Projects
In this section I will talk about each of the different boards that I’ve created and how to install them.
Note: Soldering and desoldering skilles are required!
I recommend using a desoldering iron with a built in electric vacuum pump. This makes removing the chips from the original board significantly easier.
NUS-01A-02
This is the most common board found in the N64 library. The NUS-01A-02 is a single rom board that uses the older “short” save chip. This board can be found in games such as Mario 64 and Golden Eye. There are other variants of the single rom board like the NUS-01A-01 and the NUS-01A-03. This board will be compatible with both of those variants. When you open your game cartridge, check for the model number on the front of the board. If it’s any of the 3 boards mentioned here than this board will work for you. Please make sure when soldering in the chips to the new board that the notches line up with notches in the white outline in the silk screen. Make sure that all your chips are oriented so that the writing on them is upside down! Also keep in mind that the top of the board is the side with the model / version number on it. The large electrolytic capacitor that was on your original board can also be desoldered and reattached to the new replacement board. after everything has been soldered into place from the original board into the new board, go ahead and reassemble the cartridge and screw the new board in place.
NUS-08A-01
The NUS-08A-01 is a less common board but is used in some notable games such as Paper Mario and Pokemon Stadium 2. This board can also accept the chips from an NUS-06A-01 board as well. The interesting thing about the double rom chip boards is that it doesn’t matter which chip you put on top and which chip you put on bottom. This is because the two rom chips are wired completely in parallel with each other. So long as your chip orientation is correct it should work. Majora’s Mask uses an NUS-06A-01 board which can be used with this board. Just put the appropriate chips in the appropriate slot and you should be good to go. Also note that this board uses the newer “long” save chip. Again, the large electrolytic capacitor can be reused. But keep in mind that the negative is on the left on this board unlike the others
NUS-02A-03
The NUS-02A-03 is another less common variant. It’s however used in games like Conker’s Bad Fur Day. This board is also compatible with the NUS-02A-01 as well. Games like Killer Instinct Gold use the NUS-02A-01. This is an interesting variant in that it’s a double rom chip board but uses the older “short” save chip. DON’T confuse this with the NUS-06A-01! It has the same shape but the save chips are different variants. Again, just open your cartridge and check the model number on the front of the board. And once again the large electrolytic capacitor can be placed from the old board into this one.
NUS-03A-01
The NUS-03A-01 is one of the more unique N64 boards. For starters, unlike most N64 carts it utilizes a game-save battery. Despite being one of the full-height boards, it still only uses a single rom. The IC on top is actually the save chip. This cartridge is also notable for being used in Ocarina of Time and Super Smash Bros. It also can have both the half-height and full-height save chip hence the additional row of contacts for the top IC. Some versions of Ocarina of Time have the full-height chip and some have the half-height. Whichever version you own, the board I designed can accept either type. Just make sure that you arrange the chips the way they were in the original cartridge. Also the board that I designed is meant to work with a CR2032 battery, so make sure to use one of those when installing the battery (just make sure that the pin spacing is 20mm). Another thing to note about this board it that its the only one that uses resistors. The resistors are labeled R1 and R2 and can be taken off the original board and placed into the holes on the new board. Note: these resistors are important and without them the game will not save! Again, like before, the electrolytic capacitor can be taken off the original board and placed into the holes labeled C1. And again make sure that the orientation of your chips has the writing upside down.
Note the orientation of the chips! All the chips are oriented with their text upside down! Also the top side of the board has the model number on it.
