32MB Upgrade now a real possibility?

[generalnmx]

It seems it might very well be, thanks to Rob (Robster?). If this is all true, and Gamepark doesn't care, I think a new buisness may spring up over this.

Think about it - the possibility of a fully-powered GBA emulator! Possibility even a primitive Neo Geo?

Thanks to http://www.gp32spain.com for the news.

 

[zboy9]

if this is true.......

 

[Azure]

This is great but I don't want to risk messing up my GP32 for a 32mb upgrade

 

[Robster]

Yeah, it's all true

After the discussion with generalnmx a week or so ago, my curiosity got the better of me. So I did some research, and the answer was:

- the bios does have to be changed.
- 3 wires have to be added
- each emulator will probably need to add some code to enable the extra memory

I'm not sure about that last one, it's with mr spiv at the moment

What I do know is that my GP32 has 32MB of ram, and it all works. I've run some test programs, and I have gpdoom running with all its data in the extra memory. It doesn't overclock any better than it did before (I can only do 150MHz ) and it will run batteries down faster.

I asked Anarchy about it, his GP32 has a 32MB chip but only 8MB works. So he's quite keen to get the other 24MB working

I'm in the process of making a website ( www.cobbleware.com , it'll be up and running in a few days) where I'll put details of the change, and some photos I took.

Anarchy was talking on gp32spain about setting up a "factory" to do the mods, in exchange for a little cash so good luck to him. I'm not willing to modify any more GP32s, because it's pretty scary (soldering wires directly to the CPU... yikes) and anyway, I'm in New Zealand so the postage to anywhere is a problem.

I'll do a bit of an update when the site's up and running.

 

[Shane]

Holy crap thats awesome, but there is major risk involved hey? Ah well the gp32 isn't going commercially better so it must go good some other way. How much does a 32MB memory chip cost? Also if they have the BIOS for it cant they modify that to have even more memory? Then there is no need for that Zodiac, even tho its like 200MHZ ARM or some shit and dont correct me I know of it.

 

[mr.spiv]

I'm not sure about that last one, it's with mr spiv at the moment

Yeh! This is really awesome.. An intermediate BIOS patch will be out pretty soon for those who have 32M mod :rolleyes: A proper integration to existing SDK has been giving some gray hair lately but will be sorted out somehow... now when I finally have time to do something.

It seems there is now a LOT of material for a new MultiFW version :blink:

 

[ralp99]

disregarding all the other logistical problems..
will this tear through the batteries even further? I have a FLU unit and it's running on rechargeables as it is. Battery life isn't a problem now, but if it were to cut in half I'd not want to bother.

interesting stuff, this thing is really becoming the Frankenstein console. The only thing that kind of disappoints me is that.. it's almost like using a hand grenade to kill an anthill. If programs were better developed for GP32 then we'd not need to worry about RAM so much? Sure, Neo Geo and GBA would still be out of the question but as far as SNES/Mame/etc go..

don't get me wrong, I am not trying to diss the efforts that are out there (software + hardware) - it's just a known fact that even the best optimized port will never have an advantage over software designed for the system, yah?

 

[lombrozo]

Are you all telling me that the GP32 has 32MB of RAM but only 8 of it is actually used? Why would the people at GamePark only allow access to 8MB of RAM?

 

[Zider]

Are you all telling me that the GP32 has 32MB of RAM but only 8 of it is actually used?

No, GP32 has 8MB and the BIOS is limited to 8MB. This discussion is about replacing the 8MB chip with a 32MB chip, and patching the BIOS to use it.

(correct me if I'm wrong anyone, but that's how I understood it.)

 

[Steve-O]

So does this mean all games will be coded to work on 32MB Only??? So people with only 8mb Ram and dont want to risk the upgrade wont get any more coool games to play??

Is their any Ram Upgrade Easy to follow diagrams?

