Master System Cartridge

From HwB

Revision as of 16:34, 2 January 2007 by Joakim (Talk | contribs)

Available at Sega Master System, Master System II and Game Gear (with SMS adapter).

Same pinout also for Master System Expansion port.

Contents

Pinout (European)

Front 2           50
      ==============	(at Cartridge)
Back  1           49
Cartridge
Back  39           1
      ==============	(at Console)
Front 50           2
Pin Dir Name Description
1 Arrowr.png +5V Power +5V
2  ? Arrowr.png /WR Write
3  ? /MREQ Memory Request
4  ? Arrowr.png /RD Read
5  ? /EXM1 Memory 8000-BFFF
6 Arrowr.png A14 Address bit14
7 Arrowr.png A13 Address bit13
8 Arrowr.png A8 Address bit8
9 Arrowr.png A9 Address bit9
10 Arrowr.png A11 Address bit11
11  ? /EXM2 Memory 0000-7FFF
12 Arrowr.png A10 Address bit10
13  ? /CE Cartridge Output Enable
14 Arrowlr.png D7 Data bit7
15 Arrowlr.png D6 Data bit6
16 Arrowlr.png D5 Data bit5
17 Arrowlr.png D4 Data bit4
18 Arrowlr.png D3 Data bit3
19 Arrow.png GND Ground
20 Arrow.png GND Ground
21 Arrow.png GND Ground
22 Arrowlr.png D2 Data bit2
23 Arrowlr.png D1 Data bit1
24 Arrowlr.png D0 Data bit0
25 Arrowr.png A0 Address bit0
26 Arrowr.png A1 Address bit1
27 Arrowr.png A2 Address bit2
28 Arrowr.png A3 Address bit3
29 Arrowr.png A4 Address bit4
30 Arrowr.png A5 Address bit5
31 Arrowr.png A6 Address bit6
32 Arrowr.png A7 Address bit7
33 Arrowr.png A12 Address bit12
34  ? CONT  ?
35 Arrowr.png +5V Power +5V
36 Arrowr.png A15 Address bit15
37  ? /M1  ?
38  ? /IORQ I/O Request
39  ? /RFSH Refresh
40  ? /HALT Halt
41  ? /WAIT Wait
42  ? /INT Interrupt
43  ? JyDs (also known as /KILLGA)
44  ? /BUSRQ Bus request
45  ? /BUSAK Bus request acknowledge
46  ? /RST Reset
47  ? CLK Clock
48  ? /KBSEL  ?
49  ? /CSRAM Memory C000-FFFF
50  ? /NMI Non Maskable Interrupt

Note: Direction is Console relative Cartridge

Pinout (Japanese)

Front B1 B22

     ======================  (at Cartridge)

Back A1 A22

Back A1 A22

     ======================  (at Console)

Front B1 B22

Is this same as SG-1000 & SG-1000 Mark II connectors?

Pin Dir Name Description
A1 Arrowr.png A0 Address bit0
A2 Arrowr.png A1 Address bit1
A3 Arrowr.png A2 Address bit2
A4 Arrowr.png A3 Address bit3
A5 Arrowr.png A4 Address bit4
A6 Arrowr.png A5 Address bit5
A7 Arrowr.png A6 Address bit6
A8 Arrowr.png A7 Address bit7
A9 Arrowr.png A8 Address bit8
A10 Arrowr.png A9 Address bit9
A11 Arrowr.png A10 Address bit10
A12 Arrowr.png A11 Address bit11
A13 Arrowr.png A12 Address bit12
A14 Arrowr.png A13 Address bit13
A15 Arrowlr.png D0 Data bit0
A16 Arrowlr.png D1 Data bit1
A17 Arrowlr.png D2 Data bit2
A18 Arrowlr.png D3 Data bit3
A19 Arrowlr.png D4 Data bit4
A20 Arrowlr.png D5 Data bit5
A21 Arrowlr.png D6 Data bit6
A22 Arrowlr.png D7 Data bit7
B1 Arrowr.png +5V Power +5V
B2 Arrowr.png /CSCN4 Power +5V
B3  ? /CSRAM  ?
B4  ? /EXM1 Memory 8000-BFFF
B5  ? Arrowr.png /RD Read
B6  ? Arrowr.png /WR Write
B7  ? /IORD I/O Read
B8  ? /IOWR I/O Write
B9  ? /RFSH Refresh
B10  ? /MREQ  ? Cartridge Output Enable
B11  ? /CONT  ?
B12  ? /RAS0  ?
B13  ? /CAS0  ?
B14  ? CA7  ?
B15  ? /RAS1  ?
B16  ? /CAS1  ?
B17  ? /RCSEL  ?
B18 Arrowr.png A14 Address bit14
B19 Arrowr.png A15 Address bit15
B20  ? /EXM2 Memory 0000-7FFF ?
B21 Arrow.png GND Ground
B22 Arrow.png GND Ground

Note: Direction is Console relative Cartridge

Compatibility

Note:

  • Japanese and South Korean consoles use 44-pin cartridges, same shape as Mark I and Mark II
  • All other consoles use 50-pin cartridges with a different shape
  • The difference in cartridge style is a form of regional lockout

Cartridges were originally used for game of higher capacity than 256Kb (32KB), smaller ones were stored on cards.

When the Master System II arrived (without a card input), some Card games have been converted to cartridges.

Cartridges bigger than 512Kb (64KB) cannot be used with the 16 address bits and must use FCRs (Frame Control Registers, a bank switching method).

Because cards only have 15 address bits (while cartridges have all the 16 bits) and don't use bank switching, they are limited to 256Kb (32KB), cartridges are used for higher capacities.

Sources