SNES Cartmodding Information Overview and Questions

A place that you can discuss reproduction of classic titles or "licensed-for-reproduction" homebrew for personal use.

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rkrenicki
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:11 am

Post by rkrenicki »

I used some right-angle headers for my adapter. If you didnt use a ZIF socket, it would fit just fine with straight headers. There was also the thought of making the board as small as possible to reduce the production cost.

I did have the thought of making a 40 pin version for the GQ-4X, but I do not have that programmer, nor would it be compatible with standard Willem's directly. I suppose both sets of pins could be present, but again.. this was designed with my needs in mind.

Feel free to mess around with the design, thats why I posted it! heh :)
dranore
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:48 pm

Post by dranore »

Huzzah! I have a chip identifying correctly... Now a silly question:

Just to verify I have this correct... in the GQ programmer, you can select the data format. I've chosen ROM and left everything default. Is this a safe way to go?

I seem to finish writing the data but I get an error on verification...

The game does run despite the error, but the error doesn't happen till a ways in. So it seems like things are in order. I'll assume the verification error occurs because of the method I'm using to write the data? I dunno. :\
rkrenicki
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:11 am

Post by rkrenicki »

I leave it at BIN and the rest is 0's.

Are you programming these on the carrier boards with the willem adapter, or are you programming them directly before soldering to the carrier?

What type of chip is this? I would double and triple check that all of the A lines are soldered well, it could be that one is intermittent.

What address does the verify fail at? Have you tried a double-write?
dranore
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:48 pm

Post by dranore »

I'm using AM29F032B-75EC with an UL94V-0 (below) adapter board. The resisters are bridged with wire. I am programming it with GQ-4X with their adapter for the A lines interfaced through your adapter board. No ZIF this time. It seems to error at a set of multiple addresses each time I verify about 30% through the check. I have not tried a "double-write". I assume by this you mean writing twice before verifying?

Image
rkrenicki
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:11 am

Post by rkrenicki »

Yes, there is a "Double Write" function in the MCUMall software, I would give it a try.

Otherwise, how are you jumpering the A19-21 lines? I do not believe that the GQ-4X has the additional address lines as headers by default. I seem to remember seeing an adapter to give you that header... EDIT: this one! http://www.mcumall.com/comersus/store/c ... oduct=4288

Do you have that adapter to give you the additional lines?
dranore
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:48 pm

Post by dranore »

I'll try double writing tonight.

Yes, I indeed have the adapter! That's what I was referring to when I said their adapter for the A lines. I'll post a pic. For the record I had to cut notches into the adapter just to get it to fit with your board, and it's still a tight fit.

While I haven't tried it, I assume removing the adapter would prevent me from writing in the first place! It's on an error on verification. Then again... I haven't actually looked at what's going on here in more detail!

Image

EDIT:

I have tried the double write, and I'm still failing on verification. Here's my log. I tried running verify a number of times to see if there was consistency:
Ready
H/W Re: GQ-4X Re-1.41
USB Driver Re.2.0
Software Re. 6.14c
Checking new software on server...
DEVICE AM29F032B*TSOP40
<<AM29F032B*TSOP40>>
Load C:\Users\Clayton\Desktop\OURBOUND.SMC
c:\users\clayton\desktop\ourbound.smc.
This software is updated already.
ID check OK
Erasing...
Elapsed time: 40.93 seconds.
Erase completed.
ID check OK
Blank checking... Code
Elapsed time: 24.88 seconds.
Chip is blank
c:\users\clayton\desktop\ourbound.smc.
ID check OK
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 431.47 seconds.
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 431.42 seconds.
Device write completed OK
Verifying... Code
Verify Failed, Address=0x0A1DF8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
Verify Failed
Elapsed time: 146.69 seconds.
ID check OK
Verifying... Code
Verify Failed, Address=0x0A1DF8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
Verify Failed
Elapsed time: 6.04 seconds.
ID check OK
Verifying... Code
Verify Failed, Address=0x0A1DF8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
Verify Failed
Elapsed time: 6.40 seconds.
ID check OK
Verifying... Code
Verify Failed, Address=0x0A1DF8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
Verify Failed
Elapsed time: 6.93 seconds.
ID check OK
Verifying... Code
Verify Failed, Address=0x0AFDBC, Device=0x7F, Buffer=0xFF
Verify Failed
Elapsed time: 6.95 seconds.
ID check OK
Verifying... Code
Verify Failed, Address=0x0A1DF8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
Verify Failed
Elapsed time: 6.75 seconds.
EDIT 2:

I did it again at Speed 5 (-2) and double write just to be super-sure. And it's still erroring:
Speed = 5
ID check OK
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 1141.94 seconds.
ID check OK
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 1142.02 seconds.
Device write completed OK
ID check OK
Verifying... Code
Verify Failed, Address=0x0A1DF8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
Verify Failed
Elapsed time: 244.87 seconds.
rkrenicki
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:11 am

Post by rkrenicki »

I had issues with software version 6.11 and 6.13 with my GQ-3X, and I downgraded to version 5.03 which has worked fine for me. It might be worth trying.

