Needed Parts
Total Cost: ~$50-$68 (depending on access to 3D printer)
- Download this excel file and upload it to lcsc.com, then click on the blue add-to-cart button.
ℹ️ Note: The PIC12F629 microcontroller from this spreadsheet needs to be flashed with the snesCIC before soldering it to the Cart Reader PCB if you want to dump SA1 SNES games.
Total: $10
In case something is out of stock at LCSC you can have a look at the "Parts list for building 10 Cart Readers" below.
- Arduino Mega 2560(choose the cheaper standard version): aliexpress.com
- microSD Module: aliexpress.com
- 0.96" 4 pin IIC OLED display (cart reader can work without a display using Serial Monitor too): aliexpress.com
- SI5351A I2C Clock Generator (only needed for some special SNES carts) aliexpress.com
Total: $16
- GB/GBA Slot: aliexpress.com
- N64 Slot: aliexpress.com
- SNES Slot: aliexpress.com
- SEGA Mega Drive slot: aliexpress.com
- N64 controller extension cable: aliexpress.com
Total: $18 (try to ask seller to combine shipping)
- Upload the file cartreader.zip to a PCB manufacturer. Default settings are fine, just select the color you prefer.
Total: $10.00
- Upload the combined STL file to a 3D printer service like Craftcloud3d, select mm as units and PLA as material or print the separate parts yourself.
ℹ️ Note: the combined STL file includes the necessary 3D printed parts for the bare bones build. If you are interested in an enclosure, check out the Adding an enclosure Add-on page in the Wiki.
Total: $18.00 (or $1.00 if you have a 3D printer)
Total: $3.30
- 2 (Two) wires (~AWG24) to solder the Arduino to the Cart Reader PCB (JST battery connectors are another option)
- A microSD card
You can leave out any part you don't need and the Cart Reader will still work since it's built fully modular. The only things you definitely need are the Arduino Mega, a microSD card module and the slot for the cartridge you want to dump or the controller extension cable in case of the N64 Controller Pak.
Be sure to check out the Add-ons pages in the Wiki.
Please be aware that some consoles are only supported with the use of adapters.
In order to read ROMs from all supported consoles, you will need to purchase parts (cartridge slots), as well as adapter PCBs. These lists should serve as a starting point for this build
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
- Nintendo 64 (N64)
- Game Boy (DMG)
- Game Boy Color (GBC)
- Game Boy Advance (GBA)
- Nintendo 64 Controller Paks (Memory cards used for the games in the top list of this link)
- Nintendo Entertainment System (uses NES 72pin -> SNES 62pin adapter)
- Family Computer (uses Famicom 60pin -> SNES 62pin adapter)
- Sega Master System (uses SMS 50pin -> SMD/GEN 64pin adapter)
- WonderSwan (uses WS 48pin -> SNES 62pin adapter)
- Neo Geo Pocket (uses NGP 36pin -> SNES 46pin adapter)
Total cost: ~$28 per unit
If you buy parts for 10 Cart Readers at once you only pay ~$280 which brings the price per unit down quite a bit thanks to economy of scale. This assumes that you have a 3D printer and a programmer for the PIC12F629 already. Prices may vary over time.
| Category | Name | # of parts included | # of parts needed per Reader | Order this many times | Total price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino | Arduino Mega | 1 | 1 | 10x | $89.20 | aliexpress.com |
| Arduino | Clock Generator | 1 | 1 | 10x | $34.05 | aliexpress.com |
| Arduino | micro SD Module | 1 | 1 | 10x | $3.60 | aliexpress.com |
| Arduino | 0.96" 4-pin OLED | 1 | 1 | 10x | $22.55 | aliexpress.com |
| Cart slot | GBA cart slot | 10 | 1 | 1x | $14.67 | aliexpress.com |
| Cart slot | MD cart slot | 10 | 1 | 1x | $18.32 | aliexpress.com |
| Cart slot | N64 Controller Extension | 10 | 1 | 10x | $14.90 | aliexpress.com |
| Cart slot | N64 cart slot | 10 | 1 | 1x | $16.86 | aliexpress.com |
| Cart slot | SNES cart slot | 10 | 1 | 1x | $20.03 | aliexpress.com |
| Case | 3D Print | 1 | 1 | 10x | $6.00 | 130g PLA and 20h print time total for 10 sets. ...case/combined_no_tabs.stl |
| Case | Rubber feet | 100 | 5 | 1x | $1.34 | ebay.com |
| Case | M2x10 screw | 20 | 8 | 4x | $4.00 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 100nF capacitor | 100 | 1 | 1x | $1.09 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 10K resistor 0805 | 100 | 2 | 1x | $0.99 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 1K resistor 0805 | 100 | 1 | 1x | $0.99 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 1x40 male pinheader | 15 | 3 | 2x | $2.88 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 1x6 female pinheader | 20 | 1 | 1x | $1.45 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 1x7 female pinheader | 10 | 1 | 1x | $1.28 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 220R resistor | 100 | 3 | 1x | $0.99 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 22uF Tantalum 0805 | 10 | 1 | 1x | $1.65 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | AMS1117 3.3V | 12 | 1 | 1x | $0.99 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 470uF capacitor | 10 | 1 | 1x | $1.83 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | PIC12F629(flash with snesCIC) | 10 | 1 | 1x | $4.47 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | 5mm RGB LED Common Anode | 10 | 1 | 1x | $2.04 | ebay.com |
| Electronics | SMD push button (4.3MM) | 50 | 2 | 1x | $1.87 | aliexpress.com |
| Electronics | THT slide switch | 50 | 5 | 1x | $1.58 | aliexpress.com |
| PCB | Cart Reader PCB | 10 | 1 | 1x | $9.41 | ...pcb/cartreader.zip |