Sunday, August 11, 2013

One BIOS to rule them all .....and One CD......to play them on and on. (UPDATE 7)

It's a new BIOS that allows choosing country code and can load all 6 games from one single CD.

This his the link for custom SH2 (the one that comes with any cartridge): https://mega.co.nz/#!ZRVjka6a!De8dDjhHHat2-62M36jzpXQ4B_NwktP6OSlc9uza9vY


And this is the link for cartridges with a standard SH2:  https://mega.co.nz/#!dQsCVBTJ!P9XzayPNvv3IK9spD-nyOl_1x1F798KB5do5eRg97ns

Or you can use this mirror  privded by idc/Team Avalaunch: http://pcbotaku.net/cps3/

If you need to get your BIOS changed you can ask Mitsurugi-w here:
You can also contact Joerg from www.arcademodbios.com he is not changing the CPUs but he will change your eprom as usual.

Again, if you need to get your SH2 replaced with a standard one, Contact mitsurugi-w.


Please notice that you can only use it for the games that you own.

And If you like this, consider donating every donation will motivate me to continue with this and new projects.

Also if you can get a system24 for me, It will probably be my next project after DECO.

P.S. One small note. The CPS3-Super-Bios for custom SH2 support the same games as battery free cartridges, which are: SFIII-3S, SFIII-2I, SFIII-NG. To be added are JOJO, JOJOBA and Warzard.
On the other side the CPS3-Super-Bios for standard SH2 will support ALL games except SFIII-2I. The reason for that is that the one with custom sh2 needs the tables for all games except SFIII-2I and the one of standard SH2 only needs them for SFIII-2I.

UPDATE 2: the guy  from arcademodbios.com won't be doing the SH2 change but he will happily change your bios. For the SH2 So your only option here is Mitsurugi-w, who is the iron master !

UPDATE 3: corrected information on update 2 and this little explanation:
Regarding the CPU on the cartridge, the best is that now we know exactly which CPU it is and therefore we can do more things.

You have two options:
A) you keep the custom CPU which you already have and replace the bios with the new one
B) you replace the CPU and the bios

In case A we need the tables to play games and currently we only have tables for 4 games (2 versions of 3S, 2I and NG ). Missing are warzard, jojo and jojoba. It is possible that the tables are not 100% perfect and you may get some hangs, although to day all 4 games sewm to work 100%

In case B, we don't need tables and all games except 2I will work always 100% error free.

UPDATE 4: I have ready the BIOS and ISO for the cartridges using standard SH2 (the ones of the Saturn). They've been released only to testers and donnors. If you are a donnor and would like to have it, drop me a mail. I have 2 spare cartridges with the new Super BIOS. If you'd like to have one, drop me a message at arcadeotaku. I also ordered some HD6417604SF28 which I believe will also work in the CPS3 cartridges. We'll see....

UPDATE 5: Two cool videos made by Mitsurugi-w here:
http://youtu.be/46kWjaXvd7Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNwOW3-eFz8&feature=youtu.be

UPDATE 6: Super BIOS and ISO for cartridges with standard SH2!! We can consider now CPS3 saved!
https://mega.co.nz/#!dQsCVBTJ!P9XzayPNvv3IK9spD-nyOl_1x1F798KB5do5eRg97ns

UPDATE 7: Replaced wrong link for custom SH2 on top of this entry. Also added for convenience link for standard SH2.

88 comments:

  1. If I had one suggestion, I'd say make the text colours in the region selector match the regional boot screen colours in the game, i.e. white for Japan, red for USA, blue for Euro, etc.

    :)

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  2. I CAN'T wait. I'm all set for the standard SH2, I decided to do it after I saw this post!

    Great Work!!!

    http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=20j1s0z&s=5

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    Replies
    1. Clean work. Mine are working but they aren't pretty as yours. I'm getting better every time though. What kind of technique do you use for such small legs? Are your chips new or repurposed from somewhere?

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    2. One of my first ones:

      http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=1LhMuIYoALxU9VLxdI8Ff4h4l5k2TGxc

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  3. Are there still plans to include support for SFIII-2I on the standard SH-2 BIOS cart?

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    1. Yes. But it will require use of the tables since it was different than the others. It will be included.

      However, it appears at this time that a bios with the ability to use original CDs will probably never happen. It would be a lot of work and probably only satisfy a handful of people.

