Need help with burning EPROMS with GQ-4x4

stealthie

Active member
Joined
Apr 15, 2009
Messages
1,226
Reaction score
16
Location
Sacramento, California
First time trying to burn roms. Using a GQ-4x4 and trying to burn some super punchout roms. Using roms from SPO mame and all chips where erased and verified erased.

All the FD27128 chips failed at 0.72%
I burned 2 successful M5L2764K, but both failed verify. 1 failed writing immediately.
1 MBM2764-30 failed and 3 said too much data for device.

Anyone know what went wrong? All were punchout roms that were erased so.i didnt think there would be any issue. Watched all the videos on youtube, and searched google and couldnt find any help.
 
First time trying to burn roms. Using a GQ-4x4 and trying to burn some super punchout roms. Using roms from SPO mame and all chips where erased and verified erased.

All the FD27128 chips failed at 0.72%
I burned 2 successful M5L2764K, but both failed verify. 1 failed writing immediately.

Are you using an external power supply? You need to.

1 MBM2764-30 failed and 3 said too much data for device.

You either have the wrong ROM image, or are trying to program it onto the wrong kind of device. It's telling you that the data in the image won't fit on the chip.

I know nothing about Punch-Out, but some games mix different types of ROMs for different things. You might want a different sized device for the graphics vs. the program, for example.
 
Yea i noticed the files for some of the MBM2764-30 chipa are 16kb on SPO where on PO they are 8kb, so im thinking i need a few new FD27128 to replace them?

All i can find are D27128a chips, but those should work fi e right?
 
Yea i noticed the files for some of the MBM2764-30 chipa are 16kb on SPO where on PO they are 8kb, so im thinking i need a few new FD27128 to replace them?

All i can find are D27128a chips, but those should work fi e right?

D27128 should be fine.

However, 27128 are 2764 are different devices, and you may need to change the strapping on your PCB to replace a '64 with a '128. 27128 uses pin 26 for A13, whereas this is not connected on a 2764.
 
Yea i noticed the files for some of the MBM2764-30 chipa are 16kb on SPO where on PO they are 8kb, so im thinking i need a few new FD27128 to replace them?

All i can find are D27128a chips, but those should work fi e right?

If you want to burn a 8Kb file onto a 27C128 you must concatenate the same file in order to form a 16Kb one.Or tie the upper address line (A13) of the 27C128 to VCC so the emtpy half cannot be selected.
 
Last edited:
Bought an adapter and still getting write failed.

Address 0x000000, Buffer=0x3C Device 0xFF is the failed message Im getting if that helps at all.
 
Read this thread I had the same problem burning certain types of eproms for my SPO with the GQ-4x4. Since its USB not all eproms will burn correctly not enough voltage. Page 2 towards the end has all the info you should need.

https://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=381798

So a different brand worked for you?

Might just buy the roms from mikesarcade at this point, unless theres a place to get cheap eproms. Thought it would be beneficial to spend a little more on a burner and burn my own roms than just to buy them.
 
Is there any other software for this burner? Im using USBPrg and was able to start burning on these chips, but only on the two lowest setting. The other 3 immediately fail.

Unfortunately it took about an hour to get to 2.5%, but it was writing. The program becomes basically unresponsive after it starts burning. When I cancel the write the program keeps writing and wont stop unless you close it and unplug the GQ.

IDK what the deal is, but atleast it can write. Just gotta figure out how to do it successfully.
 
Is there any other software for this burner? Im using USBPrg and was able to start burning on these chips, but only on the two lowest setting. The other 3 immediately fail.

Unfortunately it took about an hour to get to 2.5%, but it was writing. The program becomes basically unresponsive after it starts burning. When I cancel the write the program keeps writing and wont stop unless you close it and unplug the GQ.

IDK what the deal is, but atleast it can write. Just gotta figure out how to do it successfully.

