[HN Gopher] Nintendo 64 Test Cart ROM
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       Nintendo 64 Test Cart ROM
        
       Author : ecliptik
       Score  : 67 points
       Date   : 2023-07-18 18:56 UTC (4 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.gamingalexandria.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.gamingalexandria.com)
        
       | rwmj wrote:
       | I assume a Test Cartridge is some kind of developer tool from
       | back in the day?
        
         | coldpie wrote:
         | Sounds from the article like it was used in factories, maybe to
         | verify that a new production line or hardware revision is
         | building consoles that function correctly?
         | 
         | Related and also interesting:
         | https://tcrf.net/Category:Nintendo_Console_Testing_Software
        
           | Sniffnoy wrote:
           | Worth noting that (AIUI) such test ROMs are often used these
           | days to test the faithfulness of emulators.
        
             | Arrath wrote:
             | Clever!
        
           | serf wrote:
           | it was also used during warranty/return phase to validate
           | customer concerns. The production line usually checked the
           | boards via the JTAG pins.
        
             | yjftsjthsd-h wrote:
             | Did they take the JTAG pins off? I'm wondering why you
             | would test differently on the way out of the factory and
             | back in for repair claims
        
               | anamexis wrote:
               | It's a lot easier to pop a cartridge in than to
               | disassemble the case to get at the JTAG pins.
        
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       (page generated 2023-07-18 23:00 UTC)