Krikzz Patches EverDrive Compatibility for Analogue 3D (With a Catch)

The premier N64 flash cart now plays nicely with Analogue's new FPGA console, provided you still have your original hardware handy.

If you were one of the lucky few to secure an Analogue 3D pre-order, you might have assumed your existing library of flash carts would work straight out of the box. That assumption would have been wrong. Upon release, it became immediately apparent that Krikzz’s EverDrive 64 X-series carts (specifically the X5 and X7) were refusing to boot on the shiny new FPGA system, displaying "Unknown Cartridge" errors or simply failing to initialise.

It was an embarrassing hiccup for a "no compromises" retro console, but Krikzz has been quick to respond.

The Ukrainian developer has released a new firmware update (OS-V3.09) and, crucially, a new bootloader (v5.04) to resolve the incompatibility. The update ensures that the Analogue 3D can correctly handshake with the cartridge’s FPGA on startup.

The Catch

There is a significant hurdle in the installation process. The Analogue 3D cannot boot the cartridge in its unpatched state, which means it cannot be used to run the updater tool.

To apply the fix, you must plug your EverDrive into an original Nintendo 64 console. You will need to boot the cart on genuine hardware, run the bootrom-v5.04.b64 update utility from the SD card, and let it flash the cartridge’s internal memory. Only then will it function on the Analogue 3D.

For those who have already sold their original N64s to fund the Analogue purchase, this presents a rather ironic problem.

Hardware Modification

For the daring (or those without access to an N64), Krikzz noted on his forum that a hardware modification is possible. Installing a 1k pull-down resistor on the AD7 line of the cartridge buss allows the Analogue 3D to boot the cart even with the old bootloader. However, for most users, borrowing a friend’s N64 for five minutes will be the safer route.

Overclocking Instability

While the cart now boots, early reports suggest that Analogue's touted overclocking features are temperamental with flash storage. Users have reported that the "Unleashed" overclock mode often causes crashes or boot failures. The "Enhanced" mode appears stable, but those looking to push the system to its absolute limits may find themselves restricted to original cartridges for the time being.

You can download the necessary files directly from the Krikzz support page.

Download the Firmware and Bootloader Update at Krikzz.com