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Sega Genesis hardware notes
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Version 0.8 (03/02/01)
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by Charles MacDonald
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WWW: http://cgfm2.emuviews.com
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Unpublished work Copyright 2000, 2001 Charles MacDonald
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Here is a compilation of some notes I've written up on the Sega Genesis
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hardware. Everything described herein has been checked on the real thing,
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though that doesn't necessarily mean my testing methods were flawless. :)
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Version history
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---------------
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[0.8]
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- Added information on the SVP chip used in Virtua Racing. (section 4.2)
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- Added information on EEPROM storage. (section 4.1)
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- Changed miscellaneous section around.
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[0.7]
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- Added more information about access to the Z80 bus. (section 2.2)
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- Updated the VDP register information, and removed some things
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that were specific to VDP programming. (section 1.1)
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- Added some background about the PSG. (section 4)
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[0.6]
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- Rewrote the 68000 memory map description. (section 1)
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- Rewrote the Z80 memory map description. (section 2.1)
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- Added memory access section. (section 1.2)
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- Added a few miscellaneous topics. (section 4)
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[0.5]
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- Added more Z80 banking information.
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- Added unused VDP address return values from the Z80 side.
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- Added example of how to start up the Z80 on power-up.
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- Added information on Phantasy Star 4 from Jeff Quinn.
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- Added list of consoles that support Mark-III compatibility mode.
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- Fixed a few typos.
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[0.4]
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- Added more details on 68000 and Z80 memory map.
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- Added more information on VDP addresses.
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- Added some thoughts on Phantasy Star 4.
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[0.3]
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- Added more information on I/O registers. (section 3)
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- Fixed a few typos pointed out by Tim Meekins.
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[0.2]
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- Added section on I/O port programming and gamepads
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[0.1]
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- Initial release
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Table of Contents
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1.) 68000 memory map
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1.1) VDP registers
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1.2) Memory access quirks
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1.3) Clock speeds
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2.) Sound hardware overview
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2.1) Z80 memory map
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2.2) RESET and BUSREQ registers
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2.3) Banking
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2.4) Interrupts
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3.) Input and Output
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3.1) Programming I/O ports
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3.2) Gamepad specifics
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4.) Miscellaneous
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4.1) EEPROM
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4.2) Virtua Racing
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4.3) Phantasy Star 4
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4.4) Other topics
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5.) Credits
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6.) Disclaimer
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1.) 68000 memory map
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000000-3FFFFFh : ROM
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400000-7FFFFFh : Unused (1)
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800000-9FFFFFh : Unused (2)
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A00000-A0FFFFh : Z80 address space (3)
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A10000-A1001Fh : I/O
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A10020-BFFFFFh : Internal registers and expansion (4)
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C00000-DFFFFFh : VDP (5)
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E00000-FFFFFFh : RAM (6)
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1. Reads return the MSB of the next instruction to be fetched, with the
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LSB set to zero. Writes do nothing.
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2. Reading or writing any address will lock up the machine.
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This area is used for the 32X adapter.
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3. Addresses A08000-A0FFFFh mirror A00000-A07FFFh, so the 68000 cannot
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access it's own banked memory. All addresses are valid except for
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the VDP which is at A07F00-A07FFFh and A0FF00-A0FFFFh, writing or
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reading those addresses will lock up the machine.
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4. Reading some addresses lock up the machine, others return the MSB
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of the next instruction to be fetched with the LSB is set to zero.
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The latter applies when reading A11100h (except for bit 0 reflects
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the state of the bus request) and A11200h.
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Valid addresses in this area change depending on the peripherals
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and cartridges being used; the 32X, Sega CD, and games like Super
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Street Fighter II and Phantasy Star 4 use addresses within this range.
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5. The VDP is mirrored at certain locations from C00000h to DFFFFFh. In
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order to explain what addresses are valid, here is a layout of each
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address bit:
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MSB LSB
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110n n000 nnnn nnnn 000m mmmm
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'1' - This bit must be 1.
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'0' - This bit must be 0.
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'n' - This bit can have any value.
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'm' - VDP addresses (00-1Fh)
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For example, you could read the status port at D8FF04h or C0A508h,
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but not D00084h or CF00008h. Accessing invalid addresses will
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lock up the machine.
