Z64
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The Mr. Backup Z64 is a game backup device designed by Harrison Electronics, Inc., able to store Nintendo 64 games as ROM images on Zip Diskettes.
Units such as this can make copies of a game which can be played in a Nintendo 64 emulator.
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[edit] Design
Unlike the Doctor V64, which plugs into the expansion slot in the bottom, this backup unit plugs into the cartridge slot. The Nintendo 64 perceives it as a regular game cartridge. This unit also came with a basic back lit black text LCD panel and buttons enabling users to unlock and use features of this backup unit. It also had bios that could be upgraded. Some units included the ability to add game-genie codes and various other cheats and saved games.
[edit] Hardware revisions
The original Z64 had a hardware set limit of 128 Mbit. Because it was not capable of addressing any ram above 16MB, users could not open the system and change the Ram stick to a larger one and play bigger games. Once 256 Mbit games became more prevalent, the parent company released hardware version 2.0 which shipped with a 32MB ram chip and had the ability to address all 32MB of ram, allowing the larger games to play. The units could not be upgraded from 1.0 units;the user had to re-purchase a brand new 2.0 unit. No further hardware revision was made to allow for the playing of the few 512 Mbit games that were released.
[edit] Features
Features of the Z64 include:[1]
- Independently operating without connecting to computers or any peripherals
- Simple installation, plug and play with only a few buttons
- Capable of automatically detecting a defective game cartridge
- Capable of backing up game cartridge data into Zip Disk
- Capable of playing games from the cartridge
- Capable of playing game files stored on the Zip Disk
- Capable of storing the game record (Eeprom + SRAM)
- Capable of clearing data files stored in the diskette
- With built-in 256 Mbit memory (32 MB DRAM)
- With built-in ZIP-100 disk drive
- Store average 6–12 files in one ZIP-100 diskette
- Average 16–64 seconds to back up each cartridge depending on game size
- Function could upgrade for future version
- Flash BIOS for convenient upgrade from Zip Disk
[edit] Specifications
The Z64's system specifications are:[2]
- Range of Working Temperature: 0 to 55 °C*
- Range of Storage Temperature: -25 to + 80 °C
- Net Weight: 1.5 kg
- Power: 5W
- Input: AC100 - 240V, 0.2A
- Output: DC +5V / Maximum: 1.6A
- Dimension: 24 cm x 14 cm x 13 cm (L x W x H)
- Internal RAM: 256Mbits (32MB, 8x32 72-pin NP EDO SIMM) Standard
- Media: 100MB PC Format Zip disk
- CPU: 386SX/40 MHz
- BIOS: Flashable
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ z64.co.uk (2000-11-19). "Z64 info". http://n64.icequake.net/mirror/www.z64.co.uk/z64info.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ^ Harrison Electronic (1997). "Z64 User Guide page 15". http://n64.icequake.net/img/z64/z64man-4.png. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
