Literally just bought a copy of Japanese crystal about an hour ago because of the design on the back. If I didn’t already have a ez flash jr I would do this in a heartbeat! Awesome video
I have changed my mind. I want to do this mod but I absolutely cannot find the adapter anywhere. I really want crystal clear on my cart haha. Was wondering if you had an extra adapter I can buy off you. If not no worries this is not the place for this. Or if you know where I can buy one. Thanks!
Love this. I'm doing the exact same thing currently. Also it KILLED me each time you ignored cleaning off the flux when you were done. BRUH. that stuff is corrosive.
I didn't not clean it up, I just didn't clean it on camera. I just waited until the end to clean it up since I would have just introduced more flux along the way anyway. i.imgur.com/IWuGd9Z.jpg
If you're using flux designed for electronics rework, it is NOT corrosive. This isn't the same as plumber's flux. It might be corrosive if you're using your grandpa's old bottle of flux from 1940, the modern stuff is almost entirely "no clean". Nearly every single console I ever bought still has factory flux all over it.
Hi Makho! Awesome video. Thank you for sharing all this awesome info. Going to try this myself. I managed to order the TSOP-44L adapters from OSH Park and also ordered some AM29F016D chips. I'm having bad luck finding a cartridge reader though. I'm trying to find one that would work with JP Crystal just like you did in this video. I also would like the ability to add any rom back-up to the cartridge. Any help would be much appreciated. Again thank you for sharing!
If you want to buy a cart reader, GBxCart RW is your best bet. It supports these just fine. If you want to build one, either the sanni cart reader (or my version based on that one) or github.com/HDR/GBFlasher-Micro is your next best bet.
@@makho Thanks. Now I just have to decide which one to order. Very appreciated. Did not expect you to follow up and help me out. Looking forward for more of your videos!
so. bought a copy of JP crystal + the chip adapter. i got the ram chip on the adapter. but the adapter does NOT adapt to my copy of crystal... not happy.
I believe the adapter would need to be hand soldered to the PCB but you should be able to use hot air to solder the flash to the adapter. I'd do 'em both by hand though.
I understand you do it for people who want to make a copy for themselves but the truth is if you have all this equipment you found a way to make it rentable for you to own.
So only one wire is required for this mod? How come there is at least 3 wires on Jrodrigo's carts? I am planning to flash ROMs onto mine using a GBxCart RW. Thanks in advance!
I'm wondering if we can have something like this for the GBA Pokemon game? Japanese Pokemon games are cheaper than the English ones, if we can make a cart out of them, that will be awesome, and useful!
Hey my guy. Say I don't have the adapter, or the flashing board, but I do have a GBxCart. Could I just install the chip and flash it on the cart using the GBxCart? I understand the convenience of the adapter and board since you can make sure that the chip is good before actually soldering it onto the game pak, but I just don't have one lol. Never mind I just finished watching the whole video lmao. I'm stupid.
Absolutely you can. Like I said, I just do it that way to make troubleshooting easier. If I know the flash chip works then if the cart does not work, the issue is my soldering. My first five or so carts that I assembled did not work so I get a little nervous around assembling these things.
I finally got the jrodrigo adapter chips. But they have odd things sticking out on all 4 sides. Do you think I could sand it down or something? Or are they just trash now?
@@makho after looking at it on the underside, it looks like the metal contacts are all fine. Like, it looks like it should still work even if I don't sand them down. Do you think it would hurt anything to leave it? Because I don't want to ruin it and have to order more lol
Update: I fucked it up bad. I don't have a heat gun so I tried to cut the legs following a tutorial. I ended up ripping traces off the board. I don't think I can save it. At least jp carts are cheap... I'm scared to try again though.