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6. The RAM is 64K in size and is repeatedly mirrored throughout the entire
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range it appears in. Most games only access it at FF0000-FFFFFFh.
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1.1) VDP registers
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The lower five bits of the address specify what memory mapped VDP register
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to access:
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00h : Data port
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02h : Data port
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04h : Control port (1)
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06h : Control port
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08h : HV counter (2)
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0Ah : HV counter
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0Ch : HV counter
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0Eh : HV counter
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11h : SN76489 PSG (3)
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13h : SN76489 PSG
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15h : SN76489 PSG
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17h : SN76489 PSG
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18h : Unused (4)
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1Ah : Unused
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1Ch : Unused
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1Eh : Unused
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|
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1. For reads, the upper six bits of the status flags are set to the
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value of the next instruction to be fetched. Bit 6 is always zero.
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For example:
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move.w $C00004, d0 ; Next word is $4E71
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nop ; d0 = -1-- 11?? ?0?? ????
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When reading the status flags through the Z80's banked memory area,
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the upper six bits are set to one.
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2. Writing to the HV counter will cause the machine to lock up.
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3. Reading the PSG addresses will cause the machine to lock up.
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|
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Doing byte-wide writes to even PSG addresses has no effect.
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If you want to write to the PSG via word-wide writes, the data
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must be in the LSB. For instance:
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move.b (a4)+, d0 ; PSG data in LSB
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move.w d0, $C00010 ; Write to PSG
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|
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4. Reading the unused addresses returns the next instruction to be fetched.
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For example:
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move.w $C00018, d0 ; Next word is $4E71
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nop ; d0 = $4E71
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|
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When reading these addresses through the Z80's banked memory area,
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the value returned is always FFh.
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|
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Writing to C00018h and C0001Ah has no effect.
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|
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Writing to C0001Ch and C0001Eh seem to corrupt the internal state
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of the VDP. Here's what each bit does: (assuming word-wide writes)
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8E9Fh : These bits cause brief flicker in the current 8 pixels
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being drawn when the write occurs.
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5040h : These bits blank the display like bit 6 of register #1 when set.
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2000h : This bit makes every line show the same random garbage data.
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0100h : This bit makes random pattern data appear in the upper eight
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and lower ten lines of the display, with the normal 224 lines
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in the middle untouched. For those of you interested, the
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display is built up like so:
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224 lines for the active display
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10 lines unused (can show pattern data here with above bit)
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3 lines vertical blank (no border color shown)
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3 lines vertical retrace (no picture shown at all)
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13 lines vertical blank (no border color shown)
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8 lines unused (can show pattern data here with above bit)
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I know that comes up to 261 lines and not 262. But that's
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all my monitor shows.
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Turning the display off makes the screen roll vertically,
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and random pattern data is displayed in all lines when
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this bit is set.
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0020h : This bit causes the name table and pattern data shown to
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become corrupt. Not sure if the VRAM is bad or the VDP is
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just showing the wrong data.
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1.2) Memory access quirks
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|
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Byte-wide writes
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Writing to the VDP control or data ports is interpreted as a 16-bit
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write, with the LSB duplicated in the MSB. This is regardless of writing
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to an even or odd address:
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move.w #$A5, $C00003 ; Same as 'move.w #$A5A5, $C00002'
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move.w #$87, $C00004 ; Same as 'move.w #$8787, $C00004'
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Byte-wide reads
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Reading from even VDP addresses returns the MSB of the 16-bit data,
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and reading from odd address returns the LSB:
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move.b $C00008, d0 ; D0 = V counter
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move.b $C00001, d0 ; D0 = LSB of current VDP data word
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move.b $C0001F, d0 ; D0 = $71
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nop
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move.b $C00004, d0 ; D0 = MSB of status flags
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|
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Word-wide writes
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|
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When doing word-wide writes to Z80 RAM, only the MSB is written, and
|
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the LSB is ignored:
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0000: AA BB CC DD ; Z80 memory
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move.w #$1234, $A00000 ; do a word-wide write
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0000: 12 BB CC DD ; result
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|
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Word-wide reads
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A word-wide read from Z80 RAM has the LSB of the data duplicated in the MSB.
