Help with GQ-4X4 - 2532s, 2716s and 2732s

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I am trying to verify some chips off of a Donkey Kong 2-board stack, all TMS. The 2532's go through verification with no problem, albeit very quickly - 2 seconds or less for verification to complete.

The 2716's and 2732's fail at about the 50% point. The process goes about the same speed for them as the 2532's - very quickly - but failing to complete.

The GQ's software posts a warning that if writing doesn't complete successfully, then use an external power supply. Thought I would give this a try for the verification process. I read through the included Help in the software, and read that the external power supply should be 9V 200ma power supply. I found that the universal power supply I got with my Sega Genesis is a 9V 800ma power supply with the correct barrel plug. I plugged that into the GQ, and nothing happens. Not sure if a setting or something has to be changed for it to pull power from the power supply? Should the GQ light up when external power is plugged in?

I then connect the USB cable, with the power supply still plugged in. The software still comes up with the warning about possibly needing external power. I try the verification process again, and get the same result.

I am loading the rom file as binary, and making no other changes (how I typically read and program roms successfully).

To summarize the questions:
1) Does something need to be changed on the GQ when plugging in external power, for it to pull power from the external power supply?
2) Should something happen, like the GQ lighting up, when plugging in an external power supply without USB connected?
3) I have other power supplies available - 10V and 12V. Can these be tested, or is the GQ 9V max?
3) Is there any other guidance that anyone can provide, based on what I've described above?
 
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I am trying to verify some chips off of a Donkey Kong 2-board stack, all TMS. The 2532's go through verification with no problem, albeit very quickly - 2 seconds or less for verification to complete.

The 2716's and 2732's fail at about the 50% point. The process goes about the same speed for them as the 2532's - very quickly - but failing to complete.

The GQ's software posts a warning that if writing doesn't complete successfully, then use an external power supply. Thought I would give this a try for the verification process. I read through the included Help in the software, and read that the external power supply should be 9V 200ma power supply. I found that the universal power supply I got with my Sega Genesis is a 9V 800ma power supply with the correct barrel plug. I plugged that into the GQ, and nothing happens. Not sure if a setting or something has to be changed for it to pull power from the power supply? Should the GQ light up when external power is plugged in?

I then connect the USB cable, with the power supply still plugged in. The software still comes up with the warning about possibly needing external power. I try the verification process again, and get the same result.

I am loading the rom file as binary, and making no other changes (how I typically read and program roms successfully).

To summarize the questions:
1) Does something need to be changed on the GQ when plugging in external power, for it to pull power from the external power supply?
2) Should something happen, like the GQ lighting up, when plugging in an external power supply without USB connected?
3) I have other power supplies available - 10V and 12V. Can these be tested, or is the GQ 9V max?
3) Is there any other guidance that anyone can provide, based on what I've described above?

I can check mine when I get home, but I'm pretty sure it should power up (lights on) without the USB connected. I'd double check the polarity of the adapter and make sure it's not switched. The power supply for the GQ-4X MUST be center positive. I believe the Genesis power supply may be center negative.
 
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Thanks, mate. I saw that note in the Help, but admittedly did not check verify the power supply pinout. We all know what assuming gets us. :\

To verify the power supply, it's as simple as red multi lead to center, black to outer shell? If it reads positive voltage, then it should be good, and if it reads negative voltage then its center negative?

And if it is center negative, simply reverse the wiring to remedy it?
 
Thanks, mate. I saw that note in the Help, but admittedly did not check verify the power supply pinout. We all know what assuming gets us. :\

To verify the power supply, it's as simple as red multi lead to center, black to outer shell? If it reads positive voltage, then it should be good, and if it reads negative voltage then its center negative?

And if it is center negative, simply reverse the wiring to remedy it?

Correct... It should also tell you right on the power pack, but you can confirm with a multimeter.
 
Correct... It should also tell you right on the power pack, but you can confirm with a multimeter.

Looked up a couple genny PSU's on ebay, and it looks like all that identify as model 1 (which I have) are negative center. So, seems that might be our issue.

I'll probably grab a spare at the retro VG store that sold me the genesis, on the way home from work. I think they sell them for $9 or something.
 
Looked up a couple genny PSU's on ebay, and it looks like all that identify as model 1 (which I have) are negative center. So, seems that might be our issue.

I'll probably grab a spare at the retro VG store that sold me the genesis, on the way home from work. I think they sell them for $9 or something.

I don't think the programmer is too sensitive, so plugging in the reversed polarity shouldn't have done any damage. I guess since it still worked using the USB connection after plugging it in, it should be no worse for wear.
 
the external power supply is not very sensitive. I've run it on 9V and 12V, it doesn't really care.

The external voltage is only needed for programming as far as I understand it.

Things to remember when using the GQ. Make sure you select the eprom device BEFORE you load in the rom image.
 
the external power supply is not very sensitive. I've run it on 9V and 12V, it doesn't really care.

The external voltage is only needed for programming as far as I understand it.

Things to remember when using the GQ. Make sure you select the eprom device BEFORE you load in the rom image.
Okay, good to know. And 'ello...what's this? A 12V power supply in my work desk drawer that was left by former tenants in the building. :D

Also good advice on the order. I believe I have been choosing the device then the rom, but a couple times I may not have. Will be strict about that also.
 
