32MB RAM expansion: Difference between revisions

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At the moment, the only known software able to take advantage of the 32MB RAM expansion is the [https://github.com/tsowell/scummvm-dreamcast/blob/dcalt-backend/backends/platform/dcalt/README.md Alternate ScummVM backend for Dreamcast] by tsowell. This version of [[ScummVM]] also offers an extensive array of other expansion hardware features, such as compatibility for loading/saving data with [[Serial SD card adapter|SD cards]] and [[IDE hard drive modification|hard drives]], the ability to output MIDI over [[MIDI adapter|serial]] or [[MIDI expansion|the expansion slot]] for external synthesizers, and the ability to output various VGA modes for CRT monitors.  
At the moment, the only known software able to take advantage of the 32MB RAM expansion is the [https://github.com/tsowell/scummvm-dreamcast/blob/dcalt-backend/backends/platform/dcalt/README.md Alternate ScummVM backend for Dreamcast] by tsowell. This version of [[ScummVM]] also offers an extensive array of other expansion hardware features, such as compatibility for loading/saving data with [[Serial SD card adapter|SD cards]] and [[IDE hard drive modification|hard drives]], the ability to output MIDI over [[MIDI adapter|serial]] or [[MIDI expansion|the expansion slot]] for external synthesizers, and the ability to output various VGA modes for CRT monitors.  
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;"
|+32MB-patched BIOS image testing
|-
|1.004 vanilla
|UNTESTED, PROBABLY WORKS
|-
|1.01c vanilla
|UNTESTED, PROBABLY WORKS
|-
|1.01d vanilla
|WORKS
|-
|1.01d w/ region free patch ("link83")
|WORKS
|-
|1.01d w/ region free patch alt intro ("link83")
|WORKS
|-
|1.01d Treamcast
|UNTESTED
|-
|1.022 ("no mil-CD BIOS")
|NOT INCLUDED ON DISC, UNTESTED
|-
|jc 1.300 regular intro
|WORKS
|-
|jc 1.300 alt intro
|UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
|-
|jc 1.310 regular intro
|WORKS
|-
|jc 1.310 alt intro
|WORKS
|-
|jc 1.320 regular intro
|WORKS
|-
|jc 1.310 alt intro
|WORKS
|-
|dreamboot 1.0.0
|WORKS
|-
|dreamboot 1.0.0 No GD-ROM
|UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
|-
|dreamboot 1.0.1
|WORKS
|-
|dreamboot 1.0.1 No GD-ROM
|UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
|-
|dreamboot 1.0.2
|WORKS
|-
|dreamboot 1.0.2 No GD-ROM
|UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
|-
|dreamboot 1.1.0
|WORKS
|-
|dreamboot 1.1.0 No GD-ROM
|UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
|-
|dreamshell boot loader regular intro
|WORKS
|-
|dreamshell boot loader regular intro No GDROM
|UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
|-
|dreamshell boot loader alt intro
|WORKS
|-
|dreamshell boot loader alt intro No GD-ROM
|WORKS
|-
|dreamshell sd_loader_with.bios
|WORKS
|}


A DreamShell image with 32MB patched BIOS images is available. This image contains a variety of nearly 50 BIOS images including the stock BIOS, japanese-cake BIOS, DreamBoot BIOS, and DreamShell BIOS, in a variety of flavors for each. This image also contains an updated bflash.klf module to support flashing the MX29L3211 32 megabit chips to accommodate triple-BIOS mods!  
A DreamShell image with 32MB patched BIOS images is available. This image contains a variety of nearly 50 BIOS images including the stock BIOS, japanese-cake BIOS, DreamBoot BIOS, and DreamShell BIOS, in a variety of flavors for each. This image also contains an updated bflash.klf module to support flashing the MX29L3211 32 megabit chips to accommodate triple-BIOS mods!  


