Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer [2024/11/02 23:36] – asie
+++ notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer [2025/06/22 21:27] (current) – asie
@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 The DS Linker Writer (also known as the N-Card, ExpressCard, DS Fire Link, etc.) is a Slot-2 GBA cartridge with an USB controller; in combination with a software USB stack running on the DS itself, it allows the console to act as an USB device.
+Two variants exist:
+  * the "D12", featuring USB 1.1 support, based on a PDIUSBD12 chip.
+    * This chip was only used in early batches of the card.
+    * Due to a regression bug, this variant only works with older releases of uDisk. It also doesn't support homebrew built with the open source Keil stack.
+  * the "D14", featuring USB 2.0 support, based on an ISP1581 (or equivalent) chip.
+    * The most common variant.
+To identify the variant in your possesion, you can use nrio-usb-disk (linked below), which displays the detected chip ID:
+  * ''1012'' - "D12" board (PDIUSBD12-based)
+  * ''1581'' - "D14" board (ISP1581-based)
+  * other values - unknown chip
+    * The TinyUSB stack used by nrio-usb-disk can support ''1582'' and ''1583'' boards (ISP1582/83-based), if any such turn out to exist.
+  * ''0000'', ''FFFF'' - unknown board (or no board!)
+Alternatively, you can compare the PCB with photos available below.
 ===== Software =====
-  * [[https://github.com/asiekierka/nrio-usb-disk|nrio-usb-disk]] - USB mass storage driver, supports any DLDi flashcard
+  * [[https://github.com/asiekierka/nitrotracker|NitrousTracker]] - music tracker, supports USB MIDI in versions 0.4.11+
+  * [[https://github.com/asiekierka/nrio-usb-disk|nrio-usb-disk]] - USB mass storage driver, compatible with any Slot-1 DLDI flashcart
   * DSMouse - mouse emulator
   * DSPad - gamepad emulator
@@ Line 15: / Line 34: @@
   * [[https://github.com/asiekierka/nrio-usb-examples/|TinyUSB port]] - MIT licensed
     * Requires a recent version of BlocksDS; comes with examples.
-    * D14 cartridges supported; D12 cartridge support is being worked on.
+    * Full support for "D14" and "D12" boards.
   * Keil USB stack port by the N-Card/DS Linker team
-    * The public source code release is of an older version which supports D14 cartridges only. It includes examples intended for an ancient version of devkitARM/libnds.
+    * Contains examples intended for an ancient version of devkitARM/libnds.
+    * Full support for "D14" boards.
+    * No support for "D12" boards.
 ===== Photos =====
@@ Line 23: / Line 44: @@
 ==== Cartridges ====
-These cartridges are compatible with the N-Card/DS Linker Writer. Note that the casing color differs between batches.
+Note that the casing color may differ between batches.
+=== D12 ===
+{{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:types_d12}}
+=== D14 ===
 {{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:types}}
@@ Line 29: / Line 56: @@
 (Source: ApacheThunder, Disturbo)
-==== PCB (N-Card, D14) ====
+Notes:
+  * The MK5 GIGA with a purple PCB and exposed pins is the only one on this list not to feature a mini-USB connector; rather, a non-USB-standard connector is used.
+==== PCBs ====
+=== DS Fire Link (D12) ===
+{{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:pcb_d12}}
+=== DS Fire Link (D14) ===
+{{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:pcb_sylverrez}}
+(Source: SylverReZ)
+=== ExpressCard Writer (D14) ===
+{{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:pcb_sylverrez_2}}
+(Source: SylverReZ)
+=== N-Card (D14) ===
 {{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:pcb_disturbo}}
@@ Line 35: / Line 84: @@
 (Source: Disturbo)
-==== PCB (DS Fire Link, D12) ====
+=== DS Link? (D14, "Lite" form factor) ===
-{{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:pcb_d12}}
+{{gallery>:notes:flashcart:ds_linker_writer:pcb_rachel_birdy}}
+(Source: Rachel Birdy)
 ===== Wiring =====
@@ Line 45: / Line 96: @@
 The DS Linker Writer uses an ISP1581 (or clone, depending on batch) USB controller and a 12 MHz crystal.
-TODO: Mark power pin connections.
+In theory, it should be possible to replace the chip with an ISP1582 or ISP1583 in newer designs while maintaining compatibility.
+TODO: Mark power pin connections?
 <code>
@@ Line 110: / Line 163: @@
 ==== D12 (PDIUSBD12) variant ====
-A much rarer, alternate design uses a PDIUSBD12 chip instead.
+A much rarer, alternate design uses a PDIUSBD12 chip instead, configured with a separate address/data bus.
-* Configured with separate address/data bus
+In theory, it should be possible to replace the chip with an FT120, a modern replacement chip, while maintaining compatibility. However, minor differences exist, and this has not been tested on actual hardware.
+TODO: Mark power pin connections?
 <code>
@@ Line 126: / Line 181: @@
    GBA AD2 <> DATA2 \ 3    D   22 \ XTAL1 <- 12 MHz oscillator
     GBA AD3 <> DATA3 \ 4    I   21 \ GL_N -> LED
-            GND -- GND \ 5    U   20 \ /RESET <- GBA AD8?
+           GND -- GND \ 5    U   20 \ /RESET <- GBA AD8?
-      GBA AD4 <> DATA4 \ 6    S   19 \ /EOT <- GBA AD8?
+      GBA AD4 <> DATA4 \ 6    S   19 \ /EOT
-       GBA AD5 <> DATA5 \ 7    B   18 \ /DMACK <- GBA AD8?
+       GBA AD5 <> DATA5 \ 7    B   18 \ /DMACK
         GBA AD6 <> DATA6 \ 8    D   17 \ DMREQ
-         GBA AD7 <> DATA7 \ 9    1   16 \ /WR <- GBA /WR?
+         GBA AD7 <> DATA7 \ 9    1   16 \ /WR <- GBA /WR
-                GND -- ALE \ 10   2   15 \ /RD <- GBA /RD?
+                GND -- ALE \ 10   2   15 \ /RD <- GBA /RD
-            GBA /CS? -> /CS \ 11         /
+             GBA /CS -> /CS \ 11         /
                      SUSPEND \ 12       /
-                 ?? ?? CLKOUT \ 13     /
+                       CLKOUT \ 13     /
-                    ?? ?? /INT \ 14   /
+             GBA /IREQ <- /INT \ 14   /
                                 \    /
                                  \  /
                                   \/
 </code>
 ===== Links =====
 * [[https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sheets/NXP%20PDFs/ISP1581.pdf|ISP1581 datasheet (Rev 06)]]