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  • Joined: 01 Jan 2014
  • Posts: 331
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Working 4MB Flash Cart?
Post Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 10:14 pm
Does anyone have one? If so would you be willing to test something for me? Easy test, quick and no interaction required.
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  • Joined: 05 Sep 2013
  • Posts: 3805
  • Location: Stockholm, Sweden
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Post Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:08 am
Is a Master EverDrive ok or do you need something custom?
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  • Joined: 24 Oct 2016
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Post Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:25 am
Hello,

I build a 4MB card with mapper at slot 2 handling only (reg 0xFFFF). This card passed successfully testes, but game work badly/or not at all. Im interesting by all thinks that can help me figure out my problem.

So, if you want, I could test your ROM (Assuming its slot 2 switching only). But be warned that my card is not totally operational.
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  • Joined: 01 Feb 2014
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Post Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 5:00 pm
sverx wrote
Is a Master EverDrive ok or do you need something custom?

I was under the impression that the EverDrive only supports up to 1MB, but I might be wrong.
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  • Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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Post Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 11:36 pm
Thanks for the offer leviathan but it uses bank switching on 1 and 2. Unfortunately I don't know much about creating a mapper so cannot help :(

Everdrive only supports 1MB :( I appreciate Krikzz's work with his everdrives however the master system could use some improvement. Where did db go?
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  • Joined: 05 Sep 2013
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Post Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:39 am
Kagesan wrote
sverx wrote
Is a Master EverDrive ok or do you need something custom?

I was under the impression that the EverDrive only supports up to 1MB, but I might be wrong.


No, you're right, it was me who didn't read the post well enough :|
Sorry psidum!

psidum wrote
Where did db go?

We should insist he restarts working on its SMS homebrew cart!
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  • Joined: 06 Dec 2013
  • Posts: 335
  • Location: Canada
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Post Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 1:13 pm
I didn't go anywhere - just went into full read-only mode for years!

I wrote a VHDL Sega Mapper a while ago:
https://github.com/db-electronics/SMSFlashCart/blob/master/SimpleMapper/src/SMSCart.vhd.
http://db-electronics.ca/wiki/wikis/projects/master-system-carts/

The mapping registers use 6 bits to define the :current page. This allows to map 8Mbits of ROM into the slots. I suppose if we were to extend the mapping registers to 8 bits we could in theory support ROM chips with 2 more address bits (A0 - A21, as opposed to A0 - A19).

My current CPLD (EPM3064) wouldn't support this as I am completely out of resources on it. I would need to upgrade to an EPM3128 and make a new rev of PCB to test this.
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  • Joined: 24 Sep 2013
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Post Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 9:59 am
I currently lack the means to make a 4Mbyte prototype cartridge following the design of my current 512Kbyte design (SLOT1/2 mapping).

I want to make it happen through this year but can't promise it will be done nor that it will be user-friendly. Current designs and prototypes (2MByte) still require an off-cart flash programmer.
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  • Joined: 30 Jun 2016
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  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Post Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 2:08 pm
If it requires off-cart burners, then so be it. As long as the hardware exists at all in the first place! :)
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  • Joined: 06 Dec 2013
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Post Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 2:55 pm
Flygon wrote
If it requires off-cart burners, then so be it. As long as the hardware exists at all in the first place! :)


Mine is currently the same right now. I currently use SMT flash chips but I'm branching the PCB for a version with DIP flash. My goal would be to provide the Cart PCB with CPLD pre-installed and the end-user can install the Flash.

NeonMan wrote
I want to make it happen through this year but can't promise it will be done nor that it will be user-friendly. Current designs and prototypes (2MByte) still require an off-cart flash programmer.


Is your design open-source? Let's collaborate and not invent the wheel twice.
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  • Joined: 24 Sep 2013
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Post Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:00 am
Cart design uses 16V8 PLDs and off-the shelf 74-series circuits. Currently designing it around a 4Mbyte ROM from previous attempt using four 512Kbyte ROM ICs. Since using an off-cart programmer is a pain, I am trying to make room for a PIC micro so I can upload ROMs via USB.

Most of the design are available at This post and this other one. I can share further details if you are interested.
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  • Joined: 06 Dec 2013
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Post Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 2:02 am
Another solution is to make a Genesis cartridge PCB for an 8bit Flash ROM and to tie #M3 to ground - essentially forcing the console into SMS mode; i.e. release your SMS game in Genesis format.
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  • Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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  • Location: Estonia, Rapla city
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Post Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:14 pm
You still need the mapper chip(s) though...
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Post Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:55 pm
TmEE wrote
You still need the mapper chip(s) though...


Yes of course, but this removes the hurdle of not having any source for brand new SMS cartridge shells.
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  • Joined: 21 Oct 2010
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 1:01 am
Uhm, my Everdrive plays back Phantasy Star which is 4 Megabit? @"1 Megabit limit" o_O
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  • Joined: 14 Oct 2008
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 2:43 am
1MB = 1 megabyte = 8 megabit, the largest size ever used in official SMS (or GG) games.
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