole
 
Does the Needham support bi-polar proms like the 82s129? I need something that can burn those.

No, it doesn't. I'd highly recommend you just pay someone else (like Steph from hobbyroms.com, for example) whenever you need something like that done. They're so infrequently needed that it's really not worth the trouble of owning a larger, more complicated unit to program proms.
 
Does the Needham support bi-polar proms like the 82s129? I need something that can burn those.

The data I/O 29B can burn those.

Since I am involved in repairing over 400 arcade machines in banning and I have over 175 games, it makes sense to have this old eprom and prom burner.
 
I found out the hard way that newer programmers like the GQ-4 don't necessarily handle older EPROMs well, I once tried to dump the ROMs of a then un-MAME dumped and impossible to find game and a few of them gave bad dumps on every try, freaking us out as we thought bitrot had destroyed them. Fortunately on someone's advice I later tried using my EP-1 (which is older than dirt) on them and got perfect dumps of all of them.
 
I have both a GQ-4x4 ...

Love my GQ-4x4, it goes anywhere!

39898427441_58e209ba7b_o.jpg


Seriously though, what is the difference between the 4x and the 4x4... just the name, or is the 4x4 a newer version?
 
4x4 is the newer version. I think they have new drivers for newer windows version etc. I am tempted to get it to see if it performs better than 4x.

for Op. I have GQ-4x and after getting external power supply have had no issues with older chips requiring 25vpp. I also use and update the r/w speed based on the recommendation so usually don't burn on the fastest setting.
 
There are a few tricks to using the GQ-4X with older ROMs. If you have issues, you want to make sure you are using the external adapter (though that is more for writing). You also can read them out slower, and try different settings. I rarely need to do any of those, but they have worked in the past for stubborn ROMs. For writing, you can also write multiple times. I always write them twice now (with the double write option enabled for each pass).

I have an EMP-20 and a GQ-4X, and I was an avid EMP user for years. But I haven't used my EMP in years, since I figured out the GQ-4X. Haters gonna hate, but the GQ-4X is modern and convenient, and the software is simple and great, IMO. And there's an active community to support it. It's a good value.
 
Recently upgraded my main programmer to a Data I/O Unisite with Site48 and SetSite modules. This thing is a beast, a goddamn sexy one. Software runs on Windows XP, or you can drive the whole thing from a serial terminal. Programs PALs, GALs, EPROMs from 2708 up to 27C4096, and tons more. Really awesome machine.

The 29B programs a few devices the Unisite doesn't, so I have that as backup, but it's been demoted to the shelf.
 
I still have mine. 19 years of programming EProms for Vectrex cartridges.

JD

Still rocking a Needham's PB-10 ISA slot burner. It's served me well for a couple decades now.
 
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