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DARKSOFT CPS III Bios and CD Releases

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I burned the image for a standard SH2 with 4th Strike to rule out that I did in fact have a custom SH2. The issue I’m having is indicative of having mismatched image and BIOS and so I tried an image for a standard SH2 after having an issues with the image for a custom SH2
 
You cannot use the standard SH2 image, BIOS, or 4th Strike on your cart. You have an original cart with encrypted CPU

You need to remove, check and/or reflash your BIOS with custom and use the custom CD image

You cannot play 4th Strike unless you replace the CPU or buy a repro cart that already has a standard SH2 CPU

Please stop trying to “rule out” issues using the standard CD image. You are making your issue more complicated than it needs to be
 
The dual-bios helper board fits on the “rev.b” cart I’ve had kicking around for a while.
IMG_8095.jpeg

Normally I would use hot air to remove the old bios, but this time gave it a go with Chipquik alloy. Works really well, would recommend
IMG_8092.jpeg

Would not recommend splattering excess alloy on the legs of other chips, some of the alloy got behind the legs of the SH2 and created a bridge, fixing this was mildly challenging
IMG_8094.jpeg

It’s also possible to put a lot of direct heat into the pads using alloy. Standard pad repair here, and these ones are also available on the back of the board if things get too bad (not in this case)
IMG_8089.jpeg

So all that remains is to jump pin 16 to the pad on the helper board then test it out.

What kind of wire does everyone use for this kind of thing. TSOP48 is .5mm pitch which is… quite small
 
Rats! That feeling having soldered up a new project, 100% sure that it's going to work aaaaand....

Garbled graphics like this on a CPS3 normally mean "my security cart is dead". No secret hidden meaning that I've ever found in the garbled graphics, just whatever random noise happened to be in VRAM when the processor decided to dump it to the frame buffer. Back to carefully recheck all my work...
IMG_8099 (1).png
 
I just got a repro Cartridge which I'm not sure if it is a standard or custom one, is it possible to check that without opening the cartridge?

I also tried both using it with both version of CDs but the system is jumping to the region selection screen after choosing a game and then freezes up. I tried this using burnt CD and a BlueScsi no luck.

The board works fine with my orginial SF new Generation CD and cartridge.
 
Black screen/freeze after region select usually indicates a mismatch between the image used for install, and the CPU being used. If it's a repro I can't imagine they used a custom CPU instead of standard., so you should be using the standard image. Best way to know for sure what is inside the cartridge is to open it up. It's pretty safe to do, not much you can really mess up by looking inside.

Do you know the filename(s) of the images you tried?
 
st3ncil said:
The board works fine with my orginial SF new Generation CD and cartridge.
Click to expand...

Then that means that your cartridge still is alive and has a battery inside! It's not a repro.

st3ncil said:
the system is jumping to the region selection screen after choosing a game and then freezes up.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what happens when you use a CD that is from the wrong processor. If your cart is alive, you can only use original CDs. I generated a tool that allows you to create ISO images of other games and they will work with an original cartridge.

Completely at your own risk as this is 10+ years old: https://www.mediafire.com/file/ishfncinbbix91l/cps3_iso_converter_v1.0.rar/file
 
kazuo said:
Black screen/freeze after region select usually indicates a mismatch between the image used for install, and the CPU being used. If it's a repro I can't imagine they used a custom CPU instead of standard., so you should be using the standard image. Best way to know for sure what is inside the cartridge is to open it up. It's pretty safe to do, not much you can really mess up by looking inside.

Do you know the filename(s) of the images you tried?
Click to expand...
I tried UniCD-CPS3_for_custom_SH2_V5 and UniCD-CPS3_for_standard_SH2_V4

Darksoft said:
Then that means that your cartridge still is alive and has a battery inside! It's not a repro.



That is exactly what happens when you use a CD that is from the wrong processor. If your cart is alive, you can only use original CDs. I generated a tool that allows you to create ISO images of other games and they will work with an original cartridge.

Completely at your own risk as this is 10+ years old: https://www.mediafire.com/file/ishfncinbbix91l/cps3_iso_converter_v1.0.rar/file
Click to expand...
I have 2 seperate cartridges, one should be one of yours and the other one is a original New Generation one.
 
st3ncil said:
I tried UniCD-CPS3_for_custom_SH2_V5 and UniCD-CPS3_for_standard_SH2_V4


I have 2 seperate cartridges, one should be one of yours and the other one is a original New Generation one.
Click to expand...
Then you need to use the one you got from me, but I can see that the version that you have is a version for "Custom_SH2" and you need a version for "Standard_SH2"
 
Board looks original, sticker on the CPU is original. That's almost certainly a custom CPU. No battery seems to suggest it has a Darksofted BIOS (but it could also be a 2I BIOS).

Repro cartridges have a STANDARD CPU and a Darksoft BIOS.

When you start the system with that cartridge, do you see the "PUSH 1P FOR DARKSOFT MENU" prompt? If so, it's a Darksoft BIOS, and you need to use the CUSTOM CD image. You must also rewrite the SIMMs with the game data from the CUSTOM CD image.
 
st3ncil said:
image.jpg

This looks like the standard cpu, is that right?
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That’s a genuine CPS-3 cartridge with a custom CPU. You can easily tell by the sticker on there with the letter “C”.

Repro cart will have a standard CPU that has these markings on it. Furthermore, recent repro carts don’t have Capcom printed on the PCB.

1728223216821.jpeg


If you’re using the cart for UltraSIMMs, I highly recommend the standard CPU / repro cart with the NoCD BIOS because you’ll unlock two awesomely fun mods of 3rd Strike (4th Strike and re:Third) that you can’t play with a custom CPU. I upgraded all my setups to this and it’s the ultimate config IMO.
 
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kazuo said:
Board looks original, sticker on the CPU is original. That's almost certainly a custom CPU. No battery seems to suggest it has a Darksofted BIOS (but it could also be a 2I BIOS).

Repro cartridges have a STANDARD CPU and a Darksoft BIOS.

When you start the system with that cartridge, do you see the "PUSH 1P FOR DARKSOFT MENU" prompt? If so, it's a Darksoft BIOS, and you need to use the CUSTOM CD image. You must also rewrite the SIMMs with the game data from the CUSTOM CD image.
Click to expand...
so if I start the system, I just get a black screen, but if I start it holding 1P I get to the Menu, which says Security Cassette Utility Menu Ver. 3.00.
I tried it again with UniCD-CPS3_for_custom_SH2_V5 on my BlueScsi, still jumpes to the Region selection after selecting a game to write. Do not need to erase any memory do I?

sorry for all the questions, I'm looking forward to the UltraSimms and the noCD cart and not have to hassle with the CDs and loading games.
 
djsheep said:
Repro cart will have a standard CPU that has these markings on it. Furthermore, recent repro carts don’t have Capcom printed on the PCB.

1728223216821.jpeg
Click to expand...

for the record: on the photo above is NOT standard SH-2 CPU, but a bit custom chip for Sega. "standard" SH-2 chip is HD6417604

speaking in general - it seems all the Hitachi/Renesas CPUs labeled HD64170xx is the customized CPUs for 3rd party hardware manufacturers.
 
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