Sega mark 3 adaptor

[Stanton54]

I am getting an error message each time I try to dump this cartridge.

I go to SMS/GG/Mlll/sg-1000 then SG-1000 Raphnet but I always get the same error SMS/GG Header not found.

I have the right rom size of 32kb selected for this game.

I tried resoldering all the pins but nothing changed. I cannot find this game on my sd card in any section in the current zip file.

Is this cartridge possibly incompatible? It should work for Sg-3000 or SG-1000 series.

When I try to dump it gives me an unusable UNKNOWN file name SMS format.

Thanks so much!

[Stanton54]

The CRC32 also changes each time I dump even with the same parameters. The name of the game is champion golf.

[Ancyker]

You should ensure the pins and contacts are clean on the cartridge and the adapter. I take apart all cartridges that are new to me and clean the pins/contacts super well with contact cleaner before doing anything else with them. I've had issues with them not working in the reader but working fine in the actual console/hardware. Since doing this, I have not had that issue, except for one cartridge.

For one cartridge (my first SNES SA1) I had, it still would not dump correctly even though I had cleaned the pins. I took it apart again, and while inspecting it more closely, I noticed it was slightly sticky -- not super sticky. It was tacky enough that if you pressed your finger onto it, it would stick to it for a brief second as you lifted it up. It was barely noticeable, which is why I missed it when I opened it to clean the contacts. I repeatedly sprayed and cleaned the entire PCB with contact cleaner until the tackiness was gone. After that, it started working fine. I don't have a working SNES right now, so I couldn't test if it was working with the original hardware, but the seller claimed it did. There was no sign of liquid damage or other obvious issues. It was just slightly tacky to the touch. So, if cleaning the contacts doesn't resolve the issue, try cleaning the entire PCB.

[Stanton54]

I have never thought of cleaning the slot too. I have been lucky in the build so far but I will try cleaning it and the PCB (why not) to see how it goes!

[PsyK0p4T]

Hi @Stanton54

Got some good news for you : this game is dumpable fine. I did it already, with a markIII adapter aswell.

To answer to your questions :

"I always get the same error SMS/GG Header not found." > totally normal. SG1000 games don't contain the "TMR SEGA" header, like most of SMS/GG games. We should maybe manage the SG1000 a bit differently and skip this check for this console in particular.

"I have the right rom size of 32kb selected for this game." > yup, good one. The game is 32k. Dunno if you got the v0 or v1 but both are 32k so this is fine.

"I cannot find this game on my sd card in any section in the current zip file." > is your setup up to date ? With latest builds you should have a "sg1000.txt" file at your sd card root, and this rom is in it. Expected crc32 is 868419b5 for the v0 rom.

"Is this cartridge possibly incompatible? " > really i don't think so, i dumped it myself. Have you already managed to dump other SMS / MarkIII / SG1000 games with your setup ? Just to be sure that your adapter is fine.

But... since we're talking about SG1000 in this thread, note that the dumper is currently incompatible with the 40k roms (like Monaco GP v0 for example). For now as a quick test I only tried to force the dumping size to 40k instead of 32 (which is the current maximum size) but this isn't enough. At least for games under or egal to 32k, the dumper should work. Try to clean your cart pins again, brush them with a rubber, they really need to be perfectly clean or you'll get a different crc everytime.

[PsyK0p4T]

Hard to judge with just a picture, but I don't see it used so much. Have you tried to brush the pins with a soft rubber ?

The only important line you need in the config is "#define enable_SMS". But you have it enabled already, otherwise it would be impossible to access the SMS module and make a dump. About switches, make sure you are using 5V, and all others on left position (off).

Also, with your pictures I just noticed a little difference between your MARKIII adapter and mine : I got resistors soldered on it, not yours. https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/87064902/198355949-d04e7476-b531-4197-82a5-2dff7c2222af.jpg but I can't say if it's a problem or not. When you bought it, was it ready-to-use ?
Maybe try to grab other carts for more testing, MARKIII if possible, as the adapter was mainly designed for this console. SG-1000/3000 is a bonus.

[Stanton54]

I have another cart coming in to test and I am using the zip file from Ryhurron. I may have to add resistors. I did not see any completed ones so it is definitely possible I am missing them.

[Stanton54]

That line is enabled for sure as I dumped me already. I tried cleaning with an eraser and alcohol but that didn't help. It is definitely the cleanest cart I have now. I was worried about removing the gold plating so I stopped cleaning for now. I have a v5 so all of that should be set automatically and I do have volatage set to 5 volts. Do you know what resistors you have?

[PsyK0p4T]

No sorry, I looked at it but can't know their exact values. Also checked my SMS adapter, and this one doesn't use any resistors. So maybe it's not mandatory... more tests on different cartridges will tell.

[Stanton54]

Thanks! I will give that a shot