      Also, the standard SH2 bios and ISO has been delayed while Dark tries to work out some unexpected last minute bugs. He is away from home for a few weeks so I'm not sure about around when it will be released.

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    2. Will SFIII-2I be included on the multi-game CD once the decryption table has been worked out?

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    3. Yes. It is already available on the ISO for the normal version. But it will be included on the SH2 version also.

      The bios are considered final. The ISO is all that needs to be tweaked.

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    4. I would love to see it running with original discs. It would be a real solution for the collectors..

      Delete
  4. A video of game code running using the Standard SH2 plus the SuperBios:

    http://youtu.be/46kWjaXvd7Q

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    Replies
    1. Do the decrypted games still fail the SIMM test in the test menu?

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    2. The SIMM test passed but in the memory test SIMM 1 and 2 fail because they have been modified to run on these bios.

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    3. Indeed. The CD images need to have corrected checksum values inserted. At least this is only a fix required in the CD image, not in the BIOS, so can be done at a later date.

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    4. It's doable, but my priority is A) having tables for all games
      B) Finish the two ISOS so people can choose
      C) stetic fixing.
      D) Move on to another project!!!

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    5. It looked like the cart in your video had no bios though?

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    6. It was a B cart. A and B carts can also accept the much easier to solder PSOP 29F400 chips on the reverse side. If you look in the video you will notice a few pins in the TSOP area missing. These test carts have taken a lot of abuse from resoldering. I used the TSOP side until I could no longer and then I switched to the PSOP side. LOL

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    7. Ah that makes sense. Thanks for explaining, ive definitely been there on projects!

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  5. Darksoft, if you can, PLEASE make it possible for all carts to be able to also have the noCD functionality. I really want to be able to eliminate the need to always have a CD drive hooked up to each CPS3 motherboard. If you can accomplish this, then every CPS3 owner would only need 1 CD Rom drive and they can pass on/sell their extra CD Rom drives to those who may need it.

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    Replies
    1. Replacement SCSI CD drives are easily found on Ebay. I just picked up thee spares a few months ago for about $7.00USD each.

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    2. Agree with dbstallman, the only good thing I see from this is that it will avoid having the CD drive connected, but then... you can ony update from the special menu pressing 1P. I'd have to add a delay though as there is no CD reading anymore...

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  6. So i just tried the bios and uniCD. It boots up and if i just press button 1 or whatever, it starts to install 2nd impact, but never actually installs anything.

    If I hold 1p start on boot, I can get to the special darksoft menu and even choose a game. However, after I choose a game, it goes back to main-ish screen and then says "invalid CD". I've tried several cd's and picked different games from the menu, what am i doing wrong?

    Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hmm. Weird. Been good for me. Well, the games that are working right now anyway. (2nd impact is) You aren't using the standard SH2 cart that you made are you? The ISO for that one has not been released yet.

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    2. No, I haven't soldered the bios for those yet, since like you said, not released.

      This is just a standard old ng or 3s cart that was dead. The psop is populated on the back, but that isn't relevant is it?

      If i can get to the menu that means my bios is on and correct data yeah?

      Maybe a cd error.

      What happens after you hit the the install game, it goes back to main screen and you hit button and start game rewrite?

      Ill film a video real quick and show, im not good at explaining tonight.

      thanks for the help

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    3. So i lied slightly. It seems like it only says invalid disc on REDEARTH/WARZARD. I thought i tried others, but I guess i didnt. The other ones install, but red earth wont. Is it a region thing?

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    4. Red Earth doesn't work yet. The ISO isn't final.

      You only want one bios installed. Either the TSOP or PSOP. Not both. Go ahead and remove one.

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    5. U2 and U5 are the two bios spots. Just use one. If you have a C or D cart, you will not have a U5.

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    6. Please double check the failures before posting. It will save me a lot of time.

      RedEarth, Jojo and Jojoba don't work because the ISO doesnt include those games yet.

      Delete
    7. Small correction, C and D carts do have a U5 spot but it doesn't take a bios chip. :P

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  7. A video showing the functionality of the Darksoft's SuperBios.

    http://youtu.be/iNYxteMHm9I

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  8. If you want any more testers for the standard SH-2 BIOS cart, I have one built... just waiting on the release of the BIOS image.

    My 12 year old son *loves* Warzard/Red Earth and would be more than happy to put hours of testing in for you. :)

    Brian.

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    Replies
    1. My sad little cart, patiently awaiting a new BIOS.....

      http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2348/hvwd.jpg

      :P

      Thanks for the hard work Darksoft!

