Zig's SNES Repros

[getafixx]

If that fixes it let me know. I would like to get this one fixed if at all possible, so if the RAM or the PPU chips (ppu 1 or 2, or both) is replaced and works good i will try it as well. Its not for the hassle of buying another one, but for the sentimental value. And its still in really great shape, whereas a lot of used snes units look like they've been through a war.

[Ziggy]

Yeah, I hear ya about the sentimental value. That's exactly why I would bother to try and fix my SNES (even though I own three others already).

Anyways, my SNES that needs the fix is one of the earliest, if not thee earliest model SNES. The broken SNES that I have that I can savage parts from is a mini. So right there is a problem with the PPU. The original SNES had the two PPU chips, some later SNES as well as the mini have one PPU. So if the problem is with the PPU, I can't swap them. I haven't investigated it much, but I was hoping that the problem was bad video memory. And that the video memory was it's own IC on both models of the console so I can swap them.

Either way, I probably wont get around to doing this for some time. Way too much other stuff going on. I'm gonna keep an eye out for a busted SNES though, one that is the same revision so I can get the PPU from it if need be.

[zitoun]

That doesn't sound right. I don't remember the values off the top of my head, but I remember them being a little higher than that. Some where around 50 Ohm?

Do yourself a favor and get the voltage right BEFORE you put the EEPROM on. If you only drop the voltage to 4v (for example) there's a good chance you can fry the chip. The 29L3211 has a 10% tolerance, so you don't have to hit the 3.3v right on the nose. Any where from 3v to 3.6v should be alright, though I would still try and get it as close to 3.3 as possible (maybe 3.1v the lowest and 3.5v the highest, lower better than higher).

Hi Ziggy you have pm

P.S. Do I have to introduce my self somewhere in the forum ???

[Ziggy]

Hey, zitoun. I've replied to your PM.

You don't have to introduce yourself, but if you'd like to, you can do it here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=210

[zitoun]

replied too

[hias]

Nice thread going on here!

PMed you too, Ziggy!

[Ziggy]

Ever since I posted this pic, a lot of people have been asking me questions about it. I don't know if I was the first person in the world to do this, but apparently I was the only one to post about it. I'll consolidate all the info about it into this one post.



That's a Star 0cean cart that I put a 29L3211 flash memory on. Common practice has been to wire in a 27C322 EPROM. The 27C322 is a compatible replacement, but it only comes as DIP. The only way to use it on the cart is to wire in each individual pin. This has obvious drawbacks. The 29L3211 is in SOP form, same as the mask ROMs found on the cart. And since the pinout is more or less the same, it can be installed with out any rewiring. The catch is that it requires 3.3v and not 5v like what the cart supplies. You have to step down the 5v to 3.3v in order to use it.

edit: DO NOT USE THIS METHOD. Using only a voltage regulator or divider for 3v memory on a 5v supply can damage the cart and/or the console! To safely use 3v memory with a 5v supply you need to use a regulator as well as a logic level shifter!

[DinnerX]

Interesting technical post!

And like I always say, if you don't know what you're doing, for God's sake, please don't try to mess with video game carts.

[Ziggy]

Since I've started making "repro" carts, I have always advocated the use of flash carts over repros. Now, I'm going hardcore. I will no longer be making repros with the use of donor carts.

What I will continue to do is modify a Super Famicom cart with that game's translation. But as always, I will only do this for games that were not released outside of Japan. For example, NO, I will not put Earthbound on a Mother 3 cart. And this no longer includes Star Ocean, as an actual reproduction is now available from Retro Zone.

I will only do this for my friends here on Racketboy. For established members, if some one wants to send me their SFC cart to modify with a translation, I will do it. Any one else, sorry. It is a fun hobby, but I just don't have the time to be doing it all the time. And really, one could always use a flash cart.

Why? Using a donor cart means you're destroying one game to create another. Some might say, "Who cares? One less copy of some shitty game." I care, and you should too. I plan to create a thread for this topic, so I don't wanna go off on it here. But I am now against the use of donor carts. The carts I made for the charity auction were an exception because, well, it was the charity auction!

"Well what about Star Fox 2? It's unreleased and not playable on flash carts. You NEED to use a donor to be able to play that game on real hardware!" I say, oh well. Star Fox 2 isn't even that good of a game. Yeah, I said it. It's kinda cool to read about and check it out in an emulator. But it really isn't a must have game. Its only real appeal is due to it being canceled. If it was released (as the patched ROM we have available now) it would be known as the horrible sequel to that awesome SNES game, and forgotten after Star Fox 64 came out.

Maybe one day we'll have something that emulates the GSU (aka Super FX) chip on a flash cart and Star Fox 2, along with any other game that uses the GSU, will be playable on real hardware. The CX4 (used in Mega Man X2 and X3) is now emulated on hardware. There's a flash cart that's coming out that uses this emulated CX4. So there's hope of this one day happening for the GSU too.

Anyways, I've talked about it a few times, but haven't officially announced anything yet. Jeffro and I have been working on SNES repro boards. We've been working on it for a while, but unfortunately I have this job and a life that gets in the way of my hobbies. Basically, I don't wanna be using donor carts any more, and I don't want others to use them either. So we're coming up with a board from scratch so that people can make their repros with out the use of a donor cart. Don't worry, scammers will not be able to pass them off as real carts. I plan to make a thread about this soon, so I wont go into much detail here about it.

TL;DR:

1) I'm against using donor carts, I will be making a thread about this some time soon.

2) I'm working on repro boards to stop or at least curb the amount of donor carts used, I will be making a thread about this some time soon.

[fvgazi]

I'm actually really interested as to why you're against using donor carts of bad games. I love to tinker and repurpose things. I'm looking forward to an informative post!