Translating FFIV with J2E ROM Patch problem

[wlfwood]

Do you have any insight on why the original pinning suggested by xIceMan didn't work with the 12mb rom? Maybe something that was said in PM?

Reason I ask, I'm planning to make a Super Metroid repro and was thinking I would try that pinning, but SM uses 24mb. I'm wondering if I should try his original pinout or something else for that...

[xIceMan]

Thanks, Arkanix38, glad if I can help since I know alot about SNES cart modding already.

As for why my pinout didn't work, I don't know. I tested it with 27c322 and 29F032/29F033 just fine.
However, I had MAD-1 boards. MAD-R seems pretty rare.

[wlfwood]

Sent you a PM to your question.

Here's how to rewire a 74LS139 to make it compatible with up to 32MB LoROM games:

Code Select Expand

                                   __  __
 SNES #49 |01\/16| +5V
 SNES #40 |02  15| Pin 04
 SNES #40 |03  14| A20
        Pin 15 |04  13| A21
     NC |05  12| NC
     NC |06  11| NC
   ROM /OE |07  10| NC
  GND |08  09| RAM /CE
              ------

Don't forget, when using 29F033 to connect the adapter pins A20,A21 to the decoder as well. Pin 36 is to be connected to VCC from the adapter and R2 and R3 are to be closed.

I was talking about this pinout for the 74ls139 decoder, not mad-1. Any idea why it doesn't work for FFIV J2E, xIceMan?

[xIceMan]

My bad, but I have no answer to that. I could build a FFIV J2E if I find a donor and check it. Usually the wiring for the 74LS139 always helped me on 32MBit LoROM games.

Since FFIV J2E is 24MBit I assume you only need to access A19 and A20 and leave A21 on GND.
A22 shouldn't be connected on a TSOP Type III Adapter anyway.

In that case try to use A19 on Pin 14 and A20 on Pin 13 on the 74LS139.
No warranty though!

[Arkanix38]

With Super Metroid, its considerably cheaper just to buy a Japanese Cart as it has an English Language option in the settings
Post Merge: January 25, 2016, 08:04:11 pm
Also I believe that the issue with the cart was the addition of A21 on Pin 13 of the 74LS139. As the 12Mbit FFIV cart does not use the upper 24Mbit of the chip there was an addressing problem with the 74LS139 trying to pull A21 High unnecessarily. From memory, doubling up the ROM didn't help as I have a feeling it was trying to initially address the 4Mbit of space above the 12Mbit ROM. Somehow, grounding A21 solved this and allowed the ROM to work.

[wlfwood]

Thanks for the replies!   

I was considering the SFC version of SM already, but since I still have a lorom donor I want to try it first.

I should have time to wire it up in the next couple of days, I'll report back on how it turns out.

[Rodragon]

I use the Type III (v2) which is exactly the same but without the unnecessary J3 and with the corner already shaved off so you dont have to remove the plastic post in the cart. Its from buyicnow.com like the Type III but it means i don't have to remove the post.
Post Merge: November 27, 2015, 11:23:58 pm
Got it working.

Both the ROM i was using and the ROM xIceMan helped me find work.

YOU MUST wire A21 (pin 2) AND A22 (pin 35) to GND. A21 CANNOT go to pin 13 on the 74LS139 or the game will not boot.
Post Merge: November 28, 2015, 12:59:16 am
For future reference.

Using an original FFIV cart with a 32 pin ROM chip:

Desolder 74LS139 and lift ALL pins EXCEPT 1,8,9,16 (Four Corners)

Solder the 74LS139 back in the socket and connect the pins as below.

Code Select Expand


                                     __  __
       LEAVE |01\/16| LEAVE
Cart Pin 40 |02  15| 74LS Pin 04
Cart Pin 40 |03  14| ROM Pin 1
       74LS Pin 15 |04  13| NC
      NC |05  12| NC
      NC |06  11| NC
ROM Pin 33 |07  10| NC
       LEAVE |08  09| LEAVE
               ------


Cart Pin 40 isn't routed to the board so you must CAREFULLY solder to the top of the pin on the edge connector. Wick excess solder as you must ensure the solder will not interfere with the Cartridge Slot.

Now for the ROM

ROM Pin 1 (A20) -> 74LS139 Pin 15 AND Cart Pin 46**
ROM Pin 2 (A21) -> GND (ROM Pin 18)
ROM Pin 35 (A22) -> GND (ROM Pin 18)
ROM Pin 36 (VCC) -> ROM Pin 34 (VCC)

**NOTE: Cart Pin 46 is routed to PIN 2 of the 74LS139. As you have lifted this pin you can solder a wire to the vacant pinhole in the 74LS139 socket.

This should allow you to use an unmodified Patched ROM. You should not need to expand the ROM or double it up. Simply flash the ROM to your 29F032 or 29F033 and solder it down to your Type III board. (BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR ROM WORKS IN zSNES)

You will need to cut away or shave the corner of the adapter board as it will interfere with the board alignment tabs in the cart case.

Thanks to xIceMan for the help with the 74LS139! I hope this helps someone in the future.

Ark

Hi my friends,

I´m trying to make an Super Mario All Stars + Super Mario world (32mbit) on a 1A3B, and I tryed both of the sugestions of 74LS139 pinouts with no success.
Anyone that had success can post an image of the final board?

Thanks.

[Arkanix38]

Are you connecting A21 (SNES #46) to your ROM adapter board Pin 2? A 32 Mbit ROM will not work as intended unless A21 is connected properly.

[Rodragon]

Are you connecting A21 (SNES #46) to your ROM adapter board Pin 2? A 32 Mbit ROM will not work as intended unless A21 is connected properly.

Yes, please take a look:


Post Merge: June 15, 2016, 02:16:49 pm
I found the problem, it´s working now, thanks for the help.

[Arkanix38]

No problem! Sorry I didn't reply mate, what ended up being your problem?

[Timstuff]

[snip]

Hi, I just created an account so that I could say thank you for these great instructions! I followed them exactly, and for once in a blue moon I actually managed to get a cart working perfect on the first try! Here's my wiring, just in case anyone is curious to see how it turned out.



So happy to finally have my translated FF SNES Trilogy complete! Now I just need to find time to play them all.

[xIceMan]

Very nice. Gratulations.