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Re: Sachen TCU-02 (Mapper 136)

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:45 pm
by MLX
Seems like I have to use my continuity meter? Can one point which pins specifically should be checked?

Re: Sachen TCU-02 (Mapper 136)

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:48 pm
by NewRisingSun
Pin 27 of the CHR chip (right chip, top row, second pin from left) should be connected to pin 22 or 23 of the ITC IC.

Re: Sachen TCU-02 (Mapper 136)

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:41 pm
by MLX
It is pin 22.

Re: Sachen TCU-02 (Mapper 136)

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:48 pm
by krzysiobal
Image Image Image

Re: Sachen TCU-02 (Mapper 136)

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:04 pm
by NewRisingSun
Well, I only got pin 8 wrong and gave up on pin 18, so I guess I did not do too badly for an amateur. Thanks, everyone. We also have the PCB images of 1991 賭馬 Racing (Enjoyable Horse Racing), Mapper 172. The bankswitching code is very similar, so the IC should be functionally similar, but comes in an 28-pin rather than a 24-pin package. But that's for another day (or week, or year). ;)
lidnariq wrote:pin 22 (had it not been defective) would have relayed values from pin 8 (or maybe pin 9?).
If anything, it would have to relay the inverse of Pin 9 (D3), and while that one may work for F15 City War and Puzzle, at least as far as I have played, it certainly fails for 小瑪琍 (Xiǎo Mǎlí). The "inverse XOR value" story matches our results with the dumping script as well as the game code.

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 1:45 pm
by NewRisingSun
And since it was so much fun, here are PCB shots of Mapper 136 (Mahjong Trap) and Mapper 172 (1991 Duma Racing). These use a custom IC that is functionally similar to the beloved TXC 24-pin IC, except that it comes in an 28-pin package, having six instead of four CPU (data input) and data output pins. (Although if I understood lidnariq correctly, the 24-pin IC could have as many as six CPU pins connected as well, so I wonder which other four pins' function is missing.) Mapper 172 seems similar to Mapper 136 except that the custom IC is mounted upside down.

Mapper 136 (images from Pepper-98):
MahjongTrap-Front.jpg
MahjongTrap-Back.jpg

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 1:48 pm
by NewRisingSun
Mapper 172 (images from MLX):
DumaFront.JPG
DumaBack.JPG
According to my trace attempt (correct me if I'm wrong), I identify the following JV001 pin functions:

Code: Select all

Pin#    Mapper 136 connection   Mapper 172 connection   General pin function
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1       PPU A13                 PPU A13                 PA13
2       CPU D5                  CPU D0                  Input D5
3       CPU D4                  CPU D1                  Input D4
4       CPU D3                  CPU D2                  Input D3
5       CPU D2                  CPU D3                  Input D2
6       CPU D1                  CPU D4                  Input D1
7       CPU D0                  CPU D5                  Input D0
8       CPU A0                  CPU A0 ($0001)          A0
9       CPU A1                  CPU A1 ($0002)          A1
10      CPU A8                  CPU A8 ($0100)          A8
11      CPU M2                  M2                      M2
12      CPU /ROMSEL             CPU /ROMSEL ($8000)     /ROMSEL
13      CPU R/W                 CPU R/W                 R/W
14      +5V                     +5V                     +5V
15                              CPU A14 ($4000)         A14
16                              CPU A13 ($2000)         A13
17      CHR /OE                 CHR /OE                 CHR /OE
18                                                      Output D5
19                                                      Output D4
20                                                      Output D3
21                                                      Output D2
22                              CHR A14                 Output D1
23                              CHR A13                 Output D0
24                              PPU A10                 PA10
25                              PPU A11                 PA11
26                              CIRAM A10               CIRAM A10
27                              PPU R/W                 PPU R/W
28                              GND/+5V                 GND/+5V
Which is odd, because that would mean that Mapper 172 has mapper-controlled mirroring, which nobody emulates. When MLX redumped Mahjong Block (Mapper 172 version), the Kazzo identified the mirroring type incorrectly, which would not happen in the case of fixed mirroring, so it's not entirely out of the question. I would not have any idea what write pattern selected the mirroring type though.

I found it easier to trace the Mapper 172 images, which is why the Mapper 136 column is rather empty. Yes, Mapper 172 has CPU D0..D5 connected in reverse, and the three Mapper 172 games indeed have code to reverse the desired six bits before they output the data to $4102.

@krzysiobal: I only noticed this now in your otherwise excellent schematic, but F-15 City War is Mapper 173, not 136. (The thread title was originally "Sachen TCU-2/Mapper 136" because that one started the thread. I have since renamed the thread title to reflect the expanded scope of the discussion.)

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 10:59 am
by NewRisingSun
Mapper 147, original 60-pin version of the game (images from MLX):
TC-011_fc_pcbf.jpg
TC-011_fc_pcbb.jpg

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 12:02 pm
by NewRisingSun
And finally, Mapper 132, to complete the TXC/Joy Van collection. Pictures again from MLX. Image from MGC-001 (Qiwang).
MGC-001 Front.JPG
MGC-001 Back.JPG

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:07 pm
by NewRisingSun
Does somebody have an idea what the optional 74LS161 in that Mapper 132 board picture might be used for if it were installed?

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:45 pm
by lidnariq
Assuming it's a real 161... there aren't a lot of options for one by itself without extra hardware. Has to be present over the entire range from $8000-$FFFF, has to have bus conflicts, can't be anything finer than 32K PRG and/or 8K CHR.

Without tracing, I'd guess it's mapper 148.

(edit) ... Having now traced, I think too much information is hidden under ICs to be able to make a more informed guess. (edit2) It probably just latches the 3 LSBs of the data bus and uses them verbatim in some order as PRG A15, CHR A13, and CHRA14. Possibly the same order as mapper 133?

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 1:40 am
by MLX
I can check your guesses with my continuity meter.

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:05 am
by lidnariq
Fair enough...

Visibly true from the photographs:
'161 pins 1, 7, 10, 16 - tied to +5V
'161 pin 8 - tied to ground
'161 pins 11, 15 - floating

Almost guaranteed to be true:
'161 pin 2 - /ROMSEL - ASIC pin 17
'161 pin 9 - R/W - ASIC pin 18

Likely:
'161 pins 3-6 - CPU D0-D3 - ASIC pins 12-9

Necessarily true but but order unknown-
'161 pins 12-14 - PRG and CHR banking bits - ASIC pins 1,2,3,22,23? - PRG ROM pin 1, CHR ROM pin 26, 27
Guessing:
'161 pin 12 - ASIC 1 - PRG ROM pin 1
'161 pin 13 - ASIC 2 - CHR ROM pin 26
'161 pin 14 - ASIC 3 - CHR ROM pin 27

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:12 am
by NewRisingSun
That reminds me: could you post images of your Mapper 036 board sometime please? I am close to identifying the function of all the 24-pin ASIC pins, having done so for the 28-pin JV001 variant, but would like to take a look at that board as well first.

Re: Early Joy Van/Idea-Tek/TXC Mappers

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:28 am
by lidnariq
There are pictures in the dumping thread-
https://forums.nesdev.com/viewtopic.php ... 80#p167180 - front
https://forums.nesdev.com/viewtopic.php ... 83#p167183 - back

If you'd like nicer pictures I could put it on my scanner or something.

More pictures of component-side only of PCBs on Gluk Video website; specifically "Puzzle", "F-15 City War", "Volley Ball", "Comando de Lobos", "Policeman".
Also has a picture of the 01-22003-400 PCB used by Creatom.