Preparing for the NESRGB board by creating.... the NESicom

[cr4zymanz0r]

So, when I went to order one of viletim's NESRGB boards I decided it needs to go in the ultimate NES system when it arrives. What constitutes an ultimate NES system you ask? One that natively supports both NES and Famicom games and looking classy while doing it.

Here's some pics of the work along the way with some descriptions: http://imgur.com/a/bvSgi
Here's a video of it in action too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyzav0W198

The short version is I took a famicom converter from a copy of gyromite and wired it up to the NES 72-pin connector, and then mounted it on there too so it's all one removable unit. I carefully cut out a cart slot on top and used some dust covers from a dead N64 that I trimmed up to fit. While I was at it I also trimmed back the NES 72-pin connector and soldered a new regular card edge style connector onto it (I used this one: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/e ... -ND/770547). I'm pondering adding a DB15 port so Famicom accessories can be used, but I don't currently own any so I'm in no rush (and I can't think of a good aesthetically pleasing please to mount it).

I think it all worked out pretty well and now I'm just waiting on the RGB board so I can install it

[leonk]

wow.. very interesting mod. Couple of questions for you.

- how strong is the NES 72 pin connector? can it take the usual ramming force?
- do you believe there's any potential for this mod in introducing noise? i.e. the extra pins being used as antenna?

I assume that by removing the carts ability to be pushed down you in effect killed the ability of something like the GAR from working with this system.

[cr4zymanz0r]

The improved 72pin connector i'm using seems pretty sturdy. I haven't just hauled off and rammed a game in, but I'm not trying to be super delicate either. I've flexed the cart around once the game is running and it hasn't caused any issues. I made sure when I soldered it on to make sure all my solder joints were nice and strong. Originally I planned to put some epoxy on it too, but the solder joints seem firm enough that I don't have to.

What kind of noise are you referring to? I haven't noticed anything different with audio or video. I did have sprite corruption when using a FDS, but I found a fix by putting some pull-down resistors on the responsible CPU pins.

I"m assuming GAR means game action replay or similar devices. I haven't tried a game genie on it, but I probably wouldn't want to. The thicker PCB probably means I'd really have to force it in. I hear they're not good for stock NES 72-pin connectors either. I haven't used a cheat device on cart systems in ages, so it's not a big loss for me. If I just really wanted to use cheat codes I have a NES and Famicom flashcart with built in cheat code support I could use.