New NES based Nintend-Drawer cart slot solution

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The new NES based Nintend-Drawer is available through pre-order on the Etsy website. It's an over-engineered solution to the dreaded blinking/flashing led stint of a typical front loader styled NES console. Simply remove the old 72-pin interface and swap it with the Nintend-Drawer setup and you'll never have press down on the NES cart slot ever again. The ND also allows the ability to play PAL NES carts on a NTSC NES console as well (by simply pressing the Reset button a few times until it appears on-screen). The suggested pre-order price of $50.00 usd is a steal imho.

The two guys whom developed the ND have said that they are working on a hardware solution to be able to use an Galoob NES Game Genie, otherwise using a Game Genie inserted into a ND will bend the cart pins too much rendering it useless (due the thicker pcb used with an NES Game Genie setup).

A handy CIC lockout chip onboard the ND loads up most NES 1st party games and 3rd party unlicensed NES games such as Tengen, Camerica, etc. which is a plus in my book.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Konsolkongen]

What is the benefit of using this method of playing imports over just cutting the leg on the CIC chip inside the console? This seems unnecessarily complicated

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If you watch this youtube video about the new Nintend-Drawer setup (not my yt video anyways): https://www.youtube.com/watch?=41pCNMxGW3s

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Guspaz]

Playing imports is not the primary purpose of the product. It's one of the spiritual successors to the Blinking Light Win, replacing the frontloader's terrible ZIF socket with a traditional cartridge slot.

Perhaps more interesting is the Slotmaster, an open-source project that is similar, but adds a mechanical eject button to help get your cartridges out:

https://github.com/ShawMerlin/NES-Slotmaster

https://www.laserbear.net/products/nes-slotmaster

It's quite affordable at $25 for the DIY kit, or $35 pre-soldered. However, they're currently working out some compatibility issues with the Everdrive, so you should wait for the next revision.

[ldeveraux]

I can't find this anywhere on Etsy and you didn't provide a link. I already have a BLW from their original run years ago. It works fine, not perfect, really tight on the cartridge. Since I can't see the Nintend-Drawer, I looked at the Slotmaster. It's basically the same thing but with a clumsy pull tab to remove the cart. Are either of these any better than the BLW?

[Guspaz]

It's an eject push button, rather than a pull tab. You push it in and it levers some arms to eject.

If you already have a BLW, there's not much need for this. I have a BLW already. But the BLW has been out of production for more than half a decade, so having good affordable alternatives is necessary.

[bobrocks95]

Super clever engineering on Greg's part for that eject button design!

I think the Nintendrawer will feel nicer but it's what 2x the cost? Nice to have options. My aftermarket connector works just fine currently, so I figure I'll wait and see if they offer an injection molded option for the Nintendrawer in the future.

[BazookaBen]

I can't find this anywhere on Etsy and you didn't provide a link. I already have a BLW from their original run years ago. It works fine, not perfect, really tight on the cartridge. Since I can't see the Nintend-Drawer, I looked at the Slotmaster. It's basically the same thing but with a clumsy pull tab to remove the cart. Are either of these any better than the BLW?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lpCNMxGW3s

This video is a good break down of the Drawer.

Basically, imagine the BLW except the 72pin connector could move forward and backward a couple inches, so when you wanted to take a cart out you have more to grab onto

[Dochartaigh]

I'll buy one when they come out.

With the help of my new Hakko desoldering gun I was able to salvage the NES chips I need to build my own - only problem has been the BLW has been unavailable for years and years and years... and EVERY aftermarket one I get just sucks, horribly (probably ordered 10 different new ones over the years, including many refurbished ones with all the tricks everybody says works 100% of the time... but never works for me beyond a couple months).

[KPackratt2k]

I'll have to look into getting either this or a Slotmaster (after they fix the issues with Everdrives not working properly with it) when I have some money to spare, as money's been tight lately for personal reasons. I had a BLW from one of the last batches (if not the last batch) before they discontinued it, but it started to have issues after many years of use (and it didn't help that I was still blowing on cartridges during the first two years of using it until I found out about the eraser method a few years ago), so I resorted to buying a refurbished OEM connector to hold me off until a better alternative came around. When (and if) it stops working, I'll be sure to replace it with one of the two modern alternatives.

