Checking an IC to be sure it's genuine and a not a fake/counterfit - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: cincin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2024, 03:16:04 am
content: I bought anSSM2056(a hard to find out of production audio EG IC) from AliExpress...It has arrived, and I'm trying to determine if it's real or not before putting it into my Korg PolySix synth. Luckily I have a few real SSM2056 to compare this new one to.I went around the legs of a real, known-good one, testing for resistance, and comparing to the AliExpress chip, and things don't match. On many leg combinations that give me no path (OL) on the real IC, I get some high resistance (>6MOhm) path on the new IC.This tells me that the chips are not the same. But what do I know.Is this enough to conclude the AliExpress IC is a fake?cheers!

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2024, 05:00:43 am
content: Quote from: cincin on April 17, 2024, 03:16:04 am"OL" simply means the resistance is higher than some number. For instance, that number could be 8 MOhms in which case your readings of 6 MOhms are pretty close. Your meter's user manual might tell you what "OL" means when measuring resistance.I'd look into building a test circuit to see if the chip at least operates like it should. It seems the modwiggler.com forum has discussed the ssm2056 chip quite a bit -- you might ask there.Also, there is this way of replacing a SSM2056 with a PIC microcontroller:https://electricdruid.net/voltage-controlled-adsr-envelope-generator-vc-adsr-7b/

author: aliarifat794
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2024, 05:34:25 am
content: Test the application circuits mentioned in the datasheet. See if they behave accordingly.

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2024, 06:28:24 am
content: IMO diode mode is more useful. These things are silicon, so there is plenty of PN junctions in them between various pins. Particularly between power supplies or the substrate and other pins. If these don't match, chances are high that the chip is something else with fake part number printed on it.Also, does it look like new or used? Are there any signs of black paint or scratching on the top surface?

author: cincin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2024, 02:34:44 pm
content: All very good points! Thank you.My DMM goes to 40MOhms, but I will poke in diode mode to see, then perhaps build a test circuit if there is still hope.

author: cincin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2024, 04:07:19 am
content: Well, I looked at the datasheet for specific things to test for, and...- There very clearly should be a 1K resistance between pin 8 and 9, my real chip agrees, but the AliExpress chip is OL.- There should also be a diode between pin 9 and 7 (GND), my real chip says yes, but the AliExpress chip says OL.I believe that's conclusive enough?Thanks for the help!

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2024, 05:29:45 am
content: Yeah, that's what it looks like.It is also common that there are many diodes from V- to various I/O pins and from I/O pins to V+ (in this polarity). If the other chips has power supplies on different pins (likely), none of that will match either.