Master System Cartridge
From HwB
Available at Sega Master System, Master System II and Game Gear (with SMS adapter).
Same pinout also for Master System Expansion port.
Korean and Japanese Master System uses different connector.
[edit] Pinout
Front 2 50
============== (at Cartridge)
Back 1 49
Cartridge
Back 39 1
============== (at Console)
Front 50 2
| Pin | Dir | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | +5V | Power +5V |
| 2 | ? | /WR | Write |
| 3 | ? | /MREQ | Memory Request |
| 4 | ? | /RD | Read |
| 5 | ? | /EXM1 | Memory 8000-BFFF |
| 6 | | A14 | Address bit14 |
| 7 | | A13 | Address bit13 |
| 8 | | A8 | Address bit8 |
| 9 | | A9 | Address bit9 |
| 10 | | A11 | Address bit11 |
| 11 | ? | /EXM2 | Memory 0000-7FFF |
| 12 | | A10 | Address bit10 |
| 13 | ? | /CE | Cartridge Output Enable |
| 14 |  | D7 | Data bit7 |
| 15 | | D6 | Data bit6 |
| 16 | | D5 | Data bit5 |
| 17 | | D4 | Data bit4 |
| 18 | | D3 | Data bit3 |
| 19 |  | GND | Ground |
| 20 | | GND | Ground |
| 21 | | GND | Ground |
| 22 | | D2 | Data bit2 |
| 23 | | D1 | Data bit1 |
| 24 | | D0 | Data bit0 |
| 25 | | A0 | Address bit0 |
| 26 | | A1 | Address bit1 |
| 27 | | A2 | Address bit2 |
| 28 | | A3 | Address bit3 |
| 29 | | A4 | Address bit4 |
| 30 | | A5 | Address bit5 |
| 31 | | A6 | Address bit6 |
| 32 | | A7 | Address bit7 |
| 33 | | A12 | Address bit12 |
| 34 | ? | CONT | ? |
| 35 | | +5V | Power +5V |
| 36 | | A15 | Address bit15 |
| 37 | ? | /M1 | ? |
| 38 | ? | /IORQ | I/O Request |
| 39 | ? | /RFSH | Refresh |
| 40 | ? | /HALT | Halt |
| 41 | ? | /WAIT | Wait |
| 42 | ? | /INT | Interrupt |
| 43 | ? | JyDs | (also known as /KILLGA) |
| 44 | ? | /BUSRQ | Bus request |
| 45 | ? | /BUSAK | Bus request acknowledge |
| 46 | ? | /RST | Reset |
| 47 | ? | CLK | Clock |
| 48 | ? | /KBSEL | ? |
| 49 | ? | /CSRAM | Memory C000-FFFF |
| 50 | ? | /NMI | Non Maskable Interrupt |
Note: Direction is Console relative Cartridge
[edit] Compatibility
Note:
- Japanese and South Korean consoles use 44-pin cartridges, same shape as Mark I and Mark II
- All other consoles use 50-pin cartridges with a different shape
- The difference in cartridge style is a form of regional lockout
Cartridges were originally used for game of higher capacity than 256Kb (32KB), smaller ones were stored on cards.
When the Master System II arrived (without a card input), some Card games have been converted to cartridges.
Cartridges bigger than 512Kb (64KB) cannot be used with the 16 address bits and must use FCRs (Frame Control Registers, a bank switching method).
Because cards only have 15 address bits (while cartridges have all the 16 bits) and don't use bank switching, they are limited to 256Kb (32KB), cartridges are used for higher capacities.
