Everdrive 64 FAQ

[gray.fullbusterzzz]

What games are supported?

All games except Banjo Tooie and Animal Forest. Donkey Kong 64 and Jet Force Gemini need a crack. One source says Banjo Kazooie needs a crack, although I've been using an unmodified rom and haven't found any problems so far.


What CIC do I use?

PAL systems need a 7101 CIC, while NTSC units require a 6102 CIC. You can use a 6105 CIC which will allow you to play Banjo Tooie at the cost of some 6103 games. Use a 6102.


Does a PAL console play NTSC games and vice versa?

Yes. You may get a grayscale picture playing PAL games on an NTSC console depending on your TV. The same issue does not occur playing NTSC games on a PAL console.


How do I crack Donkey Kong 64, Banjo Kazooie and Jet Force Gemini?

"Jet Force Gemini (E) (M4) [f1].z64" and "Jet Force Gemini (U) [f1].z64" will work for JFG.

Banjo Kazooie needs the "Banjo Kazooie (U) V1.0 [f1].z64" rom.


DONKEY KONG 64 HELPZZZZZ

Something new comes out every day with this game. Check this thread if what I say here isn't working.

http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?34506-Which-Donkey-Kong-64-Maintains-Save

If you are using an NTSC system update to the latest OS (1.27 at time of writing) use the rom "Donkey Kong 64 (U) (f2).z64" and force SRAM.

If you are using a PAL system update to the latest OS use the rom "Donkey Kong 64 (E) (f1).z64" and force SRAM


What ROM should I use?

Whether you are using a PAL or NTSC N64 more often than not you should use a (U) [!] rom. The exceptions are a few Rare titles such as Banjo Kazooie. Check the link below for more info.

http://www.cubed3.com/topic/30186/

Some out of region games have audio pitch errors due to PIF issues. If your using a PAL machine and you come across a problematic game it might be an idea to use the (E) [!] rom.

The only other exceptions are Jet Force Gemini where you want the [f1] rom and Donkey Kong 64 which needs the [f2] rom. Remember to force SRAM if your playing DK64.

I don't know what the (Mx) in some roms means, but the roms seem to play just like the original game.

Games which have multiple versions are given the (1.x) in their rom symbol. In general use the latest version as they contain bugfixes. The link below explains the differences for Zelda OoT

http://www.zeldawiki.org/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time#Cartridge_Ver sions


How do I use a custom background?

Get the image you want to use in BMP format at a 640x480 resolution. In the ED menu highlight the picture and press the C down button.


What SD should I use?

Use an SDHC card class 6 or 10. Do look for genuine brand name cards, if an eBay seller doesn't state that his cards are genuine then ask before buying.


A new firmware/OS update was released; where do I download it from?

OS updates can be downloaded from the link below. Put them on your SD card in the directory ED64/OS64.v64 and your good to go.

http://krikzz.com/pub/support/index.php?dir=ed64/os-bin/

Firmware updates are not necessary on a V2 cart. If you buy an ED64 today you will never need to worry about firmware updates. Click the link below if you have a v1.01 card and hence need them.

http://krikzz.com/pub/support/index.php?dir=ed64%2Ffirmware%2F


I have a v1.01 cart. How do I update the firmware?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64uI7r7KCzg


A new OS update came out and now something has gone wrong.

Go back to the old OS and make a post explaining the problem.


How do I get NES games to work?

Download the file in the link below and put the it in the directory ED64/emu.nes. The NES roms can go anywhere on the SD card. This emulator is not made by KRIKzz and is not very good. The MMC 4 and 5 chips do not work, probably others too. This means no Fire Emblem or Castlevania 3. The frame rate seems choppy to me, although I don't have a NES to compare it to. It requires a controller pack to save your game.

http://krikzz.com/pub/support/index.php?dir=ed64%2Femu%2FNeon64+(nes) (http://krikzz.com/pub/support/index.php?dir=ed64%2Femu%2FNeon64+%28nes%29)


What about the Gameboy, SMS, SNES and other emulators?

The NES emulator is the only one worth using. Don't bother.


