Shrinking the N64

[stuntpenguin007]

My plan is to make N64 schematics in EAGLE, and shrink the size of the N64 motherboard. As of now I expect this project to crash and burn, but I'd still like to give it a shot. Kibble was working on a project like this a while ago : http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=32430 . He seems to have disappeared from the forums though.

The process should go something like this:
1. Make a library with all the parts I'll need such as the CPU, RCP, RAM, etc.
2. Make a schematic of the board
3. Turn that schematic into a board

Right now I need to find a datasheet for the CPU, RCP and RAM so I can make the library. I don't know if those datasheets exist, but if they do, could someone point me to them? Or if there is an existing library for N64 parts, please let me know. I'll post the library online when I finish.

edit: Is it safe to assume that the 120 pin plastic qfp on page 207 of this datasheet http://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf-dat ... 38389.html matches the CPU?

edit: Added EAGLE library which contains RCP, CPU and RDRAM. I'm not sure if you need the .l#1 files in the zip, but I included them just in case.
http://www.mediafire.com/?bch58ttldkiwqw3

 

[ToastBucket]

RCP is QFP160
CPU is QFP120
RAM is RDRAM or something

 

[stuntpenguin007]

Thanks.

I found the ram on page 45 of this:
http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datashe ... 718C50.pdf

That should be enough to get me started.

edit: Looks like making the library is easier than I thought
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee34 ... PU_NUS.jpg
It's the CPU.

edit: Added library of major components to first post.

 

[stuntpenguin007]

Not much progress, but some. I'm beginning by connecting all the CPU - RCP traces.

 

[ShockSlayer]

Does the ram have to be the Nintendo ram? Didn't someone somewhere say the ram could be swapped with some other random 8mb chip?

SS

 

[Antome]

Thanks for *Can'tSayThisOnTV*ing stealing my idea .-.

It's a cool Idea! As you say this could get difficult and tedious, but it's worth a try

Seriously though, I'll try to help out.

Or not..

@SS: You probably could. Couldn't someone just test that out? as you say, someone probably did. Ugh, what do I know.

 

[Mako321]

Doesn't that mean you could use one 8mb chip and a jumper instead of 2 4mb ram chips?

 

[XCVG]

Doesn't that mean you could use one 8mb chip and a jumper instead of 2 4mb ram chips?

Maybe, if you could find one.

 

[stuntpenguin007]

Does the ram have to be the Nintendo ram? Didn't someone somewhere say the ram could be swapped with some other random 8mb chip?

SS

In this datasheet http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datashe ... 718C50.pdf it mentions

The 18/64-Megabit Concurrent Rambus™ DRAMs (RDRAM®)

64-Megabit = 8 megabytes. So it should exist. It would just be nice if someone could find a different product to scrap the 8MB chips from instead of looking for some shady HK dealer that wants you to buy 500 minimum.

 

[Mako321]

That could be used for the MR store.

 

[Basement_Modder]

If all the parts are obtained from a 3rd party, we would never run out of N64s in the world.

Now where can we get an edge card connector that will work as a cart slot?

 

[βeta]

RCP and CPU are nintendo-only chips.

 

[ShockSlayer]

NEC manufactured the CPU, RCP, and RDRAM all for nintendo. The other chips are TI, Rohm, and Sharp.

So a NEC RDRAM is exactly what's in there.

... So there's nothing unique to the r4300i in the N64. In fact, there were a few business printers in the 90s that used the exact same CPU. They are 99% interchangeable.

wut

 

[βeta]

RCP and CPU are is a nintendo-only chips.