A broken card's future

[frokka]

One of my cards went down the other day, a 6 DSP Pulsar 2.
I wonder if there is anyone who can repair these things, S|C or maybe some other enthusiasts.
Or perhaps someone collects them for experimentation purposes.
I'm sure I'm not the only one with a broken card, what did you guys do with yours..?

The card faults when loading about 35% of the DSP capacity,
so my guess is that one of the DSPs is broken, or some closely linked component.
(And when it faults usually the whole machine hangs.)
I did try to swap PCI slots and even replaced the motherboard, so I'm certain the card has the problem.

--
Knut

[Shroomz~>]

Hi there,

did you try a new stdm cable? Sometimes they can get broken. It might also be worth trying to clean the cards contacts (both PCI & STDM contacts).

[Shroomz~>]

It's also worth testing if the card works on it's own simply by removing your other CW cards.

[Tau]

Yup, try it on its own, clean up the contacts well, and check the STDM cable. Try different projects, maybe some device is trying to load itself in an improper way... If nothing works, you can send it to Sonic Core, but be aware there's a "testing" fee, which means you have to pay to get a diagnostic.

if it really is dead, just give it away. And keep this in mind, in case you go to the 2nd hand market for another card...

[Shroomz~>]

Also be aware that if you send it to someone for a diagnostic as Tau mentions, that you want to be getting told what's actually the fault as well as whether it's fixable/worth fixing. For me, it wouldn't be acceptable to pay for a diagnostic that didn't tell me what the fault was!

[frokka]

Thanks for your replies guys

I also cleaned it and tested the card on its own (removed the other cards), so it's not the STDM cable or the contact plates.

I'll try to have S|C take it in for diagnostics.

[Tau]

For me, it wouldn't be acceptable to pay for a diagnostic that didn't tell me what the fault was!

Yup, those are wise words indeed.... especially when the "diagnoser" can have an interest in selling you a replacement.