Does the Everdrive support controller pack saving?

That is impossible without romhacking because the ED64 has no access to the data stream. However, an OS update will be released which allows you to backup your controller pack to an SD card.


Useful links

Almost complete of USA games and their CIC chips and save types (http://n64.icequake.net/mirror/www.elitendo.com/n64/usa_boot_save_list.html)

Incomplete, but good list of PAL optimised N64 games (http://s9.zetaboards.com/Nintendo_64_Forever/topic/420230/1/)

Battery free rumble pack mod (http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=43419)

N64 analogue stick solution (http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37361) (scroll down to sanni's post)

[StoneAgeGamer]

Great post.

Not super important, but the original version is 1.01 technically, not 1.1.

[scottzane]

Wow !

Great post indeed :clap:

Thanks.:thumbsup:

[gray.fullbusterzzz]

Great post.

Not super important, but the original version is 1.01 technically, not 1.1.

Oops. Now it says 1.01.


Wow !

Great post indeed :clap:

Thanks.:thumbsup:

Your welcome :)

[lovewiibrew]

I can't find the jet force gemini rom specified. :( Goodset doesnt contain it and google couldnt find it.

[gray.fullbusterzzz]

I can't find the jet force gemini rom specified. :( Goodset doesnt contain it and google couldnt find it.
I got my goodset from a site you can find by typing "n64 goodset" into google and clicking on the first link. A message will be on the page telling you to go to their new goodset section and from there you can download the 3.14 goodset. It doesn't contain the (U) [f1] rom, but it does have the (E) (M4) [f1] rom which works. JFG is PAL optimised so you won't get borders or slowdown.

If your N64 plays the game in gray scale then google "jet force gemini (u) [f1]" and click on the first link. I haven't downloaded and tested it, but it should work.

[lovewiibrew]

Yea I see it in v64 format. Will try it when the everdrive gets here. Thanks!

[Mickkn]

What should the background bmp be named ?

[StoneAgeGamer]

What should the background bmp be named ?

Doesn't need a special number. Highlight the BMP in your file browser and hit C Down to set it as the background. I would suggest putting your BMP in the ED64 folder so its out of the way of the ROMs.

[sanny87]

Are the Everdrive 64's region locked? Do you need to buy a PAL Everdrive for a PAL machine?

[StoneAgeGamer]

Are the Everdrive 64's region locked? Do you need to buy a PAL Everdrive for a PAL machine?

PAL N64 needs PAL EverDrive64, NTSC N64 needs NTSC EverDrive64.

PAL ED64 can play NTSC games on PAL N64.
NTSC ED64 can play PAL games on NTSC N64 (but they only play in gray scale).

[KRIKzz]

everdrive it self not locked on some region, but n64 require cic chip which is must match to the region of console, so you should choice pal cic7101 if you want use cart with pal system

[discomike]

I have managed to get a ED64 with NTSC CIC running on a PAL console using one of those Passport devices. I used Mario 64 PAL as the donor cart.

This info is only of use to you if you have both NTSC and PAL N64's

[sanny87]

Thanks for the replies Stoneage and krikzz.

[BM-Viper]

So, with the Everdrive 64 v2 board I just need to update the bootloader when a new version is available and everything else is part of the OS updates? Or do i still need to update the firmware when newer versions come out and with the v2 board it's possible to do it on the n64 itself?

[StoneAgeGamer]

ED64v2 firmware is loaded during start-up from SD card. The firmware is included in the OS file. Most likely if your ED64v2 is new it already has v3 bootloader. If not you just download file from KRIKzz's site and run it like a ROM.

[BM-Viper]

Thanks StoneAgeGamer

[sleepinglion]

Thank you for the helpful post. I think I may be having an issue not addressed, though. It's an audio problem I'm having with the center speaker whenever I play games with my ED64. The audio comes out rather distorted and a great deal louder than the other speakers (most notable in dialogue for StarFox 64 or the bringing-up-the-menu sound from Ocarina of Time). I was recently told that it may be the FPGA is a chip on the everdrive, a programmable chip (field programmable gate array) that is used to hold a large amount of circuitry on one chip. In theory, would noise reduction even be possible in this instance? I can lower the speaker volume, but the distorted audio remains. I was also wondering if anyone else had experienced this issue. I am currently using the latest ED64 OS. Other than that everything is going perfectly with this amazing device! Thank you so much =)

[scottzane]

Is it possible to add the following FAQ ?

