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cpsystem3

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Happy new years to everyone on Arcade-Projects! I present to you another guide, this time we are going to make Golden Axe! This is probably the *easiest* System16 conversion that can be done. I intentionally started discussing System16 conversions with Golden Axe as it is very easy and users of all skill levels can jump right in!

Important: This guide is for 171-5797 rom boards ONLY. It is the System 16B rom board that has a custom Sega QFP IC marked 315-5250 (see pic!)

Golden Axe Conversion Guide for 171-5797 Rom Board 1.0 - by Cpsystem3

Games that use rom board 171-5797:
Toryumon
E-Swat
MVP
Golden Axe (duh)

Difficulty level to perform conversion:
2 out of 10, experience with programming eproms required. No soldering neccessary.

Materials required:
Eprom programmer with ability to do 32pin eproms
8x 27c2001 eproms
4x 27c010 eproms
1x 27c256 eprom
1x 68000 12mhz CPU **Only needed if a stock 68000 12mhz CPU is not already installed at C7
1x Z80 CPU **Only needed if a stock Z80 is not already installed at D15
"goldnaxe" Mame Rom Set (parent rom set, encrypted)
"goldnaxeud" Mame Rom Set (decrypted USA program roms)

Step 1:
Carefully remove all of the existing mask roms from your rom board. I prefer to use a small blade screwdriver and carefully pry each side until the chip is free. Be extremely careful you do not go too far into the socket, and gouge the PCB!

Step 2:
Set all of the jumpers as follows:
S1 - Short
S2 - Open
S3 - Open
S4 - Short
S5 - Open
S6 - Short

S7 - Short
S8 - Open
S9 - Short
S10 - Open

S11 - Short
S12 - Open
S13 - Open
S14 - Short
S15 - Open
S16 - Short

Step 3:
Burn the eproms and install in the following locations.
27c020 - bootleg_epr-12542.ic1 - IC1
27c020 - bootleg_epr-12543.ic2 - IC2

27c020 - mpr-12378.ic9 - IC9
27c020 - mpr-12380.ic10 - IC10
27c020 - mpr-12382.ic11 - IC11
27c020 - mpr-12379.ic12 - IC12
27c020 - mpr-12381.ic13 - IC13
27c020 - mpr-12383.ic14 - IC14

27c010 - epr-12385.ic19 - IC19
27c010 - epr-12386.ic20 - IC20
27c010 - epr-12387.ic21 - IC21

27c010 - mpr-12384.ic6 - IC6
27c256 - epr-12390.ic8 - IC8

Step 4:
Remove the FD1094 Epoxy Block CPU, replace with the stock 68000 12mhz CPU. Pin 1 faces towards the edge connector. If there is an MCU installed at position C2, remove it, it is not needed.

Tips and other thoughts:
*There are many different rom-boards available for the System 16. Golden Axe runs on more than just the 171-5797. While conversion of other rom boards is possible, they are much more involved and not in scope for this guide.

*You can change region by using different decrypted CPU rom sets. Substitute the CPU roms IC1 and IC2 from the mame rom sets "goldnaxejd" for Japan region, "goldnaxe1" for world.

*System16 is NON JAMMA! Use an adapter before you fry something connecting it to jamma ;)

*If for some reason your CPU board has an epoxy block at position D15, instead of a stock Z80 CPU, replace it with a stock Z80. The audio will not work if there is a custom Sega device installed.

*This guide also applies to E-Swat, in case anybody wants to make that title. Not my personal favorite but still fun!

gaxe.jpg
 
Uhm, I thought that System16B conversions were known for quite a while. It's all written in the MAME source code.

Best thing is having a 5704 which is kind of a "universal board" which is able to run the entire library. You just have to change the jumper configurations as per MAME instructions.

Everything here: https://goo.gl/sQFQQt

You can find Tetris 5704 boards for quite cheap, I've paid mine something like 60€ including shipping.
 
@donluca if you can show us some examples that you have made in the past that would be nice. Thanks.
 
Uhm, I thought that System16B conversions were known for quite a while. It's all written in the MAME source code.

