Why do Ketsui PCBs have scratched-up chips?

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:10 pm

I just noticed that every Ketsui I've ever seen has the model nos. of a couple of chips, such as the processor, etc scratched away.

Anybody know what the reason for this might be?

Post by **Dave_K.** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:20 pm

Obfuscation from dumpers/hackers I guess. The only SH2 board this was not done to was DDPDOJ because it was shipped in that metal case.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:54 pm

Yes, I always wondered why the Ketsui PCB I had once with such scratched up chips on the surface. Your answer is good one, Dave K. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Post by **undamned** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:39 pm

My Osman is this way.
-ud

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:40 pm

None of my arcade boards (Stratovox multi-level boards, Devastators, and Spinal Breakers) are like this, but an answering machine/phone combo I took apart recently had some of the chips barely readable...probably more due to the glue and faint printing than anything else however.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:01 pm

Ed Oscuro wrote: an answering machine/phone combo I took apart recently had some of the chips barely readable...probably more due to the glue and faint printing than anything else however.

no, clearly the answering machine maker didn't want you to dump the firmware

Udderdude · Post by **Udderdude** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:01 am

indstr wrote:
Ed Oscuro wrote: an answering machine/phone combo I took apart recently had some of the chips barely readable...probably more due to the glue and faint printing than anything else however.
no, clearly the answering machine maker didn't want you to dump the firmware

I SMELL CONSPIRACY!

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:42 am

Dave_K. wrote:Obfuscation from dumpers/hackers I guess. The only SH2 board this was not done to was DDPDOJ because it was shipped in that metal case.

Interesting! Once again you've proven who's the true PCB-master around here.

Don't DOJ and Ketsui have exactly the same chip architecture though? So you could just look at DOJ and gather what's being used on Ketsui?

Ozymandiaz1260 · Post by **Ozymandiaz1260** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:46 am

CIT wrote:you could just look at DOJ and gather what's being used on Ketsui?

But then you'd have to tear up the sticker

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:38 am

indstr wrote:
Ed Oscuro wrote: an answering machine/phone combo I took apart recently had some of the chips barely readable...probably more due to the glue and faint printing than anything else however.
no, clearly the answering machine maker didn't want you to dump the firmware

that's interesting but they were NVRAM chips and some telephony crap iirc