Famicom and NES pin questions...

Fanboy · Post by **Fanboy** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:24 pm

Forgive me for asking, but why does a Famicom require 60 pins while the NES needs 72? For one, I don't think you need 12 extra pins for US TV crystals, and second, the Famicom actually needs the expansion port for the FDS... So, why the extra pins?

jedi knight · Post by **jedi knight** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:35 pm

Some of the pins go to the lockout chip and some of them go to the expansion port.

G-force · Post by **G-force** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:39 pm

And the expansion port never ended up being used for anything. Too bad they didn't just keep the 60 pin configuration, it would be a lot better for portables since the cartridges and connectors would be smaller.

Fanboy · Post by **Fanboy** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:49 pm

Okay, so technically, could you mod an NES cart to work with only 60 pins? Ahh, nevermind... I'm asking because I'm getting a NeoPocket Fami and don't wanna spring for Fami carts... I have totally no access to them...

jedi knight · Post by **jedi knight** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:12 pm

That's basicly what a family converter does.

akadewboy · Post by **akadewboy** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:47 pm

Yup, here's a link of what one looks like: http://www.electricquarter.com/famiconv.htm