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There are two known main variants of it.
There are two known main variants of it.


The earlier one is based on the 16-bit SPC970 CPU core, running at 33.8688 Mhz, and was used on earlier boards up to GH-022. Chip name starts with "CXP10". GH-014 and earlier motherboards including GH-016 board come with a 100-pin QFP package. GH-017 up to GH-022 motherboards including GH-015 board come with a 136-ball BGA package.
The earlier one is based on the 16-bit SPC970 CPU core and was used on earlier boards up to GH-022. Chip name starts with "CXP10". GH-014 and earlier motherboards including GH-016 board come with a 100-pin QFP package. GH-017 up to GH-022 motherboards including GH-015 board come with a 136-ball BGA package.


The newer one is ARM-based (Sony SR11 core, 32-bit, ARM7TDMI, running ARM v4t little endian using both 32-bit ARM and 16-bit Thumb code), codenamed "Dragon", and used from GH-023 onwards. Chip name starts with "CXR7". Comes in a 164-ball BGA package. RAM installed is 16384 bytes/16KiB, but firmware (checked on 5.12) can use up to 13024 bytes of memory.
The newer one is ARM-based (Sony SR11 core, 32-bit, ARM7TDMI), codenamed "Dragon", and used from GH-023 onwards. Chip name starts with "CXR7". Comes in a 164-ball BGA package.


The "Dragon" variant also fulfills the functions that were undertaken by the separate [[SysCon]] chip on earlier boards up to GH-022, as well as the [[RTC]]+EEPROM chip, which was separate on earlier boards (or dedicated EEPROM and RTC chips on even earlier boards).
The "Dragon" variant also fulfills the functions that were undertaken by the separate [[SysCon]] chip on earlier boards up to GH-022, as well as the [[RTC]]+EEPROM chip, which was separate on earlier boards (or dedicated EEPROM and RTC chips on even earlier boards).
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Dragon has the die of the combined Rohm RTC+EEPROM chip inside its own chip package, however, the EEPROM pins are exposed on the package, and the connection between Dragon and the RTC+EEPROM is done externally on the motherboard.
Dragon has the die of the combined Rohm RTC+EEPROM chip inside its own chip package, however, the EEPROM pins are exposed on the package, and the connection between Dragon and the RTC+EEPROM is done externally on the motherboard.


Every MechaCon has a 3.5 V TTL UART interface exposed on test pads that was used by service centers for example to readjust the drive and write calibration data etc. Today it can be used with tools like PMAP (currently only supports consoles with SPC970 MechaCon, support for Dragon is highly experimental) to readjust the drive mechanism after fitting a replacement laser assembly etc. For electrically connecting to the interface, see [[Test points/MechaCon UART]]. For the communication protocol, see [[MechaCon/UART_commands]].
Every MechaCon has a 3.5 V TTL UART interface exposed on test pads that was used by service centers for example to readjust the drive and write calibration data etc. Today it can be used with tools like PMAP (currently only supports consoles with SPC970 MechaCon, support for Dragon is highly experimental) to readjust the drive mechanism after fitting a replacement laser assembly etc. See [[Test points/MechaCon UART]].


Additionaly, at least the SPC970-based MechaCon (both, QFP and BGA revisions) provides an I²C interface with SDA and SCL being exposed on test pads next to the MechaCon.
Additionaly, at least the SPC970-based MechaCon (both, QFP and BGA revisions) provides an I²C interface with SDA and SCL being exposed on test pads next to the MechaCon.
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