Hacking How long do Gateway cards last?

[MattKimura]

So I just got my new Gateway, and it works perfectly.

But one thing concerns me. The spring feels cheap, and it might start to wear out, the more I have to take it out.

I want to know, how long do Gateway flashcards last? Who had their Gateway the longest?

 

[Armadillo]

Got mine soon as it was released. No issues with it, still working fine.

 

[Abcdfv]

Then it will last longer the less you take it out? Springs wear through compression and decompression, but I doubt it'll be anytime soon.

 

[MattKimura]

Got mine soon as it was released. No issues with it, still working fine.

It just amazes me, that this card can go as far as loading 3DS roms and last so long. I'd think I'm using up the card a whole lot, when I load a game.

One other question, about the SD card. Do I ever need to format it? Or is it good for life?

Then it will last longer the less you take it out? Springs wear through compression and decompression, but I doubt it'll be anytime soon.

I dislike the cheap spring in the DSTwo as well. I'd expect to put it in my 3DS, and it would work. But nope, I have to re-insert it every now and then. I'm used to leaving it in my flashcard for my Cyclo DS Evo. No spring, just slide in the SD and it stays in and detected.

I feel worried about these springs, like what if it suddenly becomes loose while playing? Because it sure does become loose while Im not using it. (For the DSTwo anyways)

 

[Nurio]

One other question, about the SD card. Do I ever need to format it? Or is it good for life?

It should be good for life, unless you do some crazy things that might corrupt it. But that would only happen if you intentionally try to ruin your SD card. Under normal use, it'll be good for life.

 

[gamesquest1]

you do know you can just slide it in and out right without pressing it, if your worried about the spring just do that

 

[Nurio]

you do know you can just slide it in and out right without pressing it, if your worried about the spring just do that

That will only break the mechanism more, since you're forcing it out in a way you shouldn't. It's kind of like pushing in a computer's disc tray with your hand instead of using the button to do it automatically.

 

[gamesquest1]

That will only break the mechanism more, since you're forcing it out in a way you shouldn't. It's kind of like pushing in a computer's disc tray with your hand instead of using the button to do it automatically.

there is no mechanism locking the card in place, so its not forcing it out, its simply not using the spring to pop it in and out try it you can see that the card just slips out like any other non spring loaded sd slot

 

[Nurio]

there is no mechanism locking the card in place, so its not forcing it out, its simply not using the spring to pop it in and out

Are you quite sure? Because it does seem like it holds the MicroSD card in place, much like the (3)DS holds a cartridge in place.

 

[SaggyBeans]

I think gamesquest1 is right on this one.. The sd doesn't seem to have much resistance when pulled out without the spring. Also MattKimura, keep in mind that gateway now supports multi-rom so I would recommend getting a large capacity SD and load all your games to avoid removing it unless you have to. I'm sure it will be fine tho since Armadillo mentioned he purchased at launch and did not have multi-rom at the begining so he has probably pulled it out quite a few times since he had to use a sd for each game individually.

 

[Foxi4]

I have a spring-loaded Acekard 2i, had it for years. It feels flimsy as all hell and works without fail to this day. I hope you'll accept that as an answer.

It won't break if you'll treat it right - it's as simple as that.

 

[justinkb]

How often do you swap the sdcard in it anyway? Just get a huge one, format with exfat and load it up with your backups.

 

[MattKimura]

How often do you swap the sdcard in it anyway? Just get a huge one, format with exfat and load it up with your backups.

The reason for me to take out my SD card, will only ever be to backup/restore Animal Crossing save files using the Card 2 save program. I'm planning on making infinite villagers, and a catalog town. That way, I won't ever have to order items for anyone ever again!

 

[SaggyBeans]

The reason for me to take out my SD card, will only ever be to backup/restore Animal Crossing save files using the Card 2 save program. I'm planning on making infinite villagers, and a catalog town. That way, I won't ever have to order items for anyone ever again!

I don't mean to hijack this thread or anything but you can do that?! Do you modify your saves or find them online?

 

[Schizoanalysis]

Even if the spring breaks, just slide the microSD in and out -- the card itself will still work.

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

I still use my M3 Simply (with the Wood firmware of course.)

Meanwhile I have 2 chinese knock offs die on me (I got them for less than 5 bucks each so they lasted about 2 years, honestly no complaints there. I feel like I got more than I paid for lol)

Take good care of your electronics and they should last a very long time. (accidents and defects can still take them from you, but good care can keep good gear working right.)

 

[MattKimura]

I don't mean to hijack this thread or anything but you can do that?! Do you modify your saves or find them online?

You can't modify the save like in Powersaves, but you can backup and restore the save files using that program. Which means you can simply backup and load the save where a villager is moving. You can do this as much times as you want. You can make as much towns as you want basically, with one game.

 

[NanakiXIII]

Are you quite sure? Because it does seem like it holds the MicroSD card in place, much like the (3)DS holds a cartridge in place.

I have never used the spring. There are no mechanism that holds the microSD in the flashcard.

 

[Schizoanalysis]

If the microSD does have a tendency to fall out of the slot if your spring is broken, just tape over the slot to keep in in.

Problem solved.

 

[Nurio]

I have never used the spring. There are no mechanism that holds the microSD in the flashcard.

Hmm, I want to clarify that I didn't claim that the spring was essential to holding the card into place, just that the spring might break sooner if you pull out the card instead of using the spring mechanism properly. (Likening it to pushing in a computer's disc tray manually instead of with the button.)