[Konsolkongen]

Playing imports is not the primary purpose of the product. It's one of the spiritual successors to the Blinking Light Win, replacing the frontloader's terrible ZIF socket with a traditional cartridge slot.

I know. But it’s still a feature of the product, which looks like a great replacement for the cartridge slot. But for playing imports it sounds like a hassle compared to how I’ve been doing it for years, and I am wondering if “push reset to change region” will conflict with my mod or if it could easily be disabled

[ldeveraux]

Basically, imagine the BLW except the 72pin connector could move forward and backward a couple inches, so when you wanted to take a cart out you have more to grab onto

Yeah I guess. I'll just stick with my blw I think

[BazookaBen]

Basically, imagine the BLW except the 72pin connector could move forward and backward a couple inches, so when you wanted to take a cart out you have more to grab onto

Yeah I guess. I'll just stick with my blw I think

Yeah me too, this definitely isn't a big enough reason to upgrade or anything

I found out pretty quickly the trick to getting carts in and out of the BLW easily is just to use your to index fingers to pull the cart out from the sides. Instead of grabbing on to the thin part like you would when using a factory connector

[ldeveraux]

Basically, imagine the BLW except the 72pin connector could move forward and backward a couple inches, so when you wanted to take a cart out you have more to grab onto

Yeah I guess. I'll just stick with my blw I think

Yeah me too, this definitely isn't a big enough reason to upgrade or anything

I found out pretty quickly the trick to getting carts in and out of the BLW easily is just to use your to index fingers to pull the cart out from the sides. Instead of grabbing on to the thin part like you would when using a factory connector

I would really like an eject switch on my BLW, because it's really tough to get out. I didn't realize I'd be sacrificing that much freedom to remove my cart for it to work 100% of the time. But here we are

[BazookaBen]

I would really like an eject switch on my BLW, because it's really tough to get out. I didn't realize I'd be sacrificing that much freedom to remove my cart for it to work 100% of the time. But here we are

How do you remove your cart? Index fingers to grab the right and left sides of the cart works great for me. Sure it’s harder than getting a cart out on a stick system but it’s not too hard or awkward

With the grippy ridges Nintendo has on the side of carts it makes me wonder if this was one of the intended methods of removing a cart

[Dochartaigh]

Plus, tbh, most of us who would be on a forum like this to be discussing things like this to begin with, most likely have an Everdrive anyway... so zero need to switch cartridges constantly – I just want one that reads right 100% of the time...

[ldeveraux]

How do you remove your cart? Index fingers to grab the right and left sides of the cart works great for me. Sure it’s harder than getting a cart out on a stick system but it’s not too hard or awkward

With the grippy ridges Nintendo has on the side of carts it makes me wonder if this was one of the intended methods of removing a cart

I shimmy it out. I have used your technique but I really just wish it was easier to get out, hence the eject switch.

[ldeveraux]

Plus, tbh, most of us who would be on a forum like this to be discussing things like this to begin with, most likely have an Everdrive anyway... so zero need to switch cartridges constantly – I just want one that reads right 100% of the time...

That's a bold assumption! I don't have an Everdrive, I play original carts on my NES.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I finally was able to pre-order on the first batch of the Nintend-Drawer (the black colored variant) sometime back in September of this year through Rocket Gaming based out of Illinois. They shipped it out on 10/10/2024 and finally got it in the mail yesterday, 10/16/2024. Upon opening the box, it came with a handy QR code with directions on how to install it. About damn time it showed up.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1716411596 ... nes-72-pin

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BazookaBen]

Thanks for the update. Hopefully somebody with a Blinking Light Win posts a comparison in the coming weeks

[ldeveraux]

I'd be willing to buy one and head to head compare with the BLW. What was the deal with the ejection method on this again? I want to understand the differences before buying.

[bobrocks95]

I'd be willing to buy one and head to head compare with the BLW. What was the deal with the ejection method on this again? I want to understand the differences before buying.

When you pull on the cart, the mechanism has a few inches of give before you get to the death grip portion, so you have much more cart to grab onto.

[ldeveraux]

OK I finally understand the mechanics of the thing, what about the chip? I've read reviews on Etsy that it's much less than 100% compatible, even with NTSC games on an NTSC system. Can the chip be disabled?