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|
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0000: AA BB CC DD ; Z80 memory
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move.w $A00000, d0 ; do a word-wide read
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d0 = $AAAA ; result
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1.3) Clock speeds
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These are for an NTSC Sega Genesis console.
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|
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680000 = 7.67 MHz
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YM2612 = 7.67 MHz
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Z80 = 3.58 MHz
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SN76489 = 3.58 MHz
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|
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If anyone has information about timing for PAL consoles, please let me know.
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2) Sound hardware overview
|
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The following components used for sound generation:
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|
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- Zilog Z80 CPU
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- 8k static RAM
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- Yamaha YM2612 FM sound generator
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- SN76489 PSG
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|
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2.1) Z80 memory map
|
||||
|
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0000-1FFFh : RAM
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2000-3FFFh : RAM (mirror)
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4000-5FFFh : YM2612 (1)
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6000-60FFh : Bank address register (2)
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6100-7EFFh : Unused (3)
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7F00-7FFFh : VDP (4)
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8000-FFFFh : Bank area
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|
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1. The YM2612 has two address lines, so it is available at 4000-4003h and
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||||
is mirrored repeatedly up to 5FFFh.
|
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|
||||
2. Writes go to the bank address register, reads return FFh.
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The value returned applies to both the 68000 and Z80.
|
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|
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3. Writes are ignored, reads return FFh.
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The value returned applies to both the 68000 and Z80.
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|
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4. Only addresses 7F00-7F1Fh are valid, writes to 7F20-7FFFh will
|
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lock up the machine.
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|
||||
Z80 access to the VDP has the same results as doing byte-wide reads
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and writes as described in section 1.2. So only the HV counter and
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PSG can be used effectively.
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|
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All I/O ports return FFh, and writing to them has no effect. The Thunder
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Force games read port BFh in the IRQ subroutine, this would appear to be
|
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a misunderstanding on the programmer's behalf.
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|
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The 68000 can write to A06000h to set up the bank address.
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|
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2.2) RESET and BUSREQ registers
|
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|
||||
Bit 0 of A11100h (byte access) or bit 8 of A11100h (word access) controls
|
||||
the Z80's /BUSREQ line.
|
||||
|
||||
Writing 1 to this bit will request the Z80 bus. You can then release
|
||||
the bus later on by writing 0.
|
||||
|
||||
Reading this bit will return 0 if the bus can be accessed by the 68000,
|
||||
or 1 if the Z80 is still busy.
|
||||
|
||||
If the Z80 is reset, or if it is running (meaning the 68000 does not
|
||||
have the bus) it will also return 1. The only time it will switch from
|
||||
1 to 0 is right after the bus is requested, and if the Z80 is still
|
||||
busy accessing memory or not.
|
||||
|
||||
Bit 0 of A11200h (byte access) or bit 8 of A11200h (word access) controls
|
||||
the Z80's /RESET line.
|
||||
|
||||
Writing 0 to this bit will start the reset process. The Z80 manual says you
|
||||
have to assert the /RESET line for three Z80 clock cycles as a reset does
|
||||
not happen instantly.
|
||||
|
||||
Writing 1 to this bit will stop the reset process. At this point, the Z80
|
||||
will start executing from address 0000h onwards.
|
||||
|
||||
The /RESET line is shared with the YM2612. For as long as the Z80 is reset,
|
||||
the YM2612 cannot be used.
|
||||
|
||||
The Z80 bus can only be accessed by the 68000 when the Z80 is running
|
||||
and the 68000 has the bus. (as opposed to the Z80 being reset, and/or
|
||||
having the bus itself)
|
||||
|
||||
Otherwise, reading $A00000-A0FFFF will return the MSB of the next
|
||||
instruction to be fetched, and the LSB will be set to zero. Writes
|
||||
are ignored. This even applies to the VDP area that would normally
|
||||
lock up the machine.
|
||||
|
||||
Interestingly enough, you can still access $A10000-A1001F during this
|
||||
time, which seems to be contradictory to some documentation which says
|
||||
you can only access the I/O region when the 68000 has the bus.
|
||||
|
||||
On power-up, the Z80 will be reset and will have the bus.
