I have been working on something to emulate the famicom disk system, I called it FDSemu.
During developement I was trying to address the shortcomings of the fdsstick. Larger flash, nice menu.
I have made them and have them for sale on my website. http://fdsemu.com (http://fdsemu.com)
Currently they have these features:
- Storage of 256 disk sides.
- Nifty menu on boot for disk selection.
- Disk reading/writing (with special cable).
- USB connectivity for flash manipulation and disk reading/writing.
- Firmware is user upgradable.
- SRAM for holding current disk to ensure disk writes are successful. As flash chips age thier write times increase, so this feature will ensure FDSemu works correctly as it gets older.
The key feature here is the SRAM chip. This ensures that as the fdsemu ages, it will always be able to handle writes properly. Instead of writing to the flash as data is received from the ram adaptor, it stores it in this SRAM chip first. When the write is complete it then stores it into the flash memory.
As flash memory ages, its write speed slows down, which could cause some issues in the future (writes not being committed to flash properly). This SRAM chip handles all that.
It is still constantly being updated, I am waiting on my Venus Game Converter to come in the mail so I can then add support for this copiers disk format.
I am looking for a MagiCard copier, I hear they use a different format for the games. If someone would like to part with one, I promise to give it a nice home. :)
Thanks,
James
so is this better than the fdsstick?
How can you use this to write games onto FDS disks? Do you sell the connector cable?
Quote from: zmaster18 on January 04, 2016, 08:21:18 pm
How can you use this to write games onto FDS disks? Do you sell the connector cable?
i hope someone sells drive cables!
Everything is open source, even the firmware.
The SRAM is the major player here, ensuring no matter how many times the flash chip gets written to, it will always succeed.
During development I did the maths and sooner or later the flash chip would not be able to keep up with the data coming out of the ram adaptor, and writes would begin to fail sometime down the road. The SRAM buffers the entire disk, then writes the changed data to the flash after the transfer is over.
Are there any advantages of this over the newer 128Mbit flash FDSSticks?
http://3dscapture.com/fdsstick/
I had developed it when fdsstick had its small 8 disk side limit and no menu. Since then he has updated his device to match this one.
Now, the advantages are:
- Open source firmware
- The SRAM chip to deal with aging of the flash chip
- Faster microcontroller clock speed (72mhz fdsemu vs. 48mhz fdsstick) for any future enhancements
- Excellent support, just email me I'll be happy to work with you
- Planned future enhancements, that are secret until they are ready :)
Quote from: jamesholodnak on January 05, 2016, 09:52:05 am
I had developed it when fdsstick had its small 8 disk side limit and no menu. Since then he has updated his device to match this one.
Now, the advantages are:
- Open source firmware
- The SRAM chip to deal with aging of the flash chip
- Faster microcontroller clock speed (72mhz fdsemu vs. 48mhz fdsstick) for any future enhancements
- Excellent support, just email me I'll be happy to work with you
- Planned future enhancements, that are secret until they are ready :)
id love to see the FDSStick FDS BIOS style menu replicated here.
And a case like the fdsstick. and the cable! ;)
It's a damn shame I bought an FDSStick 8 disk side model. Ditto on the FDS Bios type of menu.
Thanks for the clarification :)
Quote from: jamesholodnak on January 05, 2016, 09:52:05 am
I had developed it when fdsstick had its small 8 disk side limit and no menu. Since then he has updated his device to match this one.
Now, the advantages are:
- Open source firmware
- The SRAM chip to deal with aging of the flash chip
- Faster microcontroller clock speed (72mhz fdsemu vs. 48mhz fdsstick) for any future enhancements
- Excellent support, just email me I'll be happy to work with you
- Planned future enhancements, that are secret until they are ready :)
Quote from: Raverrevolution on January 05, 2016, 10:56:24 am
It's a damn shame I bought an FDSStick 8 disk side model. Ditto on the FDS Bios type of menu.
ikr? that bios menu makes me want the fdsstick, but the fdsemu has futureproofing
The FDS menu works for our 8 disk side model too, just update the firmware. Loopy said that the only different between our model and the new one is the size of the memory.
I have the 8 side model, but if I ever want to buy a bigger one I'll consider this one if it's any good.
If anyone bought an old FDSStick model and wants it upgraded, email me.
Quote from: jamesholodnak on January 05, 2016, 09:52:05 am
I had developed it when fdsstick had its small 8 disk side limit and no menu. Since then he has updated his device to match this one.
Now, the advantages are:
- Open source firmware
- The SRAM chip to deal with aging of the flash chip
- Faster microcontroller clock speed (72mhz fdsemu vs. 48mhz fdsstick) for any future enhancements
- Excellent support, just email me I'll be happy to work with you
- Planned future enhancements, that are secret until they are ready :)
For the record:
- FDSStick is well within spec for the entire life of its flash, extra SRAM is unnecessary in my design. Stop implying it's flawed / bound to fail without some proof.
