Cartridges: Difference between revisions
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Various cartridge boards were designed over the years to accomodate different ROM and protection chips. See [[cartridge specifications]] and [[:Category:Cartridge boards]] for a complete list of them. | Various cartridge boards were designed over the years to accomodate different ROM and protection chips. See [[cartridge specifications]] and [[:Category:Cartridge boards]] for a complete list of them. | ||
=Development cartridges= | ==Development cartridges== | ||
[[File:Devsoftpcb.png|thumb|Development software PCB|400px]] | |||
Big development cartridges are referred to by SNK as "Development software PCB". They exist in two forms : EPROM type, and flash card type. Did they later on evolve to only one mixed form ? | |||
Examples include early X3007 (1990~1992) and X3002 (~1993+). | |||
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[[File:Samplek7brd.png|thumb|Sample cassette board|400px]] | |||
Regular development cartridges are referred to by SNK as "Sample cassette boards". | |||
In EPROM type, a few exceptions exist like [[CHA-EP]], [[PROGEP8M]] or [[CHAEP8M]], but they most often used standard boards like [[PROGBK1]] and [[CHA256]] populated with low-profile [[sockets|IC sockets]] so the cartridge shell could still close. It is the most common variety of development cartridge because it generally is used only at the later stages of production and as master ROM. | |||
Of the flash card type, only one boardset is known, [[PROGMC2]] and [[CHAMC2]]. [[PROGSMA]] does use a flash card as V ROM but this specific board was most likely intended for development of the [[NEO-SMA]] protection chip itself, not for game development. | |||
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Todo : cleanup under | |||
Prototypes cartridges with green labels are the more common Japanese versions. | Prototypes cartridges with green labels are the more common Japanese versions. | ||
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[[File:8AM.jpg]] | [[File:8AM.jpg]] | ||
Another 8AM dev board. | Another 8AM dev board. Does this one hosts Sun Shine / Block Paradise?. It is one of the very first dev boards made. (picture by Billy Pitt): | ||
[[File:13pregunta.jpg]] | [[File:13pregunta.jpg]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:19, 7 January 2026
AES cartridges and MVS cartridges are made of two, dual layer boards. Chips facing upwards, the top PROG board holds the P ROMs (68k code) and V ROMs (sound samples), while the bottom CHA board holds the C ROMs (sprite tiles), S ROMs (fix tiles) and M1 ROM ROM (z80 code).
Various cartridge boards were designed over the years to accomodate different ROM and protection chips. See cartridge specifications and Category:Cartridge boards for a complete list of them.
Development cartridges
Big development cartridges are referred to by SNK as "Development software PCB". They exist in two forms : EPROM type, and flash card type. Did they later on evolve to only one mixed form ?
Examples include early X3007 (1990~1992) and X3002 (~1993+).
Regular development cartridges are referred to by SNK as "Sample cassette boards".
In EPROM type, a few exceptions exist like CHA-EP, PROGEP8M or CHAEP8M, but they most often used standard boards like PROGBK1 and CHA256 populated with low-profile IC sockets so the cartridge shell could still close. It is the most common variety of development cartridge because it generally is used only at the later stages of production and as master ROM.
Of the flash card type, only one boardset is known, PROGMC2 and CHAMC2. PROGSMA does use a flash card as V ROM but this specific board was most likely intended for development of the NEO-SMA protection chip itself, not for game development.
Todo : cleanup under
Prototypes cartridges with green labels are the more common Japanese versions.
Mahjong Minasan no Okagesamadesu prototype (picture by NeoGeoCollector):
Prototype cartridges with blue labels are the Export versions. These are extremely rare and only one cart with this label is known.
Viewpoint prototype (picture by NeoTurfMasta):
These are the sample carts made when the game is somewhat complete. But there are also development carts developers used to test each of their builds, with easily removable linear flash cards.
There are some boards with a standard MVS form factor. Maybe an AES variant exists ?
Standard-sized flash cart (picture by www.neogeofreak.com):
And there are also some way bigger flash carts! Dragon's Heaven aka. DarkSeed was found on this kind of development board.
X3002 dev board (picture by NeoTurfMasta):
There are also EPROM carts in the same format, like this other X3002 but with eproms (picture source unknown):
Older X0007 with full height connector, mfg. same as early boards (picture source unknown):
Speaking of EPROM carts, there are even more strange cartridges, PROG8AM and CHA8AM (picture source unknown):
Another 8AM dev board. Does this one hosts Sun Shine / Block Paradise?. It is one of the very first dev boards made. (picture by Billy Pitt):