|
||||
If you want to load a Z80 program and run it, do the following:
|
||||
|
||||
- Stop the reset process
|
||||
- Request bus
|
||||
- Load Z80 program
|
||||
- Start the reset process
|
||||
- Release bus
|
||||
- Stop the reset process
|
||||
|
||||
2.3) Banking
|
||||
|
||||
The Z80 can access the 68000's address space through a banking mechanism
|
||||
which maps 32k pages to 8000-FFFFh on the Z80 side.
|
||||
|
||||
Most games do this to get at large data chunks like YM2612 DAC samples.
|
||||
However, you can access anything else the 68000 can. (I've tried reading
|
||||
the version register and setting the VDP border color this way with
|
||||
success - in fact some 32X sample code shows the PWM sound generator
|
||||
programmed by the Z80 through banking)
|
||||
|
||||
To specify which 32k section you want to access, write the upper nine
|
||||
bits of the complete 24-bit address into bit 0 of the bank address
|
||||
register, which is at 6000h (Z80) or A06000h (68000), starting with
|
||||
bit 15 and ending with bit 23.
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
ld ix, $6000 ;
|
||||
xor a ;
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 15 = 0
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 16 = 0
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 17 = 0
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 18 = 0
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 19 = 0
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 20 = 0
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 21 = 0
|
||||
inc a ;
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 22 = 1
|
||||
ld (ix), a ; Bit 23 = 1
|
||||
|
||||
After this routine executes, Z80 addresses 8000-FFFFh now correspond
|
||||
to 68000 addresses C00000-C07FFFh.
|
||||
|
||||
In my own tests, I've been unable to do the following:
|
||||
|
||||
- Read banked 68000 RAM. (returns FFh)
|
||||
- Find result of partial writes to the bank address register.
|
||||
- Have the Z80 read A00000-A0FFFF through the banked memory area.
|
||||
(locks up the machine)
|
||||
|
||||
Steve Snake informed me that reading 68000 RAM is possible, but is not
|
||||
a recommended practice by Sega. Perhaps only some models of the Genesis
|
||||
allow for it.
|
||||
|
||||
2.4) Interrupts
|
||||
|
||||
The Z80 runs in interrupt mode 1, where an interrupt causes a RST 38h.
|
||||
However, interrupt mode 0 can be used as well, since FFh will be read
|
||||
off the bus.
|
||||
|
||||
The Z80 will recieve an IRQ from the VDP on scanline E0h. This happens
|
||||
once per frame, every frame, regardless of frame interrupts being
|
||||
disabled by the 68000.
|
||||
|
||||
If the Z80 has interrupts disabled when the frame interrupt is supposed
|
||||
to occur, it will be missed, rather than made pending.
|
||||
|
||||
There is no way to trigger an NMI unless the Genesis has been switched
|
||||
into Mark 3 compatability mode, and this only means the NMI line is
|
||||
mapped to the cartridge port, it's not controllable through software.
|
||||
|
||||
3.0) Input and Output
|
||||
|
||||
The Genesis has three general purpose I/O ports. Devices like gamepads,
|
||||
modems, light guns, etc. can be used with them.
|
||||
|
||||
Here's a read-out of the I/O registers in their default state. Each
|
||||
one can be read at an even address (e.g. A1000Dh == A1000Ch) as well.
|
||||
|
||||
A10001h = A0 Version register
|
||||
|
||||
A10003h = 7F Data register for port A
|
||||
A10005h = 7F Data register for port B
|
||||
A10007h = 7F Data register for port C
|
||||
|
||||
A10009h = 00 Ctrl register for port A
|
||||
A1000Bh = 00 Ctrl register for port B
|
||||
A1000Dh = 00 Ctrl register for port C
|
||||
|
||||
A1000Fh = FF TxData register for port A
|
||||
A10011h = 00 RxData register for port A
|
||||
A10013h = 00 S-Ctrl register for port A
|
||||
|
||||
A10015h = FF TxData register for port B
|
||||
A10017h = 00 RxData register for port B
|
||||
A10019h = 00 S-Ctrl register for port B
|
||||
|
||||
A1001Bh = FF TxData register for port C
|
||||
A1001Dh = 00 RxData register for port C
|
||||
A1001Fh = 00 S-Ctrl register for port C
|
||||
|
||||
Bit 7 of the Data registers can be read or written.