* *'''WARNING'''* THE IMAGES ON THIS DISC ARE EXPERIMENTAL. THE ONLY TESTED 32MB BIOS IS THE jc-v1.032-32MB.bin IMAGE.
* *'''WARNING'''* While most of the BIOS images on the disc have been tested, not all have. See the testing chart to the right. "WORKS" means that the Dreamcast boots up while using this BIOS and boots DreamShell and/or Crazy Taxi. No further testing has been done.
** IF YOU FLASH YOUR DC BIOS WITH A 32MB BIOS IMAGE FROM THIS DISC, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FUNCTIONING BACKUP BIOS TO RECOVER YOUR DREAMCAST.
** Seriously! We are not responsible for damage to Dreamcast units due to the use of this disc. Know what you are doing before you use this disc!
*** Seriously! We are not responsible for damage to Dreamcast units due to the use of this disc. Read the warning and know what you are doing.
*** Download [https://mega.nz/file/rltniDbC#_TEfFduymRzpl3hdEJjvWuH7RHVIOoNZlKFUujOsfxo DreamShell 32MB BIOS Flasher Image]
**** Download [https://mega.nz/file/rltniDbC#_TEfFduymRzpl3hdEJjvWuH7RHVIOoNZlKFUujOsfxo DreamShell 32MB BIOS Flasher Image]


See [https://tsowell.github.io/2020/06/21/dreamcast-32mb-ram-upgrade.html tsowell's blog] for more information on the modification for now.
See [https://tsowell.github.io/2020/06/21/dreamcast-32mb-ram-upgrade.html tsowell's blog] for more information on the modification for now.

Revision as of 21:25, 25 June 2020

By replacing the Dreamcast's two 8MB SDRAM chips with larger SDRAM chips, modifying the pin arrangement, and modifying the BIOS, it is possible to install 32MB of RAM in the Dreamcast. Existing games and applications will very likely not be able to address the RAM, but applications built with a patched version of KallistiOS are able to address all 32MB.

At the moment, the only known software able to take advantage of the 32MB RAM expansion is the Alternate ScummVM backend for Dreamcast by tsowell. This version of ScummVM also offers an extensive array of other expansion hardware features, such as compatibility for loading/saving data with SD cards and hard drives, the ability to output MIDI over serial or the expansion slot for external synthesizers, and the ability to output various VGA modes for CRT monitors.

32MB-patched BIOS image testing
1.004 vanilla UNTESTED, PROBABLY WORKS
1.01c vanilla UNTESTED, PROBABLY WORKS
1.01d vanilla WORKS
1.01d w/ region free patch ("link83") WORKS
1.01d w/ region free patch alt intro ("link83") WORKS
1.01d Treamcast UNTESTED
1.022 ("no mil-CD BIOS") NOT INCLUDED ON DISC, UNTESTED
jc 1.300 regular intro WORKS
jc 1.300 alt intro UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
jc 1.310 regular intro WORKS
jc 1.310 alt intro WORKS
jc 1.320 regular intro WORKS
jc 1.310 alt intro WORKS
dreamboot 1.0.0 WORKS
dreamboot 1.0.0 No GD-ROM UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
dreamboot 1.0.1 WORKS
dreamboot 1.0.1 No GD-ROM UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
dreamboot 1.0.2 WORKS
dreamboot 1.0.2 No GD-ROM UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
dreamboot 1.1.0 WORKS
dreamboot 1.1.0 No GD-ROM UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
dreamshell boot loader regular intro WORKS
dreamshell boot loader regular intro No GDROM UNTESTED, SHOULD WORK
dreamshell boot loader alt intro WORKS
dreamshell boot loader alt intro No GD-ROM WORKS
dreamshell sd_loader_with.bios WORKS


A DreamShell image with 32MB patched BIOS images is available. This image contains a variety of nearly 50 BIOS images including the stock BIOS, japanese-cake BIOS, DreamBoot BIOS, and DreamShell BIOS, in a variety of flavors for each. This image also contains an updated bflash.klf module to support flashing the MX29L3211 32 megabit chips to accommodate triple-BIOS mods!

  • *WARNING* While most of the BIOS images on the disc have been tested, not all have. See the testing chart to the right. "WORKS" means that the Dreamcast boots up while using this BIOS and boots DreamShell and/or Crazy Taxi. No further testing has been done.
    • Seriously! We are not responsible for damage to Dreamcast units due to the use of this disc. Know what you are doing before you use this disc!

See tsowell's blog for more information on the modification for now.

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