Programming replacement motherboard voltage regulator IR35201 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: andy2000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2019, 02:43:05 pm
content: I'm attempting to repair a high end server motherboard with a bad CPU core voltage regulator control IC. It's an IR35201:https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/product/power/dc-dc-converter/digital-dc-dc-multiphase-controller/ir35201mtrpbf/#The part is easily available, the problem is that it has to be programmed with numerous settings and options before it will work. The motherboard is a dual socket board, so there's a second, IR35201 that I can copy.I've installed PowIRCenter and purchased a USB to I2C interface. PowIRCenter can access several other regulators on the bus, but not the IR35201. After contacting technical support, they have confirmed that the free version of PowIRCenter doesn't support the IR35201, and that they only support the full version with "a few customers according to business volume requirements". Since I'm not going to be buying millions worth of these, they aren't interested in helping.https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/product/promopages/power-center-software/All I really need to do is read the settings from the good IC and program them into my new one. I don't need any of the design tools provided by PowIRCenter. I don't even need it to correctly interpret the data from the MTP. I'm looking for advice on how I can do this.Maybe I can trick PowIRCenter into thinking the IR35201 is one of its supported ICs just so I can blindly read and write the contents of the MTP?Maybe it's possible to figure out the I2C commands needed to read and write the MTP manually?

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2019, 03:03:49 pm
content: Interesting ..Since a dozen months I am tracking this "new generation" ofprogrammable power rails with skeptical thoughts....Since VRMs are rather difficult to soft start I am foreseeing an eraof real trouble makers which require paid software firmware dongles...So far so good I am still rid of them...Hope these VRMs do not become the normKeep us posted as possiblePaul

author: andy2000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2019, 04:48:05 pm
content: Quote from: PKTKS on September 06, 2019, 03:03:49 pmIt's beyond frustrating to have an otherwise simple repair blocked by software. Hopefully I can find a solution since it seems like this situation will become much more common soon.Andy

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2019, 01:50:29 pm
content: Quote from: andy2000 on September 06, 2019, 04:48:05 pmMy hope is that turning maintenance of boards with suchclass of troublesome devices a problem... soon they will beuseless without proper repair or even unreliable from thepoint of not worthy choices.So eventually we (consumers) will look reliable and repairablestuff to buy as they are not cheap investments.HopefullyPaul

author: andy2000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2019, 05:17:30 pm
content: It turns out Infineon's technical support doesn't know what they're talking about.I realized I had a different motherboard that has the same VRM chip set, and even a pin header to connect my USB interface to. The software has no problem reading the IR35201 on that board. It looks like both IR35201s are bad, but at least I know I can program the replacement (if I can figure out what to program it with).I guess I'll try copying it to the bad board and hope it's close enough. I might be able to make an educated guess by comparing the good VRMs for things like options and I2C addresses.

author: andy2000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2019, 10:39:44 pm
content: I tried programming it with the configuration from the IR35201 on the other motherboard, and it actually worked. The board now boots and seems stable.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2019, 12:24:41 am
content: Post the model of motherboard, maybe you'll be lucky and someone has the same model they could read? The datasheet has some vague description of how to program one, as well as a description of "security" features... It's a bloodyvoltage regulator, how much "security" does it need!?!?If anyone is working in such companies, please do your part to oppose such moronic anti-repair "features"!

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2019, 03:50:53 pm
content: gee I doubt they will abort such trend of these"new programmable power rails"I have seen entire modules been launched withproprietary stuff needed to program them sothey will actually do/act like advertised.They invested too much in fab and as usualwe are caught in the middle of the brandsand their latest gizmos.We actually need to know in advance** WHICH CHIPS ARE "defacto" easily setup or not (requiring dongles)that list will help to choose in advance.Paul

author: C0dR
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 26, 2024, 12:20:00 pm
content: Quote from: andy2000 on September 09, 2019, 10:39:44 pmDid you use the official USB005 device or does it work with any I2C-USB adapter?Did you use "Read Registers from all devices" to readout the chip?I also managed to patch the IR PowIRCenter to also allow selection of 35201, if anyone is interested