Confirmed... Definitely center positive, and the power light comes on when plugged in (without USB).IMG_20170301_182725406.jpg
 
1) Does something need to be changed on the GQ when plugging in external power, for it to pull power from the external power supply?

3) Is there any other guidance that anyone can provide, based on what I've described above?

not having enough voltage during the burning was our biggest problem with the bigger chips if I remember correctly
think the smaller wall transformers didn't have enough umph so we went to a switcher power supply to supply the 12volts and it was fine


good luck
 
not having enough voltage during the burning was our biggest problem with the bigger chips if I remember correctly
think the smaller wall transformers didn't have enough umph so we went to a switcher power supply to supply the 12volts and it was fine


good luck

Thanks, splatter. This one I've found in my work desk drawer is 12V 3.33A. Think that's enough?
 
The GQ-4X probably needs an external power supply or a powered USB hub depending on the USB port you are using. It is ramping 5v up to 25v... some current is needed. I am using a powered USB hub right now with a 2 amp wall wart supply. Works fine on 25v 2716, 2532, and 2732 eproms. If you want to use an external supply directly into the gq-4x, you need like 9vdc or 12vdc supply. Doesn't hurt to try a slower speed too. I usually park it at speed '0' for old eproms.

TMS eproms..... I have the worst luck with this brand over all others in the 2kb and 4kb sizes. You can still get new manufactured china copy M2716A and M2732A. They are counterfeit STMicro, but work. I have used probably 1000 of them in last few years with my gq-4x, generally no problems.
 
Well, good news, the power supply I found at work - 12V 3.33A - works to power the GQ.

However, it seems my problem was not related to power supply in any way, or at least I have no certainty that it was. I'm puzzling over a DK to Street Heat conversion, and found that the 2716's installed in sockets 7C - 7F were installed in reverse order, with one anomaly of the chip in socket 7E not verfiying against any of those 4 files. So, what I thought I was verifying, I wasn't. :embarassed:

So, a quick thank you to everyone for the help. It will probably prove fruitful when I got to reprogram these roms to DK native code. But, I will take that to another thread.
 
TMS eproms..... I have the worst luck with this brand over all others in the 2kb and 4kb sizes. You can still get new manufactured china copy M2716A and M2732A. They are counterfeit STMicro, but work. I have used probably 1000 of them in last few years with my gq-4x, generally no problems.

^ I have had the same problem with TMS 2716/32 eproms & the GQ-4X, I don't even bother with them anymore. I've bought only ST eproms (probably the same counterfeit ones you mentioned) off eBay recently, had no issues with those. Probably 1 out of 10 won't write, versus 9 out of 10 for TMS.
 
^ I have had the same problem with TMS 2716/32 eproms & the GQ-4X, I don't even bother with them anymore. I've bought only ST eproms (probably the same counterfeit ones you mentioned) off eBay recently, had no issues with those. Probably 1 out of 10 won't write, versus 9 out of 10 for TMS.



That's interesting. I do TMS 2716's all the time with my GQ-4X (as I have tons of them from Atari vector boards that I single-ROM-mod, so I know they are original chips). And I don't even use the external adapter. I have never had a problem.

However, I've long suspected there were issues with the GQ-4X at one point, and the manufacturers secretly fixed them, without saying when, as there seem to be slews of folks who have lots of issues, and plenty of other people who don't. It's very divided.

Did you guys buy your units recently, or a while ago? I realize that isn't conclusive (and there are no date codes on them), but I'd be more suspicious if they were older units.
 
That's interesting. I do TMS 2716's all the time with my GQ-4X (as I have tons of them from Atari vector boards that I single-ROM-mod, so I know they are original chips). And I don't even use the external adapter. I have never had a problem.

However, I've long suspected there were issues with the GQ-4X at one point, and the manufacturers secretly fixed them, without saying when, as there seem to be slews of folks who have lots of issues, and plenty of other people who don't. It's very divided.

Did you guys buy your units recently, or a while ago? I realize that isn't conclusive (and there are no date codes on them), but I'd be more suspicious if they were older units.

I bought mine about 3.5 years ago, I've often wondered if I got a dud that had issues. The reports from users do seem to be all over the map, I wouldn't be surprised if there were hardware revisions that were never made public. It seems like my GQ-4X only likes certain brands of the 2716/32/64 chips. I also have one of the cheapie Top programmers that will do some brand chips that the GQ-4X doesn't like. Other series chips is usually never has any problems with.
 
I bought mine about 3.5 years ago, I've often wondered if I got a dud that had issues. The reports from users do seem to be all over the map, I wouldn't be surprised if there were hardware revisions that were never made public. It seems like my GQ-4X only likes certain brands of the 2716/32/64 chips. I also have one of the cheapie Top programmers that will do some brand chips that the GQ-4X doesn't like. Other series chips is usually never has any problems with.

+1
or a mee too
 
+1
or a mee too



Ok, interesting.

If that's the case, you guys might just want to pony up and get one of the newer ones. I know it sucks paying for the same thing twice, but the one I have really is a decent programmer, especially for the money. Some people shit on them here, but I don't think that reputation is 100% deserved.

It would be interesting to do a teardown and try to figure out what they changed/fixed, if there's any chance of applying that knowledge to the older problematic units.
 
Mine seems good, other than the issues that started this thread, but those now seem to be external to the gq. Bought mine about 2 months ago.
 
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