Flash cart

stalepie · Post by **stalepie** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:23 pm

Okay, I am looking into these flash carts by ToToTEK. I'm thinking about the 32MB one with case (I'm not interested in the 32X, so I just need the regular edition). A few questions:

1) How do I make sure that my USB port is 5v? Do I need a parallel or USB cable? (it says not included. Maybe I have an extra one lying around here and don't know it).

2) Does the SRAM work like normal battery backup on MD carts? In other words, if I make a game that has a save feature, I would program it like normal?

3) And I don't need the Pro Fighter, right?

Hope that's everything.

Thanks,
Matthew

Fonzie · Post by **Fonzie** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:50 pm

Hi,

"I'm thinking about the 32MB one with case (I'm not interested in the 32X, so I just need the regular edition). A few questions: "

Fine, its a good and cheap product (i have the mdpro64 and works good).

However, beware, be sure to have a EPP printer port... Also the flashing software is a bit doggy.
Anyway, tototek staff is here in case of troubles.

"How do I make sure that my USB port is 5v?"

I'm not sure... but i think that all USB port are 3.3->5 volts... 12V is maybe for very very early usb?

"Do I need a parallel or USB cable? ("

Both, usb is for power, parallel is for data...
Be sure to have a EPP compatible mode on your printer port, else it wont work.

"2) Does the SRAM work like normal battery backup on MD carts? In other words, if I make a game that has a save feature, I would program it like normal? "

Yeah, it should... not all games but several should work, just ask for a specific game at tototek board.

"3) And I don't need the Pro Fighter, right? "

What is it? héhé, nope, it is a real flash cart, no need of any addon.

I think some members here have this cartridge, haven't they?.

stalepie · Post by **stalepie** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:10 am

I'll see if I can set my printer to EPP and get the right cables.

Hmm not sure what to buy. There's 32M flash cart, 32M flash cart with case, 32M flash kart kit without case. Do I need the "kit"? (or is every card a "kit"?) (I don't have any hardware like this already, and I'm not sure what I need to transfer ROMs to the cart and play them on the machine). I might go with 64M, but what about the MegaCart??
http://products.genny4ever.net/megacart_v1x.html

stalepie · Post by **stalepie** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:35 am

OK, I think I understand that "plus" means "can play 32X games." This website's confusing... but I take it I want the one that doesn't have the programmer X-ed out?

like this:
http://www.tototek.com/pio/main1/SUBMEN ... /MD64M.jpg ?

Oh I see the difference. "MD-PRO 32M flash Card with case for Genesis/MegaDrive" is different from "MD-PRO 32M (Card only) with case for Genesis/MegaDrive." Yeah...

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Well, I guess I'll go for a MD-PRO 64M flash Card with case, plus the USB and parallel port cables... unless I should get something less. Anyone have advice?

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and uh one last final stinkin' edit to this post: Found the EPP setting in BIOS. OK, that was easy.

TmEE co.(TM) · Post by **TmEE co.(TM)** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:10 pm

How good is that flash cart ? How fast 4MBytes program ?
I'm building Flash cart for use with my MD and MPCP. I'll get the Flash chips next year. Until that I have to use my tiny 256KByte SRAM cart.

Fonzie · Post by **Fonzie** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:29 pm

How good they are?
I think they are very good. As i said, MDPRO software is a bit doggy... Exept that, if you have EPP, it will be perfect product.

Megacart flash 2MB in 20seconds from computer and less than 1 minutes from megacd.

Tototek's 64M flash a bit slower... maybe 30seconds for 2MB?

If you don't plan to use PAR/AR codes and sram games, maybe megacart is cheaper... It is only 24Meg, don't have sram nor PAR support but is is can be used for other things and comes with full box & artwork.

TmEE co.(TM) · Post by **TmEE co.(TM)** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 1:06 pm

My equipment requires only bidirectional LPT port (SPP, EPP, ECP) and programs slowly. 4MBytes read and write in 90 seconds or 75 in pure DOS. Software is command line driven and written in 100% QB, but if I ASM optimize my software, I believe it would go little faster (my QB code is VERY optimized). MPCP docs available on my site.