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can i trust this programmer?

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:56 pm
by qtoyoda
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can i trust tht this programmer would work for eproms for nes reproduction, not for profit just a hobby :) any opinion would be good ! thx :)

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:21 pm
by qtoyoda
i have a windows 7 laptop

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:32 pm
by Memblers
It should work. BTW if you want to erase your ROMs, you might want to go with SST39SF040 or similar instead of EPROM.

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:37 pm
by qtoyoda
couldnt i just purchase a UV eraser?

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:38 pm
by tepples
Flash is easier and faster than a UV lightbox.

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:42 pm
by qtoyoda
what about price wise? i am looking for the cheaper of the two.... and i think that would be eprom?

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:44 pm
by 3gengames
Both about the same. Flash ones like 27C010 and stuff get cheaper in flash though, but the price isn't soo much different it really matters.

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:47 pm
by qtoyoda
isnt 27C010 an EPROM? not flash? and how do u erase flash?

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:54 pm
by tokumaru
qtoyoda wrote:and how do u erase flash?
With a few clicks in the programmer software and a few seconds of waiting. Much better then dealing with UV lights, which can be dangerous and need minutes to erase a chip.

I do think Flash is a bit more expensive than EPROM, but it's not like you need tons of chips... Each chip can be erased and reprogrammed several thousand times. I'd use EPROMs only for permanent carts.

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:00 pm
by qtoyoda
i was thinking of mostly doing permanent chips... so then it would make more sense to use eproms. i will look into flasht though, what type of flash is used for nes? ino it is 27C for eprom

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:20 pm
by 3gengames
Flash is better then EPROM for "permenent" data as the EPROMS are made to be erased. Flash is made to be reprogrammed.
With new carts and thick electrical tape over the chips, there still will be UV rays getting in the EPROMS and erasing them.


Plus flash chips just put in the cart look better then opening it to some used EPROMS with electrical tape over them.

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:21 pm
by tokumaru
I have a bunch of AT29C040 that work great. I think 29F040 is good too.

BTW, if you want to program EPROMs, you have to check if the programmer has input for an AC adapter, because the 5V supplied by USB are not enough for programming EPROMs.

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:34 pm
by tepples
The Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance in GBC mode make 5.0 V out of two 1.5 V alkaline cells, and they make even higher voltages for driving the LCD. Why don't EPROM programmers just have a charge pump, booster, or something similar for making Vpp? Is it that the memories need more current than USB can provide?

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:37 pm
by qtoyoda
why do the programmers not work with just the 5V provided by the USB port? and what AC would i need?

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:51 pm
by tepples
It takes more than 5.0 V to erase the memory cells. Modern flash chips have an onboard charge pump to make this voltage, but older parts needed a higher voltage on a separate pin. Look at the manual for the programmer to see what voltage it takes.