diff --git a/scripts/pipeline.py b/scripts/pipeline.py
index 244c19aa5..cfb63107b 100644
--- a/scripts/pipeline.py
+++ b/scripts/pipeline.py
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
 import time
+from collections.abc import Callable
 from pathlib import Path
 
 # The build scripts need CPython 3.9, which builds the same database,
@@ -810,6 +811,92 @@ def check_narrowed_packs(
     return all_ok
 
 
+def split_differences(
+    full: object, parts: dict[str, object], same_bytes: Callable[[str, str], bool],
+) -> list[str]:
+    """Where the --split parts of a pack, together, are not the full pack.
+
+    A path in a part and not in the full pack, a path of the full pack in no
+    part, and a path a part fills with other bytes than the full pack.
+    """
+    full_members = {m for m in full.members if not _PACK_NOTES.search(m)}
+    union = {
+        m for record in parts.values() for m in record.members
+        if not _PACK_NOTES.search(m)
+    }
+    lines = [f"in a part, not in the full pack: {m}" for m in sorted(union - full_members)]
+    lines += [f"in the full pack, in no part: {m}" for m in sorted(full_members - union)]
+    lines += sorted({
+        f"other bytes in {name}: {member}"
+        for name, record in parts.items()
+        for member, source in record.sources.items()
+        if member in full.sources and not same_bytes(source, full.sources[member])
+    })
+    return lines
+
+
+def check_split_packs(
+    emulators_dir: str = "emulators", platforms_dir: str = "platforms",
+    db_path: str = "database.json", include_archived: bool = False,
+) -> bool:
+    """Build each platform's --split parts in memory and compare them with
+    the full pack: the parts must add up to it, path for path and byte for
+    byte. Each part is a pack of its own and used to settle its paths alone:
+    RetroDECK's parts carried bios/SGB1.sfc as a file and as a directory,
+    RetroBat's 21 openmsx/ twins of openMSX/ files. Offline, as every
+    comparison of this step.
+    """
+    import generate_pack  # noqa: PLC0415
+    import packresolve  # noqa: PLC0415
+    from common import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+        build_zip_contents_index,
+        group_identical_platforms,
+        list_registered_platforms,
+        load_data_dir_registry,
+        load_database,
+        load_emulator_profiles,
+    )
+
+    print(f"\n--- {step_title(STEP_LABELS['consistency'])}, split packs ---")
+    db = load_database(db_path)
+    zip_contents = build_zip_contents_index(db)
+    profiles = load_emulator_profiles(emulators_dir)
+    registry = load_data_dir_registry(platforms_dir)
+    groups = group_identical_platforms(
+        list_registered_platforms(platforms_dir, include_archived=include_archived),
+        platforms_dir,
+    )
+    was_offline = packresolve._OFFLINE
+    packresolve.set_offline(True)
+    all_ok = True
+    try:
+        for _members, platform in groups:
+            args = dict(
+                emulators_dir=emulators_dir, zip_contents=zip_contents,
+                data_registry=registry, emu_profiles=profiles, offline=True,
+            )
+            full = generate_pack.PackRecord()
+            parts: dict[str, generate_pack.PackRecord] = {}
+            with contextlib.redirect_stdout(io.StringIO()), \
+                    contextlib.redirect_stderr(io.StringIO()):
+                generate_pack.generate_pack(
+                    platform, platforms_dir, db, "bios", "", record=full, **args,
+                )
+                generate_pack.generate_split_packs(
+                    platform, platforms_dir, db, "bios", "", records=parts, **args,
+                )
+            lines = split_differences(full, parts, generate_pack._same_bytes)
+            if lines:
+                all_ok = False
+                print(f"  {platform} --split: {len(lines)} differences")
+                print("\n".join(f"    {line}" for line in lines[:20]))
+    finally:
+        packresolve.set_offline(was_offline)
+    print(f"  {len(groups)} split platform packs compared, "
+          f"{'all equal' if all_ok else 'differences above'}")
+    return all_ok
+
+
 class _Skipped:
     """A step that did not run. Truthy, so it never fails the pipeline, and
     distinct, so the summary does not report it as work that was done."""
@@ -1373,6 +1460,7 @@ def main() -> None:
         ok = check_narrowed_packs(
             include_archived=args.include_archived, full=args.full_narrowings,
         ) and ok
+        ok = check_split_packs(include_archived=args.include_archived) and ok
         print(
             f"--- {step_title(STEP_LABELS['consistency'])}, counts and paths: "
             f"{'OK' if ok else 'FAILED'} ---"
diff --git a/tests/test_split_extras.py b/tests/test_split_extras.py
index e64fff4a3..9fa7c4d1a 100644
--- a/tests/test_split_extras.py
+++ b/tests/test_split_extras.py
@@ -195,5 +195,48 @@ class SplitPartsHoldWhatTheFullPackHolds(unittest.TestCase):
         self._assert_parts_add_up(full, parts)
 
