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New Aliexpress 153 in 1

GiRo SiNToRNiLLoS™

GiRo SiNToRNiLLoS™

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What do you think about this?
 
If you look at the available datasheets for the components used on the cart, you'll see that they mostly are 3/5V capable. For example, the 3 Altera 3000A used says:

MultiVoltTM I/O interface enabling the device core to run at 3.3 V,while I/O pins are compatible with 5.0–V, 3.3–V, and 2.5–V logiclevels
Click to expand...

The bigger issue is the pics the seller from AE posted. They are not complete, if anything, look like AI generated images of the 2022 V3 cart converted to Vortex. V3 PCBs haven't been made/sold since 2024.

161-in-1 makers know that the biggest thing to happen to Neo Geo in 20 years is the AES+. Why not make a Vortex AES cart? there is clearly higher demand for AES than MVS. The BOM is pretty much identical with the only difference being the PCB and shell.
 
It's the sort of thing I'd want to poke at, but it's too expensive to risk getting a rock shipped from China.
 
leonk said:
If you look at the available datasheets for the components used on the cart, you'll see that they mostly are 3/5V capable. For example, the 3 Altera 3000A used says:
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say mostly if only the CPLDs are. The flashes definitely aren't and I doubt all signals are going through the CPLDs for level shifting (given the many busses used by the NeoGeo that's hundreds of signals).
In home use that's probably OK for several years, one sure thing is those chinese companies cut cost anywhere they can.
 
Is it reflasheable?
Edit: Yes, It says so in the description itself.
 
Last edited:
enkor said:
Is it reflasheable?
Edit: Yes, It says so in the description itself.
Click to expand...
I would say the complexity of reflashing this cart is on par with converting a regular 161-in-1 cart to a vortex cart. You need to have ability to remove flash chips using a rework station, special programmers, write and program your own FPGA code and program it back to the 3 chips, but sure .. its "reflasheable". :thumbsup:
 
leonk said:
I would say the complexity of reflashing this cart is on par with converting a regular 161-in-1 cart to a vortex cart. You need to have ability to remove flash chips using a rework station, special programmers, write and program your own FPGA code and program it back to the 3 chips, but sure .. its "reflasheable". :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Ouch!
 
WOW! The cart does exist!! The problem with a lot of items you buy from AE is that they get 90% correct, but it's the last 10% that they really mess up. And most times, that 10% is because of cost cuts, or just lack of knowledge.

The error message he's getting is probably because he's using the cart on a 2 slot. UB4+2 slot+vortex is a bad combination. The fix is either not use UB4 or use a 1 slot (or 4 slot also works great). I believe there's a bug in UB4; people with UB3 or stock BIOS don't see it.

As for the audio issues. that's the part where they cut corners. Vortex even talked about changing the power circuit to improve PCM audio in his instructions (and he included a pic of his solution) back in 2023. They just didn't follow through.

I don't know how they messed up the character data .. that's just bad memory, bad soldering or dirty pins? Or them not testing the cart before shipping it out to a customer?
 
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