NAOMI 2 / Net DIMM help!

[rancor]

I always told myself that I would never get involved with NAOMI. Too many parts / pieces, too expensive, and too much that can go wrong with these decade old parts... But, like any old addict after finishing my PCB collection I've been searching for new and stronger highs. I went with the NAOMI 2 setup, and have run into a real puzzler (can't find much in the way of Google for this particular problem - everyone seems to have NAOMI 1)

So.. First of all here's my setup: Everything look OK?

Can't see the USB cable, but it's there.



Next, the DIMM board. Missing PIC chip, but is it needed just to get into setup? Are the jumpers correct?



NAOMI 2 mobo. Everything look OK? The BIOS is 23605C.



Error message I get. I've cleaned the contacts, and re-seated numerous times. No joy.



NAOMI 2 setup shows the cart as "Unknown Title"... What gives?



Any help appreciated. I may end up moving this on for cheap if I can't get it working. I can already feel that this system is going to be more trouble than it's worth.

[RMRM]

Hi mate,

i use my netboot setup with a naomi 2. You've helped me in the past with some goods, i'm sure i can help you out with this

First of all, be patient and you won't regreat it, it's just an awesome system.

Does this happen when you are trying to boot a game or simple when you plug the system on with no game? You do not mention, but are you trying to netboot or loading a game from GD-rom?

Anyway, the procedure to boot a game (netbooting or Gd-Rom player) is the same on Naomi 1 and naomi 2, i have both. I'm sure we will sort it out.

[mastercello]

Jeff, looks to me like you need another DIMM board, have you a cart to test the N2 Mobo?
http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/Sega_NAOMI_Error_Codes"

Just a hint here, i'm not sure.

[purplec]

I think you need a new bios.

You then need to set the ip

[RMRM]

From a second look at you last picture, you do not have the option to set your local network, it means that you BIOS definitely is not netbooting compatible.

I'm assuming now you are trying Netboot because of your jumper settings, which are correct for that.

[rancor]

Hey!

Thanks for the replies. I am trying to netboot with a raspberry pi, (but I haven't gotten close to that point yet), and I don't have any other carts at the moment. The N2, the Capcom interface, and the Net DIMM are the only pieces that I have right now. I was considering going down the the arcade shop to pick up a cheap cart to test, but wanted to run by the experts here to see if anything was totally out of place (jumpers, dead batteries, new BIOS?). I'm not getting any signs of life out of the Net DIMM, so I'm afraid that may be the problem - but it's not giving error codes that would indicate a hardware error. I'm not sure that it's the BIOS, as the "C" version I have seems to be the newest available for the N2.

Does this happen when you are trying to boot a game or simple when you plug the system on with no game?

This happens immediately after I flip the power on with the net DIMM attached - I get that "Error 01" as seen in the first screen shot. At that point, if I hit "setup" on the Naomi 2, it will go to the setup menu, and that's where I see the "unrecognized hardware".

If the net DIMM is not plugged in at all, I just get a black screen.. I suppose that's normal?

[rancor]

it means that you BIOS definitely is not netbooting compatible.

ok! Excellent! Now we're moving. Any idea what BIOS is needed for the Naomi 2? I see so much info regarding the white Naomi, but there just isn't so much on the gray unit. I found a BIOS listing on another site, and it appeared that mine was the latest available - but I suppose that's not the case.

Thanks so much for the help!

[mastercello]

Well I guess this BIOS version is fine for the N2, as it is the newest one.
Look here for the compatibility table: http://sega-naomi.com/bios.htm"

[rancor]

ok - I'll go pick up a new net DIMM tomorrow. Hopefully it's all that's wrong, and I can get this system up and running.

[mastercello]

Have you tried reseating the DIMM board already?
Sometimes you really have to press it down "gently & hard" at the same time.

Still the possibility that your N2 is fried, that's why I asked if you have a game cart to try if its working.

[rancor]

ok - I had someone tell me that it may be a power issue. I thought that was only with NAOMI 1 boards.. Does the N2 need a separate power supply as well?

[mastercello]

Maybe not if you crank up the +5V Voltage
http://sega-naomi.com/Iframes/hardware_ ... #nao2setup"

But maybe it is better to use a separate PSU for this.

[RMRM]

If the net DIMM is not plugged in at all, I just get a black screen.. I suppose that's normal?

Well, that is not normal, if you plug the N2 with no cart and no Dimm, you should still go to the boot menu with the Naomi logo and some kind of error message, that's for sure.

I just checked my N2 netboot setup and i'm using a 23605B BIOS. I find strange that your menu doesn't show the network settings...

[rancor]

I think I found the problem. Secondary power is absolutely necessary, even though I had read in a few places that this was not true for NAOMI 2. I hacked up a Dreamcast, and have temporarily cannibalized the power supply from it to run the 3.3v and 5.0v. They are both spot-on voltage wise, and holding steady - I've been tested every few minutes just to make sure. The net DIMM now powers up with no problems, and the system fans seem to be running a lot faster now. Now to get this Naopi working!

[rancor]

ok - posting my own updates here. Getting this thing running is like working in witchcraft. I think I have to stand on one leg, and hit the power switch with my left hand while holding chicken feathers in the right to get it working 30% of the time.

Anyhow, what I've done so far is completely disassemble the new DIMM unit, unplugged the battery pack (LED was constantly flashing.. what's this mean?) took out one of the DIMMs (down to 256mb now) and it seems to boot 90% of the time. I checked the battery pack voltage with my multimeter, and it's putting out a steady 7.2v so I'm not sure why having it unplugged is allowing the unit to boot.

now on to why naopi wont work...

[RMRM]

Lolz @ witchcraft.

From my experience, i think the most sensitive parts for bad connections are the actual pcb's inside the dimm board, make sure they are super clean and well seated.

I'm afraid i can't help you with the Naopi because i never used one of those, but maybe it's a good ideia to try to connect your Setup with a PC (if you have the chance) and try to Netboot just to make sure everything is working properly. At least there are a lot more people that can help you out with this method.

For reference, i use the "triforcetools.exe"

On the N2 bios, can you set the network IP already?

[rancor]

I used transfergame.exe, and everything works perfectly now! I took the case off the DIMM, have one memory module out, and the battery is removed. I also upgraded the netDIMM firmware to 4.01 since I had everything working. I suppose I can start adding back parts, and reassembling to find where the point of failure is. One of them is definitely the battery pack - when I have it plugged in, the unit wont even boot and there's a red-flashing LED next to it. I'll write more when I have more info!

[RMRM]

One of them is definitely the battery pack - when I have it plugged in, the unit wont even boot and there's a red-flashing LED next to it. I'll write more when I have more info!

Since all the batteries are pretty much dead by now i just took them out of all my Net Dimms, so i never tried to boot it with a dead battery.

[cools]

FWIW be very careful with the Capcom I/O and Net DIMM, the voltage regulation for 3.3v on the Capcom I/O isn't great. You'd be better off (safer) with a Sega I/O.

[Spectre]

Imho, get a sun jvs power supply to connect directly to the naomi. Use your cab/supergun to power the capcom io. Forget the jvs power cable between the two.