FinalGROM 99: How to Download and Use the Ultimate Cartridge for the TI 99/4A
If you are a fan of the TI 99/4A home computer, you probably know that there are many cartridges available for it that contain games, utilities, and other programs. But what if you could have one cartridge that can run any ROM or GROM image from an SD card? That's exactly what the FinalGROM 99 can do. In this article, we will explain what the FinalGROM 99 is, how to download it, and how to use it.
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What is FinalGROM 99?
The FinalGROM 99 is a cartridge for the TI 99/4A that allows you to run ROM and GROM cartridge images from an SD card. It succeeds the FlashROM 99 released in 2016. The FinalGROM 99 supports ROM images, GROM images, and mixed images of up to 1 MB in size that use the write-to-ROM bank switching scheme. The cartridge does not require the Peripheral Expansion Box and runs on both PAL and NTSC consoles, including modified consoles with an F18A. It will also run on v2.2 consoles and enables those to run ROM-only programs. The cartridge offers some advanced modes that provide RAM and GRAM to programs. It also allows a running program to reload another program from SD card or to dump its state to SD card. All firmware of the FinalGROM 99 can be updated by SD card.
Features and benefits of FinalGROM 99
Some of the features and benefits of using the FinalGROM 99 are:
You can run any ROM or GROM image from an SD card, without having to burn them to an EPROM or flash memory.
You can have hundreds of programs on a single SD card, organized in folders as you like.
You can easily switch between programs by resetting the TI 99 and selecting a different image from the menu.
You can enjoy some enhanced features such as RAM, GRAM, bank switching, reloading, and dumping.
You can update the firmware of the cartridge by simply copying a file to the SD card.
Differences between FinalGROM 99 and FlashROM 99
The FinalGROM 99 is an improved version of the FlashROM 99, which was released in 2016. The main differences between them are:
The FlashROM 99 only supports ROM images up to 512 KB in size, while the FinalGROM 99 supports ROM, GROM, and mixed images up to 1 MB in size.
The FlashROM 99 requires you to flash the ROM images to its internal memory before running them, while the FinalGROM 99 runs them directly from the SD card.
The FlashROM 99 does not support bank switching, RAM, GRAM, reloading, or dumping, while the FinalGROM 99 does.
The FlashROM 99 does not run on v2.2 consoles or modified consoles with an F18A, while the FinalGROM 99 does.
The FlashROM 99 cannot be updated by SD card, while the FinalGROM 99 can.
How to download FinalGROM 99?
Where to find FinalGROM 99 images
To use the FinalGROM 99 images are files that contain the data of the original cartridges for the TI 99/4A. They can be ROM images, GROM images, or mixed images of both types. They can also have different sizes and bank switching schemes, depending on the program they contain. The FinalGROM 99 can run any of these images from an SD card, as long as they are compatible with the write-to-ROM bank switching scheme. There are many sources where you can find FinalGROM 99 images online. Some of them are: - [GitHub](^1^): This is the official repository of the FinalGROM 99 project, where you can find the latest firmware updates, hardware design files, and some sample images. You can also browse the code and contribute to the development of the cartridge. - [Atari I/O Forums](^2^): This is a forum dedicated to retro gaming and computing, where you can find a large collection of FinalGROM 99 compatible files, organized by categories and updated regularly. You can also ask questions and share your experiences with other TI 99/4A enthusiasts. - [The Brewing Academy](^3^): This is an online store that sells various products for retro computers, including the FinalGROM 99 cartridge itself. You can also find some images for download on their website, as well as instructions and tips on how to use the cartridge. - [GitHub](^4^): This is another GitHub repository that contains the manual for the FinalGROM 99 in HTML format. You can read it online or download it to your computer for offline reference. It explains in detail how to use the cartridge and its features, as well as some troubleshooting tips. - [AtariAge Forums](^5^): This is another forum for retro gaming and computing, where you can find more images for ROMs, FlashROM 99, FinalGROM 99, manuals, strips, and more. You can also join the discussions and get help from other users. These are some of the most popular and reliable sources for FinalGROM 99 images, but there may be others that you can discover on your own. Just make sure that the files you download are compatible with the FinalGROM 99 and that they do not infringe any copyrights or licenses. and that the SD card is oriented correctly. Push the SD card gently into the slot until it clicks into place. To remove the SD card, push it again until it pops out slightly, then pull it out carefully. Do not force the SD card or the slot, as this may damage them.