- Drive emulation isn't terribly demanding. A faster cpu is unlikely to have any tangible benefit, it just adds cost.
- Are you saying my support is bad? :P
- FDSStick is also easily upgradable and more developments are in progress.
- FDSStick has more compact, elegant design ;)
I've tried to be cordial about your fdsemu project, so I am somewhat miffed at all the one-upmanship and your trying to paint FDSStick in a bad light, esp. considering you've made use of a fair amount of my code.
Do not feel miffed, sir. I am not talking bad about you or your fdsstick! fdsstick is a wonderful product.
Yes, microcontroller speed is irrelevant in regards to emulating the fds drive. My first version of it used a 20mhz Atmel microcontroller. I picked the Nuvoton because it was cheaper and I already had experience with other ARM devices.
I think your support is also excellent, I was saying nothing bad about you, only saying my support is almost as good as yours. I am a married college student with a full time job (with overtime), time is very limited for me.
I have looked up to you since I was a child, writing my first Nintendo NES emulator at age 13. Always wondering what the mysterious loopy is going to discover next. The PPU register breakdown was amazing at its time. I've never seen you more active than you are now and I enjoy reading what you have to say. I'm not trying to say fdsstick is crap, just trying to highlight some features of fdsemu. I like the case, and I'm working on my own case in the limited time that I have now. Assembling boards by hand and testing them thoroughly is an important step in the creation of each fdsemu; add that with my already busy life and my time to work on a case is very minimal.
Sorry loopy, I love you though, no harm was intended.
Also, I've added a coupon code for FamicomWorld, for $10 off each order, to make fdsemu $30 each. Use coupon code "famicomworld" at checkout.
Thanks.
Both of your devices are awesome!
Quote from: loopy on January 06, 2016, 11:52:33 pm
If anyone bought an old FDSStick model and wants it upgraded, email me.
Sweet! ;D
Is this free or is there an added fee?
Edit: By the way, do you just need to press the button once to switch sides now? How does it work? :-\
I have changed the base price to $30 and the "famicomworld" coupon code now gives $5 off. Total price is $25.
Thanks again!
I see this supports Game Doctor images. Anyone know where to get these images?
Hey James, sent you a PM. I may be able to help you out since you're in the US. ;)
Dropping in to show my support for this product, as well as the original FDSstick. I own both, and they are both excellent products that do their job.
Quote from: XC-3730C on January 29, 2016, 04:25:24 am
I see this supports Game Doctor images. Anyone know where to get these images?
I would also like to know where you can get these images, as I have a Venus Game Converter, but nothing I can load on it.
Very cool looking device. Any chance someone could whip up a case or enclosure?
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/Protogem/diskinacart_zpsurbukqtw.png)
Integrated FDSEmu into a ram adapter with help from a friend. Disk change button is in the "o" for nintendo, and a USB extension cable can be used to connect it to the PC.
Quote from: Arasoi on February 06, 2016, 10:32:07 pm
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n310/Protogem/diskinacart_zpsurbukqtw.png)
Integrated FDSEmu into a ram adapter with help from a friend. Disk change button is in the "o" for nintendo, and a USB extension cable can be used to connect it to the PC.
Howd ya do this?
Wires were soldered directly from the FDSEmu pins to the appropriate points on the RAM Adapter board and the cable disconnected and removed, and an additional button was wired in, and mounted under a drilled hole in the "o" of the Nintendo logo. A small piece of the case was dremeled out so the USB end of the FDSEmu is exposed, and it can be connected to the PC with a USB extension cable.
There are probably a few cleaner things that could be done like using a panel mount mini USB jack or something, but this works very well for me. It should be noted that the creator of FDSEmu made/ordered a different board design in a small quantity for those wanting to do these, mine was done with a regular model.
I hope people do not start to cut & destroy their RAM adapter for this...
I have a spare one
Ah damnit, I just ordered one this week and I just read about the coupon code:(
I missed the coupon code too when I ordered. :D It's a great little device and I've had a lot of fun with it.
Is there any update on the 3D printed case?
is this mod compatible with fdstick disk writing? http://famicomworld.com/workshop/tech/famicom-disk-system-fd3206-write-mod/
I think so.
Hey guys, I have lost all my files due to a major HDD fuckup! I am looking for the windows fdsemu.exe, but the fdsemu.com site appears to be down. Do any of you have it backed up!
Cheers
Russ
Here you go, the latest windows one.
http://nesemu2.com/fdsemu-win32-0.8.4.zip
Source code located on github.
http://github.com/holodnak/fdsemu-client
Thanks,
James
Cheers mate