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bradinkorea · 02-27-03, 06:37 PM

It appears that we will be able to upgrade to 64MB SDRAM without much trouble. The Infineon parts exist. Upgrading to 128MB is still up in the air. I have ordered samples for the 64MB upgrades, but the parts for the 128MB upgrade are probably not available... from Infineon. Infineon currently only offers the big part (512Mbit) in a different package - 54 pin BGA, as opposed to the needed 54 pin TSOP. Reworking TSOP is relatively low risk.
I'm sure Dell didn't launch the Axim without second sourcing on their SDRAM, so I am looking for that now... I expect to find it from either Micron or Samsung. I post more when I know it. I am also having my Infineon representative find out if the 512Mbit parts will ever be available in 54 pin TSOP... A 120MB Axim is intriguing - but I haven't even checked yet if the package is capabale of supporting another address bit.

As for the FLASH upgrade to 64MB (actually 48MB)... I don't see much point in all the work for a 16MB delta. I am expecting that the 'missing' 16MB is really there, but occupying the memory address range required by the OS. Also, replacing the FLASH parts is much riskier due to the fact that they are BGA. BGA rework has lower yield and requires capital investment in some tools. I may already have the correct tools for the package; I will check into this, and report back. Regardless, with 512MB CF cards selling for <$70, I don't see much point pursuing the FLASH upgrade.

If you want to help... the following project(s) will be helpful later:
1. extract the OS code from the FLASH. I expect this to be less than 16MB. This will be needed if we do pursue the FLASH upgrade, as it appears that the parts were preprogrammed prior to installation in the AXIM (hence the individual labels).
We may have to pre-program the FLASH prior to installation, or we may be able to program it in-circuit - if a diagnostic connection was provided.
2. Someone can check the Infineon 256Mbit SDRAM datasheet and determine if another address bit is possible, or if it is already pin-limited. Available at: http://www.infineon.com/cmc_upload/documents/036/320/HYB39L256160.pdf
3. Apparently the CPU core voltage is register programmable. Does anybody know how to modify the X-Scale register set to INCREASE the CPU core voltage (probably necessary for more reliable 500MHz operation)?

Thanks all.

02-27-03, 06:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
bradinkorea Aximsite Prospect Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: SoCal, USA Posts: 15 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It appears that we will be able to upgrade to 64MB SDRAM without much trouble. The Infineon parts exist. Upgrading to 128MB is still up in the air. I have ordered samples for the 64MB upgrades, but the parts for the 128MB upgrade are probably not available... from Infineon. Infineon currently only offers the big part (512Mbit) in a different package - 54 pin BGA, as opposed to the needed 54 pin TSOP. Reworking TSOP is relatively low risk. I'm sure Dell didn't launch the Axim without second sourcing on their SDRAM, so I am looking for that now... I expect to find it from either Micron or Samsung. I post more when I know it. I am also having my Infineon representative find out if the 512Mbit parts will ever be available in 54 pin TSOP... A 120MB Axim is intriguing - but I haven't even checked yet if the package is capabale of supporting another address bit. As for the FLASH upgrade to 64MB (actually 48MB)... I don't see much point in all the work for a 16MB delta. I am expecting that the 'missing' 16MB is really there, but occupying the memory address range required by the OS. Also, replacing the FLASH parts is much riskier due to the fact that they are BGA. BGA rework has lower yield and requires capital investment in some tools. I may already have the correct tools for the package; I will check into this, and report back. Regardless, with 512MB CF cards selling for <$70, I don't see much point pursuing the FLASH upgrade. If you want to help... the following project(s) will be helpful later: 1. extract the OS code from the FLASH. I expect this to be less than 16MB. This will be needed if we do pursue the FLASH upgrade, as it appears that the parts were preprogrammed prior to installation in the AXIM (hence the individual labels). We may have to pre-program the FLASH prior to installation, or we may be able to program it in-circuit - if a diagnostic connection was provided. 2. Someone can check the Infineon 256Mbit SDRAM datasheet and determine if another address bit is possible, or if it is already pin-limited. Available at: http://www.infineon.com/cmc_upload/documents/036/320/HYB39L256160.pdf 3. Apparently the CPU core voltage is register programmable. Does anybody know how to modify the X-Scale register set to INCREASE the CPU core voltage (probably necessary for more reliable 500MHz operation)? Thanks all.