Increasing RAM to 128MB

thengwee · Interested Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 13 Reputation: 0

Hi all,

Popped by the Russian forum and saw that some people managed to upgrade their RAM to 128MB from the current 64MB! Thumbup

http://asusmobile.ru/board/viewtopic.php?t=10271

Tried to understand as much as I could with Babel translation, I was not able to locate the instructions for the step-by-step instructions for doing the hardware upgrade.

Would anyone here be able to assist?

phrozact · Guest Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Reputation: 0

I'm also interested in knowing how it works. I tried flashing both ROMs but after the OS boots up and I check the amount of available RAM and it still looks the same...

efx_9 · Posted: 04/20/2008, 17:04 Post subject:

You need some hardware chip to increase memory, not only new firmware...

phrozact · Guest Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Reputation: 0

Darn that's a disapopintment. Didn't see any hints of a hardware upgrade required...

thengwee · Interested Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 13 Reputation: 0

phrozact · Guest Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 7 Reputation: 0

Urgh, guess I'm gonna have to pass on this then. I was kinda hoping they somehow managed to tap into the ROM or even make use of the MicroSD to get the extra memory. Ah well, looks like I'm gonna have to stick to 64mb of RAM or a while longer.

Thanks!

Lobo · Interested Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 11 Reputation: 0

Can someone describe setup from 64 mb to 128 mb step-by-step in english, please?

Barin · Guest Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0

Lobo
1) You have to change RAM chips (and loose the warranty icon_smile

)
2) Download the firmware which supports 112 or 128 Mb, unpack and put it to microSD (not microSDHC!) card.
3) Insert the card into Your device.
4) Reboot the device in bootblock mode, and wait while firmware updates
Here we are

You can download firmware from asusmobile.ru:
http://4pda.ru/forum/uploads/img-82367-112mb_BY_GreateVK__P750_VGA_WM6_1_v0_17_Base_by_Sorg.rar
http://4pda.ru/forum/uploads/img-82368-128mb_BY_GreateVK__P750_VGA_WM6_1_v0_17_Base_by_Sorg.rar

Check, please if firmware file is Pegasus.nb0
Good luck!

P.S. Sorry for my poor English
To boot in bootblock mode push Voice button, hold it, push Joystick down, hold it, move the Hold slider up, and hold it. Push and release Reset button, HOLDING all other buttons. Wait for bootblock page an then release all buttons
Believe me, it's really difficult without a training Wink

Lobo · Interested Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 11 Reputation: 0

Thank Barin, but I know flash rom.

I wanted to read setup of change ram chip in english. Where is chip to buy, what and where is need to solder, and other things with hardware change.

thengwee · Interested Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 13 Reputation: 0

Pride · Guest Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0

Do you thin you can manage to do it by yourself? It requires some skills and equipment.
First find someone to change chips. Second is to find those chips. Second option is easier as you can serch via internet, or order on eBay.

Lobo · Interested Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 11 Reputation: 0

I have freind with this skills. He knows how change chip, but I need to know, if is something else to solder on P750 motherboard. If I looked on change chip on Universal, there is need to solder something on motherboard. On P750 too? Or only change chip? On photos I don't see if is need to solder something else.

And on Universal is need to install 128 rom before change chip. On P750 too?

Thanks for advice.

thengwee · Interested Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 13 Reputation: 0

TheCell · Guest Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0

I would strongly recommend that you only let experienced people do the soldering, and only with proper tools. Otherwise you will definitely convert your phone into a brick.

Maybe the following is all well-known.
If you look at the first pictures above (actually the upper three show the same), you will note the metal square ring in the middle. The 2 same-looking devices lined up vertically in the upper right corner within the square are the RAMs that you're talking about. As it looks in the picture, the original RAMs were already replaced by the bigger ones. As you can see, these like all the other ICs don't have visible and accessible pins. They are FBGA (fine-pith ball grid array) devices with the "pins" being little balls on the bottom of the plastic package (s.a. the package outline in the datasheet). That together with the high number of balls makes it very difficult to solder or unsolder such a device.
You have to evenly heat it up (in this case from the top) to be able to lift all balls at the same time from the circuit boards. But at the same time you have to be careful not to over- or underheat, otherwise the balls or the pads on the circuit board go off or you destroy the vias in the pads or even worse. When you want to solder the new device the same applies. But even if it seems to be fixed to the circuit board you can't be sure if all balls have contact or if you haven't generated a short. You can't visibly inspect, and you can't repair it easily; the balls are underneath the package. In case there was a problem, you have to take it off again with the same issues as already described. And after the second or even first repair attempt the circuit board is ruined. This will happen if you don't use the proper tools.
And even with the proper tools only a skilled person should do the job. Apparently the Russians have found a shop that can do it. They even give 1 year warranty, but I don't think they do x-ray inspection after the soldering which would be favorable. Anyway, I'm not living in Moscow ... Sad

Just a warning. It's your responsibility.

--------
A note to the question if something else needs to be changed apart from replacing the RAMs. I don't think so.
My guess is that the additionally needed address line is already in the layout, otherwise I would think it will be virtually impossible to add it with the processor and the RAMs being FBGAs (how do you attach a wire underneath the package, especially if you don't have the layout data to find a better spot?!). There is also no wire visible in the pictures. In addition, the bigger RAMs have to be drop-in compatible to the smaller original ones (although I couldn't find a datasheet on those HYB18L256).

B789 · Guest Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0

How many successful 128mb Ram upgrades for the P750 are out there?
I am able to source the memory modules and a shop in the USA to fit.
Which of Sorg's Rom versions is the most stable/ suitable- AIO Ver 0.17; .18 or .19?
PS; Hello all fm "Down Under"

wpmosc · Interested Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 14 Reputation: 0

Mine is going to Germany next month for an Upgrade, definitely recommend the 0.17 !! Who wants QVGA when you can VGA

LiquidStorm · Posted: 06/26/2008, 14:12 Post subject:

B789
More than 100 successfull upgrades confirmed by russians

For now you can use standart Asus firmware with 128MB mod. Get it on asusmobile.ru/forum from Barin Thumbup

_________________
There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't Wink

// Motorola V2288 -> Siemens M65 -> ASUS P525, 4Gb TopRAM, SE HBH-DS970 || v3.29->3.39->UL4 WWE by 777Team, 4.7.0 || UA-KS

B789 · Guest Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0

Thank you for the replies!
Liquidstorm, what is the advantage of Barin's ROM rather than Sorg's? stability or more standard like the oem perhaps?
Do you have a link to the download as my Russian is terrible!
Also I thought that V0.19 was a VGA rom?
Thanks again.

LiquidStorm · Posted: 07/01/2008, 11:13 Post subject:

B789
Barin's ROM is intended for those who likes official ROMs but was unable to use 128Mb RAM. No other advantages.

Direct download link (54mb) :
http://asusmobile.ru/files/ROMs_P750/4.8.14.128.RU00.Barin.zip

_________________
There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't Wink

// Motorola V2288 -> Siemens M65 -> ASUS P525, 4Gb TopRAM, SE HBH-DS970 || v3.29->3.39->UL4 WWE by 777Team, 4.7.0 || UA-KS

cvooncv · Guest Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0

any master here where can i find this chips, i am from malaysia hehe thank...