Game Boy Naming Convention

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DMG PCB Naming Convention

DMG PCB codes follow the following convention:

DMG[-?[?]]-???[?][(?)]-NN
     |      |      |    \-- PCB revision
     |      |      \------- optional code in parentheses
     |      \-------------- mandatory three or four-letter descriptor
     \--------------------- one or two-letter optional part

Descriptor Codes

Code MBC/Battery ROM Size RAM Size ROM Package
(none) - - - QFP
A none 256kbit none -
B MBC1A/MBC1B/MBC1B1 512kbit? -? -
C - 1Mbit 64kbit Chip-on-Board
D MBC1A/MBC1B/MBC1B1 + CR1616 2Mbit? 256kbit -
E - 4Mbit 512kbit -
F - 8Mbit - -
G MBC2A + CR1616 16Mbit - -
H - 32Mbit - -
K MBC3A/MBC3B + CR2025 - - -
M MBC30 + CR2025 - - -
N - - - SOIC (narrow)
P MMM01 - - -
S MMM01 + CR1616 - - -
T HuC1A + CR1616 - - TSSOP
U HuC3A + CR2025 - - TSOP

For example, DMG-BEAN-02 is a PCB made for

  • MBC1A/MBC1B/MBC1B1 (without battery)
  • 256kbit of ROM
  • no SRAM
  • ROM chip package is a narrow SOIC

PCB Revisions

Numbers include

  • 01
  • 02
  • 03
  • 10
  • 20
  • SP

Mostly minor routing differences if any. Sometimes additional components in 10, 20, SP. Never additional components in 0x?

Optional Parts

  • DMG-MC-SFCN-01 Momotarou Collection 2
  • DMG-M-PEAN-10 Taito Variety Pack

MC = Momotarou Collection? MultiCart?

Code in parentheses after descriptor is only ever K.

  • DMG-BEAN(K)-10 Xenon 2
  • DMG-DECN(K)-02 Mogurania (Mole Mania)


CGB PCB Naming Convention

CGB PCB codes follow the following convention:

DMG-?NN-NN
    |||  \-- PCB revision
    ||\----- PCB descriptor MBC
    |\------ PCB descriptor RAM/ROM size combination
    \------- PCB code

PCB Code

  • A: Production Cartridges
  • B: Test Cartridges
  • Z: Revisions of certain A?? variants. Sometimes routing changes.

PCB Descriptor

Descriptors describe MBC and ROM/RAM size combinations only.

Number MBC RAM/ROM size combination
RAM sizes ROM sizes
0 MBC5 (w/ or w/o rumble) 4/8M 2/4k EEPROM or 1M SRAM
1 MBC5 (w/ rumble) 16/32/64M 64k
2 G-MMC1 (+ 8M FLASH) 2/4/8M 256k
3 MBC6 (+ 8M FLASH) 16/32/64M 256k
4 MBC7 4/8M -?
5 - -? -?
6 - 2/4/8M 64k
7 - 16/32M 2/4k EEPROM
8 - -? -?
9 - -? -?

Maybe actually hierarchy? I.e. second figure is sub-index in first figure MBC PCB designs?

PCB Revisions

Numbers include

  • 01
  • 10

Never observed any major differences. Maybe minor solder mask differences?