I dont want to put the hammer down and be a negative prick but shockslayer clearly state that the production on cartridge and resell of his hack is something he is against. No one should pay a dime for a rom hack
@@makho and if oyu make money out of the cartridge with CRYSTAL CLEAR(shockslayer) well guess what your making money out of something he created. You cant argue that man
I know this is a old vid but just kinda curious, if you didn't care about reflashability on this could you remove the jumper after flashing it? Would love to try this I just find the jumper I a bit unsightly!
I have a US board that has no chip on it, could I do this on that one as well? Jumper wire to pin 3 I assume just like the JPN one? Or is it incompatible do you think?
Will it work on Pokemon stadium if you flash it on the you have there board with the Pokemon game boy games because I want to put my Pokemon game boy game I made to work on Pokemon stadium.
Do you know if his revision [X] is released online somewhere? I wanted to get it from OSHPARK but I can't find it. Also, which version works on Japanese Crystal carts? The one that starts with T?
Also can we flash it with Sanni's adapter when it is already soldered on or only before with the SNES thing? I am planning on making one that is Gameboy only like you did
@@NikhilGarlapati You need the TSOP44 version for Pokemon Crystal carts. You can flash the chip once the cart is assembled, I just like preflashing it because it's not that easy to solder and if you know the flash chip itself is not bad, it makes troubleshooting installs much easier. github.com/JRodrigoTech/FLASH-ROM-Adapter-for-GameBoy
@@makho thanks! Also, where do you recommend buying the flashchip from? Also, are you sure the ones on the github are his new revision X (see www.tindie.com/products/jrodrigo/flash-memory-adapter-for-some-game-boy-cartridges/) ? And I think you said in the video that you got a faulty adapter from OSHPARK. Should I order more than 1 just in case one ends up faulty? Thanks for all your help!
Amazing video like always. I know this video has been on here for a few years but have spent the last week going through loads of AM29F016 chips. No success. Got my TSOP-44L adapters from OSH Park. Currently have 9 of those. I have tried every chip and every board. I have a gbxcart rw. It tells me it's not rewritable. Can't flash anything to it or do anything with it. Sorry for the long message. Just wanted to explain in detail. Hope someone can help please. Thank you
@@makho Well after waiting for another batch of AM29F016 chips and 6 more adapters I can finally say I have given up. Im 100% sure of my soldering. Been soldering for years. I have brought a BennVenn joebags JR V2 aswell as my gbxcart just to test. The joebags has said that every time I have tried it hasn't detected a flash chip and comes back with 0000 on everything it reads for. What a waste of time and money
@@renboxtable It took me quite a few tries to get a working one. What's more likely, your soldering or all of the materials you are using are busted? You're confident that you got the alignment correct? No shorts? No deformities with the adapters? Castellated holes can be fickle.
Is there anyone who sells a Japanese crystal cart with the US rom chip already swapped in? I really want a us version on a JP cartridge but I could never do it myself...
I don't have a cart flasher or the knowledge of how to do that. My experience starts and ends at ips screen installs and shell swaps. Thanks for replying.
Yes, but that seems like a gross waste of money since the American version of Crystal goes for approximately seven times what the Japanese version goes for. This (or the SOP-32L version) should work on nearly all carts with a few exceptions like Pokemon Pinball or the Game Boy Camera.
All you need is a donot cart (in this case JP Pokemon Crystal, check ebay), the flash adapter, check the description, and then some AM29F016 chip. These are the AM29F016 chips I used: www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-lot-AM29F016D-70EF-AM29F016D-TSOP48-AM29F016-29f016-TSOP48/32968426514.html
@@obrebel0 Because 4 years ago when I made this video (and flash cart), there were no 4mb ROMs or ROM hacks. Also, 4mb chips are 5x or more the cost compared to 2mb chips.
19:32 my grandma falling down the stairs be like
Literally just bought a copy of Japanese crystal about an hour ago because of the design on the back. If I didn’t already have a ez flash jr I would do this in a heartbeat! Awesome video
I have changed my mind. I want to do this mod but I absolutely cannot find the adapter anywhere. I really want crystal clear on my cart haha. Was wondering if you had an extra adapter I can buy off you. If not no worries this is not the place for this. Or if you know where I can buy one. Thanks!