Q:There is a save file in my save folder however when I ever I boot up [name of your game] it doesnt seem to pick it up. What do I do to save?
A:Are you resetting the game? In order to save data on an EverDrive 64, you have to press Reset on the console, wait for the ED64 menu to load, and THEN you can turn the system off. Pressing Reset is what saves the data to the SD card.

Q:Next question, how do I save with games that require a memory card such as lego racers or tony hawk ?
A:You still have to use a memory card. It's currently not possible for the Everdrive64 to save that data directly to the SD card.
[In some future, the bootloader may save to the MemPak and then to the SD. The menu may also copy the savefile to the MemPak...maybe]

Big thanks to coolthxmcdoom, RandJ and Hyperstar96 (...and Krikzz of course)

[BlockABoots]

If you load up a PAL game on an NTSC N64, does the game play at 50hz with boarders?

[reprep]

yes.it plays at 50 hz with borders unless you use PALadin or something like that to force 60 hz. the console outputs NTSC 50 in this case. if your tv doesn't support NTSC 50, you won't see picture (or maybe a black and white image)

[Conker2012]

You might want to add this to the FAQ;

Q. I want to use a graphics image as a background, but even though I've converted it to a 640 x 480 bitmap (.bmp) file, the Everdrive 64 won't use it, saying that the image must be 16 bit, but I the art/graphics programs I've tried won't convert it to 16 bit.

A. Download the freeware program Easy Graphic Converter from

http://www.etrusoft.com/graphic-converter/index.htm

and convert your images into 16 bit .bmp files.

[Delirious17]

Sweet...never thought of the day I'd be making wallpapers to be used on my N64 :P

[LittleNinja]

Hi, can anyone help me answer this? I'm thinking of getting a N64 some time soon, preferably the Limited Edition Pikachu Blue version. Will the ED64 work on it or will it only work on normal N64 consoles? Thanks!

[Conker2012]

Hi, can anyone help me answer this? I'm thinking of getting a N64 some time soon, preferably the Limited Edition Pikachu Blue version. Will the ED64 work on it or will it only work on normal N64 consoles? Thanks!

I can't speak from experience or technical knowledge, but I'd be *amazed* if the ED64 wouldn't work on every N64 ever made, as logically every N64 has to be 100% compatible with every other, as if there were even the slightest difference that could cause incompatibility then that could potentially cause unwanted problems, so Nintendo would surely make them 100% compatible across the board. The only exception is region encoding, but of course that is (a) deliberate by Nintendo, and (b) well documented, so that manufacturers are aware of it and could make allowances for it if necessary. And the ED64 gets around that anyway, though of course you need to match the ED64's region type to the console (i.e. I have the PAL ED64 and the PAL N64, and they both together allow me to play games from any region).

[Lum]

If I recall, ED64 hasn't yet been updated to fully support Brazilian systems. Of course I don't know much about that being in the US.

[LittleNinja]

I can't speak from experience or technical knowledge, but I'd be *amazed* if the ED64 wouldn't work on every N64 ever made, as logically every N64 has to be 100% compatible with every other, as if there were even the slightest difference that could cause incompatibility then that could potentially cause unwanted problems, so Nintendo would surely make them 100% compatible across the board. The only exception is region encoding, but of course that is (a) deliberate by Nintendo, and (b) well documented, so that manufacturers are aware of it and could make allowances for it if necessary. And the ED64 gets around that anyway, though of course you need to match the ED64's region type to the console (i.e. I have the PAL ED64 and the PAL N64, and they both together allow me to play games from any region).

Ah okay. I'm worried that I would be wasting the money on the Limited Edition if the ED64 wouldn't work on it.