Best thing is having a 5704 which is kind of a "universal board" which is able to run the entire library. You just have to change the jumper configurations as per MAME instructions.
Known, but it's nice to have a document like this!

Since it's relevant I converted a Tetris 5704 into a Golden Axe. Since MAME source only covers the Japan version on that rom board, here are some notes to load a World version that works

Golden Axe (set 3, World) (FD1094 317-0120)
Jammarcade.net Decrypt Program Roms link
Jumpers in Mame here do work

Otherwise no differences to the process!
 
Great guide! Question: can anyone recommend a decent eprom burner that doesn't cost too much? I'm not too familiar with conversions yet but I might get one in the future if I get some interesting PCBs. Thanks.
 
@donluca if you can show us some examples that you have made in the past that would be nice. Thanks.
I've not written anything about this because, really, everything is very nicely laid out in that MAME source, not much to say about.

90% of the games use the exact same jumper configuration with the exception of Golden Axe and maybe a couple other which use 27c2001 roms and need to have the power to another pin, or you'll fry the rom chip.

The jumper configuration for all the games using the non-JEDEC 27c1000 and smaller roms is

S2 S3 S6 S7 S9 S11 S13 S15 S17 -> shorted

The jumper configuration for all the games using 27C2001 (like Golden Axe) is

S2 S4 S5 S8 S10 S12 S13 S15 S17 -> shorted

As stated before, this is all already well documented in MAME, you can find the link in my previous post.

If you wish to know which game used the bigger 27C2001 (and hence need the other jump configuration) you can search for the game in any MAME database, I personally like ProgettoEMMA https://goo.gl/2MGZpg
Just look for the game, and look at the ROMs it uses: 27C2001 have a reported size of 262144.

If someone wants to compile a list you can check either ProgettoEMMA or the MAME source.

EDIT: this is for the 5704 board, I know some other rom boards do not support the bigger rom chips so your choice in games might be limited. If you want to play the entire library just get a 5704 Tetris, a good rom burner (make sure it supports the dreaded 27C1000 non-JEDEC) and a bunch of EPROMs (like I did) and you're set.

EDIT 2: of course, you're going to need decrypted roms and a bog standard Motorola 68000 running at 10Mhz.
 
Last edited:
MAME System16B driver contains many mistakes/missing info about jumper configuration, it's a well known issue not yet fixed :)
 
Hi! :)

I converted a Flash Point Romboard into Golden Axe

I have problems with Glitchs & a loud noisy sound i checked the jumpers well insert all the eproms.


I burn 2 times A7,A8,A5,A6


20190604-215304.jpg

20190604-215348.jpg


20190604-215415.jpg


20190604-215448.jpg


20190604-215501.jpg





ROM goldnaxejd

bootleg_epr-12540.a7 HN27C301AG-15 non-JEDEC

bootleg_epr-12539.a5 HN27C301AG-15 non-JEDEC

epr-12521.a8: HN27C301AG-15 non-JEDEC

epr-12519.a6: HN27C301AG-15 non-JEDEC

epr-12385.a14 AMD AM27C010-120DC

epr-12386.a15 AMD AM27C010-120DC

epr-12387.a16 AMD AM27C010-120DC

mpr-12378.b1 STM27C2001-10F1

mpr-12379.b5 STM27C2001-10F1

mpr-12380.b2 STM27C2001-10F1

mpr-12381.b6 STM27C2001-10F1

mpr-12382.b3 STM27C2001-10F1

mpr-12383.b7 AMD AM27C010-120DC

epr-12390.a10 STM27C2001-10F1


mpr-12384.a11 STM27C256B-10F1
 
Reported bad ROMs are "normal" and due to two things:
- two of them are reported bad because whoever did the decrypt didn't care to fix checksums
- the two others is a bug from Sega where addresses in ROMs used to store checksums are taking into account to calculate checksums
First issue can be fixed by simply editing checksums values in ROMs, second one is also simple to fix by excluding addresses where checksums are stored from the calculation.
 
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