"If you're still seeing the chip, you didn't use enough flux". Words to live by haha
Love this. I'm doing the exact same thing currently.
Also it KILLED me each time you ignored cleaning off the flux when you were done. BRUH. that stuff is corrosive.
I didn't not clean it up, I just didn't clean it on camera. I just waited until the end to clean it up since I would have just introduced more flux along the way anyway. i.imgur.com/IWuGd9Z.jpg
@@makho thank goodness. I was sort of worried since you closed it back up and put it in the game.
If you're using flux designed for electronics rework, it is NOT corrosive. This isn't the same as plumber's flux.
It might be corrosive if you're using your grandpa's old bottle of flux from 1940, the modern stuff is almost entirely "no clean". Nearly every single console I ever bought still has factory flux all over it.
Hi Makho! Awesome video. Thank you for sharing all this awesome info. Going to try this myself. I managed to order the TSOP-44L adapters from OSH Park and also ordered some AM29F016D chips. I'm having bad luck finding a cartridge reader though. I'm trying to find one that would work with JP Crystal just like you did in this video. I also would like the ability to add any rom back-up to the cartridge. Any help would be much appreciated. Again thank you for sharing!
If you want to buy a cart reader, GBxCart RW is your best bet. It supports these just fine. If you want to build one, either the sanni cart reader (or my version based on that one) or github.com/HDR/GBFlasher-Micro is your next best bet.
@@makho Awesome thanks! Been hard to find a GBxCart RW... I might have to build one I guess. Keep up the awesome work 💪
@@jasonarnaldo8126 shop.insidegadgets.com/product/gbxcart-rw/
@@makho Thanks. Now I just have to decide which one to order. Very appreciated. Did not expect you to follow up and help me out. Looking forward for more of your videos!
so. bought a copy of JP crystal + the chip adapter. i got the ram chip on the adapter. but the adapter does NOT adapt to my copy of crystal... not happy.
RAM or flash? pics help~~
Hi Makho,
I love you video, Thanks .
Which chip I can buy to work with 32pins adapter? I wasn’t able to buy a 48pins adapter.
Thanks
So cool and helpful! Going to try to do it to. Can i use a hot air gun to solder adapter adapter and flash?
I believe the adapter would need to be hand soldered to the PCB but you should be able to use hot air to solder the flash to the adapter. I'd do 'em both by hand though.
@@makho hot air and soldering past is easier for a novice like me:) But can the hot air gun damage flash chip?
@@Israelelf hot air should not damage any of the components since that's how they were designed to be soldered in the first place
I understand you do it for people who want to make a copy for themselves but the truth is if you have all this equipment you found a way to make it rentable for you to own.
I make these for myself. I don't sell them.
I know you made the cart but wondering you know any places selling ones for flashing? Wish to do some experiments but only seeing sold out.
retrogamerepairshop.com/collections/hdr/products/game-boy-2mb-32kb-fram-mbc3-with-rtc-flash-cartridge-by-hdr
So only one wire is required for this mod? How come there is at least 3 wires on Jrodrigo's carts? I am planning to flash ROMs onto mine using a GBxCart RW. Thanks in advance!
Why ask literally the same question several times?
I'm wondering if we can have something like this for the GBA Pokemon game? Japanese Pokemon games are cheaper than the English ones, if we can make a cart out of them, that will be awesome, and useful!
No, GBA games use a custom chip that handles more than just the game data. There won't be anything drop in like this any time soon.
Hey my guy. Say I don't have the adapter, or the flashing board, but I do have a GBxCart. Could I just install the chip and flash it on the cart using the GBxCart? I understand the convenience of the adapter and board since you can make sure that the chip is good before actually soldering it onto the game pak, but I just don't have one lol.