GQUSBPrg is the only software for it. It usually only takes a minute to program, an hour is way too long & something is very wrong if it's taking that long to do anything.

Couple things to check:

- Is it plugged into a hub? If so, plug straight into your computer.
- Is the EPROM to program correctly aligned in the ZIF socket? There's a graphic in the lower-right corner of GQUSBPrg which shows you how to orient it.
- Are you sure the USB cable is good?
- Can you successfully read EPROMs with it?
- If you can read an EPROM, is the file correctly detected by ROMIdent? (ex http://romident.coinopflorida.com/)

It's starting to sound to me like you either have a defective programmer, or a pile of bad EPROMs.
 
This whole thread is why I'm not a fan of the GQ-4X. I have one, and I never touch it.

OP: You need Needham's equipment!

I have GQ-4X and EMP-10. Also a Data I/O 29B.
All have their uses.
I prefer the 4X for larger ROMs and the EMP for older ROMs. The 29B for PROMs.
The EMP needs older Windows software and parallel port.
If OP doesn't like the 4X programming GUI, he sure won't like the old Needham's interface. LOL :)

Recently, I also purchased a TL866A mini-PRO for CPLD programming. Has good reviews, seems to be compatible with many devices and it's cheap. Have not actually tried it out as yet. Some don't like its software either ... a common theme, I guess.
 
Last edited:
This whole thread is why I'm not a fan of the GQ-4X. I have one, and I never touch it.

OP: You need Needham's equipment!



This is a little exaggerated. The GQ-4X is a great programmer, and works for 98% of the arcade stuff I do, and I do repairs daily. I also have a Needham's EMP-10, and I honestly never use it anymore (though it is a perfectly fine programmer, if you have a suitable PC with a parallel port to support it).

OP may just have a bum burner, or more likely a bad batch of chips, which happens. And a different burner likely won't fix that anyway. Don't let this experience dissuade you, as the GQ-4x is a fine unit, and you are just having some specific issue here.

Where did you get the unit? There were issues with older GQ-4X's, but that was years ago, and they've been resolved for a long time. But if someone sold you a bad or old one, you never know. Did you get it new or used?

Also, maybe try changing the USB cable. Sounds dumb, but you never know, and it's an easy thing to try.

Also, maybe trying running it on a different PC, if possible. Maybe there's an issue with the USB port on the machine you're using. Again, something simple to try.

Also, what power supply are you using for the external supply? The manufacturer suggests 9V DC, but you can use a 12V one as well (which is what I have been using with mine, with no issues).

Also, what version of software are you using? Note you can get the newest at MCUmall.com:

http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/mcumall_download.asp

Worst case, order a new batch of ROMs, and try again. That should tell you if it's the burner or not. But I can say the issues you're having are not typical, so don't be discouraged. You can figure this out.
 
Worst case, order a new batch of ROMs, and try again. That should tell you if it's the burner or not. But I can say the issues you're having are not typical, so don't be discouraged. You can figure this out.
Agreed - I have an older model, that works flawlessly. Even on 2716s, 2732s without an outside power supply. (Though, that depends mostly on your USB port on your PC/laptop and how much power IT provides..)

Also, if you're using a USB3.0 port, try another one - they state (or used to? I can't find it now..) not to run it on USB3.0 port.
 
Running on a usb2 windows 10 PC. Software and drivers are up to date. Im gonna try it on a windows 7 pc today, maybe that will help idk. It reads fine, but just having trouble writing. Running it at 9v, could go to 12v and see.

But i bought it from GQ on ebay earlier this year, just got around to using it. Maybe its a bad unit. Will do more testing. Very frustrating start tho.
 
I had lots of problems using M5L2764. Try other brand. I used Fujitsu 2764 EPROMs rather than the M5L2764 and the GQ-4x4 worked great. I bought all of mine off ebay, in lots of 10 or more. This was frustrating but I still use the GQ-4x4 its a great little burner for the price.
 
Back
Top Bottom