 

[Ruune]

Do you see any computer games that say 256mb ONLY? :lol: , im jp

 

[Ruune]

There is one person i know, that could possibly hack this bios for us. His name is Wild_Pencil. He hacked the bios for the I-Opener, and changing the accepted ram is not a hard hack (as evidence of xboxhackers). I will try and contact him.

 

[declaration]

This has to be the most exciting news ever.... I hope it all proves a success in the end because i want 32mb of Ram.....

 

[empee]

There is one person i know, that could possibly hack this bios for us. His name is Wild_Pencil. He hacked the bios for the I-Opener, and changing the accepted ram is not a hard hack (as evidence of xboxhackers). I will try and contact him.

What I do know is that my GP32 has 32MB of ram, and it all works. I've run some test programs, and I have gpdoom running with all its data in the extra memory.

the mem works..

and spiv knows how to make bios aware of it..
the problem is the libs that dont yet support it..

it doesn't matter if you run "old" apps with 32mb mem.. but running 32mb apps on "old" gp32 might be some problem (until spiv or someone finds a way to see if gp32 has 32 or 8mb of mem)

 

[volfro]

this may be a dumb question--If it's upgradeable as long as someone can hack the BIOS, why limit it to 32MB? Aren't there chips with more memory that take up a comparable amount of space? Why not, if you have access to the BIOS, upgrade it to 64, or even 128?

Again, seeing as I'm not a programmer and I've never taken my GP apart--nor do I know much about memory in devices other than my PC--and the fact that this idea hasn't been mentioned by apparently seasoned hackers yet, this may very well be a stupid question.

Just figured it was worth a mention.

Adios

volfro

 

[Dolfhin]

It seems there is now a LOT of material for a new MultiFW version :blink:

So it's confirmed? I'm looking forward to it

I don't really see the advances of 32 mb of ram but i have a feeling i will see them pretty soon
If the mod isn't to hard to do i'll give it a try after, all the last thing i want is a broken GP32 with or without 32 mb of ram.

[Oftopic]
@MR. Spiv what's the main difference between the MultiFW and the MultiFW 2?

 

[Robster]

ralp99: It does eat batteries faster. I haven't done a lot of testing, but what I saw was with the 8MB chip, my GP32 was running 80-90mA doing not much at 67.5MHz, and then when running doom at 144MHz, it went up to 160mA. With the new ram, it was 130mA when doing nothing, and 170mA when running doom. So the idle current went up quite a lot, but the active current didn't go up so much. What does it mean for battery life? I have no idea

Steve-O: Games will never be made "only for 32MB ram". You may see emulators that can handle bigger ROMs on the 32MB version, but there will still be 8MB versions!

volfro: It would be pretty easy to make 64MB total RAM by piggy-backing another 32MB on top of the existing one. That is the maximum that the CPU can handle.

Dolfin: The modification is hard. Unless you've got the right gear (hot-air desoldering station, fine-tip soldering iron, etc), don't even think of doing it! Then again, if there's someone in your area that puts chips in PS2s/XBoxes etc, maybe they would be willing to do it.

My site at www.cobbleware.com is operational, now I just need to put some content on it...

 

[Ruune]

Thats great, 32mb is a dream come true for emus and hombrews alike! I havent gotten a gp32 yet, so how long do you think it will be before I can order a gp32 with 32mb of ram?

 

[Steve-O]

If I have diagrams I should be able to do it.. I got the stuff for PS2 Mod chipping (Ultra Fine Tip soldering iron 0.1mm Tip etc...)

 

[Dolfhin]

Dolfin: The modification is hard. Unless you've got the right gear (hot-air desoldering station, fine-tip soldering iron, etc), don't even think of doing it! Then again, if there's someone in your area that puts chips in PS2s/XBoxes etc, maybe they would be willing to do it.

I have most of the gear and installed some modchips myself If the're any tutorials/how-to's i might give it a try. It just depends on the risk with the new (solderles) xbox mod's you can't mess anything up but with a GP32...