Gameboy Development Forum

McHorse · 2021-01-09 08:51:51

Hi,

I'd really like to be able to play some custom pokemon roms on my gbc. Since i'm new to the world of GB development i'd be glad to hear any opinoin on my project plans.

https://gb-archive.github.io/reinerziegler/readplus.htm
I got some info from this site and started building the GB cart flasher with an atmega8515 controller (I build the RS232 version since i had a MAX232 laying around). After using the correct crystal i was able to read the rom from my pokemon yellow cartridge. Great!

The website also provides a description on how to build your own programmable flash cart from an existing game cartridge. I found numerous examples for this on the internet, and almost all of them suggesting to replace the original rom with an AM29F016/32. Buying this memory or any other suggested memory dissapointed me somewhat since it's all obsolete and can only be bought from not so reliable shops like aliexpress... (also not mentioning the time of arrival).

So i started hunting for other memory alternatives and came upon the AS29CF160T. This finally brings me to my question. I've just recently entered the world of gameboy development and wondered if any of you might be so kind to help me figure out if this memory is compatible? And if so will the GB Cart Flasher application be able to program it as if it was just an AM29F016/32?

https://www.mouser.be/datasheet/2/12/Al … 634173.pdf
https://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet … 9F016.html
I studied the datasheets and compared them closely. To me it seems like this could be a feasible replacement so i already orderd the memory. However i find it hard to sleep because if no one else ever tried this it's probably not going to work

Thank you for your time and thoughts on this.

McHorse · 2021-01-12 01:59:13

So i tested the memory today and it seems to working! I connected the memory in WORD mode but left data pins 8-15 unused so i only have 1MB for now. Maybe later i'll test it in BYTE mode for the full 2MB.
I was able to write the original rom to the flash memory without troubles and also read it back.

The memory is fitted to a DIL breakout board and from there connected with wires to the PCB but the next step is to test this in a real GBC. Still wondering how i'll tuck the memory inside the original casing since i dont want to spend a lot of money on this project like for a fancy adapter board..

I'll keep posting my progress in case anyone is interested.

McHorse · 2021-01-22 08:38:13

Finally got it working and everything fits inside the cartridge.

I used some 30AWG cables to connect the pins and will probably glue these some more to the pcb with loctite..
Tested the memory with the original rom and everything works fine in my Gameboy Advance. Ready to try some custom roms

Tauwasser · 2021-01-22 22:36:52

Wow, that does look pretty old school, like the Rainer Ziegler stuff. Glad you got it working Soldering so many wires next to each other is a challenge to get right without shorts.

Gameboy Development Forum

#1 2021-01-09 08:51:51

GBC flashcart with AS29CF160T ?

#2 2021-01-12 01:59:13

Re: GBC flashcart with AS29CF160T ?

#3 2021-01-22 08:38:13

Re: GBC flashcart with AS29CF160T ?

#4 2021-01-22 22:36:52

Re: GBC flashcart with AS29CF160T ?

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