[SGIArtist]

So I'm attempting to do the O2 600Mhz upgrade. I have all the components but am missing the right CPU board. It's a 030-1493-001 or 034-1451-004 rev A CPU board (it's the R5k 300Mhz variant). Doesn't have to have the CPU, as long as the board is in working condition.

Location: EU.

Price: not sure, 50 USD, but negotiable depending on location.

Thanks.

[weblacky]

Yo,
Firstly, these boards were ~$50 back in 2010, now they are closer to ~$120 in the USA, as it's is the "best" you can do with an R5000 O2. Secondly I've purchased two from the same seller, over a span of 10 years...which is creepy) for board 030-1493-001. I've actually used this same auction about 5 months ago when I was hunting for another upgraded CPU for a newly acquired O2 I got! So I've purchased from this exact auction as well.

He's a known dealer, you'd have to ask him about European shipping:

SGI O2 R5k 300mhz CPU Module Part Number 030-1493-001 https://ebay.us/aO5LKF

This is honestly the best price you're going to get, in the United States at least. I've not seen them cheaper for many years (assuming they came up at all).

[jan-jaap]

Is there anybody left who can do the 600MHz conversion? You need more than a donor CPU card ...

[weblacky]

Well there's an auction for like ~90 units of the correct PROM write-once IC on eBay for like $500 USD, updated O2 PROM code was published, 300Mhz CPU boards can be gotten...so the only issue is getting the actual 600Mhz CPU and doing the BGA work successfully without ruin :-)

I was told the only reason Joe stopped was the X-ray machine a friend had given him access to got taken away. So he could no longer check the BGA work. Also the 600Mhz CPU got harder to get. Everything else can still be gotten. But unless I was a real pro shop (with infrared BGA automated machine and everything) I certainly wouldn't do it. It will likely take ~$2,500 or more to get the parts, programmers, and materials (not including labor charge of a REAL proshop...not your nearby iPhone fix-it stand). Mostly due to the fact that several of these have minimum order sizes or you need to trick the supplier into sending you samples (because else they demand you buy like a ton of units). If I had the Pro shop I'd consider a huge run, but getting that new CPU was the kicker I think. Otherwise, it would have been worth the original modder's time to find another X-Ray setup.

It's cheaper to get an Octane or higher machine to go faster. Granted, it's a novelty that's worth money. But to a point.

[SGIArtist]

Thanks for the replies. I've seen the ebay seller and have asked him about a shipping quote to Europe. Unfortunately the shipping is too expensive, so I'm trying to find someone local.
Yes, BGA reballing is going to be the biggest challenge. But as this is just a hobby project I'm just going to try to find someone local who has experience with doing this. X-raying the component afterwards would be helpful, maybe @jan-jaap can help me with that .

I know of one other person trying to do this here, so hopefully one of us will be successful.

[jan-jaap]

Thanks for the replies. I've seen the ebay seller and have asked him about a shipping quote to Europe. Unfortunately the shipping is too expensive, so I'm trying to find someone local.
Yes, BGA reballing is going to be the biggest challenge. But as this is just a hobby project I'm just going to try to find someone local who has experience with doing this. X-raying the component afterwards would be helpful, maybe @jan-jaap can help me with that .

I know of one other person trying to do this here, so hopefully one of us will be successful.

I'm not 100% sure, but what I remember is that a 600MHz RM7000 is roughly as fast as a 400MHz R12K. The R12K CPUs are not cheap, but unless you know the right people in a high-tech assembly/repair shop the BGA replacement is going to cost you dearly. Forget about people 'fixing'  their PlayStation in the oven, this is a specialist and time consuming job. I can recommend ELECT B.V. in The Netherlands (we do business with them -- that PMC card in the photo is one of our older products), but somehow I doubt they do business with individuals, or that replacing a BGA is worth the cost.

[SGIArtist]

Thanks Jan-Jaap. From what I read it's indeed comparable with the R12K, quite faster on some benchmarks, a bit worse on others. As I've been warned about BGA reworking by multiple people, I will definitely gives this more thought if I get at that stage. I definitely don't have that kind of money to spend . I might be on a fool's errand here, guess we'll see.

[weblacky]

My biggest concern, which is why I was never tempted by this mod, is that in order for this to work it’s likely got to be very hot. Even if they used two different solder types to have the temperature lower, I assumed they did the huge chips first, then did the small stuff, due to the board’s thermal mass, in production.

In other words the big items require so much heating that the small parts could desolder and fall off the other side of the board.

Given how huge the chip surface is, I just cannot believe it’s that easy. I will say I think it ultra sucks how they cannot use some kind of socket. All this would have been side stepped if you could just solder a CPU socket. But from what I saw, they didn’t offer a socketed CPU.

I think BGA is a horrible thing, designed for failure and product obsolescence. It should be banned in favor of socketed interfaces.

[SGIArtist]

I tried looking for a socket, the only option I found was some expensive test socket. Seems that option was also discussed in the original nekochan thread.

Edit: All parts have been sourced, thanks for all the feedback.