# Compatible cartridges

CanoFlash writes directly to GBA *flash repro* cartridges. Not all cartridges on the market are equal: here's what you need to know.

> **Important:** CanoFlash does not include or sell cartridges. To write games, you need to provide a compatible *flash repro* cartridge.

## Supported chip

The current firmware officially supports cartridges with the **AMD / Spansion S29GL256** chip, identifiable by JEDEC ID `0x227E`. The vast majority of modern 32 MB repros use this chip.

> When you start a download, the dongle reads the chip ID and warns you if it's not supported.

## Save types

GBA games use different save systems and CanoFlash detects them automatically when patching the ROM on the server:

- **EEPROM**
- **FLASH 512 Kbit**
- **FLASH 1 Mbit**
- **SRAM**

This matters because your repro cartridge has a single physical save memory type, usually SRAM. For a game that originally saved to EEPROM to work properly on a SRAM cartridge, it has to be **patched**.

## Batteryless vs battery-backed

There are two cartridge families:

- **Battery-backed** (CR1616 / CR2025): SRAM keeps the save while the battery has charge. If it dies, saves are lost.
- **Batteryless:** a special patch injects a small *payload* in the ROM itself that copies the save to Flash on shutdown and restores it on boot. **No battery needed**, but they require the patch.

CanoFlash automatically applies the batteryless patch when this type of cartridge is detected.

## Game-specific patches

Some games need targeted patches (BPS / IPS) for known incompatibilities with repros. CanoFlash maintains a catalog and applies them automatically on download.

## Verification

After flashing, the dongle runs a final check comparing what was written against what was downloaded. If the verification passes, the cartridge is ready to use in the GBA.

## Unsupported cartridges

If your cartridge:

- Has a flash chip other than S29GL256
- Uses a proprietary write protocol
- Is an *official flash cart* like EZ-Flash or EverDrive (those have their own firmware)

…it won't work with CanoFlash. Those cartridges are designed to be used with their own official tools, not as direct repros.