Scribd
Upload
160 views

UltimateCart UserGuide

The Ultimate Cart is an open-source multi-cartridge for Atari 8-bit computers that allows playing ROM files from an SD card. It supports many file formats and cartridge types. To use it, insert an SD card and power on the Atari to see a menu of ROM files. Firmware upgrades are available to add features. The board can be installed in an Atari cartridge case with modifications.

Uploaded by

Jose Eduardo Sanchez Larreta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
160 views

UltimateCart UserGuide

The Ultimate Cart is an open-source multi-cartridge for Atari 8-bit computers that allows playing ROM files from an SD card. It supports many file formats and cartridge types. To use it, insert an SD card and power on the Atari to see a menu of ROM files. Firmware upgrades are available to add features. The board can be installed in an Atari cartridge case with modifications.

Uploaded by

Jose Eduardo Sanchez Larreta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Ultimate

Cartridge for Atari 8-bit Computers


Website
The Ultimate Cart is a multi-cart for Atari 400/800/XL/XE computers. It is
open-source hardware and software. The project website is:
https://github.com/robinhedwards/UltimateCart

Basic Usage
The Ultimate Cartridge can be used uncased in an XE system.
Mounting inside a cartridge case is recommended for XL computers since the
flaps on the slot may damage the bare PCB.
The SD card slot side should be facing upward (or forwards) in the computer,
with the chip side downwards (or backwards).

Insert an SD card (either full size, or MicroSD in an adapter) into the slot. The
card does not require any special preparation, since the Ultimate cartridge
can read FAT (including FAT32) file systems. Long file names are supported.
When the Atari is powered on, a list of any ROM & CAR files and directories
on the SD card should be shown on the Atari’s screen. Keyboard commands
are shown at the bottom of the screen. A newer version of the firmware also
supports XEX files – this may be installed on your cartridge.
It is best to organize your files in directories since the cartridge will load and
sort the files in the directory before display. If you have to many files in any
one directory, this may cause a noticeable pause before display.
You can disable the cartridge (using the X key) if you want to boot normally
(e.g. to disk) and leave the cartridge plugged in (to avoid wear and tear).

SD Cards
Higher speed SD cards are recommended. SDHC (High capacity) cards are
supported. On a high-speed card, a 1 megabyte ROM file (e.g. AtariMax)
takes about 3 seconds to be loaded into the cartridge when selected. Slower
cards may take longer.

Status LED
LED Meaning
Blinking The cartridge menu screen is active
On Selected cartridge is enabled for access (RD4 or RD5 active)
Off Selected cartridge is disabled (RD4 and RD5 inactive)

Reset Button
Press the reset button (next to the SD card slot) to reset the cartridge
firmware. This will generally cause the Atari to crash, and the reset button on
the Atari can then be pressed to return to the cartridge menu.

Supported Cartridge Types (CAR files)


Description CAR Type(s)
Standard Atari 8k 1
Standard Atari 16k 2
Atari XEGS 32-1024k 12-14, 23-25
AtariMax 1mbit (128k) 41
AtariMax 8mbit (1024k) 42
Switchable XEGS 32-1024k 33-38
Megacart 16-1024k 26-32
Bounty Bob 18
Williams 32k, 64k 8, 22
OSS 8k 44
OSS 16k (034M) 3
OSS 16k (043M) 45
OSS 16k (type B) 15
SIC!Cart (128k, 256k, 512k) 54-56
SDX 64k 11
Diamond 64k 10
Express 64k 9
SDX 128k 43
Blizzard 16k 40

Converting to CAR format


Utilities are available to convert ROM/BIN files into the CAR file format. The
ROM2CAR utility available on the project website provides an easy drag and
drop interface to do this.
With the most common 8k and 16k Atari ROMs, there is no need to convert
these first to CAR format since these cartridge types will simply be assumed
from the size of the ROM file (see below).

ROM Files
Plain ROM files are supported, but since these files are raw cartridge dumps,
the Ultimate Cart will decide what type of cartridge they come from based on
the file size only. The table below shows what types will be used.

ROM File Size Cartridge Type


8k Standard Atari 8k
16k Standard Atari 16k
32k Atari XEGS 32k
64k Atari XEGS 64k
128k Atari XEGS 128k
256k SIC!Cart
512k SIC!Cart
1024k AtariMax 8mbit

XEX Files
The latest version of the firmware adds a new menu, with joystick control. It
also supports loading XEX files (in addition to cartridge files). Note that the
XEX loader is copied to location $700 in the Atari’s RAM. This should be
compatible with most software in XEX form.

Problem Files
You may come across files with a .BIN extension. These are often just .ROM
files and can be renamed.
You may also find ROM files where the Ultimate Cart menu gives the error
“Bad ROM/CAR file”. This happens when the ROM file is not an exact multiple
of 1,024 bytes. In this case, the ROM dump may have already been converted
to a CAR file (with a 16 byte header) but has been wrongly named. In this
case you can simply rename the file from .ROM to .CAR.

Alternative Menu
If a file named _BOOT.ROM (8k) is present in the root directory of the SD
card, the cartridge will attempt to overwrite the in-built boot ROM with this file
before the Atari starts accessing the ROM. This allows the menu to be
replaced with an alternative version, but successful operation may require a
fast SD card. Delete the file to revert to the built-in menu.
Source code for the built-in menu is available on the project website.
Note that setting the hidden or system flag on _BOOT.ROM (using a PC) will
prevent this file being displayed on the menu.
Cartridge Cases
The Ultimate Cart PCB is designed to fit in a modified Atari grey (XL-era)
cartridge shell. You will need a heavy-duty file and some clippers (e.g. wire
clippers). This is only intended to be a rough guide.
First separate the two sides of the shell, trying not to break any of the tabs
that hold the two parts of the shell together. Remove the original PCB and any
glue blobs.
From the front (i.e. facing forwards when inserted) part of the shell you will
need to remove the plastic centre “post” at its base, since there is no hole in
the Ultimate Cart PCB. You will also need to remove the central “clip” at the
top of the front shell.
You should then be able to roughly place the Ultimate Cart PCB (chip side up)
in the top of the shell (like the PCB you removed). It won’t sit correctly (yet).
At this point it will be clear that you will need to remove 2-3mm height of the
side extensions on the top and (partially on the) bottom shell. It should also be
clear where slots need to be filed in the front and back of the shell to
accommodate the SD card and button.

Upgrading the Firmware


Should new firmware be available, a USB Blaster (or clone) can be used to
upgrade your cartridge. A JTAG socket is present on the FPGA side of the
board. Connect this to the USB Blaster and power the board. A POF file can
then be programmed to the chip using the Altera Quartus Programmer (free
download).
To power the board, either supply 5V using the two pin header provided.
Alternatively, the board can be powered during the firmware update through
the cartridge slot of the Atari.

Board Assembly Information


If you purchased an assembled cartridge from the author, the cartridge has
been assembled one of two ways:
Boards purchased before Sept 2015
Assembled using two types of lead-free solder paste. The lower side (with two
large chips) uses Sn42Bi58 paste (melting point 130 degrees C). The upper
side (with the SD card slot) uses Sn96.5Ag3Cu0.5 paste (melting point 230
degrees), with the exception of the SD card slot itself, which has been
soldered with Sn42Bi58. In case of repair, avoid leaded solder since it will
lead to brittle and poor joints if mixed with Sn42Bi58.
Boards purchased on or after Sept 2015
Assembled using SN96.5Ag3Cu0.5 paste on both sides (melting point 230
degrees).

You might also like