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Open Source NES motherboard

Redherring32

New member
Original poster
Feb 15, 2020
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Hey guys!
I just wanted to share something I've been working on.
It's a completely reverse engineered NES motherboard, schematics, manufacturing files, and a Bill of Materials (BOM).
Meaning you can assemble your own NES motherboards, or even use the schematic to make a custom board.
I've included some important info on some of the required parts in the readme, so please read though it.
I get a lot of questions regarding RGB etc, so to clear up any confusion, this will work with the Hi-Def NES, or the NESRGB just the same as an original board.

If you'd like to check out the project, you can do so through this link:

If you have any comments or questions regarding the project, I'd love to here what you think!
 

cta

Well-known member
Registered
Jun 7, 2019
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will require the use of an original (...) CIC Lockout chip to function.
What, do we really not have an open source reimplementation of that thing yet, after all those years, and having covered the SNES and N64 ones? What gives? :eek:

Edit: Well there's this, so is it just an issue of it not being a 1:1 drop-in replacement?
 

Redherring32

New member
Original poster
Feb 15, 2020
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Haha yeah, we have an open source one for cartridges, but from what I understand that's only capable of key (slave) mode.
However you don't even need it technically, if you leave it out you just gotta wire up the reset button to directly pull the RST line low.

This does however have the downside of needing to reset after turning in the NES in order to initialize the cartridge, as the CIC normally does that automatically. (This is something I'm looking into fixing, so that we can ditch the CIC altogether with no downsides)
 
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Ice Man

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Jun 8, 2019
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Very nice! I was thinking to do the same for me but never got around to do it yet.
 

Arcadia

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May 30, 2019
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Is there any documentation about aftermarket CPU and compatibility?
 

boardin27

Member
Registered
Jul 11, 2020
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Thanks for making it and open sourcing it! This is definitely on my list of things to build. I’ve never sourced a BOM and printed a board so it should be a nice learning experience.
 
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discworld

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Feb 2, 2020
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Nice work! how are you doing that? are you working in the electronic industry or are you made this as a hobby? :)
 

Redherring32

New member
Original poster
Feb 15, 2020
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Before the pandemic hit my day job was construction, and I did woodworking on the side, I just did this as a hobby side project.
But for now until I can work again I work on stuff like this almost full time.
 
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GHFear

New member
Jul 20, 2020
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I am going to be building custom mobos and nice looking cases like crazy now <3
Thank you man!
This is awesome!
 

XBOX

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Dec 22, 2019
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Krzysiobal... I knew that I heard it somewhere before hmm..

 

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