TangCore Retro Gaming Installation Guide

🎮 Supported Devices

Board Model	FPGA Capacity	Compatible Cores	Status
Tang Console 60K	60K LUT	All cores	✔️ Great
Tang Console 138K	138K LUT	All cores	✔️ Experimental
Tang Primer 25K	25K LUT	NESTang, SNESTang	✔️ Experimental (v0.7)
Tang Nano 20K	20K LUT	Unsupported	❌ Use standalone NESTang/SNESTang

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📦 Pre-Install Checklist

• Bouffalo Flash Cube v1.1 (in tools/bflb_tools/bouffalo_flash_cube of Bouffalo SDK, also a local standalone version here)
• USB 2.0 drive (FAT32/exFAT, ≤32GB recommended)
• USB-C OTG adapter with power pass-through
• Valid GBA BIOS (gba_bios.bin)
• Latest TangCore Release Package

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🔧 Firmware Installation

1. Extract release package

2. Launch Flash Cube → Browse → Select:

   /firmware-bl616/flash_<board-model>.ini
   

   (e.g., flash_console60k.ini)

3. Boot Mode Activation:

4. Hold BOOT button → Connect USB → Release after connection

• Note for Tang Primer 25K: the primer does not have a BOOT button. Short these two pins and connect USB instead.

• Flash Process:

• Refresh COM ports → Select Port/SN → Download
• Confirm success screen:

Green status indicates successful programming

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🕹️ Game System Setup

USB drive content

📁 /                
├── 📁 cores/        # `cores` directory from release
│    ├── 📁 console60k/
│    └── 📁 console138k/
├── 📁 nes/          # .nes rom files
├── 📁 snes/         # .smc/.sfc files
├── 📁 gba/
│    └── 🗎 gba_bios.bin  # GBA BIOS
├── 📁 genesis/      # .bin/.md files
└── 📁 sms/          # .sms files

Hardware Assembly

1. Connect components as shown (DS2 controller setup shown):

Left: OTG+USB | Right: DS2 PMOD+Wireless Receiver | Top: HDMI output

1. Power sequence:

2. Insert USB drive → Connect OTG → Apply power

3. Initial Boot:

4. FPGA auto-programs (5-7 sec)
5. Main menu appears

Navigation using gamepad

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