|
||||
Any bit that is set as an input will return '1'.
|
||||
Any bit that is set as an output will return the value last written.
|
||||
|
||||
Bits 7-0 of the Ctrl registers can be read or written.
|
||||
|
||||
Bits 7-0 of the TxData registers can be read or written.
|
||||
|
||||
The RxData register will always return zero.
|
||||
|
||||
Bits 7-4 of the S-Ctrl registers can be read or written.
|
||||
|
||||
3.1) Programming I/O ports
|
||||
|
||||
In the context of this description, I'll assume the device plugged in is a
|
||||
gamepad. However, other periperhals like multi-taps, modems, mice, light
|
||||
guns, etc, exist.
|
||||
|
||||
Here's a pin-out of the connector:
|
||||
|
||||
Pin 1 - UP
|
||||
Pin 2 - DOWN
|
||||
Pin 3 - LEFT
|
||||
Pin 4 - RIGHT
|
||||
Pin 5 - Vcc
|
||||
Pin 6 - TL
|
||||
Pin 7 - TH
|
||||
Pin 8 - GND
|
||||
Pin 9 - TR
|
||||
|
||||
Each I/O port has several associated registers. I'll only cover the
|
||||
data and control registers, as the others are used for serial and
|
||||
parallel communication.
|
||||
|
||||
The data register corresponds to the I/O port pins like so:
|
||||
|
||||
Bit 7 - (Not connected)
|
||||
Bit 6 - TH
|
||||
Bit 5 - TL
|
||||
Bit 4 - TR
|
||||
Bit 3 - RIGHT
|
||||
Bit 2 - LEFT
|
||||
Bit 1 - DOWN
|
||||
Bit 0 - UP
|
||||
|
||||
A '0' means a button has been pressed, and '1' means a button has been
|
||||
released.
|
||||
|
||||
Bit 7 isn't connected to any pin on the I/O port. It will latch a value
|
||||
written to it, as shown:
|
||||
|
||||
move.b $A10003, d0 ; D0 = $7F
|
||||
move.b #$80, $A10003 ; Bit 7 = 1
|
||||
move.b $A10003, d0 ; D0 = $FF
|
||||
move.b #$00, $A10003 ; Bit 7 = 0
|
||||
move.b $A10003, d0 ; D0 = $7F
|
||||
|
||||
Bits 6-0 of the control register define what bits of the data register
|
||||
are inputs or outputs. Gamepads use TH as an output and the remaining
|
||||
pins as input, so a value of $40 would be written to the control register.
|
||||
|
||||
3.2) Gamepad specifics
|
||||
|
||||
A gamepad maps the directional pad to the pins mentioned earlier
|
||||
(left, right, up, down), and multiplexes the four buttons (A, B, C, Start)
|
||||
through the TL and TR pins.
|
||||
|
||||
The TH pin controls which pairs of buttons (either A, Start or C, B) are
|
||||
output through TL and TR by the multiplexer chip.
|
||||
|
||||
In order to read all the buttons, A program will set TH = 1, read the data
|
||||
port, set TH = 0, and read the port again. The data returned is as follows:
|
||||
|
||||
TH = 0 : ?0SA00DU
|
||||
TH = 1 : ?1CBRLDU
|
||||
|
||||
? = Whatever was last written to bit 7.
|
||||
S = Start
|
||||
A = Button A
|
||||
B = Button B
|
||||
C = Button C
|
||||
U = Up
|
||||
D = Down
|
||||
L = Left
|
||||
R = Right
|
||||
|
||||
A 6-button gamepad allows the extra buttons to be read based on how
|
||||
many times TH is switched from 1 to 0 (and not 0 to 1). Observe the
|
||||
following sequence:
|
||||
|
||||
TH = 1 : ?1CBRLDU 3-button pad return value
|
||||
TH = 0 : ?0SA00DU 3-button pad return value
|
||||
TH = 1 : ?1CBRLDU 3-button pad return value
|
||||
TH = 0 : ?0SA0000 D3-0 are forced to '0'
|
||||
TH = 1 : ?1CBMXYZ Extra buttons returned in D3-0
|
||||
TH = 0 : ?0SA1111 D3-0 are forced to '1'
|
||||
|
||||
M = Mode
|
||||
X = Button X
|
||||
Y = Button Y
|
||||
Z = Button Z
|
||||
|
||||
From this point on, the standard 3-button pad values will be returned
|
||||
if any further TH transitions are done.