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    2. Won't be long. I just want to rewrite JOJO1 and test it before giving the ok. Everything else works great except for 2I which will be a bit longer.

      God, playing them on the SH2 cart just feels so much more sexy.

      PS--don't you hate how the flux/heat turns the lettering red on the carts? (looks nice btw)

      The last four I've made have come out real clean looking.

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    3. It depends on the company who made the board. I had three carts made and only one had the issue of the letters becoming red.

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    4. Forgot the picture:
      https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MkwybuZ-poU/UgpbVj1x9XI/AAAAAAAAGSg/Ufole0xsyFs/s800/DSC01602.JPG

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    5. Ack, im too tired. My comment below was meant as a response to this thread...

      Also leo, I'm assuming all your carts work, but just a heads up it looks like pins 119/120 are bridged on the left cart.

      Delete
    6. My original comment from below, now deleted.

      Yeah, none of mine have either, not that it matters though. If it works it works.

      http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=20j1s0z&s=5


      Another tip to getting the pins uniformed is to reapply high quality flux after soldering then hit it with the rework station again.

      If people are attempting/doing this with a heat gun instead of station, try and shield the nearby components with foil/thermal protection and go slow but don't overheat.

      Also flux remover and alcohol should be used after to clean and preserve as some flux is corrosive and makes the board look nice.

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    7. Wow... I hope no one is trying to transfer an SH-2 with a heat gun! I'm sure it is possible, but it would be extremely difficult to keep the processor in place with such a "blunt instrument".

      I put mine down one corner at a time with a really fine tipped iron. I then use lots of flux and the iron to hit each pin, one at a time. Finally, more flux and I put a little pressure on the top of the chip while I use the rework station on all four sides.

      Clean it up with some alcohol/flux remover and I'm ready to go.

      I've left the BIOS chip on in mine to be sure where it is when I'm ready to reprogram the cart :)

      Brian.

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    8. :) Great minds.. etc.
      (and some YouTube videos on the best way to put down QFPs :P)

      Brian.

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    9. Only two of my carts have had the lettering turn red. It's weird. The others turned back white after cleaning with alcohol.

      I usually do the same but I use a tip wide enough to do two pins at a time. Tack down the first two pins on every corner. If I need to realign a bit I just heat all but one corner back up with the rework station and nudge it back into place.

      Then use the rework station on all four sides to get it started. Then just flux and the iron two legs at a time.

      Last, I use a thin exacto knife and check every leg to make sure it is secure. I usually find 1 or 2 pins that for whatever reason didn't get fully secured.

      Then replace bios, and test.

      I gave Dark the all-clear to release before I went to bed last night. I'm sure he will release it as soon as he checks his email. I'm sure he is having fun on vacation right now. ;)

      Delete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. Pins 119 and 120 were intentionally bridged. They select the boot modus for the ROM and because I was not sure (I experimented with modded roms by Darksoft before Mitsurugi-w did and I tried to tinker with the CPU mode pins.).

    The solder bridge is there because the trace going to pin 119 (MD4) is cut under the chip. That connects it to GND.

    The CPU MODE pins have different purposes on the CAPCOM custom SH-2.

    And yes, the three carts work great. Tyvm. :)

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  11. Awesome info about the CPU, thanks for explaining! Had no idea. Great work!

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  12. I did some homework, asking around for help with a replacement solution for the SIMMs. There are some good ideas...
    I need a spare mainboard and eventually a set of simms, if anybody is selling, please let me know. The board is not for personal use but for research and development, so I don't care what condition it's in as long as it's affordable.

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  13. Hello Gang! I don't like to disturb Pablo in his Holidays any more - does anybody have the pinout for a 128mBit SIMM?
    Also, can anybody please confirm that all the games work as usual if all slots are populated with 128mBit each.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm. I will test the all-128MB theory tonight after work.

      I also, need the pinout for the SIMMs. But I need it to make a programming adapter for the all-in-one black CPS2 pcbs...

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    2. Would the SIMM writing tools in the CPS3 "Security Cassette Menu" not allow you to write files from a custom CD to a chosen SIMM slot on a CPS3 board?

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    3. Just to clarify that my response was to Mitsurugi-w's post. ;)

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    4. I have thought about that and also thought about using this cartridge to write original files for use with working battery-powered NoCD carts. I would think it would write the files perfectly fine but then crash when the game attempts to boot.

