MGA G200 Bios Chip

[Venturer]

The BIOS resides in either 8-bit wide FLASH EPROM (older boards) or SPI serial EEPROM (G100 and G200 based boards). This does not influence the speed, because in case of PCI and AGP boards the BIOS image is always copied to shadow RAM on system board before execution.

The BIOS fits in 32 Kbytes, although on some boards 64 KB chips may be used. In such case, only half of the chip is visible.

During normal DOS/Windows95/98 sessions, the BIOS is accessible at standard VGA BIOS location, C000:0000..C000:7FFF.


New cards (G100, G200): EEPROM is accessed exactly like RAM (but much, much slower). New BIOS image is simply written to the EEPROM.
After successfull programming, the chip write access is disabled, and BIOS is removed from linear buffer space. Note that at this point the system still uses the old BIOS, which was copied from ROM to RAM on system board during PCI initialization routine. If something gets wrong during programming and the computer is still alive, the BIOS may be programmed again unless you reset the machine. The new BIOS will be used on next bootup.

Hope it will help!

[isai]

Originally posted by Venturer:
The BIOS resides in either 8-bit wide FLASH EPROM (older boards) or SPI serial EEPROM (G100 and G200 based boards). This does not influence the speed, because in case of PCI and AGP boards the BIOS image is always copied to shadow RAM on system board before execution.

The BIOS fits in 32 Kbytes, although on some boards 64 KB chips may be used. In such case, only half of the chip is visible.

During normal DOS/Windows95/98 sessions, the BIOS is accessible at standard VGA BIOS location, C000:0000..C000:7FFF.


New cards (G100, G200): EEPROM is accessed exactly like RAM (but much, much slower). New BIOS image is simply written to the EEPROM.
After successfull programming, the chip write access is disabled, and BIOS is removed from linear buffer space. Note that at this point the system still uses the old BIOS, which was copied from ROM to RAM on system board during PCI initialization routine. If something gets wrong during programming and the computer is still alive, the BIOS may be programmed again unless you reset the machine. The new BIOS will be used on next bootup.

Hope it will help!

Dear Venturer,
Thaanks for reply. You quote from site "MatroX files"?. I know already this but I need more because, my bios chip is electricaly destroyed, and I want to replace it with an equivalent.
Or, I need a schematic for my G200 vga card.
Florin

[Alec]

There´s a PIN library of Matrox BIOSes on here, maybe it will help you:
http://www1.mahoroba.ne.jp/~youichi/pinbox.htm

[Greebe]

And more info than you can shake a stick at! (Heya Greg

[isai]

MGA G200 Bios Chip

Can anyone tell me more about Bios chip on Matrox MGA 200 (G2+/MILA8BC/20)
What kind of memory it is? Part number is ST 35560V1.
Thank you!

[This message has been edited by isai (edited 24 November 2000).]

[isai]

Thanks you all for your replies, but I still have problems;
I cannot reflash my bios because of bios chip.
The bios chip is electricaily destroyed.
The bios part number is ST 35560V1, and I don't find it nowere (even on Internet), so I need an equivalent for it.
In this way, can anyone help me please!?
Florin

[Venturer]

I think you can t replace it because it s soldered on the board!
Call Matrox and ask an RMA!

[isai]

I know very good how to use a soldering iron!


[This message has been edited by isai (edited 28 November 2000).]

[Wombat]

I've asked for the information you need, but can't expect anything for another couple of hours.

[isai]

Thank you very much! I wait.
Do you know were can I find a schemetic for my Matrox MGA 200 (G2/MILA8BC/20)?
Florin

[gbm]

The chip is made by ST microelectronics, and its part number is not exactly what you see on it (too little space).
Go to ST website and search for SPI serial EEPROMs, 32 KB (256 Kbits) is the one you need. Look at its real part number, then search the world for it.

[isai]

What do you say, Wombat, about, gbm's reply?
On ST site I don't find this Part number, but if you check a g200 even a g100 video card you gonna see the same part number posted by me.
Florin

[gbm]

Dear isai,

Unfortunately for you one must be able to read in order to find the information you need. If that was you case, you would probably select MEMORIES on www.st.com main page, then EEPROM on the next page, then SPI on the next one. That, with 2 extra mouseclicks, would lead you to the selection list with only one 256 Kbit (=32 KByte) SPI serial EEPROM. No, I won't give you its name here. If you really need it, use your keyboard and mouse...