MD Flash - Fully 5V Modern Genesis Cartridge for New Release

db-electronics · Post by **db-electronics** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 2:50 pm

Here's a quick overview of new modern cart hardware I recently designed. It is made of only 5V parts.

It supports up to 16Mbit ROMs and up to 32KB of save RAM in either battery-backed SRAM or FRAM. ROMs are burned to the carts by using a standard TL866CS EEPROM burner and a custom Genesis to TL866CS adapter I designed. From the TL866CS software point of view, the MD Flash cart appears simply as a Flash IC in its programming socket.

The intent of MD Flash is to provide an easy method to release homebrew on real hardware in a 5V safe way.

For full details, see: http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/m ... nesisgames

MrTamk1s · Post by **MrTamk1s** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:51 pm

Very cool! How does it compare with Krikzz's new MD FlashKit? Thinking about making some repros of a homebrew video game in development in the near future.

db-electronics · Post by **db-electronics** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:57 pm

MrTamk1s wrote:Very cool! How does it compare with Krikzz's new MD FlashKit? Thinking about making some repros of a homebrew video game in development in the near future.

There are major differences between Krikzz's Flashkit and my MD FLash:

1- MD Flash uses only 5V parts - no messing around with out of spec 3.3V parts in 5V systems and limiting the clamping diode current with a series resistor.
2- MD Flash uses an off the shelf EEPROM programmer (TL866CS) and thus your investment has more than 1 use.
3- MD Flash supports 16Mbits + 32KB of save RAM, from what I see on Krikzz site there is no save file support on Flashkit (oddly enough there seems to be a battery holder footprint on the board though...)
4- MD Flash save RAM is either SRAM (battery-backed) or FRAM (no battery required).

I haven't quite established my modus operandi with this. I'm thinking, low quantities I can burn your ROMs in house and send you working boards. For higher quantities, it makes more sense to sell blank carts and for you to purchase an EEPROM burner.

HardWareMan · Post by **HardWareMan** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:08 am

Very handy! I just recently bought a TL866, although I already have other industrial programmers. Thank you.

db-electronics · Post by **db-electronics** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:15 pm

HardWareMan wrote:Very handy! I just recently bought a TL866, although I already have other industrial programmers. Thank you.

Thanks!

I'm still tweaking the battery performance on the SRAM circuit but all functionality is good to go!

As I recall when I designed my Sega CD Backup RAM Cart, it was a pain in the ass to get specified current consumption on the SRAM. Any flux residue leftover from soldering was incredibly detrimental.