      Time to test my theory I guess. :)

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    5. If 'crash' means Blackscreen I may confirm that... maybe...
      I must have flashed a nocd version by accident and now when I swap the pgr simms around I get either a Blackscreen or a japanese text:

      ゲームに必要なメモリは、ボード上の占いセッションではありません

      Translates to
      Memory is required or not seen by the board
      Please power off and try again.

      Delete
    6. It could just be a black screen. Dunno. But remember that the code written to the SIMMs is the same. (With original carts and CDs) The only difference is the bios on the cart. So the same pcb will run the NoCD and CD version of the game.

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    7. Mitsurugi-w: What I was suggesting is that you could take the SIMMs from a dead black CPS2 board and place them into the sockets on a CPS3 board. Make a custom CD with decrypted (i.e. Raz or Leo/idc/Mottzilla) CPS2 ROM images on it. Use the CPS3 Security Cassette Menu to select and write the image files to selected SIMM sockets. Once written, just switch off the CPS3 board and fit the SIMMs back into the black CPS2 board.

      I suppose you'd use up a few CD-R discs, but then you could fit many CPS2 ROM sets on a single disc.

      Of course, I've yet to try this - I don't have any black CPS2 boards at present and all my spare CPS3 carts are still with Leo, but in theory it should be a workable solution. Making an adapter, while useful, seems like a lot of work. ;)

      Delete
  14. I don't know if it has been mentioned but the SuperBIOS fixes the corrupt match numbers on the ranking screen at the end of a SFIII 3rd Strike game. I'm guessing that's because it's based on the SF33 bios.

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  15. I'm a bit handycapped because i'm having a hard time getting back into the service menu and doing a rewrite... but I guess I'll figure that out.

    There is someone, who's willing to help and is thinking about how to manage the process of taking simms out and putting other ones back in in an 'electrical' way. I don't understand too much of that hardware stuff but it involves bankswitching of 8 different memorymaps, so that all games may function as intended but can coexist in the flash. I'll keep y'all posted.

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  16. Here's a hires stitched image of a chr simm, I'll happily post an image with the flash chips removed as soon this is done.
    Also pgr simm to follow.

    http://db.tt/NEnEjIYp
    http://db.tt/KxEk3V8u

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  17. Here's a printable label that I've put together.
    Enjoy:
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/4u1o2cc5wmw8rh9/cps3_superbios_preview.pdf

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    Replies
    1. That's cool. I was hoping someone would come up with a label. Can you do a custom SH-2 version also?

      Delete
    2. My custom cart up and running! Thanks for the label Alex!

      http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1640/jjmg.jpg

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    3. Cool! Looks like you can finally dust off those cobwebs....literally.... ;)

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    4. Ha! Yeah, I didn't notice them until I posted the picture.

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    5. Alex!

      That's awesome! I love the labels. Can people get them from you?

      Thanks for nice work.

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    6. These are work-in-progress:
      For anybody who is comfortable to print their own and round-cut the corners feel free to use these:
      https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8qjpp64melk8lea/g__5aagzIF

      If you need some professionally printed labels, laminated and die cut (like the original real thing), they will be available from mitsu and darksoft exclusively in the near future.

      Delete
  18. I've just tried out the Standard SH2 version of the bios on my modded cart, thank you for the awesome work! Will the sensitive cursor issue be fixed or is it just something we'll have to deal with?

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    Replies
    1. May have to deal with it. It seems to register more than one press every time. But it also seems to vary based on the controls. On my Supergun it is really sensitive but on my cabinets it isn't bad at all. Darksoft couldn't reproduce the issue on his supergun using Neo controllers.

      It is annoying but doesn't affect the way the games work.

      Delete
  19. I haven't had any issues in game or the test menu for any game, just in the SuperBios Menus.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah. It's only in the two menus he created. The game load and region selection. Very sensitive but you can still use it just fine.

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  20. You may need to use a shmup twitch arm when navigating the menus. ;)

    A couple of fast mirrors coming later this evening.

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    Replies
    1. Great about the mirrors.

      I will look at some point at the menus. I know they are not working properly on some setups but they are not critical I guess.

      Delete
  21. Here's a mirror:

    http://pcbotaku.net/cps3/

    Server space courtesy of a friend of mine from the Irken Empire. :)

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  22. I'm still looking for the pinout of the simms, both PGR and CHR would be great. How many layers do these have?