 
+class PipelineComparesTheSplitParts(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Step 5 compared the --region, --target, --system, --required-only and
+    --no-game-data packs with verify, and nothing compared the --split parts
+    with the full pack: RetroDECK's SGB1.sfc file/directory clash and
+    RetroBat's 21 openmsx/openMSX twins passed every check."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        import pipeline
+
+        self.pipeline = pipeline
+
+    def _record(self, sources: dict[str, str]) -> PackRecord:
+        record = PackRecord()
+        record.members = [*sources, "README.txt"]
+        record.sources = dict(sources)
+        return record
+
+    def test_equal_parts_report_nothing(self):
+        full = self._record({"a.bin": "x", "b.bin": "y"})
+        parts = {"A": self._record({"a.bin": "x"}), "B": self._record({"b.bin": "y"})}
+        self.assertEqual(self.pipeline.split_differences(full, parts, str.__eq__), [])
+
+    def test_each_difference_is_named(self):
+        full = self._record({"SGB1.sfc": "x", "kept.bin": "k", "lost.bin": "l"})
+        parts = {
+            "Snes": self._record({"SGB1.sfc": "x", "kept.bin": "other"}),
+            "Other": self._record({"SGB1.sfc/program.rom": "p"}),
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.pipeline.split_differences(full, parts, str.__eq__),
+            [
+                "in a part, not in the full pack: SGB1.sfc/program.rom",
+                "in the full pack, in no part: lost.bin",
+                "other bytes in Snes: kept.bin",
+            ],
+        )
+
+    def test_step_five_runs_the_comparison(self):
+        source = (REPO_ROOT / "scripts" / "pipeline.py").read_text()
+        step = source[source.index("# Step 5: Consistency check"):source.index("# Step 6:")]
+        self.assertIn("check_split_packs(", step)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/wiki/advanced-usage.md b/wiki/advanced-usage.md
index c17cc07ac..78c3fe16a 100644
--- a/wiki/advanced-usage.md
+++ b/wiki/advanced-usage.md
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ Group the split ZIPs by manufacturer (Sony, Nintendo, Sega, etc.):
 python scripts/generate_pack.py --platform retroarch --split --group-by manufacturer
 ```
 
+The parts together hold exactly the files of the full pack, so every part
+can be extracted into the same folder. Core files of a system the platform
+does not list go in an `Other_Cores` part.
+
 ### System-specific packs
 
 Extract only the files for a single system within a platform:
diff --git a/wiki/tools.md b/wiki/tools.md
index 78dfb21b1..8dbf84bae 100644
--- a/wiki/tools.md
+++ b/wiki/tools.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Pipeline steps:
 | 4c | Generate target manifests | `--skip-packs` |
 | 4d | Collected copies only an emulator install provides (`bundled_only.py --strict`, gates the run) | - |
 | 4e | Games index: what the installer reads for the games on a card (`generate_games_index.py`, fails under its coverage floor) | - (reads the committed install lists) |
-| 5 | Consistency check: counts, paths per archive, every emulator and system pack, the narrowed platform packs | `--skip-packs`, or no full pack built (`--source platform` or `truth`) |
+| 5 | Consistency check: counts, paths per archive, every emulator and system pack, the narrowed platform packs, the `--split` parts | `--skip-packs`, or no full pack built (`--source platform` or `truth`) |
 | 6 | Pack integrity (extract + hash) | `--skip-packs`, or no full pack built |
 | 7 | Generate README and CONTRIBUTING, then the installer page's tables and run samples (`generate_installer_doc.py`) | `--skip-docs` |
 | 8 | Generate site | `--skip-docs` |
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ alone, run `python scripts/check_buildbot_system.py`.
   `--source` and `--one-per-slot` are not compared: verify has no report of
   a platform-only, truth-only or one-per-slot pack. A test fails when a new
   narrowing reaches the pack name without being compared or exempted.
+- **The `--split` parts add up to the full pack.** Step 5 builds the parts of
+  every platform in memory and compares their union with the full pack, path
+  for path and byte for byte: a part is built against the full pack's own
+  placement, so a path the full pack settles (a file/directory clash, a case
+  twin, a path two systems declare) is not written again in a part. The 17
+  platform packs took about four and a half minutes on 2026-11-06.
 - **Generators write through `write_if_changed()`.** A new timestamp alone
   rewrites nothing, so a diff on a generated file always means content.
 - **One run per output directory.** Pack generation takes a lock on