So, I took the pictures from http://www.planetvb.com/modules/hardware/?type=vue&sec=flash_rom_pcb of the official FlashROM cart and made an “X-ray” image with the two halves overlaid.

I was examining it and, based on the pinouts I have, it looks like /INTCRO (the interrupt line, pin 9) is connected to the Flash chips’ A18 😕 (Note: I’m only assuming it goes to the same pin, but it obviously goes to both chips.)

No matter how I look at it, I can’t figure out how I’m seeing it wrong. It also looks like the “audio pass-though” pins are messed up. Could it be a different pinout from the “production” model VB?

I’ve attached some images: Top, bottom, an enhanced “x-ray” version showing the problem I’m having, and the pinout from the Flash data-sheet.

Attachments:

1. 

   official-membo-x3-flash-cart-top.jpg
   

2. 

   official-membo-x3-flash-cart-bot.jpg
   

3. 

   problem.jpg
   

4. 

   sharp-lh28f008sat-pinout.png
   

Yes, you’re right, the pinout on this cart is different. It’s a prototype cart that worked with the WCES/Shoshinkai VB prototypes, which had this different pinout as well. It’s unknown whether there are/were also flash carts with a retail pinout, since this is the only one than ever surfaced.

Hmm… Maybe something to that effect should be added to the page about it?

And again… you’re right, Amos. 😀

Is that the only pin that differs?

… and the sound pins…

Are there any pinout available for this version of the V.B?

I made a pinout of it a long time ago, but IIRC almost all the pins were shifted by one pin from the final.

DogP

DogP wrote:
I made a pinout of it a long time ago, but IIRC almost all the pins were shifted by one pin from the final.

DogP

I wonder what the reasoning behind that was… Maybe they just found out it would be more efficient to route the cart and/or main-board if the pin-out was changed a bit. Then again, it could also have been some kind of theft deterrent, like those special lug-nuts that require a matching wrench. Or none of the above 😛