|
||||
|
||||
If TH isn't modified in about 8192 (probably less than that) 68000 CPU
|
||||
cycles, a 'time-out' will occur and the sequence to read 6-button values
|
||||
can be done again. Games usually poll the gamepad once per frame,
|
||||
which is always enough for the time-out to occur.
|
||||
|
||||
I believe checking if D3-D0 are all set or clear (as shown in the list
|
||||
above) would be another method to verify if 6-button or 3-button pad data
|
||||
was being returned.
|
||||
|
||||
Some games may access the gamepad in a way that causes 6-button values
|
||||
to be returned when 3-button values are expected. To get around this,
|
||||
the MODE button can be held down when powering-up the console, and
|
||||
the 6-button gamepad will respond like a 3-button one.
|
||||
|
||||
4.) Miscellaneous
|
||||
|
||||
The following are miscellaneous topics.
|
||||
|
||||
4.1) EEPROM
|
||||
|
||||
Some cartridges use a Xicor X24C01 EEPROM chip. The chip is programmed
|
||||
in a serial fashion (it has only two wires), and has 128 8-bit bytes
|
||||
of storage.
|
||||
|
||||
Games using EEPROM have the backup data string at offset $1B0 in the
|
||||
cartridge header area formatted like so:
|
||||
|
||||
0001B0: 52 41 E8 40 00 20 00 01 00 20 00 01
|
||||
|
||||
The Sega manual describes how the above data should be interpreted.
|
||||
In this case, it corresponds to a device mapped to odd memory addresses,
|
||||
occupying the byte at $200001.
|
||||
|
||||
The only games I know of which use an EEPROM chip are:
|
||||
|
||||
- Wonderboy 3 / Monster World IV
|
||||
- Rockman Megaworld
|
||||
- Megaman: The Wily Wars
|
||||
|
||||
4.2) Virtua Racing
|
||||
|
||||
The Virtua Racing cartridge has 2MB ROM, 128K RAM, and a custom DSP chip
|
||||
called the 'Sega Virtua Processor' (SVP), which is manufactured by Sega.
|
||||
To the best of my knowledge, the SVP chip has internal ROM and possibly
|
||||
internal RAM.
|
||||
|
||||
The main purpose of the SVP is to render polygons as 8x8 patterns, which
|
||||
the game program transfers to VRAM from the 128K RAM area using DMA.
|
||||
|
||||
The VR cartridge has the following memory map:
|
||||
|
||||
000000-1FFFFFh : Program ROM (2MB)
|
||||
200000-2FFFFFh : Unused
|
||||
300000-31FFFFh : On-cart RAM (128K)
|
||||
320000-3FFFFFh : (?)
|
||||
390000-39FFFFh : (?)
|
||||
3A0000-3AFFFFh : (?)
|
||||
|
||||
The SVP chip has registers mapped in the I/O space:
|
||||
|
||||
A15000.w - Can read and write commands
|
||||
A15005.b - Reading bit 0 acts like a status flag (SVP busy?)
|
||||
A15006.w - Unknown ($0000, $0001, $000A written)
|
||||
A15008.w - Unknown ($0000, $0001, $0000 written)
|
||||
|
||||
Commands are two bytes in size, and are read and written to A15000h.
|
||||
|
||||
FFFFh - Command reset (?) (done before any access)
|
||||
'SV' - Command init (?) (written before SVP communication)
|
||||
'OK' - Command OK (?) (written after 'SV')
|
||||
'Tx' - Where 'x' equals the following value based on the command
|
||||
selected in the test menu:
|
||||
0 - "DSP ROM RD" and
|
||||
"DSP RAM OVER WRITE"
|
||||
1 - "DSP DRAM R/W"
|
||||
2 - "DSP IRAM R/W"
|
||||
4 - "DSP POINTER"
|
||||
|
||||
To emulate the SVP chip, somebody needs to figure out how to dump the
|
||||
internal ROM (the test menu shows that it has a DSP ROM reading option,
|
||||
perhaps sending a certain command to the SVP makes it map it's internal
|
||||
ROM within the $300000-$3FFFFF area) and figure out how the DSP works.
