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TxROM

The generic designation TxROM refers to cartridge boards made by Nintendo that use the Nintendo MMC3 mapper.

Board Types

The following TxROM boards are known to exist:

BoardPRG ROMPRG RAMCHRComments
TBROM64 KB16 / 32 / 64 KB ROM
TEROM32 KB16 / 32 / 64 KB ROMSupports fixed mirroring
TFROM128 / 256 / 512 KB16 / 32 / 64 KB ROMSupports fixed mirroring
TGROM128 / 256 / 512 KB8 KB RAM/ROM
TKROM128 / 256 / 512 KB8 KB128 / 256 KB ROM
TK1ROM128 KB8KB128KB ROMUses 7432 for 28-pin CHR ROM
TKSROM128 / 256 / 512 KB8 KB128 KB ROMAlternate mirroring control, Famicom only
TKEPROMfour 128KB ROMs8 KBtwo 128KB ROMsPrototyping board
TLROM128 / 256 / 512 KB128 / 256 KB ROM
TL1ROM128 KB128 KBUses 7432 for 28-pin CHR ROM
TL2ROMNonstandard pinout
TLBROM128 KB128 KB ROMUses 74541 to compensate for too-slow CHR ROM
TLSROM128 / 256 / 512 KB128 KB ROMAlternate mirroring control
TNROM128 / 256, 512 KB8 KB8 KB RAM/ROMFamicom only
TQROM128 KB16 / 32 / 64 KB ROM + 8 KB RAM
TR1ROM128 / 256 / 512 KB64 KB ROM + 4 KB VRAM (4-screen Mirroring)NES only
TSROM128 / 256 / 512 KB8 KB (no battery)128 / 256 KB ROM
TVROM64 KB16 / 32 / 64 KB ROM + 4 KB VRAM (4-screen Mirroring)NES only

Solder pad config

Namco 108 backwards compatibility (TEROM and TFROM)

  • Normal mode: ‘CL1’ connected, ‘CL2’ connected, ‘H’ disconnected, ‘V’ disconnected.
  • Backwards compatible with horizontal mirroring: ‘CL1’ disconnected, ‘CL2’ disconnected, ‘H’ disconnected, ‘V’ connected
  • Backwards compatible with vertical mirroring: ‘CL1’ disconnected, ‘CL2’ disconnected, ‘H’ connected, ‘V’ disconnected

Connecting ‘CL1’ enables MMC3-controlled mirroring, while connecting ‘CL2’ enables IRQs. However, the additional bankswitching modes available by the MMC3 that weren’t available with the Namco chip used on DEROM boards are still present and activated by bits 7-6 of port $8000.

Battery retention (TNROM, TKROM and TKSROM)

  • PRG RAM retaining data: ‘SL’ disconnected, Battery, D1, D2, R1 R2 and R3 present.
  • PRG RAM not retaining data: ‘SL’ connected, leave slots for Battery, D1, D2, R1, R2 and R3 free.

Various notes

Boards with 4-screen mirroring uses a 8 KB SRAM chip, but only 4 KB is actually used. The 2 KB VRAM inside of the console is always disabled, and the CIRAM A10 pin of the MMC3 doesn’t go to anything.

TLSROM and TKSROM boards have different mirroring control than other MMC3 boards. The mirroring is controlled directly by MMC3’s CHR A17 line, and MMC3’s CIRAM A10 pin doesn’t go to anything. Due to their incompatibility with other MMC3 boards on a software viewpoint, they are assigned to INES Mapper 118 instead of mapper 4.

TQROM board has both CHR ROM and RAM. Bit 6 of the bank number, which appears on MMC3’s CHR A16 line, controls whenever CHR RAM or CHR-ROM is enabled. A 74HC32 chip is used to combine this with other chip enable signals for the CHR-ROM and the CHR-RAM chips. Due to this incompatibility with the other MMC3 boards on a software viewpoint, this board is assigned to INES Mapper 119 instead of mapper 4.

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