BennVenn's ElCheapo Lynx SD Flash Cart

[Igor]

BennVenn is working on a new flash cart for the Lynx. It uses an SD cart, has updatable firmware, etc. I've created a database entry for it on Atari Gamer here and any new information will be added there - https://atarigamer.com/lynx/game/BennVennsElCheapoSD/199877040

 

Once the review version of it arrives, there'll be an article with more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[laoo]

Definitely good placement for microSD card slot. When you're developing it's a blessing if you don't need to pull out cartridge to update the image file.

Edited May 5, 2020 by laoo

[Igor]

For a developer cart it would be even better to just have a USB (micro or C) connection direct to the computer and leave it permanently plugged in. Perhaps someone will make that! 😎

[Fadest]

The old flashcard from Karri allowed to flash via Comlynx, so without removing the flashcard, but was a bit slower than Lynxman's flashcard

on this one, Bernd told me he put the connector on one side,because it would be dangerous to have the flashcard powered by Lynx and USB at the same time. 

 

I don't like SD card solution for development, I do not have a SD Card reader yet on my development PC

[Igor]

Had a chat to BV and he said that it should be possible to modify his cart to work with an FTDI to send data directly to it, so that could be a solution for developers.

[Nop90]

A great solution would be to have a SD slot instead of a micro sd, so one could use a wi-fi SD card. People used them to develop on the 3ds.

 

 

[battleman13]

Ordered 3 of the Lynx 2 screens and 3 of the flash carts from BV. Can't wait for them to come in!


I also dropped the $30 on console 5 for a 5 pack of the power rebuild kits, and 5 cap kits. I have 3 Lynx 2 units that are getting a recap, power rebuild and new BV screen.... I also have two Lynx 1 units that are at least getting a power circuit rebuild and recapping. One was a dead unit from my grandfather, hope I can get it running again. Another is one I bought off ebay for like $50 not working but in great shape.

Might end up dropping another $100 on two Lynx 1 screens, but missed the original pre order for those.... might have to wait a bit!

Still, I can't wait for the stuff to get in! I got the repair kits from Console 5 so I should at least get one or two boards prepped and refurbished so I can fit a screen as soon as I get it in!

[Lynxpro]

On 5/5/2020 at 12:41 AM, Igor said:

BennVenn is working on a new flash cart for the Lynx. It uses an SD cart, has updatable firmware, etc. I've created a database entry for it on Atari Gamer here and any new information will be added there - https://atarigamer.com/lynx/game/BennVennsElCheapoSD/199877040

 

Once the review version of it arrives, there'll be an article with more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing I have a question on from your site regarding both SainT's/RetroHQ's and BennVenn's SD solutions.  It appeared you had both listed as being without ComLynx gaming support. Is that true that neither support ComLynx with other players if you're running your copy of the game from SD? I have SainT's SD adapter but I haven't had the opportunity to ComLynx with someone else since I purchased it...

[+karri]

6 minutes ago, Lynxpro said:

 

One thing I have a question on from your site regarding both SainT's/RetroHQ's and BennVenn's SD solutions.  It appeared you had both listed as being without ComLynx gaming support. Is that true that neither support ComLynx with other players if you're running your copy of the game from SD? I have SainT's SD adapter but I haven't had the opportunity to ComLynx with someone else since I purchased it...

ComLynx is supported on all carts. The ComLynx circuitry is independent from the card interface.

[Lynxpro]

Just now, karri said:

ComLynx is supported on all carts. The ComLynx circuitry is independent from the card interface.

 

Good to know. Thanks!

[Fadest]

It is not the physical cart but the game program who support Comlynx (or not).

So a SD card (Saint GD, Agacart, El cheapo) or whatever flashcard will not remove Comlynx feature.

 

The main difference between SD card/Flashcard and real cartridges are for EEProm support (and IIRC, Saint GD v2 and El cheapo will have EEProm emulation), and big ROM (ie >512kb). Also, if some PCB have some kind of anti-piracy feature in hard, of course, it will not be replicated on SD cards.

