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Ati Rage Pro and SGRAM module

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w.x.

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May 30, 2024
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I'm finding information, if it is possible to bypass "NON-UPGRADABLE" protection on Rage pro (turbo) cards somehow.

I have this Ati Xpert@work version with 4MB, with SGRAM slot

When I use SGRAM module from UPGRADABLE version

the card somehow know, it should not upgrade to 8MB, and stays 4MB, even with module.

How the protection is made on the card? Is it only in BIOS? Or some hard way on the card?
Anyone tried to remove this protection somehow? I'm thinking of changing the BIOS (it is socketed) from other card, or reflash it. But I;m affraid if it don't screw TV out, as second card is Expert@work version (without TV out). But maybe BIOS logic is the same, and TV out logic is in both BIOSes made the way, that if it doesn't detect TV out on card, it just do nothing.

Would like to know, how Ati made it, that card know, it shouldn't increase RAM, even with SGRAM module. And why they've put that slot on non-upgradable version.
note: SGRAM module is functional... tested in 2 different upgradable Ati Rage Pro cards (one PCI, one AGP), both were upgraded to 8MB after insertion of module. I have also Rage Pro AGP 2x version 4MB (non-upgradable). Would come handy also to this card.
 
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Different ROM I assume (the 2 cards have a different ROM number (last digit). Also, you have that one jumper thats different in the pictures.
 
I've seen this a few times on ATI cards and never really understood what it meant. Both with earlier MACH64 cards and with Rage chipsets, I added the memory upgrade and it saw it, so....
 
Unknown_K said:
Different ROM I assume (the 2 cards have a different ROM number (last digit). Also, you have that one jumper thats different in the pictures.
Click to expand...
Where is the ROM stored on that card? In that BIOS chip?

Photos are from vgamuseum info, but I have same versions of card. So photos are not mine.

jumper on graphic cards of this era used to be for PAL/NTSC for TV out, or something with that "IDE" slot. It's not IDE, but for TV card, or something like that. It will probably not be for memory slot. But I can try to find some documentation, for what is that jumper.

@NeXT : You can find memory module here.
vgamuseum.info

VGA Legacy MKIII - ATI Rage Pro Turbo AGP

Only renamed 3D Rage Pro AGP 2x chip with released new drivers in 1998. Also known as ATI-264GB.Prices: Xpert 98 AGP - $98 Palcal's cards: Vlask's cards: &nb...
vgamuseum.info vgamuseum.info
but not all versions are upgradable. If they are 8MB, they don't have slot. But if they are 4MB, they still can have slot, and are not upgradable. It usually have sticker on the back about it. But this is it... how Ati made those 4MB versions non-upgradable. That's what I wonder, so I can bypass somehow, so I don't have to have duplicite cards, to get various configurations.
 
w.x. said:
jumper on graphic cards of this era used to be for PAL/NTSC for TV out, or something with that "IDE" slot.
Click to expand...

The "IDE" slot is a VESA feature connector. It's used to bypass the slow local buses the card is plugged into and provide a high speed data link between the video card and other media cards, like capture cards, TV tuners or MPEG Decoder cards. Early TV Tuner and other media cards used an enormous amount of bandwidth, so much so that it would cripple even the PCI bus with its bandwidth demands.

As for the jumper on the card, it forces the card to use an interrupt, rather than IRQ sharing. It is reported to make the card faster in some situations, probably because of the dedicated IRQ.

ATI 3D Rage II jumpers \ VOGONS

www.vogons.org www.vogons.org

As for memory upgrades not working, check the memory module you have and make sure the memory chips are compatible. Also make sure that the modules are compatible, this memory connector was used by several different manufacturers and didn't have a common pinout. Even within the same manufacturer, memory speeds were different, and if you have a module that's too slow, it may not work correctly.
 
GiGaBiTe said:
As for memory upgrades not working, check the memory module you have and make sure the memory chips are compatible. Also make sure that the modules are compatible, this memory connector was used by several different manufacturers and didn't have a common pinout. Even within the same manufacturer, memory speeds were different, and if you have a module that's too slow, it may not work correctly.
Click to expand...

It's not this case, because module is made by Ati, and it has the PN (product number). On the back of card you have USE MEMORY MODULE (and PN numbers). Both modules I had are marked by these PN, so they are legit. They are compatible, and They work in all Ati Rage Pro cards, that are upgradable. (also, all my EDO memory, that I've put into 2D/3D cards with brown sockets, was working.. i was also affraid compatibility, but they all work, and I've tried more than 10. It's not so critical with compatiblity of memory, as people use to tell... my experiences are really good.)

The card I am speaking about is NON-UPGRADABLE (with sticker on back). Did you read my previous posts at all? And checked the pictures of the cards on Vgamuseum? Seems, like you completly ignored, what was written before.

I have also PCI SGRAM Upgradable version, of course, both my modules are working also here. The only card, where they are not working is card marked as "NON-UPGRADABLE". So I need really only some trick, how to bypass this "NON-UPGRADABLE" protection and how it is made on the card. I don't really need any other information about Rage Pro. :) Just this.
 
w.x. said:
And checked the pictures of the cards on Vgamuseum? Seems, like you completly ignored, what was written before.
Click to expand...

It seems like you have delerium and expect other people to know things you never posted, and are being an ass about it. I didn't ignore anything, but I'll certainly be ignoring you now.

No, you did not mention ANYTHING about your memory boards, just that you had them. No part numbers, no pictures, no nothing.

w.x. said:
So I need really only some trick, how to bypass this "NON-UPGRADABLE" protection and how it is made on the card. I don't really need any other information about Rage Pro. :) Just this.
Click to expand...

Now that I did a double take of the images from the OP, I figured out what the difference is, but seeing as that you don't want help, good luck! (hint: A BIOS flash won't help you in this case.)
 
There is only one kind of module, it can differ only in 2MB or 4MB capacity. Photos are not needed. (it is btw pictured on vgamuseum).
PN of those module you have here
It fits into all Xpert@Work and Xpert@Play cards (even into All-in-Wonder Pro with that slot). Slot is also only one of the kind. It's Ati related problem, so other manufacturers are not important. I saw Asus based card
slot seems similar, not sure if it would fit, but that's completly different topic. This is related for Ati cards (Xpert@Play and Xpert@Work - those are names of Ati cards. So one manufacturer - Ati )

Really dont understand, how did you asume, I don't want the help.

as for:
No, you did not mention ANYTHING about your memory boards, just that you had them. No part numbers, no pictures, no nothing.
Click to expand...
Yes I did. It's in first post:
note: SGRAM module is functional... tested in 2 different upgradable Ati Rage Pro cards (one PCI, one AGP), both were upgraded to 8MB after insertion of module. I have also Rage Pro AGP 2x version 4MB (non-upgradable). Would come handy also to this card.
Click to expand...
Had even two of the modules, one is sold. They both worked in all Ati Xpert@Work and Xpert@Play cards except non-upgradable version.
 
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