Identifying and confirming fake 68040 CPUs (especially the L88M mask)

[johnklos]

I wonder how large a purchase would have to be for Freescale to consider making more. Perhaps the next generation PiStorm will support '040 sockets once the market supply of chips runs out.

Are most people here looking for later mask '040s getting them for overclocking, or just to have systems that generate less heat and take less power?

I've gotten my L88M and K63H '040s for NewerTech Quadra Overdrives, since they run cool even at 50 MHz.

 

[JDW]

I wonder how large a purchase would have to be for Freescale to consider making more. Perhaps the next generation PiStorm will support '040 sockets once the market supply of chips runs out.

Are most people here looking for later mask '040s getting them for overclocking, or just to have systems that generate less heat and take less power?

I've gotten my L88M and K63H '040s for NewerTech Quadra Overdrives, since they run cool even at 50 MHz.

John! It's great to see you here!

I would assume they might do it for 10,000pcs. That traditionally has been the magic number to get anything built in China, and that number would probably make it financially worthwhile for them. However, I doubt that we could secure that level of interest in the 040, even with the Amiga community onboard. Then again, who knows. I really don't know the number of people "active" in our respective communities.

 

[johnklos]

John! It's great to see you here!

I would assume they might do it for 10,000pcs. That traditionally has been the magic number to get anything built in China, and that number would probably make it financially worthwhile for them. However, I doubt that we could secure that level of interest in the 040, even with the Amiga community onboard. Then again, who knows. I really don't know the number of people "active" in our respective communities.

Thanks, and it's good to be here

Yes, that might be a bit tough, but I imagine it's just a matter of time before someone starts making whole motherboards which'll need even more CPUs.

Then again, people are starting to lay out their own chips, so an '040 compatible superset (no emulated instructions) CPU with larger caches and ridiculous clock speeds is within the realm of possibility. Oh, if I had the time and money!

 

[C128 Guy]

Eric Woo has some more 40mhz versions:

 

[Fizzbinn]

Available through eBay? Link?

 

[retr01]

Eric Woo's eBay link for that genuine 40 MHz 040's.

Motorola 68040 XC68040RC40M MC68040RC40 Vintage CPU 02E42K 40MHz PGA X 1PC | eBay

We love to hear the voice of your advice!

www.ebay.com

 

[C128 Guy]

I've got a bunch of 040's and 060's from Eric. No fakes yet, he knows all about them. Everything he sells is in his own possession, not a shared inventory/warehouse like all the other ebayers.

 

[JDW]

I've got a bunch of 040's and 060's from Eric. No fakes yet...

How high have you been able to overclock them?
(Please tell me you have overclocked at least one. )

Also, I know that Eric Woo sells GENUINE chips, which is a huge deal. But does he also test them too to confirm proper operation?
(Maybe @Mr. Fahrenheit would know.)

 

[retr01]

Yeah, @C128 Guy, how high did you overclock your 040 and 060?

 

[C128 Guy]

I run my full 060 / 50mhz @ 75. But other than that I'm not much into overclocking.

I went through a bunch of fake 040's before buying one from Eric Woo. The remarks are so obvious to spot, especially after you get a few real ones.

 

[C128 Guy]

Let's play spot the fakes

 

[Kai Robinson]

Eric Woo ran out of 40MHz parts

 

[Patrick]

huh. says 3 available on my screen....

 

[C128 Guy]

He just adds stock to the same listing when he gets more. Message him to find out what version he currently has. Could be any of them.

 

[tcole]

huh. says 3 available on my screen....

Only 2 now, because I just grabbed one.

 

[C128 Guy]

recieved another one today. looks legit

 

[Melkhior]

Hello,

Does anyone know if the QFP-packaged V variant of the 68040 are also commonly faked? They are the static version and use a 3.3V power supply so are considered mostly useless for vintage stuff (all of which, to my knowledge, uses the 5V PGA version). They also don't have FPU (but the regular V has an MMU, it is for most purpose a 3.3V 68LC040).

I'm looking for some dirt-cheap MC68040FE33V (or MC68040FE25V), those would fit the bill but some devices on the site are unlikely to be available at those prices (50MHz PGA 68882 for 40€? would love a bunch if I believed it) which makes me doubtful...

 

[Melkhior]

Also, it seems ebay sellers (and not just them) can't tell the difference between the 5V, w/FPU, PGA179 MC68040RCxx and the 3.3V, no FPU, PGA182 MC68040RCxxV. And for some reason, despite the lack of FPU and that they are NOT replacement for normal ones due to the 3.3V supply, they are expensive from the one seller that can flip a chip and notice the 3 extra pins.(i..e. Eric Woo's rare chips, no surprise there).

 

[trag]

John! It's great to see you here!

I would assume they might do it for 10,000pcs. That traditionally has been the magic number to get anything built in China, and that number would probably make it financially worthwhile for them. However, I doubt that we could secure that level of interest in the 040, even with the Amiga community onboard. Then again, who knows. I really don't know the number of people "active" in our respective communities.

If the masks are already available, and will work with one of the fabs at TSMC, it might be possible to get the number under 1000. Of course, that's assuming Freescale would bother. There are (or were) deals available at TSMC where you get two to four wafers and they're processed on a mumble (can't remember the special name for a rack of wafers, pig?) with others using the same process. 200 - 400 dies per wafer, probably.

Having new masks made is a $5M job or more, so a lot turns on if the physical masks still exist and are usable with the equipment at currently operating fabs. And, of course, how do you persuade whoever has custody/ownership of those masks to put them to use. Rochester might actually have them now.

I wonder if, oh, what's his name, MOS88 or something like that, if he has any connections still.

Of course, once you get hte dies made, they still have to be cut and packaged, but that's relatively easier.

 

[badferday]

Time to revive this thread. Took a read thru, but TBH it went over my head. My alleged MC68040RC40 arrived today, but it has no markings on it except for the S22899-010-F screenprint. I found the below but also, they say the list of masks is not complete. If I connect it to my LC575, is there some way to get verification via the OS or software?

If I can't verify, I'm getting everything refunded via eBay buyer protection.

See attached pics.