Never mind I just finished watching the whole video lmao. I'm stupid.
Absolutely you can. Like I said, I just do it that way to make troubleshooting easier. If I know the flash chip works then if the cart does not work, the issue is my soldering. My first five or so carts that I assembled did not work so I get a little nervous around assembling these things.
@@makho And what is that awesome flashboard you re using? It would make me have peace of mind also :3
@@ivandosio9826 github.com/makhowastaken/cartreader
I finally got the jrodrigo adapter chips. But they have odd things sticking out on all 4 sides. Do you think I could sand it down or something? Or are they just trash now?
If you got them from oshpark, I'm guessing those are just the panelization tabs. Yes, you can (and should) just sand or file those down.
@@makho after looking at it on the underside, it looks like the metal contacts are all fine. Like, it looks like it should still work even if I don't sand them down. Do you think it would hurt anything to leave it? Because I don't want to ruin it and have to order more lol
@@Soul94255 as long as there is nothing that impedes your install, you are fine to leave them
Update: I fucked it up bad. I don't have a heat gun so I tried to cut the legs following a tutorial. I ended up ripping traces off the board. I don't think I can save it. At least jp carts are cheap... I'm scared to try again though.
I dont want to put the hammer down and be a negative prick but shockslayer clearly state that the production on cartridge and resell of his hack is something he is against. No one should pay a dime for a rom hack
Ok? The software is free, yeah, but the hardware is something completely different.
@@makho what would be on your hardwared without the hack? A piece of plastic
@@makho and if oyu make money out of the cartridge with CRYSTAL CLEAR(shockslayer) well guess what your making money out of something he created. You cant argue that man
Why you think those cartridges are being sold on shady sites like wish and etsy. Defenetly no other purpose then making money
@@oldnintendolink go fuck yourself, I don't sell these. And if I did, I would not sell them with the ROM.
Could this work for gameboy advance games?
Nope, GBA games use custom mapper ROM chips so you'd have to replace the single part on the OEM cart with your own mapper and flash chips.
I know this is a old vid but just kinda curious, if you didn't care about reflashability on this could you remove the jumper after flashing it? Would love to try this I just find the jumper I a bit unsightly!
could likely ditch the wire after flashing.
@@makho Thank you, appreciate everything you do for us peasants!
I have a US board that has no chip on it, could I do this on that one as well? Jumper wire to pin 3 I assume just like the JPN one? Or is it incompatible do you think?
probably fine
@@makho oddly because the chip is mbc30 and it’s a 44 pin adapter I think I need to figure out the pin out as it didn’t work 🥲
@@kyle88l well, yeah, mbc30 and mbc3 have different pinouts. The MROM pinout is the same between models with the same part.
@@makho yeah I realized it once I read the chip. Can’t find pin out for the mbc30 though. Otherwise I’m sure it would work the same
@@kyle88l did you ever figure out what was wrong and how to fix it, been at this for hours now
can the wire be removed after flashing?
Yes but I recommend leaving it connected in case you want to reflash.
@@makho sweet, I plan on keeping it OG Pokemon Crystal US so I won't need to reflash it. Keep up the great videos btw.
Will it work on Pokemon stadium if you flash it on the you have there board with the Pokemon game boy games because I want to put my Pokemon game boy game I made to work on Pokemon stadium.
it should
@@makho oh ok thank u
Any reason why you used crystal over silver/gold?
looks cooler
Do you know of a Pokémon crystal mod to create a SD card flash cart?
that's something entirely different
Do you know if his revision [X] is released online somewhere? I wanted to get it from OSHPARK but I can't find it. Also, which version works on Japanese Crystal carts? The one that starts with T?