How to select and load an image from the SD card
To select and load an image from the SD card, you need to plug the FinalGROM 99 cartridge into the TI 99/4A and turn on the console. You will see a menu on the screen that shows the contents of the "finalgrom" folder on the SD card. You can use the arrow keys or the joystick to navigate through the folders and files, and press Enter or Fire to select an item. If you select a folder, you will enter it and see its contents. If you select a file, you will load it and run it on the TI 99/4A. If you select a zip file, you will see a list of files inside it and you can select one of them to load and run. You can also press Fctn-4 to go back to the previous folder, or Fctn-5 to go back to the root folder.
If you have copied a firmware update file to the root directory of the SD card, you will see an option to update the FinalGROM 99 at the bottom of the menu. You can select this option and follow the instructions on the screen to update the firmware of the cartridge. This will erase all data on the cartridge and replace it with the new firmware. Do not turn off or reset the TI 99/4A during this process, as this may damage the cartridge.
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How to reset and update the FinalGROM 99
If you want to switch between different images on the SD card, you can reset the TI 99/4A by pressing Fctn-9. This will bring you back to the menu where you can select another image to load and run. You can also press Fctn-8 to reset only the FinalGROM 99 without resetting the TI 99/4A. This will reload the current image from the SD card and restart it.
If you want to update the FinalGROM 99 with new features or bug fixes, you can download the latest firmware file from the GitHub repository of the project and copy it to the root directory of the SD card, as explained in the previous section. Then you can select the option to update the FinalGROM 99 from the menu and follow the instructions on the screen. This will overwrite the existing firmware on the cartridge with the new one. Make sure that you do not interrupt the update process or turn off or reset the TI 99/4A, as this may damage the cartridge.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
The FinalGROM 99 is a cartridge for the TI 99/4A that allows you to run any ROM or GROM image from an SD card. It is an improved version of the FlashROM 99, with more features and compatibility. It is easy to download and use, and it offers a lot of flexibility and fun for TI 99/4A users. You can find many sources of FinalGROM 99 images online, and you can copy them to an SD card and load them from a menu on the screen. You can also update the firmware of the cartridge by SD card, and enjoy some advanced modes that provide RAM, GRAM, bank switching, reloading, and dumping.
Call to action
If you are interested in getting a FinalGROM 99 cartridge for your TI 99/4A, you can order one from [The Brewing Academy] or other online stores that sell retro computer products. You can also build your own cartridge if you have some soldering skills and access to the hardware design files on GitHub. Either way, you will be able to experience a whole new world of possibilities with your TI 99/4A. So what are you waiting for? Get your FinalGROM 99 today and start playing!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the FinalGROM 99:
What is the difference between ROM and GROM?
ROM and GROM are two types of memory chips that store programs for the TI 99/4A. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory, and GROM stands for Graphics Read-Only Memory. ROM chips can be accessed by any device on the TI 99/4A bus, while GROM chips can only be accessed by a special device called the Graphics Processor Unit (GPU). GROM chips also have some special features such as auto-incrementing addresses and built-in character sets.
What is bank switching?
Bank switching is a technique that allows a program to access more memory than what is physically available on a cartridge. By dividing the memory into smaller segments called banks, and switching between them as needed, a program can use up to 1 MB of memory on a single cartridge slot.
What is RAM and GRAM?
RAM and GRAM are two types of memory chips that allow programs to write data as well as read it. RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and GRAM stands for Graphics Random Access Memory. RAM chips can be used by any device on the TI 99/4A bus, while GRAM chips can only be used by the GPU. GRAM chips also have some special features such as auto-incrementing addresses and built-in character sets.
What is reloading and dumping?
Reloading and dumping are two features of the FinalGROM 99 that allow a running program to load another program from SD card or to save its state to SD card. Reloading can be used to switch between different versions of a program or to load additional data or modules. Dumping can be used to create backups or snapshots of a program or to debug or modify it.
What is v2.2 console?
v2.2 console is a term used to refer to a version of the TI 99/4A console that has some hardware differences from other versions. The main difference is that it has a different ROM chip that contains some bug fixes and enhancements. However, this also makes it incompatible with some cartridges that rely on those bugs or features. The FinalGROM 99 can detect if it is running on a v2.2 console and adjust its behavior accordingly.
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