| |||
Views: 88,316,397 |
Main | FAQ | Uploader | IRC chat | Radio | Memberlist | Active users | Latest posts | Calendar | Stats | Online users | Search | 03-29-24 07:53 AM |
|
Guest: Register | Login |
0 users currently in ROM Hacking | 2 guests |
Main - ROM Hacking - Finally shopping for an SNES Flash Cart | New thread | New reply |
MathOnNapkins |
| ||
Super Koopa Level: 62 Posts: 758/842 EXP: 1931173 Next: 53513 Since: 02-19-07 From: durff Last post: 4460 days Last view: 3983 days |
(Thread is cross posted from RHDN, just wanted to widen my net for opinions)
I've finally got enough in the bank to where I feel comfortable splurging on a SNES Flash Cart for the easy of transporting my rom hacks and testing my modifications on a real SNES or clone. My old Game Doctor SF7 copier that I bought a few years ago still works, but it feels more like something i should keep as a collector's item than to use for rom hacking or homebrew. It's also painfully slow uploading a ROM, even with a parallel port connection, and using floppies hurts my soul anymore. I started this thread to see if anyone had experiences with the SNES Flash Carts that are currently available, or if they knew of one I hadn't managed to find on my own. It seems that there are four commercial or quasicommercial SNES flash carts on the market right now: Name: Tototek Page: http://www.tototek.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_8_11&products_id=39 Contents: Cartridge + Programmer Device Price: $80 Pros: -Price (but shipping might be high) -Multiregion -Can backup SRAM from normal carts -Large ROM support (48 megabits) -First to produce a product like this (that I'm aware of), thus might have more experience. Cons: -Programmer unit doesn't seem to have an enclosure, which risks exposure to static discharge or other mishaps. -Clunky setup requires both USB and Parallel cables in order to supply power and flash the rom, respectively. (*facepalm*) -Foreign language page (merely pointing out that it's hard to completely understand everything about their products with the slightly broken English that abounds on their pages) -Requires software that may or may not work if I upgrade to a later Windows version. Name: Mash-Mods Page: http://www.mash-mods.com/products/snes Contents: Flash Cart + Programmer Device Price: $115 Pros: -USB connectivity -Can backup SRAM from normal carts -Source code for upload mechanism is available Cons: -Programmer unit doesn't seem to have an enclosure, which risks exposure to static discharge or other mishaps. -Seems to be Windows only (not that big a deal to me) -Having to install an unfamiliar driver on my computer -Cart will only work with one region that you specify at the time of ordering. Name: Retrousb SNES PowerPak Page: http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=84 Contents: Cartridge Price: $135 Pros: -No driver necessary on the PC, just a compact flash reader (easy to work around) -Seems to support arbitrarily large ROMs (up to slightly less than 128 Megabits, but I'm not 100% sure of how it all works). -Allows for a lot more storage than just 32 megabits or 64 megabits found in most other carts. -Don't need to have a spare cable handy (though I'd need one for the compact flash card reader) -Will install a DSP chip for you for extra charge -Crossplatform simply b/c it requires no specific PC software -The good reputation of the NES PowerPak by the same creator suggests that this product would also be of high quality. Cons: -TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE!!!! ( ) -Price -Cart will only work with one region that you specify at the time of ordering. -I don't have any Compact Flash cards (but they can't be that expensive) Name: quickdev16 Page: http://www.assembla.com/wiki/show/quickdev16 Contents: Cartridge Price: $120 Pros: -Seems to have powerful live debugging functions (over RS232) not found in other solutions! Very tempting... -Looks kinda cool -Cross-platform compatibility (with a little elbow grease for Windows users) Cons: -Only 16 megabits of Flash ( ) -Website's pictures with lots of wires hanging out everywhere are a huge turn off, but only seem to come into play for using the RS232 debugging. -Seems somewhat complicated to use compared to the other solutions (though they freely admit that on their site) Personally, my pick would be the PowerPak at this point, but it's unavailable for who knows how long. Second pick would be the mash-mods one simply b/c it doesn't require the parallel cable that the Tototek cart requires for flashing. The quickdev16 seems cool as a development tool, but I'm really looking for a hassle free way of taking my hacks with me. The quickdev16 might be a purchase for a later date.... with debugger emulators being so good these days, it's almost not necessary to have a debugger for the real hardware.... but who knows, I might need it some day. ____________________ Zelda Hacking Forum hobbies: delectatio morosa |
Aaendi |
| ||
Red Koopa Level: 27 Posts: 77/131 EXP: 108901 Next: 7258 Since: 10-18-09 Last post: 4642 days Last view: 4303 days |
I need one myself soon, to test Secret Agent Insane Maniac on real hardware. |
blackhole89 |
| ||
The Guardian Moloch whose eyes are a thousand blind windows! Level: 124 Posts: 3001/4196 EXP: 21484712 Next: 351889 Since: 02-19-07 From: Ithaca, NY, US Last post: 443 days Last view: 56 days |
|
smkdan |
| ||
Ninji Level: 36 Posts: 228/238 EXP: 287992 Next: 20118 Since: 05-26-07 Last post: 4034 days Last view: 3983 days |
Yet another price rise on the SNES Powerpak puts it at $140 now. I remember it being cheaper than the NES one some time back. It seems fairly quick to restock so you might not have to wait so long for one.
It seems ideal if you just want to sit down and play SNES games and definitely more usable than the first two you listed for testing. Unless I was doing some really in depth testing of some obscure SNES quirk (byuu stuff I guess) I'm not sure if a quickdev is worth it over just using a Powerpak. bsnes already provides a fantastic debugging/testing tool outside of testing on a SNES, I'd just do the occasional test on real h/w for the really uncertain bits of code like very carefully timed code to APU ports or something. |
MathOnNapkins |
| ||
Super Koopa Level: 62 Posts: 759/842 EXP: 1931173 Next: 53513 Since: 02-19-07 From: durff Last post: 4460 days Last view: 3983 days |
smkdan: I think the price went up b/c the cart is now multiregion, and includes the DSP1 chip by default, rather than being optional. ____________________ Zelda Hacking Forum hobbies: delectatio morosa |
smkdan |
| ||
Ninji Level: 36 Posts: 229/238 EXP: 287992 Next: 20118 Since: 05-26-07 Last post: 4034 days Last view: 3983 days |
Nice,didn't notice the updates at the bottom of that page.
Cool to see this is finally sorted out, I only just saw the progress they were making with this at nesdev. |
Main - ROM Hacking - Finally shopping for an SNES Flash Cart | New thread | New reply |
© 2005-2023 Acmlm, blackhole89, Xkeeper et al. |
MySQL - queries: 57, rows: 82/83, time: 0.014 seconds. |