Tutorials › ZDMA Setup Guide
ZDMA Setup Guide
From unboxing to a passing speed test — everything you need to get your ZDMA up and running.
Read before you start
- Do not touch the circuitry directly with your hands — static electricity can damage the ZDMA.
- Before installing, shut down both the main and console computers and disconnect them from power.
- Do not dismantle the ZDMA without authorization — doing so voids the warranty.
- Do not destroy the label/tag. It holds the only identifying information for your ZDMA and is required for upgrades. It’s best to photograph it and save it to your phone.
1. Overview
What’s in the box
- 1 × ZDMA
- 1 × Thunderbolt cable (1.5 m)
- 1 × Screw — these are tiny and can be lost during customs/logistics inspection; you can also use a spare case or graphics-card screw to secure the ZDMA.
Interfaces
- Thunderbolt interface 1 — data transfer only (no power). Best compatibility. Recommended.
- Thunderbolt interface 2 — fully functional with 60 W power supply, made of better material. Use this if your control computer must supply power through its only Thunderbolt port.
- JTAG — firmware flashing.
2. Installation
- Power down. Turn off and disconnect both the main and console computers to prevent damage.
- Install the ZDMA. Align it with the notch on the left side of a PCIe X4 or PCIe X16 slot, insert it vertically, then secure it with a screw.
Secure it firmly. The ZDMA is heavy — if it’s not fixed in place it may vibrate loose during use and be damaged.
- Connect the data cable. Use the supplied Thunderbolt cable: one end to the ZDMA’s Thunderbolt interface 2, the other to your console computer’s Thunderbolt port.
Notes Once the ZDMA is secured, you can connect/disconnect the cable with the computer on — but never unplug it while the ZDMA is being used by software, or your console computer may crash. The ZDMA transfers data only over Thunderbolt: a normal USB-C port or ordinary USB cable will not work — use a Thunderbolt III or IV cable. - Install the driver (on the console computer). Unzip the driver, then: right-click Start → Device Manager → right-click the Other device / Management Card → Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers → select the driver folder → Next → Install this driver software anyway.
3. Test
- Disable security software. Uninstall all antivirus on the console computer and turn off Windows Defender.
- Run the test. Download and unzip our test file, then run
DMAtest.exe. The test passes when the result shows a continuously refreshing number — the bigger the better.
If no numbers appear, send us a full screenshot of the test results and we’ll help you find out why.
4. How to Use
Once the ZDMA passes the test, actual usage is basically independent of the ZDMA — just follow the tutorial for whatever software you’re using.
Most software isn’t adapted to the ZDMA yet, so you’ll need to manually replace that software’s leechcore.dll with the one we provide. This is a temporary measure — we’re working on a permanent fix and will announce it on Discord when ready.
5. Firmware Build & Flash
See the dedicated guide for flashing firmware:
All firmware information for the ZDMA is published in Ulf Frisk’s pcileech-fpga / ZDMA project, including full build and flashing tutorials.
Flashing reminders
- After flashing completes, shut down the main computer and turn it on again so the ZDMA loads correctly — do not simply restart.
- Make sure the chip you flash is FPGA_0.
- The JTAG port is not compatible with the Thunderbolt cable — use an ordinary USB cable to flash.