|
||||
|
||||
All of the above information came from physically examining a VR cartridge,
|
||||
and from disassembling the test menu code. (found at $1B000 for those
|
||||
of you who are interested)
|
||||
|
||||
4.3) Phantasy Star 4
|
||||
|
||||
Phantasy Star 4 is a 24 megabit game with 16k of battery backed RAM
|
||||
mapped to $200001-$203FFF. (odd addresses used) It has ROM in the same
|
||||
area where the RAM is. I've observed that the game will always write
|
||||
$01 to $A130F1 before accessing the RAM, and then write $00 when
|
||||
done. It could be that bit 0 of $A130F1 controls ROM/RAM banking at
|
||||
that location.
|
||||
|
||||
Jeff Quinn has tested this and confirmed it to work, and also reported
|
||||
an area of the game where supporting banked SRAM is important; when
|
||||
your characters encounter a GEROTLUX below the town of Tyler on Dezolis,
|
||||
the game will try to access the ROM data that is obscured by SRAM.
|
||||
|
||||
4.4) Other topics
|
||||
|
||||
- The 68000 RESET instruction has no effect.
|
||||
|
||||
- If the VDP is not accessed often enough, it will (appear) to lock up.
|
||||
I'm not sure what the cause is, but any control port access is enough
|
||||
to keep it going. Maybe some of the internal VDP memory is composed
|
||||
of DRAM cells that lose their data after a while. This happens in
|
||||
the Mark III compatability mode as well as mode 4 and mode 5.
|
||||
|
||||
- The status of the YM2612 can be read at any of it's four addresses.
|
||||
Since only address zero is documented as valid, it could be that the
|
||||
other addresses may return an incorrect result in some situations.
|
||||
|
||||
- The PSG is compatible with the Texas Instruments SN76489. It is actually
|
||||
on the same physical chip as the VDP, and it's output comes directly
|
||||
out of the VDP to be mixed with the YM2612. Sega did the same thing
|
||||
with the System C2 (possibly System 18) and SMS VDPs as well.
|
||||
|
||||
Can anyone contribute some information about the Genesis security
|
||||
and operating system ROM features? I know of a few:
|
||||
|
||||
- Games must write the text 'SEGA' to A14000h if the lower four
|
||||
bits of the version register return 01h.
|
||||
- Writing 01h to A14101h disables the OS ROM and swaps in the cart ROM.
|
||||
- The OS ROM checks for 'SEGA' or ' SEGA' at offset 100h in the cart ROM.
|
||||
|
||||
Here's a list of consoles that support the Mark III compatability mode.
|
||||
|
||||
- Sega Mega Drive
|
||||
- Sega Mega Drive 2
|
||||
- Sega Genesis
|
||||
- Sega Genesis 2
|
||||
|
||||
And ones that do not:
|
||||
|
||||
- Genesis 3 (Majesco)
|
||||
|
||||
If anyone has tested this with the Nomad, CDX, MegaJet, etc., please
|
||||
let me know.
|
||||
|
||||
5.) Credits
|
||||
|
||||
I would like to thank the following people for contributing information:
|
||||
|
||||
Bart Trzynadlowski, Christian Schiller, Flavio Morsoletto, Jeff Quinn,
|
||||
Mike Gordon, Naflign, Omar Cornut, Steve Snake, and Tim Meekins.
|
||||
|
||||
Contributors to the Sega Programming FAQ.
|
||||
Gringoz for the Genesis schematics.
|
||||
|
||||
6.) Disclaimer
|
||||
|
||||
If you use any information from this document, please credit me
|
||||
(Charles MacDonald) and optionally provide a link to my webpage
|
||||
(http://cgfm2.emuviews.com/) so interested parties can access it.
|
||||
|
||||
The credit text should be present in the accompanying documentation of
|
||||
whatever project which used the information, or even in the program
|
||||
itself (e.g. an about box)
|
||||
|
||||
Regarding distribution, you cannot put this document on another
|
||||
website, nor link directly to it.
|
||||
|
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Reference in New Issue
Block a user