CH341 Programmer - any good for 1.8V?

[dicky96]

Hi guys
I have a TL866 CS Eprom programmer and up until now it did everything I needed to do

However for the first time I have come across a 1.8V Eprom and my programmer will not do 1.8V

I need to program a 25Q64FWTG

I could splash the cash and buy a V11.71 TL866II. These come with various attachments and the kit including a 1.8V adapter is either €62 with 12 adapters or €68 with 1 7adapters. I also have the option to buy just the programmer for €46.70, if I could get the 1.8V adapter separately and use the other eprom adapters from my TL866 CS
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32963724045.html

But another option seems to be to buy the CH341A for much less money €10.30 which says it does 1.8V and 24/25 series eproms

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001045543107.html

I never used a CH341A - are they as easy to use as the TL866CS?

A third option is to get a 1.8V adapter for the TL866CS which is even cheaper but I remember seeing somewhere that they don't work/are useless? Though I don't know why.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32702717415.html

What's the best option, and why? I only really need to reprogram motherboard (desktop/laptop) and maybe GPU BIOS at the moment. Would the cheapest option do the job just as well as the most expensive?

Rich

[diif]

The model of programmer seems irrelevant when they all use the same 1.8v adapter.

[stj]

the TL866-II+ can run down to 1.8v, it does that without adapters
http://www.xgecu.com/EN/TL866_main.html

[dicky96]

Originally Posted by stj

the TL866-II+ can run down to 1.8v, it does that without adapters
http://www.xgecu.com/EN/TL866_main.html

Strange that the Aliexpress seller bundles the 1.8V adapter with the TL866-II (unless that is not the same as II+)

Really the crux of the question for me is would I be sacrificing any functionality by saving money and either getting the 1.8V adapter for my TL866CS or getting one of the CH341?

[SMDFlea]

Originally Posted by dicky96

Strange that the Aliexpress seller bundles the 1.8V adapter with the TL866-II (unless that is not the same as II+)

Really the crux of the question for me is would I be sacrificing any functionality by saving money and either getting the 1.8V adapter for my TL866CS or getting one of the CH341?

Get a CH341A with the 1.8V adapter as it will work ok with the TL866CS.Thats the cheapest option and its always handy to have more than one programmer. The CH341A is ok if its used with alternative software.

[stj]

the ali seller may be scamming by selling old clones of the cs,
those dont get software updates because of the huge cloning.

only use the official store.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32992209964.html

[dicky96]

Originally Posted by SMDFlea

Get a CH341A with the 1.8V adapter as it will work ok with the TL866CS.Thats the cheapest option and its always handy to have more than one programmer. The CH341A is ok if its used with alternative software.

OK I ordered one, with the 1.8V adapter

What 'alternative software' should I use?

[lotas]

Latest modified software for CH341A.

[stj]

and:
https://www.flashrom.org/Flashrom

[megaraider]

Originally Posted by dicky96

OK I ordered one, with the 1.8V adapter

You probably already have, nevertheless don't forget the test clip, it come in handy.

[dicky96]

Originally Posted by megaraider

You probably already have, nevertheless don't forget the test clip, it come in handy.

Actually no I didn't - this is the actual kit I ordered

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...5e6f4c4dHTiL4B

It was cheap, and because I am in the Canary Islands, Aliexpress automatically deducts the IVA/VAT 21% from the displayed price at checkout so I paid €7.48 including postage

I love that feature of AliExpress by the way, not only do I know the tax man isn't f#cking me over everytime I buy something - it actually shows me at checkout exactly how much the tw#t didn't extort from me!!!

It makes me grin every time, so much so that sometimes if I am having a real bad day I just have to go buy something for the hell of it!

[stj]

that link includes the clip.
the only thing it doesnt have is the other size of soic adapter.

[Adam_Kadmon]

Did you end up successfully flashing that chip with the CH341A kit you got?

I need to flash the same chip and coincidentally have the exact same kit arriving tomorrow - so I'm more than a little curious :-)

[shroom]

Found this on Aliexpress a CH431A with a voltage selector switch no 1.8v adapter needed ? Search CH341A V1.7 .
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004140026788.html