[Lum]

Ah okay. I'm worried that I would be wasting the money on the Limited Edition if the ED64 wouldn't work on it.

Japanese Pikachu N64 is a much lighter tone of blue that looks better than US ones. They also had orange we didn't get here.

Pikachu N64 has one issue. Namely 64DD, as if that matters. The expansion port was covered up by plastic. And its larger footprint would look strange with 64DD (similar idea to Genesis model 1 on a Sega CD model 2).

[LittleNinja]

Japanese Pikachu N64 is a much lighter tone of blue that looks better than US ones. They also had orange we didn't get here.

Pikachu N64 has one issue. Namely 64DD, as if that matters. The expansion port was covered up by plastic. And its larger footprint would look strange with 64DD (similar idea to Genesis model 1 on a Sega CD model 2).

Yes. I can only get the Japanese one at where I'm currently at. It has a different footprint, which is why I'm afraid that the ED64 wouldn't work on it. I've seen someone saying "The N64's internal circuitry was only revised once (for the Pikachu N64) and that was to strip out the expansion port. Apart from that there was no change to the hardware." I'm bad at electronic stuff so I really need to confirm whether the ED64 will work on it before I buy it and ended up wasting money. =(

[Lum]

Expansion port itself wasn't removed. Just its visible access. You have to take off the bottom case, or cut a hole.

[LittleNinja]

Expansion port itself wasn't removed. Just its visible access. You have to take off the bottom case, or cut a hole.

So in other words, everything is the same (hardware, circuit boards and stuff) as a normal NTSC-J N64? It's just that the layout is different and therefore, the ED64 should work on it right?

[Lum]

As far as I'm aware. I don't own either Pikachu N64 or any NTSC-J N64 to say much.

Not much purpose for me to import since they use the same internal region code as US.

[LittleNinja]

As far as I'm aware. I don't own either Pikachu N64 or any NTSC-J N64 to say much.

Not much purpose for me since (like Super Famicom) they use the same region code as US.

Ah okay. Thanks! Guess I'll do a little more research before buying. =)

[Conker2012]

Ah okay. Thanks! Guess I'll do a little more research before buying. =)

I have to admit, it is disappointing how little hard information there is on the 'net about the N64. It doesn't seem to have anywhere near the 'net presence of it's contemporaries and older machines, and most of what is out there is purely to do with the gameplay of it's (main) games.

It might be worth your while asking at

http://s9.zetaboards.com/Nintendo_64_Forever/index/

as there are some very knowledgeable people there.

[LittleNinja]

I have to admit, it is disappointing how little hard information there is on the 'net about the N64. It doesn't seem to have anywhere near the 'net presence of it's contemporaries and older machines, and most of what is out there is purely to do with the gameplay of it's (main) games.

It might be worth your while asking at

http://s9.zetaboards.com/Nintendo_64_Forever/index/

as there are some very knowledgeable people there.

Ah, thanks! I've also sent a pm to Krikzz and hope to get an answer from him. =)

[sonicdude10]

I can tell you this much about the N64. They were mostly the same. Sure some regions had different revisions but functionally they were all the same. Only real differences were the cart slots and the region frequency. PAL is 50 Hz and NTSC is 60 Hz. Just gotta mach the cart shell and CIC chip to make the ED64 work for your region. NTSC use the 6102 CIC chip and PAL use the 7101. These are the common chips and work with most games. The ones that don't work with these chips have patches to make them including Banjo Tooie now.

So it should work in Brazilian machines with proper chip and shell.

[Lum]

N64 similar to the PS1 sets color format in hardware, yet 50 hz or 60hz in software. So an NTSC N64 not modified will attempt to use NTSC50 for playing PAL games.

[sharklaser]

What about the "No-intro" versions? Do Banjo Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini and Donkey Kong 64 run as no intro versions on the ED64?

Infos here:
http://www.epforums.org/showthread.php?56293-No-Intro-Collection-%28Complete-ROM-Sets%29*

[reprep]

you have to get the needed versions for these games. i am sure Jet Force Gemini on no-intro doesn't work. haven't tried others yet, but it would be good to get the needed good N64 versions.