Looking to ROM dump just a handful of games, so I’m trying not to spend hundreds on a Sanni or Retrode. I saw this on AliExpress for $15.

I’ve personally had good luck with Alibaba and Aliexpress, but I recognize that this could just straight not work. There’s no documentation, but it claims the game data will show up like files on a USB flash drive.

Anybody know where this design came from?

  • MrScottyTayEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    If that was the case they could’ve replaced the battery since and still have a save on that cartridge that needs backing up

    • Spunky Monkey@lemm.eeEnglish
      7·
      4 months ago

      I don’t believe it works like that. When you change the battery, the save is gone. In other words, I think it has to have a continuous charge to keep the save.

      It works like a computer CMOS battery if I’m not mistaken.

      • f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        9·
        4 months ago

        You are correct.

        One can solder in a temporary “helper battery” (or 3V power supply) to the same traces but in a different spot, to keep the SRAM alive while the real battery is replaced.

        Some later games (GBA-era) use Flash memory and the battery is just for the clock.