Best Bang for the Buck EEPROM burner in 2020?

[Joebeazelman]

I’m in the market for an EEPROM burner for repair and development work. I am looking to get the biggest bang for the buck in terms of flexibility.  I still have nightmares of vendor lock from when I owned a PCJr as a child. My use case will be:

• Upgrading ROMs on vintage computers
• Changing EDID data on flatscreens
• Developing circuits using SIP and SMD package MCUs, namely ARM, Atmel, PIC

Currently, the Minipro TL866II+ is high on my list given its community support, but I would be remiss not to investigate two other similar units:

TL866II Plus
https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Performance-Mini-Pro-TL866II-Plus-USB-BIOS-Universal-pro-With-9-IC-Adapters/302776944862?hash=item467ee988de:g:hZUAAOSwbzVbKOHw

XP8710 USB Programmer
https://www.ebay.com/itm/XP8710-USB-Programmer-Nand-Flash-24-93-25-MCU-Bios-EPROM-AVR-Chip-14-adapter/113859463566

SOFi SP8-A Universal USB BIOS Programmer
https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-speed-SP8-A-Universal-USB-BIOS-Programmer-Full-Pack-for-FLASH-EEPROM-SPI/221169877272



I was able to find some information on the SP8, but nothing on the XP8710. It appears to be the new kid on the block. Feel free to suggest one I haven't looked at.

[rvalente]

I've an older TL866A, do not use it much but, works fine.

If you need to program 21V eproms, the newer TL866 can't do that, only 18.5V

The other two seems clones of TL866, so I would go with the TL, bigger community to support it

[Kilrah]

The links are all broken, but I have both a TL866II+ and a TOP2013. The TL866II+ supports more chips but doesn't do 21V programming like the older TL866A, so I got the TOP2013 for those.
Looks like the XP8710 does 21V, but didn't look at the list of chips.

[Joebeazelman]

I've an older TL866A, do not use it much but, works fine.

If you need to program 21V eproms, the newer TL866 can't do that, only 18.5V

The other two seems clones of TL866, so I would go with the TL, bigger community to support it

Is it a function of the firmware/software and hardware, or just firmware software? It would be interesting to know if it can be downgraded.

[Joebeazelman]

Fixed the url. I used the useless eBay button, hoping it would do something intelligent with the link.  Instead, it just barfed!

[bson]

In many cases you can replace old windowed EPROMs with more modern EEPROM equivalents.

[tinhead]

SOFI produce range of programmers, you have to be careful what you buy.
Generally the best is probably to download the software and run it in demo mode (if possible) / to check suported devices, and not think about bung for buck.

SOFI:
www.sofi-tech.com/devlist.asp?model=SP8-A
sofi-tech.com/Product/435179366.html

Software (with demo mode) https://forum.laboneinside.com/download/file.php?id=96&sid=913da3ee704d150e15b1473a4d0cdee9

as you can see no vintage eproms, no mcu's. These programmers are not bad, but will not cover half of the things you wish to do.

For vintage devices topxxxx programmer was not bad, there was some day however hardware change (from fpga based to mcu based - making self-designed drivers less possible) and finally they disaperaed from marked (more or less, one can still buy them, even from known Distributors). The Problem was as well the software (64bit Drivers), so when one need anyway old PC to control them, why not to use immediately real ancient programmer like ALL-07 or 011 or what so ever from HiLo?

I use top3100, all-07a für older devices and cheapo Flash pgm for all (not supported on top3100) spi/microwire/i2c (SOFI would be good here as well).

[Shock]

What is the harm in making a little mod to connect a 3V CR3032 lithium battery in series to Vpp when needed or disconnect it and use a jumper when it's not?

[coromonadalix]

some pepole have done the coin cell trick, some success some fails ??

I have the old tl866 version

[Shock]

I also have an old one the TL866A.
Which version of the software potentially bricks devices?
The latest versions I've seen for it are 6.70, 6.71, 6.82 and 6.85.

Edit:

Appears it's 6.8X according to the main thread.