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Comment by dvdbloc | Hacker News Reader

Where can I learn more about how they are used in console hacking? This sounds very interesting

Here you go. There might be more but these are all I can think of off the top of my head.

Nintendo Switch modchip - PicoFly: https://github.com/rehius/usk. That is the OG source of the firmware behind the already mentioned https://github.com/Ansem-SoD/Picofly

OG XBox Modchip - Modxo: https://github.com/shalxmva/modxo (see initial impressions from ModzvilleUSA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUsov3i6jL0)

XBox360 NAND reader / writer - Picoflasher: https://github.com/X360Tools/PicoFlasher (used in the RGH3 hack for some versions of the console as described at https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:RGH/RGH3)

Gamecube Modchip - Picoboot: https://github.com/webhdx/PicoBoot

Gamecube Optical Drive Emulator - Flippydrive: https://github.com/OffBroadway/flippydrive as described at https://teamoffbroadway.com/

The flippydrive is such a nice, clean install on a gamecube that it leaves me wondering if the rp2040 could make better ODE's for every other console (psx, saturn in particular)

Interconnecting the flippydrive by squeezing a flex PCB between the optical drive and its motherboard connector was a stroke of genius.

I had look at the code (except flippydrive because it the source for a website) and I don't understand why the PIO would be needed if the RP2040 had more peripheral. None of them use the PIO for something that the STM32F401RBT6 doesn't have a peripheral for.

The RP2040 real advantage its name, its price and its availability during the pandemic chips shortage. It lacks peripherals and it's power consumption is awful.

Analogous complaints were echo'd against the RPI boards, which are also just kinda meh when viewed from an industry / hardcore perspective. Hobbiers gonna hobby, and the ecosystem will eventually build winners / losers for each niche case.

For me, the existence of a MCU/MPU with better features at better price is irrelevant if I can't get known parts on small form factor eval boards using top links on google. Yes, I'm that lazy, but we live in a world with an embarrassment of really good options compared to 20 years ago.

I often just spin a $5 JLC EVM of my own when manufacturers charge too much for theirs. EVM schematics are usually available to clone.

Normally, I can also test a domain-specific subcircuit or two in my "EVM" as well with no added design risk.

The PIO allows you to bit-bang DVI/HDMI; you can put the RP2040 on any bus imaginable (which is the real reason it's popular for console modding) (from a digital perspective of course); you have two PIOs so you can convert between two buses/signals, etc. You can convert digital video, e.g. RGB as used on consoles or DVI, to VGA or DVI if you wanted to. In the past you would've needed an FPGA or CPLD in the middle.

PIO can be PWM, SPI, I2C, USB, DVI, VGA, ISA-bus, PS1 memory card, that weird protocol some old EL-display uses and hundreds of other peripherals. Lots of exotic protocols for which you would have previously needed an FPGA.

That's why you'd choose RP2040.

Or I would just choose an NXP IMRXT-series MCU with FlexIO (which can do 90% of these protocols) and actually be able to protect my product to some degree (encrypted XIP, high-assurance boot, SWD lockout.)

> encrypted XIP, high-assurance boot, SWD lockout

Yeah, would love these on RP2040.

As well as better ADC, "halved" (half mem, IO, PIO and CPU) cheaper version, "doubled" version (2x mem, IO, PIO and M4f CPU cores), integrated flash version, etc. Better power consumption.

That said, I do like PIO and you can use RP2040 as a PIO-peripheral to something more protected.

Related: retro PC stuff.

https://github.com/polpo/picogus

Emulates all kinds of sound cards, including the Gravis Ultrasound.

https://github.com/FreddyVRetro/ISA-PicoMEM

Emulates a memory extension, but also so much more stuff.

One use case is related to the Nintendo Switch, as mentioned in another post.

E.g. see https://github.com/Ansem-SoD/Picofly.

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