{"title":"Chip Programming","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChip programming hardware, the focused range for flash carts, EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) work and Game Boy cart reading at ZedLabz.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"browse-by\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBrowse chip programming by use case\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/insidegadgets\"\u003einsideGadgets\u003c\/a\u003e. Game Boy cart programmers and dev hardware\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/components\"\u003eElectronic components\u003c\/a\u003e, chips and ICs\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/repair-tools\"\u003eTools and consumables\u003c\/a\u003e, broader workstation kit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProgrammers and readers for the chips inside cartridges, dev boards and project builds. Game Boy cartridge programmers (GBxCart RW, Joey Jr) let you read out save files, write to flash carts, and back up original game ROMs. Generic EEPROM and flash programmers handle the smaller chips you find in vintage computers, custom builds and reverse-engineering work. Suitable for homebrew developers, retro-cart preservation, and electronics repair work that involves reflashing firmware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eQuick picks by use case\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEasy entry point:\u003c\/strong\u003e a GBxCart RW from insideGadgets, reads and writes Game Boy \/ GBC \/ GBA cartridges over USB. Saves backup, ROM dumping, flash cart writing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe crowd favorite:\u003c\/strong\u003e a Joey Jr plug-and-play Game Boy cartridge reader, simpler interface for users who just want to back up saves without flashing carts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe pro choice:\u003c\/strong\u003e a generic EEPROM programmer (CH341A-style) for chips beyond Game Boy, flash chips on retro-computer motherboards, BIOS reflashing, custom ROM work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat chip programmers do, and when you need one\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSave backup\u003c\/strong\u003e: pull the save file off a Game Boy or GBA cartridge before the original battery dies. Many original carts have already lost saves; the rest are running on borrowed time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlash cartridge writing\u003c\/strong\u003e: load homebrew or rom-hack ROMs onto a flash cart for play on original hardware. Different flash carts use different programming protocols.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEEPROM and BIOS work\u003c\/strong\u003e: reflashing a corrupted BIOS chip on a retro PC, programming a custom chip for a hardware mod, or recovering data from a flash chip.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReverse engineering\u003c\/strong\u003e: dumping unknown chips for analysis, comparing firmware versions across hardware revisions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eInternational tracked shipping available. Returns and replacements per our \u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/pages\/returns\"\u003ereturns policy\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eRelated collections\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/insidegadgets\"\u003einsideGadgets\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/components\"\u003eElectronic components\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/game-boy\"\u003eGame Boy DMG parts\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/game-boy-color\"\u003eGame Boy Color parts\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/collections\/game-boy-advance\"\u003eGame Boy Advance parts\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003csection itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eChip programming. FAQs\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong itemprop=\"name\"\u003eWhat's the difference between GBxCart and Joey Jr?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eGBxCart RW (insideGadgets) is the more capable option, supports reading and writing original carts, flash carts, and many Game Boy \/ GBC \/ GBA cartridge variants. Joey Jr is the simpler plug-and-play alternative, quicker to get started, with a friendlier interface, but less flexible for advanced flash-cart work. Most homebrew developers and serious cart collectors run a GBxCart; casual save-backup users tend to prefer the Joey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong itemprop=\"name\"\u003eCan I back up my Pokémon save before the battery dies?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eYes, both GBxCart and Joey Jr read save files off original cartridges over USB. Worth doing as soon as practical: many GBC and GBA carts from the late 1990s and early 2000s are reaching the end of their internal coin-cell battery life, and once the battery dies the save is lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong itemprop=\"name\"\u003eDo these work on Mac and Linux?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eMost insideGadgets devices have first-party software for Windows; Mac and Linux users typically use the open-source FlashGBX tool instead. Joey Jr ships with platform-specific software, check the product description for current OS support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong itemprop=\"name\"\u003eWhat's a CH341A and when would I use one?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"\u003e\n\u003cp itemprop=\"text\"\u003eCH341A is a generic, inexpensive USB-to-serial \/ SPI \/ I2C programmer, popular for reading and writing 8-pin SOIC flash chips found on motherboards, retro computers and some embedded devices. Common uses: BIOS reflashing on a dead PC, dumping firmware from unknown chips, and small-scale custom-firmware work. It's not the right tool for Game Boy cartridges, use GBxCart or Joey Jr instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/www.zedlabz.com\/en-eu\/collections\/chip-programming.oembed","provider":"ZedLabz","version":"1.0","type":"link"}