N64 saves

[emurozii]

How long will saving on N64 cartridge saving last?

N64 games that use a save battery for saving (very small amount do though...I know Ocarina of Time does) die eventually. I know you can replace them, and there's videos on YouTube for tutorials of it. Can you keep replacing them and go on forever like this? Or can you only replace it a few times before it stops functioning?

Nearly all use flash memory rather than save batteries. Can't they only be rewritting a few times till they stop working/save function won't work anymore? I know it lasts a fair amount longer than a battery, but when it does stop, is it replacable or fixable?

Just curious about all of this.

Thanks.

[CRTGAMER]

Eventually, flash memory will fail, a lot of save rewrites before that happens though.

Batteries can be replaced, at the cost of losing your save file. If possible backup to a plug in Memory card first.

[Ziggy]

N64 games that use a save battery for saving (very small amount do though...I know Ocarina of Time does) die eventually. I know you can replace them, and there's videos on YouTube for tutorials of it. Can you keep replacing them and go on forever like this? Or can you only replace it a few times before it stops functioning?

You can keep replacing the battery. But honestly, if you come across a dead battery in a N64 cart and replace it with a good brand name, fully charged battery, it's gonna be like 10-20 years before you have to replace it again.

Nearly all use flash memory rather than save batteries. Can't they only be rewritting a few times till they stop working/save function won't work anymore? I know it lasts a fair amount longer than a battery, but when it does stop, is it replacable or fixable?

Right, they have a certain amount of times they can be flashed before they go bad. Just like any memory, just like the battery backed SRAM in other N64 carts. But I think it's hundred of thousands of flashes. In the event a chip goes bad, I would think it would be an easy fix. Not sure if the N64 carts use some crazy kind of flash memory for saving, didn't look like it the few times I've looked inside. It's probably a standard part, which would mean you could easily replace it.

[Thierry Henry]

N64 games that use a save battery for saving (very small amount do though...I know Ocarina of Time does)

As you say, there's only a few games to worry about that save to battery.

I stand to be corrected, but as far as I know, those are:

-The New Tetris (battery),
but, 4 save files can also be saved on-cart.

-1080 Snowboarding (battery)

-F-Zero X (battery)

-Harvest Moon (battery)

-Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (battery)

-Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.(battery)

-Mario Golf (battery)

-Ogre Battle: Person of Lordly Caliber (battery)

-Resident Evil 2 (Battery)

-Super Smash Brothers (battery)

-WCW vs. NWO Revenge (battery)

[pakopako]

As you say, there's only a few games to worry about that save to battery... as far as I know, those are:

-The New Tetris (battery), but, 4 save files can also be saved on-cart.
-1080 Snowboarding (battery)
-F-Zero X (battery)
-Harvest Moon (battery)
-Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (battery)
-Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.(battery)
-Mario Golf (battery)
-Ogre Battle: Person of Lordly Caliber (battery)
-Resident Evil 2 (Battery)
-Super Smash Brothers (battery)
-WCW vs. NWO Revenge (battery)

Huh. Any reason why, orher than TETRIS they won't save to controller cart?

[Thierry Henry]

Sorry for not being clear. Too much or too little coffee in the morning. Take your pick.
What I meant to say was that the New Tetris game supports both forms of saving (cart and memory card).
The others I listed save to the cartridge only.