You can download it from MCUMall here: http://www.mcumall.com/downloads/downlo ... nloadID=50

Otherwise, it seems that your verify fails in the same spot just about every time, perhaps it is just a defective bit on your flash chip... do you have another one to try?
3gengames
Formerly 65024U
Posts: 2284
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:57 pm

Post by 3gengames »

The problem is you bought a willem. :roll: :lol:
dranore
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:48 pm

Post by dranore »

I've seen a lot of people hating on them, but the truth is the MCUMall products are well designed and responsibly produced and are still affordable. For my purposes buying a very expensive "better" chip programmer doesn't make sense from a number of stand points.

Thanks for the software tip. I'll try that next.
dranore
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:48 pm

Post by dranore »

5.03 doesn't explicitly support AM29F032 where as the 6.xx versions do. There is an M29F032B*TSOP40 support... which is what I assume you are using?

I'll give it a try anyway!

EDIT:

No luck. Verify fails at around 22%. I'll try once more at slow speed.
dy
H/W Re: GQ-4X Re-1.41
USB Driver Re.2.0
Software Re. 5.03B
DEVICE AM29F032B*TSOP40
Device not found!
Load C:\Users\Clayton\Desktop\OURBOUND.SMC
c:\users\clayton\desktop\ourbound.smc.
<<AM27128A>>
<<M29F032D*TSOP40>>
ID check failed.("0141")
Please check device type, chip's orientation and pin contact.
Some OEM chips may have compatible chip ID
Continue?
Yes
ID check skipped
Erasing...
Elapsed time: 39.62 seconds.
Erase completed.
ID check failed.("0141")
Please check device type, chip's orientation and pin contact.
Some OEM chips may have compatible chip ID
Continue?
Yes
ID check skipped
Blank checking... Code
Elapsed time: 24.96 seconds.
Chip is blank
c:\users\clayton\desktop\ourbound.smc.
c:\users\clayton\desktop\ourbound.smc.
ID check failed.("0141")
Please check device type, chip's orientation and pin contact.
Some OEM chips may have compatible chip ID
Continue?
Yes
ID check skipped
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 431.44 seconds.
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 431.43 seconds.
Device write completed OK
Verifying... Code
VerifyFailed, Address=0x0C51F8, Device=0xC9, Buffer=0xFF
VerifyFailed
Elapsed time: 181.04 seconds.
ID check failed.("0141")
Please check device type, chip's orientation and pin contact.
Some OEM chips may have compatible chip ID
Continue?
Yes
ID check skipped
Verifying... Code
VerifyFailed, Address=0x0E73B8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
VerifyFailed
Elapsed time: 7.03 seconds.
EDIT 2:

To be expected but same thing. I'll have to solder up another chip. Dang.

Ready
H/W Re: GQ-4X Re-1.41
USB Driver Re.2.0
Software Re. 5.03B
<<M29F032D*TSOP40>>
ID check failed.("0141")
Please check device type, chip's orientation and pin contact.
Some OEM chips may have compatible chip ID
Continue?
Yes
ID check skipped
Erasing...
Elapsed time: 39.26 seconds.
Erase completed.
Speed = 5
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 1142.01 seconds.
Writing... Code
Elapsed time: 1142.00 seconds.
Device write completed OK
Verifying... Code
VerifyFailed, Address=0x0C51F8, Device=0x00, Buffer=0xFF
VerifyFailed
Elapsed time: 5870.19 seconds.
ID check skipped
Verifying... Code
VerifyFailed, Address=0x0A1DF8, Device=0xC6, Buffer=0xFF
VerifyFailed
Elapsed time: 6.16 seconds.
knuffi1985
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:15 am

Post by knuffi1985 »

rkrenicki wrote:Okay! I edited my design to include larger holes, so more sockets and headers should fit better then my original CAD.

Image

Here is a link directly to the CAD files: http://www.retrohacker.info/pcb-cads/Wi ... dapter.zip

Laen's PCB service located at http://dorkbotpdx.org/wiki/pcb_order is a great place to have these made up. It should cost right about $8 to have 3 boards made up from this design.
Hello,
can you help me?
Which application I need to open these files? I have Eagle CAD Editor.
rkrenicki
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:11 am

Post by rkrenicki »

The files are intended for fabrication, and as such are provided as standard Gerber format. If your application can open Gerbers, then it should work.

that being said, why do you need to open it? Do you need to make a change to the design? Otherwise, you just provide the gerber files to your fabrication site of choice. I prefer Laen's DorkbotPDX service.
SkinnyV
Posts: 427
Joined: Wed May 04, 2011 2:41 pm
Location: Montréal, Canada
Contact:

Post by SkinnyV »

The verification problem is common for 29f032 on GQ-4X, just check on mcumall's forum and you'll see people are having many problems with 29f032 on GQ-4X, including this verification error. Just dump the data after programming the chip and verify it with an hex editor. You were lucky enough to be able to erase and program them on this programmer, most people can't even flash the chip cometly without error with that model.
rkrenicki
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:11 am

Post by rkrenicki »

Now the 4X is having issues? I know that I was having issues with the 3X and the MCUMall TSOP adapters, which prompted me to move to the willem adapter just above here.

Since I have done that, I have no more issues with programming, however I have not programmed any chips in a few months now as all my immediate want carts are done.
SkinnyV
Posts: 427
Joined: Wed May 04, 2011 2:41 pm
Location: Montréal, Canada
Contact:

Post by SkinnyV »

fI am having issue with it and if you go on the MCUMall forum you will see that the few peoples who are trying to program 29f032 are getting very similar problems.
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