tempest
Veteran Member
I just bought a functioning but 'in need of repair' Sorcerer II from Chromedome45. I'm excited because I've wanted a Sorcerer for years, but before I can really play around with it I need to fix its issues.
1. The main problem with the unit is that the video output has some sort of distortion, like a constant waviness to it (it actually almost pulses). I'm thinking that the issue is probably related to some bad caps either in the power supply or on the main board itself. Has anyone seen something like this?
2. The second and less serious problem is bad RAM. The Sorcerer is reporting that the top of the stack is FFFF which obviously isn't correct since the Sorcerer only supports 48K RAM. I'm guessing the cause of this is either bad RAM (most likely) or the dip switches on the motherboard are set wrong (less likely). Right now they're set to 0111 which according to the tech manual means:
Switch 1: On - 50hz / Off - 60hz
Switch 2: On - 3 rows of RAM (which is what I have) / Off - 2 rows of RAM
Switch 3: On - 16K RAMs (which is what I have) / Off 4K RAMs
Switch 4: On - 2 rows of RAM / Off 1 row of RAM
I assume that if you have 3 rows of RAM (switch 2 on) that switch 4 is ignored. Otherwise nothing would make sense. The Sorcerer has some sort of memory test built in, but I'm not sure how to use it.
3. Not a problem, but I'd like to upgrade the Sorcerer monitor to version 1.1. To do that I need to replace the monitor ROMs with some burned EPROMs. What kind of EPROMs does the Sorcerer monitor use? I assume they're standard 2716's, but are they 3v or 5v?
I also saw a blurb in a Sorcerer newsletter (July 1985) about an error in the tech manual when replacing the monitor ROMs, but I don't have access to the August 1985 letter where the fix is actually discussed. Anyone know what the 'fix' was? If I plan on swapping in EPROMs with the updated 1.1 monitor, this info would come in handy!
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also you can read Chromedome45's attempts at repairing the unit before he sold it to me here: http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcf...ce-check-what-would-you-pay-Exidy-Sorcerer-II
1. The main problem with the unit is that the video output has some sort of distortion, like a constant waviness to it (it actually almost pulses). I'm thinking that the issue is probably related to some bad caps either in the power supply or on the main board itself. Has anyone seen something like this?
2. The second and less serious problem is bad RAM. The Sorcerer is reporting that the top of the stack is FFFF which obviously isn't correct since the Sorcerer only supports 48K RAM. I'm guessing the cause of this is either bad RAM (most likely) or the dip switches on the motherboard are set wrong (less likely). Right now they're set to 0111 which according to the tech manual means:
Switch 1: On - 50hz / Off - 60hz
Switch 2: On - 3 rows of RAM (which is what I have) / Off - 2 rows of RAM
Switch 3: On - 16K RAMs (which is what I have) / Off 4K RAMs
Switch 4: On - 2 rows of RAM / Off 1 row of RAM
I assume that if you have 3 rows of RAM (switch 2 on) that switch 4 is ignored. Otherwise nothing would make sense. The Sorcerer has some sort of memory test built in, but I'm not sure how to use it.
3. Not a problem, but I'd like to upgrade the Sorcerer monitor to version 1.1. To do that I need to replace the monitor ROMs with some burned EPROMs. What kind of EPROMs does the Sorcerer monitor use? I assume they're standard 2716's, but are they 3v or 5v?
I also saw a blurb in a Sorcerer newsletter (July 1985) about an error in the tech manual when replacing the monitor ROMs, but I don't have access to the August 1985 letter where the fix is actually discussed. Anyone know what the 'fix' was? If I plan on swapping in EPROMs with the updated 1.1 monitor, this info would come in handy!
In the next newslatter I will have a replacement diagram for the error in the Sorcerer II Technical Manual dealing with conversion of the main board from Monitor ROM's to standard 2716 EPROM's. It's easy.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also you can read Chromedome45's attempts at repairing the unit before he sold it to me here: http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcf...ce-check-what-would-you-pay-Exidy-Sorcerer-II