V9 w/ fresh Matrix Infinity green dot install - no output

[AntiSoul]

Hi all. I finally took the risk and ordered a Matrix Infinity for my v9 Ps2. This was my first time soldering something so delicate, but with the help of a couple professionals and a few hours' time, the job was completed easily enough.

After the installation, I tried to boot the ps2 and go into the "infinity manager". The Ps2 powers on, the fan spins, and the disc drive sounds like it's working (it even ejects on command), but there is absolutely no video or sound output, even after waiting for one minute (according to manuals I've read, the Matrix Inf. takes 15 seconds to boot). I've tried three different sets of A/v cables and even a coax adapter on three different TV's, but all with the same result.

Even when looking at the board and all connections under a microscope, each wire is going to the right place, and each solder point is beautifully done. Multimeter tests show no bridged connections as far as I can tell. Even the lifted pin and surrounding pins on the LA chip seem to be just fine. I'd be grateful if any of the resident professionals here could give me an idea of what to look at next.


Edit: On a tip from another modder, I checked the fuse (hell, everything else while I was at it) nearest to the LA chip. Everything that should have low resistance does, and I still see no bridged connections.

I'm beginning to wonder if I would have had a quicker response from the Matrix Infinity section of this board, but I really don't think it's the mod chip...

[EspeN]

I think this is a install problem too

Check with multimeter again for bridges on point M N O P T Q R W and those points around there. Bridge on bios = black screen.

When u turn the machine on, do the screen "flicker" but still black screen, or black screen all the way?

[AntiSoul]

There's no flicker, assuming that by black screen you mean "absolutely nothing happens". I left the motherboard across town, but I'll post back later with the test results.

[AntiSoul]

I just tested the points you suggested, and P has a low resistance with the pin next to it. I'm not exactly the most familiar with ps2 modding, but something tells me they're not supposed to connect. Unless someone tells me otherwise, I'll be de/re-soldering P before the night's over.

Edit: Picture included.

http://home.comcast.net/~irrylath666/eh.jpg

[EspeN]

I had a v14 board that show me a black screen.. When I turned it on it flicker then black screen.. Just for fun, i bridged a point on the bios and the flicker went away. So i think, if its all black, nothing flicker nothing, and no fuse is gone i suspect a bridge. And yes, they are NOT supposed to connect.

[AntiSoul]

I've removed all the solder between P and the one next to it, but they're still connecting. Is anyone sure about this?

Edit: Checked all connections once again, covered the general area in a soldering wick and removed all solder, and re-soldered wire P to the pin. Same result.

Keep in mind that physically the PS2 seems fine on boot, but there's still no output. No matrix logo, no Sony logo, no noise, not even a flicker onscreen. Just a gray, evil, unchanging input screen; same thing the TV always does when awaiting input. It's driving me batshit.

[oracle_dfx]

I have the same problem too it seems that the screen is all black but no it isnt. there is an output since my Monitor detected it, here is my post on another web
"Hi. My ps2 v9 SCPH 50001 3c has no audio or video output. The power, reset and eject functions are still working. My monitor auto shuts off when it detects no signal from the video in, but it detects output from the ps2 but it is only pure black, when I enable PIP while the PC is on and the VGA is active, the PIP kinda flicker but it is not very obvious. maybe when u look at the monitor/tv set at a different angle, you will notice the very slight flickering. By the way It has a modchip installed. Please help me with this problem. Thank you."
I dont know what chip is installed and have no way of finding it out. I might attempt to remove the chip but before i do so i will try to check for bridging.

[AntiSoul]

Just found this in another thread on psx-scene.com (Posted by Gladiator):

"Uhm, seems like the dreaded black screen syndrome specially from v10's. Check 3 resistor banks placed near the IOP(on the same sid as GS and EE). A black screen means usually one of those banks is ruined. Test them this way: if you test resistance from one side to the other they will give around 43-47ohms, the secret is in the side by side measurement, since its a resistor bank, resistance side by sid should be high, if one of them gives low resistance then the bank is ruined and you need to replace it."

Sounds similar, but eh...what are the IOP, GS, and EE, and where would I find them?

[AntiSoul]

I've decided...I can't find the damn problem, and I can get another motherboard cheap enough, so I'll probably just end up transferring the modchip to that. One question though; does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove the mod chip from the board? Obviously I'll de-solder all the wires, but the damn thing's hot glued onto the motherboard itself . I was thinking of prying it up and chipping away at the glue somehow, but I can't shake the feeling I'll just end up chewing up the PCB.


(Edited for grammar)

[oracle_dfx]

I've decided...I can't find the damn problem, and I can get another motherboard cheap enough, so I'll probably just end up transferring the modchip to that. One question though; does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove the mod chip from the board? Obviously I'll de-solder all the wires, but the damn thing's hot glued onto the motherboard itself . I was thinking of prying it up and chipping away at the glue somehow, but I can't shake the feeling I'll just end up chewing up the PCB.
(Edited for grammar)

Well If you wanna remove the hot glue/ which in our terms is called a glue gun, try freezing the glue, or make it very cold. You wont scrape the board that way, the glue comes all at once. But be careful, you might have sticked the glue near pins of the IC, I suggest you slice through the sides of every pin using a razor. that way u can still lift of the glue if there is no glue that went under the pins.