Hacking How does the performance of the EZ Flash 3in1 compare with the EZ Flash IV?

[james88]

I recently purchased an EZ Flash IV due to all the great reviews I read for it, but a couple of things bother me about it. When I load a GBA rom to play, I have to wait for it to load, which can take at least 10 seconds or so depending on the size of the game. But even worse is the fact that the games only actually save when you reboot the system, which often takes around 20 seconds or so, unless I cancel the save, but I find it quite cumbersome to have to do this every time I restart the system if I wish not to lose my game data from previously playing.

What I'm wondering is if the EZ Flash 3in1 performs better than that by reducing the load times when starting a game, and having a different saving system that is much better than the EZ Flash IV. I can't seem to find very much information or reviews for the 3in1. Why does the EZ Flash IV seem to be so much more popular?

I am only playing on a DS Lite, by the way, and I do have a DS flashcart which I know is needed to use the EZ Flash 3in1.

 

[Geren]

I recently purchased an EZ Flash IV due to all the great reviews I read for it, but a couple of things bother me about it. When I load a GBA rom to play, I have to wait for it to load, which can take at least 10 seconds or so depending on the size of the game. But even worse is the fact that the games only actually save when you reboot the system, which often takes around 20 seconds or so, unless I cancel the save, but I find it quite cumbersome to have to do this every time I restart the system if I wish not to lose my game data from previously playing.

What I'm wondering is if the EZ Flash 3in1 performs better than that by reducing the load times when starting a game, and having a different saving system that is much better than the EZ Flash IV. I can't seem to find very much information or reviews for the 3in1. Why does the EZ Flash IV seem to be so much more popular?

I am only playing on a DS Lite, by the way, and I do have a DS flashcart which I know is needed to use the EZ Flash 3in1.

Well, I used the EZ3in1 along with an Acekard, and I have a EZ IV. Since the 3in1 is basically a stripped down IV, it cannot work completely without a DS flashcard. My acekard still had to load the rom, which took more o less the same time that EZF IV takes, and you also had to reboot in order to save, but since the AK managed that, it took like a second or so.

The EZ Flash IV is popular because it's the last GBA cart that you could find easily (other carts are much much more expensive rare to find), and was still being produced until not so long ago. I use mine in a gameboy micro, and it works as intended: I can play any gba game and homebrew.

 

[FAST6191]

What Geren said though I am mainly here to mention that that if you press select when looking at a ROM it will write it to the NOR section (if you have space). This initial write will take a few minutes but after that it will boot from the NOR and do so instantly.

Saves pretty much have to be written back on boot- the biggest GBA saves are either a quarter or a meg or half a meg depending upon what you count as what. To either make memory to hold them like the old carts would see a large section needed and to write back from in game is a fairly hard task considering everything is running about as close to hardware as it gets. It might happen in the future if a proper GBA card is made like we have seen for some of the N64 and SNES in recent times but I have not seen much more than talk about it thus far and talk is cheap.

 

[Hielkenator]

I have the EZ Flash 3in1 expansion pack. http://www.ezflash.cn/ez-flash-3in1-expansion-pack/
I also have a sd card dedicated to and full of gba roms.
Temp flashing only takes 10~20 sec. depending on the game.
I have the version with the biggest romspace.
If I plan to play a game often I usually flash it to the NOR.
Doing this will let the EZFlash behave as a regular cartridge ( except saving ), instantly booting the game.
Using in conjunction with Acekard 2i and DS Lite

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

Not to sound critical here but really?

"have to wait for it to load, which can take at least 10 seconds"

Is it that traumatic? even any DS Card take a few seconds to load and given your getting games for free its hardly worth complaining about in my personal opinion and I am also a EZ4 User

"actually save when you reboot the system, which often takes around 20 seconds or so"

Well seeing as the only other popular alternative with real time saving also has lag issues in many games I think its a fair trade, sides in the time I wait to save I put my unit down and take a sip of my drink.

I Just cant help but think these are minor details that are near pointless in comparison to what the cart does offer you, I have yet to see a flash cart that doesn't have to load the file from the card into its memory for play be it the GBA or NDS and the saving part. Well Id rather that then having most of my games running at 3/4 speed

 

[james88]

Some games run at a slower speed on the 3in1?

 

[Monkeymook]

I see that a few different sites listed here on 'temp are listing both the EZ 3in1 Flash V and the IV for sale (both the fat versions, not the NDSLite version, but the latter is available for sale as well).

I've read the Wikis for both of the devices and consistently compared both carts' features (even though I know the EZ V is newer, and will likely have a bit more to it).

I see nothing being mentioned about the RTC on the EZ V cart, with the exception of this lone post: http://gbatemp.net/threads/ez-flash-v-3-in-1-pokemon-emerald-clock.336672/

I'm unsure of what to make of that post, to be honest.

No one has actually mentioned whether this cart does, in fact, have an RTC fix in any review, so I figured I'd ask a few questions:

1. As far as stability is concerned, is the V preferable over the IV, or vice versa?
2. As I am aware the cart works as a standalone in GBA-only devices, does the V still require a passme or slot-1 cart to boot/load? (I'm assuming yes.)
3. Are there any reasons whatsoever to purchase the IV with the V 3in1 being available for cheaper?


Thanks in advance.

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

I see that a few different sites listed here on 'temp are listing both the EZ 3in1 Flash V and the IV for sale (both the fat versions, not the NDSLite version, but the latter is available for sale as well).

I've read the Wikis for both of the devices and consistently compared both carts' features (even though I know the EZ V is newer, and will likely have a bit more to it).

I see nothing being mentioned about the RTC on the EZ V cart, with the exception of this lone post: http://gbatemp.net/threads/ez-flash-v-3-in-1-pokemon-emerald-clock.336672/

I'm unsure of what to make of that post, to be honest.

No one has actually mentioned whether this cart does, in fact, have an RTC fix in any review, so I figured I'd ask a few questions:

1. As far as stability is concerned, is the V preferable over the IV, or vice versa?
2. As I am aware the cart works as a standalone in GBA-only devices, does the V still require a passme or slot-1 cart to boot/load? (I'm assuming yes.)
3. Are there any reasons whatsoever to purchase the IV with the V 3in1 being available for cheaper?


Thanks in advance.

1. EZ-Flash IV is a stand alone flashcart, capable of running on a GBA not just a DS/L.
2. Yes the 3in1 is a slot1 dependent flashcart.
3. running on a GBA/SP/micro.

The EZ-Flash IV and 3in1 both do not have RTC. See the sticky for alternatives if you really really want to still play gba pokemon games that require RTC, can be found under the Q&A section.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-tell-which-version-of-the-3in1-you-have.130659/

 

[Monkeymook]

Super-helpful. I appreciate your quick response. It looks like it will be the IV for me then.

Thank you.

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

Super-helpful. I appreciate your quick response. It looks like it will be the IV for me then.

Thank you.

Your going to have a hard time finding a vendor that sells a EZ-Flash IV since it has been discontinued now.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/ez-flash-iv-is-being-discontinued.339309/


Ebluar doesn't have any in stock even when it says it does, use them at your own risk.