Any way to mod NES/SNES/Gameboy/N64 into EEPROM?

[AeoxEternal]

I'm slowly learning of the inner workings of my childhood games.
Unfortunately, batteries run out and the game's saves are now moot.

This doesn't sit well with me. I'd have to replace all of my games' batteries every 15 years just to feel relieved at the illusory comfort of being able to pop it in and play it at any time. I'd like to know a way to get rid of this SRAM problem....

Anyone know a tutorial or anything of help to mod SRAM games into EEPROM? I don't have extensive knowledge whatsoever about these types of things, so I apologize if this comes off as naive.

 

[trumpet-205]

You can't. SRAM and EEPROM are two completely different technology. It is not a matter of swapping the chip. The board circuit alone prevents it.

Just solder a battery holder, that'll make battery replacement easier on future.

 

[FAST6191]

Are there any pin and/or protocol compatible FeRAM chips available nowadays?

Otherwise yeah what trumpet-205 said, stick in a battery holder and go with that. Rather than modding for flash or EEPROM I would probably sooner do the FeRAM stuff but if that was not possible I would probably sooner add battery charging circuitry.

 

[AeoxEternal]

You can't. SRAM and EEPROM are two completely different technology. It is not a matter of swapping the chip. The board circuit alone prevents it.

Just solder a battery holder, that'll make battery replacement easier on future.

Okay, thanks for the info and help. I'll definitely be doing that.

 

[migles]

for gbc cartridges there was a alternative memory chip (eeprom i think) you could use, i remember i saw a post teaching how to do it (and the compatible model)...

i will try to find it


EDIT found it: http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=38664

also, previous gbatemp discusion that may help you:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/non-vol...on-yellow-but-problem-on-pokemon-gold.346288/

 

[sarkwalvein]

Anyway, EEPROM memory retention also expires in about 10 years (Disclaimer: maybe current technology is better), so data in EEPROM memory will be "erased" after time.

Source: Sorry, but I don't have enough patience to look for a good source, google for "EEPROM data retention" or look at this way too brief Wikipedia article.

 

[Foxi4]

Technically yes - you can replace the modules as migles said as long as you find a compatible counterpart, it's finding one that's a challenge.

 

[migles]

Anyway, EEPROM memory retention also expires in about 10 years (Disclaimer: maybe current technology is better), so data in EEPROM memory will be "erased" after time.

Source: Sorry, but I don't have enough patience to look for a good source, google for "EEPROM data retention" or look at this way too brief Wikipedia article.

yes, i have a friend who warned me about it, if you leave data in a memory for 10+ years without touching it, it gets erased...
but if you 5 years later re-write the data the "countdown" will reset, it will stay there for 10 years again

 

[Foxi4]

Removing the battery is still beneficial, issues of memory retention aside. Remember, a battery is a small button full of acid, you generally don't want to store them for decades on end because they do degrade, they can leak and as a result they can destroy the cartridge altogether.

 

[SSG Vegeta]

For NES/SNES/ I would just buy a WiiU & classic controller & for N64 VWii is an excellent choice if you get a WiiU you'll always have saving & you'll be able to catch up on what you missed out on when your favorite games were still being released

 

[Foxi4]

For NES/SNES/ I would just buy a WiiU & classic controller & for N64 VWii is an excellent choice if you get a WiiU you'll always have saving & you'll be able to catch up on what you missed out on when your favorite games were still being released

Myeh. It's not the same thing. As someone who owns numerous retro consoles I can assure you that playing on them rather than on modern solutions or emulators has a certain irreplaceable allure to it.

 

[SSG Vegeta]

Myeh. It's not the same thing. As someone who owns numerous retro consoles I can assure you that playing on them rather than on modern solutions or emulators has a certain irreplaceable allure to it.

I like both solutions but playing on an actual system you would be able to use cheats & homebrew

 

[FAST6191]

I like both solutions but playing on an actual system you would be able to use cheats & homebrew

Since when can you not use cheats on emulators? Other than cartridge tilting I guess.

Also *parting short at Foxi4organicgames*.

 

[EarthBound 2]

What is it?You mean turn them to Android ports?This should be cool.

 

[SSG Vegeta]

Since when can you not use cheats on emulators? Other than cartridge tilting I guess.

Also *parting short at Foxi4organicgames*.

I was referring to official emulators & how you can't use cheat devices with them

 

[Hozu]

I was referring to official emulators & how you can't use cheat devices with them

Unless you're on a Wii U outside of vWii mode, you can use cheats... You'll definitely need to convert them, if they haven't been converted yet, but the point is you can still use cheats.

 

[SSG Vegeta]

Unless you're on a Wii U outside of vWii mode, you can use cheats... You'll definitely need to convert them, if they haven't been converted yet, but the point is you can still use cheats.

Wouldn't that require hacking the WiiU

 

[Hozu]

Wouldn't that require hacking the WiiU

There have been hacks for vWii mode for quite some time now. The Wii U hasn't been hacked, obviously, which is why I mentioned that cheat usage is for vWii mode only. Or for a real Wii if you'd rather go that way.

 

[Foxi4]

Also *parting short at Foxi4organicgames*.

Not so much organic, rather "non-suicidal". If your games collection drowns in battery acid, you're gonna have a bad time.

 

[FAST6191]

No argument there


However it was more emulators and their being the way forward and usually the superior way thing I wanted to drag back up.