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  23. I don't think it's so relevant knowing the number of layers, rather the pinout of each 29F016 chip toward the SIMM contact. My guess is that it will be the same as in the 29F016 and capcom didn't customize them(notice that some are flipped vertically). Also my guess is that both chips will have the exact same control signals (CE, WE, etc) and the same address signals. As each 29F106 outputs 8bits, one chip will output the upper 8 bits and the other the lower 8 bits and they run in parallel with the exact same inputs.

    See here: http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/61794/FUJITSU/MBM29F016A-12.html

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    Replies
    1. Alex,
      Be sure to take note - The flash ROMs that come on Capcom SIMM sticks are *not* all the same. The 29F016-90PFTN pinout is the same as the MBM29F016A-12 that Darksoft linked to (although a faster chip might be needed) but the other chips found on the SIMMs are not just flipped vertically. The 29F016-90PFTR is a reversed pinout.. ie: pin 1 = pin 40, pin 2 = pin 39, etc. all the way around the chip. Whereas a normal chip has pin 1 in the top left corner and is numbered continuing counter-clockwise, the -90PFTR chips have pin 1 in the top right corner and are numbered continuing clockwise around the chip.

      Brian.

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    2. Thanks for pointing that out, Brian! I already figured that out when I talked to ppl who had more knowledge of hardware-related stuff...
      As for the latest ideas - the easiest thing would be to transform the 'physical process of changing a set of simms' into an electrical process.
      Meaning IF it would work to change all the 16mbit chips with 128mbit chips there might be a way that all games can co-exist, should be just a matter of bankswitching or whatever... I have no clue...

      Delete
    3. That's one easy option to do, but I don't see it happening without jumpers.
      I'd also like to see the Flash roms replaced with Srams.

      Delete
  24. Does something else need to be done to the 2nd imapact carts for the standard sh2 replacement? I've disconnected the wires on that PCB attached to the back. I've done about 10 carts with the Standard SH2. They all work and are interchangeable with each other. Meaning, after I install a game with one, I have no problem playing the game after swapping out other standard sh2 carts. But with this 2nd impact cart I have, the cart boots, and launches the game, but the sound is missing or screwed up, and graphically its all glitchy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope. The same. Probably have a bios chip going bad or bad solder somewhere.

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    2. Also, why did you disconnect the wires?

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    3. It was a confluence of problems. Flakey cartridge slot, I retouched up the bios/sh2. tried again, no go. Removed wires, no go. Cleaned up board and slot, game booted but with errors as mentioned, reattached wires, all is good now.

      Looked up carts, odd that I only had 1 cart out 10+ that had the battery wires...

      Thanks!

      Delete
    4. That is funny. Most of mine are A and B carts.

      Yeah, these cartridge slots aren't meant to have the carts constantly replaced. Sometimes when I put a cart in it will say my MB doesn't have enough memory. Then I need to re-seat the cartridge and it works fine.

      Other times it will just give me the suicide screen. Just re-seat and go. lol

      Delete
    5. You MUST connect the wires back, otherwise it won't boot properly.

      Delete
  25. Thanks for the reply, ill check again, but it looks pretty solid.

    I disconnected the wires because it was the only cart I had that had them...thought it might be specific to 2i and thought it was worth a try. pretty trivial to reconnect. You are saying they need to be reconnected?

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  26. First off, WONDERFUL work on the SH-2 mod guys!

    I got a SH-2 modded cart up and running earlier this week.

    I can confirm that using a properly assembled, byteswapped CPS2 "Black" binary, with decrypted data, you can reflash CPS2 Black Board simms using the CPS3! I was able to successfully pheonix my Marvel VS Capcom board. I wrote the data using the file browser option in Darksoft's bios, and burned a custom Mode 1 CD that contained the decrypted CPS2 data. I will work on compiling a "cps2 black board pheonix cd" with pre-assembled romsets for each of the Black Board releases (Mars Matrix, Gigawing, Hyper SF2 and Marvel VS Capcom).

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    Replies
    1. @Bill, thanks for nice words. However Artemio should also be credited as he was the one who first did that conversion.

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    2. Yes, you are absolutely correct. A BIG thanks to Artemio for releasing his work (to assemble said CPS2 black binary files).

      Great work all around!

      Delete
  27. Is there a way I can apply this to hacking the sega saturn bios? I would like to edit the sega saturn bios so that the game save data chip can be swapped out with a larger FRAM chip.

    ReplyDelete