@CaseySJ think I should be set by this weekend with all the required pieces to flash the Thunderbolt on my z490 Vision D. I did have one question though...
"(This procedure is not necessary for Gigabyte GC-Alpine Ridge and GC-Titan Ridge because they are very easy to read/write with an external SPI ROM flasher.)"
This is written on the "Recommended Circuit Board" section. Is this in reference to the Titan Ridge chip on the z490 Vision D or for the Aftermarket Thunderbolt Card.
This is in reference to an aftermarket or add-in card. Because those cards are removed from the motherboard and have relatively few components on them, their firmware chips are easy to read/write.
The firmware chip on the Gigabyte motherboard itself is
much harder to read/write. Everyone will struggle with it.
We must be patient. We must always attach and detach the SOIC clip
gently. If you are naturally near-sighted (or have perfect 20/20 vision without any corrective lenses) then you have an advantage. Attaching and detaching the clip requires
very near sighted work.
If you are near-sighted and use corrective lenses to see distant objects,
remove those corrective lenses so you don't experience any eye strain when focusing on very near objects.
Because the Gigabyte motherboard has a
lot of components (and has memory modules, GPU, WiFi/BT card, etc.) it makes it
much more difficult for the SPI Flash ROM reader/writer to properly power the Thunderbolt firmware chip. We end up
back-powering other devices on the motherboard. This is why
flashrom
will often be unable to detect the firmware chip.
If you find yourself really struggling to detect the firmware chip, here are some suggestions:
- Use shorter breadboard wires to reduce power losses over long runs of wire.
- Perform the operation after dark. Sunlight/solar radiation can sometimes interfere (don't ask me to explain the voodoo science behind this).
- If all else fails, try removing the motherboard from the case and detach all memory modules, PCIe cards, NVMe SSDs, etc. That will help reduce back-power.
Once again, be patient and
expect to encounter problems. Don't hesitate to stop and ask questions. If you find yourself getting frustrated,
STOP immediately and take a break.
It is easy to dislocate nearby surface mount devices (SMDs) from the motherboard when attaching and detaching the SOIC clip. Always be gentle. If you detach a nearby SMD, say goodbye to Thunderbolt...