[KPackratt2k]

OK I finally understand the mechanics of the thing, what about the chip? I've read reviews on Etsy that it's much less than 100% compatible, even with NTSC games on an NTSC system. Can the chip be disabled?

I believe the lockout bypass chip works the same way as it does on BLW, as the procedure for setting it up (having to reset the console a few times when loading a game from a different region or for the first time since installation) appears to be the same according to Macho Nacho's video of the Nintend-Drawer. Disabling the NES10 lockout chip on the NES motherboard (by cutting pin 4 and optionally tying it to ground) will bypass this feature entirely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lpCNMxGW3s

The design of the lockout bypass feature may not be the issue in this case, as the aforementioned video mentions that a handful of games are not compatible because of a quirk in how Nintendo designed the pins on the cartridge PCB's edge connector. The problematic games have an odd shape on the pins on one side of the edge connector and sometimes the thin ends of these pins are covered (either partially or even entirely) in solder mask. Certain pressings of Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt happen to be affected by this issue and it also plagues the Slotmaster (another alternative NES 72-pin connector):
https://github.com/ShawMerlin/NES-Slotmaster/issues/3

The workarounds to this issue are to carefully scrape off the solder mask on the bottom of the pins or use a Game Genie (which might not be recommended in the long term due to possible PCB thickness issues). You can also desolder the components from the cartridge PCB and transfer them to a brand new one, as I recall finding an Etsy seller who sells replacement NES cartridge PCBs for homebrew and repair purposes. Should be able to find it by searching "NES Cartridge PCB" using the search engine of your choice.

[ldeveraux]

The workarounds to this issue are to carefully scrape off the solder mask on the bottom of the pins or use a Game Genie (which might not be recommended in the long term due to possible PCB thickness issues). You can also desolder the components from the cartridge PCB and transfer them to a brand new one, as I recall finding an Etsy seller who sells replacement NES cartridge PCBs for homebrew and repair purposes. Should be able to find it by searching "NES Cartridge PCB" using the search engine of your choice.

Yikes. I think when I have to mod my cartridges to start using a console mod, that's the red flag for me.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Not to be a dick (and I only read the first couple of posts) but you can easily disassemble an NES (which I assume you'd have to do anyway if you want to put this piece of hardware in?) and bend the pins back (+ the usual cleaning with alcohol) so that the cartridge slot properly grips the carts again. Did this to at least three different "non-working" NES systems, all of which have been working flawlessly since to this day. The CIC chip, as has been mentioned before, can also be disabled easily...

edit: ok, checked it out, I have no idea why anyone should buy this. Enlighten me please?

[BazookaBen]

Yikes. I think when I have to mod my cartridges to start using a console mod, that's the red flag for me.

I don't think that's the case here. The only negative review I saw looked like it was from a guy with dirty carts. Saying 1/3rd of his games didn't work? Nobody else seemed to have that issue

edit: ok, checked it out, I have no idea why anyone should buy this. Enlighten me please?

A lot of people, myself included, have experienced that bending pins is only a temporary solution, they will eventually bend back into the glitchy position.

And it's a pain in the ass compared to just swapping out a connector

[ldeveraux]

Yikes. I think when I have to mod my cartridges to start using a console mod, that's the red flag for me.

I don't think that's the case here. The only negative review I saw looked like it was from a guy with dirty carts. Saying 1/3rd of his games didn't work? Nobody else seemed to have that issue

That's the one I saw. IDK, maybe when I get my next paycheck I'll pick up the new gadget, but the BLW still works just fine in my extremely limited playing time.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

A lot of people, myself included, have experienced that bending pins is only a temporary solution, they will eventually bend back into the glitchy position.

And it's a pain in the ass compared to just swapping out a connector

Huh, I guess I play a lot less NES than you do... hopefully this thing (the name is too darn silly) will solve this problem for the long term for you

[BazookaBen]

Huh, I guess I play a lot less NES than you do... hopefully this thing (the name is too darn silly) will solve this problem for the long term for you

I have a BLW, so my problem is solved long term (working great for 10 years now). But this new thing is good to have since the BLW hasn't been produced in years.