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Anybody tried one of these RPi based N64 cart dumpers off Aliexpress?

Looking to ROM dump just a handful of games, so I’m trying not to spend hundreds on a Sanni or Retrode. I saw this on AliExpress for $15.

I’ve personally had good luck with Alibaba and Aliexpress, but I recognize that this could just straight not work. There’s no documentation, but it claims the game data will show up like files on a USB flash drive.

Anybody know where this design came from?

Oisteink ,

Any link to the item? Or name if links are not ok here

ch00f OP ,

a.aliexpress.com/_mtsayi0

Oisteink ,

Seems fishy to me. But they are saying to message them for more info.

Maybe theres some local club or makerspace where you could ask if anyone have a reader they can lend you. If its just a few carts and a one time job that would be enough

yuuunikki ,

Why dump roms when you can just download them faster and free

MrScottyTay ,

Could be to get their save that’s on the cartridge backed up?

Beacon ,

I think any n64 cartridge has long since had the battery inside the cartridge die, which is what kept the game save info stored. So there won't be any saved game in there any more.

https://howchoo.com/nintendo/nintendo-64-cartridge-save-battery-change/

MrScottyTay ,

If that was the case they could’ve replaced the battery since and still have a save on that cartridge that needs backing up

pfaca ,

I don’t believe it works like that. When you change the battery, the save is gone. In other words, I think it has to have a continuous charge to keep the save.

It works like a computer CMOS battery if I’m not mistaken.

f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4 ,

You are correct.

One can solder in a temporary “helper battery” (or 3V power supply) to the same traces but in a different spot, to keep the SRAM alive while the real battery is replaced.

Some later games (GBA-era) use Flash memory and the battery is just for the clock.

ch00f OP ,

Call it a hobby. Having the data from the physical cart brings me joy. Also, I’m looking to rebuild my collection from childhood for when the Analogue3D finally comes out.

simplymath ,

The binary blob is essentially just a number stored in a fancy configuration of electrons, OP. In the best case scenario, this device is just e-waste.

yuuunikki ,

Enjoy your ewaste

simplymath ,

A sketchy USB device from Alibaba with 0 documentation is significantly less safe than grabbing a ROM, which are widely available and have known file hashes. The security risk alone from a no name USB device is probably not worth it unless there’s a save file you reeeeeeeeally care about, as another user mentioned.

Beacon ,

N64 cartridges rely on a battery inside it to keep the storage alive, and all those batteries are likely all dead now, so there will be no stored game in there any more

MelodiousFunk ,

Stop making me sad. I have hundreds of hours poured into VPW2 customizations on a cart that hasn’t been powered up in 20 years at least. In my heart, that save is still alive.

Don’t take this from me dammit.

Beacon ,

Sorry =x

BUT! With modern emulator editor hacks you could have the fun of rebuilding it all without pouring all the hours into it again!

errer ,

I have a super Mario world cart that has retained its save data. 20 years old now…pretty nuts

Nutteman ,
@Nutteman@lemmy.world avatar

Stick yer rarest cart in there and let her rip

wjrii ,

The basic concept seems to be floating out there, and I’ve bought many empty RP2040 boards from AE without issue, but if you’re determined to do this, maybe disconnect from any networks, back up your PC, and start with an expendable cartridge. :-)

I don’t THINK a Pi Pico clone could send enough voltage back up into a board to fry a cart, but it’s your risk. 98% chance everything is fine, but you’re spending money on what should have a 100% chance of being fine.

Or, accept the almost-inevitable and just grab ROMs of your carts. If you really want to experiment, maybe build the dumper itself as a DIY project. Buying someone else’s device to create files somebody already ripped twenty years ago doesn’t quite pull the right nostalgia or hobbyist levers for me, but we have to go where our nerdery takes us, and from that perspective, I understand.

Cadeillac ,
@Cadeillac@lemmy.world avatar

Am I the only one bothered by the cart being censored?

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