GxROM: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:GNROM-like mappers]][[Category:in NesCartDB]][[Category:Nintendo licensed mappers]] | [[Category:GNROM-like mappers]][[Category:in NesCartDB]][[Category:Nintendo licensed mappers]] | ||
The designation '''GxROM''' refers to Nintendo cartridge boards labeled NES-GNROM and NES-MHROM (and their [[Famicom|HVC]] counterparts), which use discrete logic to provide up to four 32 KB banks of PRG ROM and up to four 8 KB banks of CHR ROM. The [[iNES]] format assigns '''mapper 66''' to these boards. | The designation '''GxROM''' refers to Nintendo cartridge boards labeled NES-GNROM and NES-MHROM (and their [[Famicom|HVC]] counterparts), which use discrete logic to provide up to four 32 KB banks of PRG ROM and up to four 8 KB banks of CHR ROM. The [[iNES]] format assigns '''mapper 66''' to these boards. | ||
The Jaleco board assigned to [[iNES mapper 140]] is sometimes confused with GNROM, as they are very similar but with the bankswitch register in a different location. | |||
Example games: | |||
* ''Doraemon'' | |||
* ''Dragon Power'' | |||
* ''Gumshoe'' | |||
* ''Thunder & Lightning'' | |||
* ''Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt'' | |||
==Board Types== | ==Board Types== | ||
Revision as of 17:46, 24 April 2015
The designation GxROM refers to Nintendo cartridge boards labeled NES-GNROM and NES-MHROM (and their HVC counterparts), which use discrete logic to provide up to four 32 KB banks of PRG ROM and up to four 8 KB banks of CHR ROM. The iNES format assigns mapper 66 to these boards.
The Jaleco board assigned to iNES mapper 140 is sometimes confused with GNROM, as they are very similar but with the bankswitch register in a different location.
Example games:
- Doraemon
- Dragon Power
- Gumshoe
- Thunder & Lightning
- Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt
Board Types
The following GxROM boards are known to exist:
| Board | PRG ROM | CHR |
|---|---|---|
| GNROM | 128 KB | 32 KB ROM |
| MHROM | 64 KB | 16 / 32 KB ROM |
Overview
- PRG ROM size: Up to 128 KB
- PRG ROM bank size: 32 KB
- PRG RAM: None
- CHR capacity: Up to 32 KB ROM
- CHR bank size: 8 KB
- Nametable mirroring: Solder pads select vertical or horizontal mirroring
- Subject to bus conflicts: Yes
Banks
- CPU $8000-$FFFF: 32 KB switchable PRG ROM bank
- PPU $0000-$1FFF: 8 KB switchable CHR ROM bank
Registers
Bank select ($8000-$FFFF)
7 bit 0 ---- ---- xxPP xxCC || || || ++- Select 8 KB CHR ROM bank for PPU $0000-$1FFF ++------ Select 32 KB PRG ROM bank for CPU $8000-$FFFF
Bits 5 is not used on MHROM, which supports only 64 KB PRG.
Solder pad config
- Horizontal mirroring : 'H' disconnected, 'V' connected.
- Vertical mirroring : 'H' connected, 'V' disconnected.
Hardware
The GNROM board contains a 74HC161 binary counter used as a quad D latch (4-bit register) to select the current PRG and CHR banks. MHROM, on the other hand, was often a glop-top, as it was used for pack-in games, such as the Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt multicart, and needed to be very inexpensive to produce in huge quantities.
Variants
Placing the bank register in $6000-$7FFF instead of $8000-$FFFF gives mapper 140. The Color Dreams board leaves the port at $8000-$FFFF, swaps the nibbles, expands CHR by two bits, and adds two bits for charge pump control.
Theoretically the bank select register could be implemented with a 74HC377 octal D latch, allowing up to 512 KB of PRG ROM and 128 KB of CHR ROM. There are a large number of other variants on GNROM, where the bits or the writeable address were moved around.
See also
- NES Mapper List by Disch
- Comprehensive NES Mapper Document by \Firebug\, information about mapper's initial state is inaccurate.
