RE: LeoThread 2025-01-21 12:52

[ahmadmanga]

Uncovering the Nintendo 64's Hidden RAM

The Nintendo 64 has more RAM than previously thought, with 4.5 MB of RAM and 9 MB with the expansion pack, due to a hidden ninth bit in each memory cell.

Summarized by Llama 3.3 70B Instruct

Comments

[ahmadmanga]

Introduction to the Hidden Ninth Bit

• 📚 The Nintendo 64's memory cells hold nine bits of information, unlike most computers which hold eight bits.
• 🤔 The ninth bit is typically inaccessible to code running on the machine, unless specific hardware quirks are exploited.
• 📊 Only one game, Mad Mask, is known to use the hidden bit purposefully, for the lens of Truth effect.

Technical Limitations and Usage

• 📝 The ninth bit is used for rendering on the N64, specifically for anti-aliasing and storing coverage percentages.
• 📊 Most N64 games use around 0.05 MB of the hidden 1 MB of memory, due to triple buffering.
• 🤔 The hidden bits can be read and written using specific modes, such as the ebus mode, but with limitations and potential corruption.

[ahmadmanga]

Accessing the Hidden Bits

• 📊 The ebus mode allows for reading and writing to the hidden bits, but with potential corruption of the visible bits.
• 💡 A technique using the CPU to write to the hidden bits is possible, but slow and limited.
• 📝 The hidden bits can be used to store data, such as dialogue or save data, but with slower access times.

Practical Applications and Limitations

• 📊 The technique can provide up to 10% more memory for games, but with slower access times and potential corruption.
• 🤔 The technique is niche and may not be useful for all games, but can be valuable for games with limited memory.
• 📝 The Analog 3D FPGA may not be able to emulate this technique, limiting its use to real hardware.

Conclusion and Future Projects

• 📚 The technique is possible and valuable, but with limitations and potential corruption.
• 🎮 The creator is working on a new N64 game that uses this technique and other N64 hacks.