Chip dumps + XML

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Re: Chip dumps + XML

ICEknight #87916 04/30/13 10:13 AM

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 25

Sunbeam

Member

Sunbeam

Member

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 25

Ah thanks for the notes etabeta. Meanwhile I changed the setname to the crc32 to bypass the "faulty" loading. I'm currently adding some setnames ... I though they are limited to 8 chars, aren't they?

castlill vs. castlillj (e.g.)

Centurion got already properly dumped:

Code:

	<software name="centur">
		<description>Centurion: Defender of Rome (Europe)</description>
		<year>1991</year>
		<publisher>Electronic Arts</publisher>
		<info name="serial" value="T-50146-50"/>
		<part name="cart" interface="megadriv_cart">
			<feature name="pcb" value="PWB SC40X1,32X1 REV A"/>
			<feature name="u1" value="Mask ROM"/>
			<feature name="u2" value="Mask ROM"/>
			<feature name="u5" value="Address Decoder (74138)"/>
			<dataarea name="rom" size="655360" databits="16" endian="big">
				<rom name="cen03.u1" size="524288" crc="47e6d79e" sha1="aa67727152101c54585d255446c2ac0dcf9d9a9a" offset="0" loadflag="load16_word_swap"/>
				<rom name="cen03.u2" size="131072" crc="323c82c1" sha1="b2b3631472320b380c9f4e3e654bc4de9a2ebbe7" offset="0x80000" loadflag="load16_byte"/>
			</dataarea>
		</part>
	</software>

Well okay, the dataarea size is still broken.

While coding the converter I tried/thinked about many things concerning the PCB features. IMHO it's unnecessary to document various different IC manufacturers, especially for the 74-series. What's the purpose for? Another production batch of the same cart might got other ICs. I came down to the following feature-tags:

Code:

	<software name="4608f53a">
		<description>Dino Dini's Soccer (Europe)</description>
		<year>1994</year>
		<publisher>Virgin</publisher>
		<info name="serial" value="T-70276-50"/>
		<part name="cart" interface="megadriv_cart">
			<feature name="pcb" value="171-6278A"/>
			<feature name="ic1" value="Mask ROM (?M x 16)"/>
			<feature name="ic2" value="Static RAM (8K x 8)"/>
			<feature name="ic3" value="Address Decoder (7400)"/>
			<feature name="ic4" value="Battery Backup Switch (BA6162)"/>
			<feature name="batt1" value="Lithium Battery (CR2032)"/>
			<dataarea name="rom" size="1048576" databits="16" endian="big">
				<rom name="mpr-17097.ic1" size="1048576" crc="4608f53a" sha1="49d4a654dd2f393e43a363ed171e73cd4c8ff4f4" offset="0" loadflag="load16_word_swap"/>
			</dataarea>
		</part>
	</software>

I think it's much more useful rather than just noting down the part numbers. Of course this topic isn't limited to the MD/G.

Re: Chip dumps + XML ICEknight #88508 05/17/13 09:31 AM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 25 S Sunbeam Member
Sunbeam Member S Joined: May 2011 Posts: 25	For the interested parties: I just uploaded an updated MD/G softlist: http://retroshock.bplaced.net/mdg.html#downloads @etabeta: Seems you missed the "Alt PCB" of asterixgr from the first branch? While documenting the boards I identified some clones: http://retroshock.bplaced.net/mdg_pcb.html#clones Might be helpful for later PCB emulation :-)

Re: Chip dumps + XML Sunbeam #88539 05/18/13 08:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,690 Trondheim, Norway etabeta78 Very Senior Member
etabeta78 Very Senior Member Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,690 Trondheim, Norway	I've just added the info based on your April 12th pics. I will later compare your latest xml to see what you've verified since then. I had indeed missed the asterix variation (it happens when you do things manually ). It's been added now. Originally Posted By Sunbeam While coding the converter I tried/thinked about many things concerning the PCB features. IMHO it's unnecessary to document various different IC manufacturers, especially for the 74-series. What's the purpose for? Another production batch of the same cart might got other ICs. in a few cases I was unable to determine what the purpose of the IC was (some korean variation which I could not find any datasheet), so I decided it was easier to literally copy the markings from the first available pics (ignoring variations) than adding the wrong tag based on faulty interpretation of the IC usage either way, it should be quite clear for a pcb repairer to know what to use in each location (either the one reported or any equivalent), so I'm open to suggestions on this.

Re: Chip dumps + XML ICEknight #88540 05/18/13 10:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 42 G gigadeath Member
gigadeath Member G Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 42	Nice work as usual I guess Centurion can be taken off the undumped list for good now! Strange thing about astergrea, looking at the serials the two builds were simultaneous, not enough PCBs of the same type? Strike at the PCB manufacture plant?

Re: Chip dumps + XML ICEknight #88541 05/18/13 10:10 AM
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 42 G gigadeath Member
gigadeath Member G Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 42	And about blockout and blockouta, looking at my dump sheet, I guess the single chip MPR-14247 one was a japanese release only, while the other, the one with the standard EA serials was western only as usual... or has MPR-14247 been found inside western carts too?

Re: Chip dumps + XML ICEknight #88662 05/22/13 05:58 PM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 25 S Sunbeam Member
Sunbeam Member S Joined: May 2011 Posts: 25	Thx eta! For the feature tags, I used the actual usage on the board rather than the functional description of the IC. I thought using just the partnos was something set in stone by the dev team. The current released softlist is my nomination Beside Centurion, Arnold P., Battle Squadron, Shining Force, Road Rash can by nuked from the list as well. I got both "Alt PCB" variations of Aladdin and Asterix as lose carts. Probably these where bundled with the MD1/MD2 boxes!? According to the chip datestamps they got manufactured in line with the single chip variants. Another ominous one is Wimbledon that fits in line with the serial code. But I wasn't able to track down a single chip release so far. Right, the Blockout MPR release is Japan only (dist'ed by Sega). It was before EA's agreement with Victor. I just got the 2nd print of the European release (with the grey background on the cart) and it came in the same configuration like the first release (except the PCB rev bumped to B). btw, the new addition of Ishido seems to be underdumped. The Fujitsu partno says 4M (512 KB). Last edited by Sunbeam; 05/22/13 06:02 PM.

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