Genesis:Connector Pinouts
AV Out (Model 1)
Note: Connector is the female end at the console. This is the same connector and pinout from the Master System.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Composite Video Out / Unused (French Mega Drive) |
| 2 | Ground |
| 3 | Audio Out |
| 4 | Green |
| 5 | 5V |
| 6 | Composite Sync |
| 7 | Red |
| 8 | Blue |
AV Out (Model 2 and 3)
This connector is also used in the Genesis Nomad, Mega Jet, 32X, CDX, Aiwa Mega CD and most X'Eye consoles. Ground is at the cable shroud.
Note: Connector is the female end at the console.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blue |
| 2 | 5V |
| 3 | Green |
| 4 | Composite Video |
| 5 | Composite Sync |
| 6 | Mono Audio |
| 7 | Red |
| 8 | Left Audio / Mono Audio (Genesis 3) |
| 9 | Right Audio / Unused (Genesis 3) |
Cartridge Port
Note: The "A" row is towards the back and numbered from left to right. The "B" row pins are towards the front and also numbered from left to right. This table is oriented so the front of the port is facing left. All lines starting with a "V" are connected to the 68000 CPU.
| Pin # | Name | Description | Pin # | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | SL1 | External Left Audio / Unused on Genesis 3 | A1 | GND | |
| B2 | MRES | Reset | A2 | 5V | |
| B3 | SR1 | External Right Audio / Unused on Genesis 3 | A3 | VA8 | |
| B4 | VA9 | A4 | VA11 | ||
| B5 | VA10 | A5 | VA7 | ||
| B6 | VA18 | A6 | VA12 | ||
| B7 | VA19 | A7 | VA6 | ||
| B8 | VA20 | A8 | VA13 | ||
| B9 | VA21 | A9 | VA5 | ||
| B10 | VA22 | A10 | VA14 | ||
| B11 | VA23 | A11 | VA4 | ||
| B12 | YS | Blanking / Unused on Genesis 3 | A12 | VA15 | |
| B13 | VSYNC | Vertical Sync / Unused on Genesis 3 | A13 | VA3 | |
| B14 | HSYNC | Horizontal Sync / Unused on Genesis 3 | A14 | VA16 | |
| B15 | EDCLK | External Dot Clock / Unused on Genesis 3 | A15 | VA2 | |
| B16 | CAS0 | A16 | VA17 | ||
| B17 | CE_0 | Chip Enable | A17 | VA1 | |
| B18 | AS | Address Strobe | A18 | GND | |
| B19 | VCLK | 68000 clock / Unused on Genesis 3 | A19 | VD7 | |
| B20 | DTACK | Data Transfer Acknowledge | A20 | VD0 | |
| B21 | CAS2 | Unused on Genesis 3 | A21 | VD8 | |
| B22 | VD15 | A22 | VD6 | ||
| B23 | VD14 | A23 | VD1 | ||
| B24 | VD13 | A24 | VD9 | ||
| B25 | VD12 | A25 | VD5 | ||
| B26 | ASEL | A26 | VD2 | ||
| B27 | VRES | 68000 Reset | A27 | VD10 | |
| B28 | LWR | Lower byte write enable | A28 | VD4 | |
| B29 | UWR | Upper byte write enable | A29 | VD3 | |
| B30 | M3 | Master System enable / Unused on Genesis 3 and Nomad | A30 | VD11 | |
| B31 | TIME | A31 | 5V | ||
| B32 | CART | Cartridge enable / Unused on Genesis 3 | A32 | GND |
Controller Port
Note: Female is connector at the console. Male is connector at the controller. Diagram pictured is of the connector at the controller end.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Up/Button Z |
| 2 | Down/Button Y |
| 3 | Left/Ground/Button X |
| 4 | Right/Ground/Mode |
| 5 | 5V |
| 6 | Button B/A |
| 7 | Multiplexer Select |
| 8 | Ground |
| 9 | Button C/Start |
Expansion Port
This connector is only found on model 1 and model 2 consoles.
Note: The "A" row is on the bottom and is numbered from left to right. The "B" row pins are on the top and are also numbered from left to right. This table is oriented so the front of the port is facing left. All lines starting with a "V" are connected to the 68000 CPU.
| Pin # | Description | Pin # | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Ground | A1 | Ground |
| B2 | DISK | A2 | VA19 |
| B3 | VA1 | A3 | CAS0 |
| B4 | VA2 | A4 | VD0 |
| B5 | VA3 | A5 | VD1 |
| B6 | VA4 | A6 | VD2 |
| B7 | VA5 | A7 | VD3 |
| B8 | VA6 | A8 | VD4 |
| B9 | VA7 | A9 | VD5 |
| B10 | VA8 | A10 | VD6 |
| B11 | VA9 | A11 | VD7 |
| B12 | Ground | A12 | Ground |
| B13 | VA10 | A13 | VD8 |
| B14 | VA11 | A14 | VD9 |
| B15 | VA12 | A15 | VD10 |
| B16 | VA13 | A16 | VD11 |
| B17 | VA14 | A17 | VD12 |
| B18 | VA15 | A18 | VD13 |
| B19 | VA16 | A19 | VD14 |
| B20 | VA17 | A20 | VD15 |
| B21 | LWR | A21 | ROM |
| B22 | UWR | A22 | ASEL |
| B23 | CAS2 | A23 | RAS2 |
| B24 | FDWR | A24 | FDC |
| B25 | VA18 | A25 | FRES |
| B26 | 5V | A26 | 5V |
| B27 | SL3 (Genesis Output Left) | A27 | SR3 (Genesis Output Right) |
| B28 | 5V In | A28 | 5V In |
| B29 | SL2 (Expansion Audio Left) | A29 | SR2 (Expansion Audio Right) |
| B30 | Ground | A30 | Ground |
EXT Port
This connector is only found on older model 1 consoles, all model 1 Japanese Mega Drive consoles, the TeraDrive and Wondermega. It is located at the rear of these consoles, and is essentially identical to the controller ports, though is typically used to send serial data to the VDP instead of being used as an extra controller port. The most notable accessory to use this connector is the Mega Modem, which was only released in Japan.
Note: Diagram pictured is of the connector at the console end.
| Pin # | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Up |
| 2 | Down |
| 3 | Left/Ground |
| 4 | Right/Ground |
| 5 | 5V |
| 6 | Button B/A |
| 7 | Multiplexer Select |
| 8 | Ground |
| 9 | Button C/Start |