[Igor]

Maybe I should say that ComLynx is supported to remove any confusion. The cart software itself doesn't support ComLynx but as others pointed out, any games launched from the carts will work fine with ComLynx as long as those games have their own ComLynx support.

[RadiATIon]

I've just pre ordered one. 

[SainT]

On 5/6/2020 at 12:28 AM, Igor said:

For a developer cart it would be even better to just have a USB (micro or C) connection direct to the computer and leave it permanently plugged in. Perhaps someone will make that! 😎

I already have this planned for the LynxGD, oddly enough. FTDI USB comms to the cart directly.

[SainT]

On 5/21/2020 at 4:20 PM, Lynxpro said:

 

One thing I have a question on from your site regarding both SainT's/RetroHQ's and BennVenn's SD solutions.  It appeared you had both listed as being without ComLynx gaming support. Is that true that neither support ComLynx with other players if you're running your copy of the game from SD? I have SainT's SD adapter but I haven't had the opportunity to ComLynx with someone else since I purchased it...

The LynxGD definitely works perfectly with ComLynx.

 

[SainT]

On 5/21/2020 at 4:29 PM, Fadest said:

It is not the physical cart but the game program who support Comlynx (or not).

So a SD card (Saint GD, Agacart, El cheapo) or whatever flashcard will not remove Comlynx feature.

 

The main difference between SD card/Flashcard and real cartridges are for EEProm support (and IIRC, Saint GD v2 and El cheapo will have EEProm emulation), and big ROM (ie >512kb). Also, if some PCB have some kind of anti-piracy feature in hard, of course, it will not be replicated on SD cards.

The LynxGD has full EEPROM support for 8/16 bit EEPROMS and full sizes from 128-2048 bytes through emulation. The ElCheapo just supports 8bit 128 byte via physical chip.

 

The original Lynx cart of mine supports 1mb, but no-one ever used it, so the new LynxGD is 512K. I could do a 1MB model again, but as I say, no-one used it, and you may as well just stream from the memory card at this point if its for new games.

[SainT]

On 5/6/2020 at 5:50 PM, Nop90 said:

A great solution would be to have a SD slot instead of a micro sd, so one could use a wi-fi SD card. People used them to develop on the 3ds.

 

 

 

You can use a memory card adapter to go from micro to full size in this case to use WIFI cards if you wanted to.....

[Fadest]

2 minutes ago, SainT said:

The original Lynx cart of mine supports 1mb, but no-one ever used it, so the new LynxGD is 512K.

Interesting.

Which kind of bank-switching did you support to enable 1mb ?

[SainT]

Just now, Fadest said:

Interesting.

Which kind of bank-switching did you support to enable 1mb ?

Aux line switches banks.

[Igor]

I'll have to experiment with an FTDI and those ports then James, will be messaging you to find out details!

 

Meanwhile here's the Lynx GD and ElCheapoSD review - https://atarigamer.com/articles/retrohq-lynx-gamedrive-and-bennvenn-s-elcheaposd-cartridge-review-for-atari-lynx

[42bs]

On 5/6/2020 at 6:50 PM, Nop90 said:

A great solution would be to have a SD slot instead of a micro sd, so one could use a wi-fi SD card. People used them to develop on the 3ds.

 

 

Or write an image via Lynx. Could be done in less than a minute 🙂

[newtmonkey]

I keep wanting to preorder this, but I'm waiting for the magical moment in time when both the SD Flash Cart and solderless drop-in LCD are both available for preorder.  Every time I check the site, one or the other is SOLD OUT haha.

[turbo graphics 220]

The case looks really cool, too bad I can't play it as my Lynx stopped working not that long ago, the wire trick doesn't even anymore work so I have to wait for some parts.

[catmando]

Got mine, works great

[Fred Olivas]

Any approximation when a new alphabetised menu will be released?  I like the convenience of just having one cart to carry around.