Dumping Nintendo 64 cartridges

Hello Guys.

Sorry to dig up this thread but I need some help.

I have already dumped PAL prototypes with my V64Jr. All was working properly with Ziyal. I have now few NTSC prototypes to dump but I am not sure if I can do it on my PAL system.

Does someone know if I can DUMP a NTSC game on a PAL system ?

Thanks a lot guys.

 

I don't see why not? The CIC is different but that should only affect booting afaik.

 

I have only been able to do it using a region adapter plugged between the N64 and the V64jr.

 

any one tried the Ultrasave?

http://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=n64&data=n64-ultrasave

 

Bobo told me about this method. I haven't been able to test it as I don't own a 64Drive.

 

As an owner of both a GameShark and V64jr I can tell you the UltraSave is easily the fastest and easiest method for dumping carts and their save files. Also has the added bonus of writing saves back onto carts.

If you have "normal" N64 carts--as in ones retail ones or those with proper header information--the software basically automates the process. Press a button, wait several seconds, done. It also displays some info like the type of FLASHram used on the board.

If you have something more arcane, like carts that have data at non-standard addresses, you can use the command line to dump them. I used it to dump my IPL cart (A6000000) and modem cart (B8000000).

 

This method looks very promising ! I may need to invest in a Drive64 modul. Thanks a lot for this feedback !

Do you know if both PAL and NTSC carts can be dumped ? I had to use a region converter to dump my NTSC cart on ma PAL system using my V64jr, and this dump set up was looking like the tower of horrors ! haha.

 

I've been writing a cartridge reader for the last couple of month too. It's just based on a stupid $6 Arduino so nothing fancy but it works fairly well so far.
I published all the source code on my github in case anyone wants to build one for themselves.



So far you can:
- Read SNES roms and read/write save games from and to the SNES cartridge
Supported cartridge types so far: LoRom, HiRom, ExHiRom, SuperFX, SuperFX2, SA1(can't write save back to SA1)
- Read and write SF Memory Nintendo Power Cartridges for the Super Famicom
- Read N64 roms and read/write save games(4K/16K Eeprom + Sram + Flashram)
- Read and write N64 controller paks and also can test a N64 controller
- Read Game Boy Roms and their save game and also write the save game back to the cartridge (only tested with MBC5)
- Program Flashroms like 29F016, 29F032, 29F033, 29F1610 and 29L3211(needs 3.3V).

 

Whats the speed like?

All the arduino readers I have seen have been pretty slow.

 

The speed depends on the SD card as everything gets written to it and not send over USB to a PC or something like that.
For some reason microSD cards are a lot slower but with a 4GB Class 4 fullsize SDHC I have those times:
- reading Super Mario 64 (8MB): 39 seconds
- reading LoRom SNES Game including Checksum calculation (1MB): 10 seconds
- reading HiRom SNES Game including Checksum calculation (3MB): 26 seconds
- reading Nintendo Power cart (4MB): 19 seconds
- writing Nintendo Power cart including verification (4MB): 3 minutes 33 seconds
- writing 29F033 flashrom(4MB): 2 minutes

 

While thats relatively slow (2 mins for 29F033 for example). Its certainly "fast enough" for all the hobby grade stuff. I expect the Tl866 is similar or slower than that. The read speeds are fast enough that it doesnt matter (10s vs 30s for example is hardly going to annoy anyone)

Good stuff, I was expecting much slower.

 

Wow ! Thanks for the share ! This is pretty amazing ! I will definetly have a look at it !

 

UltraSave can read carts regardless region. Unlike BUNG units that ran code on an N64 at runtime to do the dumping, this is direct access. Actually, my IPL cart is non-bootable (has no CIC chip) yet can read from it directly no problem.

Also, forgot to mention it can (and has) read prototypes.

 

This is a good point. I will probably buy one in the future, as it sounds to be faster and easier to dump.

 

I can vouch for the Doctor V64 (not jr) to dump carts....it doesn't need the N64 to dump the cart ridge either, Never tried it with Dev carts though.

I have a CD64, but never been able to get the parallel port adapter to work with it.

 

Dev Carts can't be dumped using the V64 (Z64), sadly. But thanks.

About the CD 64, better get a true Parallel port on an old laptop. Old Toshibas satellite are good for this.

 

Those are two completely different devices. The V64 is controlled from a PC connected via parallel port, the Z64 is a standalone unit w/ a ZIP drive for ROM images and even an (optional) onscreen menu running on the N64.

edit: oops, I was thinking of a V64jr. Still different devices though.

 

I know that V64Jr and Z64 or V64 are totally different. I have both Z64 and V64jr and I use them. I had a pain finding an old laptop with a parallel port to use my V64jr. The good thing is that EPP parallel support can be emulate with Ziyal (the software I use to dump games).

 

Just as an updated, Region of the Nintendo 64 used isn't a problem at all when dumping a N64 prototype.

But I have another question now. Do you know if CIC chips can be switched between carts (NTSC to PAL chip) as long as the CIC chip are the same kind (CIC-6102 and CIC-7101 for example).