Also can we flash it with Sanni's adapter when it is already soldered on or only before with the SNES thing? I am planning on making one that is Gameboy only like you did
@@NikhilGarlapati You need the TSOP44 version for Pokemon Crystal carts. You can flash the chip once the cart is assembled, I just like preflashing it because it's not that easy to solder and if you know the flash chip itself is not bad, it makes troubleshooting installs much easier.
github.com/JRodrigoTech/FLASH-ROM-Adapter-for-GameBoy
@@makho thanks! Also, where do you recommend buying the flashchip from? Also, are you sure the ones on the github are his new revision X (see www.tindie.com/products/jrodrigo/flash-memory-adapter-for-some-game-boy-cartridges/) ? And I think you said in the video that you got a faulty adapter from OSHPARK. Should I order more than 1 just in case one ends up faulty? Thanks for all your help!
Im an idiot lol forgot oshpark is minimum 3
Where do you get your japanese crystal carts from usually? How much do you pay for them
Amazing video like always. I know this video has been on here for a few years but have spent the last week going through loads of AM29F016 chips. No success. Got my TSOP-44L adapters from OSH Park. Currently have 9 of those. I have tried every chip and every board. I have a gbxcart rw. It tells me it's not rewritable. Can't flash anything to it or do anything with it. Sorry for the long message. Just wanted to explain in detail. Hope someone can help please. Thank you
Check your soldering. There are a lot of very fine joints and it's easy for something to go wrong.
@@makho Thank you for such a fast response. I checked over it. used a multimeter too just to be 100%. I just can't figure it out at all.
@@makho Well after waiting for another batch of AM29F016 chips and 6 more adapters I can finally say I have given up. Im 100% sure of my soldering. Been soldering for years. I have brought a BennVenn joebags JR V2 aswell as my gbxcart just to test. The joebags has said that every time I have tried it hasn't detected a flash chip and comes back with 0000 on everything it reads for. What a waste of time and money
@@renboxtable It took me quite a few tries to get a working one. What's more likely, your soldering or all of the materials you are using are busted? You're confident that you got the alignment correct? No shorts? No deformities with the adapters? Castellated holes can be fickle.
@@makho soldering is all good. You saying about deformations. Just noticed that all of the chips have what looks like a big bubble on the bottom.
Is there anyone who sells a Japanese crystal cart with the US rom chip already swapped in? I really want a us version on a JP cartridge but I could never do it myself...
No but you can order one of these www.tindie.com/products/jrodrigo/pre-modded-flash-cartridge-with-mbc3-rtc-timer/
I don't have a cart flasher or the knowledge of how to do that. My experience starts and ends at ips screen installs and shell swaps. Thanks for replying.
@@johnwheeler468 That's a pre-assembled cart. You tell him what ROM you want.
Ah I didn't read the whole thing sorry. Now if only they were in stock.
Would this work with an american version?
Yes, but that seems like a gross waste of money since the American version of Crystal goes for approximately seven times what the Japanese version goes for. This (or the SOP-32L version) should work on nearly all carts with a few exceptions like Pokemon Pinball or the Game Boy Camera.
Can you post links for your parts?
All you need is a donot cart (in this case JP Pokemon Crystal, check ebay), the flash adapter, check the description, and then some AM29F016 chip. These are the AM29F016 chips I used: www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-lot-AM29F016D-70EF-AM29F016D-TSOP48-AM29F016-29f016-TSOP48/32968426514.html
@@makho why the 2mb chip instead of the 4mb?
@@obrebel0 Because 4 years ago when I made this video (and flash cart), there were no 4mb ROMs or ROM hacks. Also, 4mb chips are 5x or more the cost compared to 2mb chips.
this shits impossible
It just takes a lot of practice with a soldering iron. I'm sure you could work your way up to this.
@@makho thanks for believing in me
anyone selling pre-flashed chips for crystal?
That would be piracy.
saddens me when you destroy a good copy of crystal :(
I'm sorry you feel that way. The cart is even more functional now than ever before. I hardly think of it as destroyed.
a $20 cart.