this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2024
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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?

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[–] yuuunikki@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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

[–] MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

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@sopuli.xyz 9 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Can you not have a new save after replacing it?

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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.

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Some people don't want to do something illegal even if they think the law is stupid

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Stares are 1100 DVDs on the wall 👀

(This is an old pic)

[–] kugmo@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] yuuunikki@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 year ago

About as threatening of a law as jaywalking.