Hacking After 7 years, my CycloDS is dying. What should I replace it with?

Shakedaddy

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GBATemp.net Family,

I have been using Cyclo Evolution DS + EZ Flash V with my DS Lite for almost 7+ years now, and generally speaking I've been very happy and satisfied with this combination.

However, this year I've became completely unable to play GBA games, and my DS games will freeze mid-game sometimes. It's time to get a new flashcart.

Now, back in 2008-2009 I remember the Cyclo DS was THE SHIT and it blew everything else out of the water. A lot of time has passed since then though and I realize that instead of just buying the same flashcart combination I should do my research and find something better if it exists.

I checked the "Which flash cart should I get?" faq but it seems that maybe those flash carts are for 3DS, not DS Lite. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding?

I hope it's OK to ask everyone's opinion just to clarify which flashcart I should get for my DS Lite. I would like to be able to play GBA games perfectly (not through an emulator) and am willing to buy a slot 2 device to make this happen.

Also, if I buy a new non-Cyclo DS flashcart, will my saves still be OK to transfer to the new flashcart?

Although I only post once in a blue moon, I really love the community here and have always recieved such great help and advice. Looking forward to hearing your responses. Thank you!

- Shakedaddy
 

The Real Jdbye

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GBATemp.net Family,

I have been using Cyclo Evolution DS + EZ Flash V with my DS Lite for almost 7+ years now, and generally speaking I've been very happy and satisfied with this combination.

However, this year I've became completely unable to play GBA games, and my DS games will freeze mid-game sometimes. It's time to get a new flashcart.

Now, back in 2008-2009 I remember the Cyclo DS was THE SHIT and it blew everything else out of the water. A lot of time has passed since then though and I realize that instead of just buying the same flashcart combination I should do my research and find something better if it exists.

I checked the "Which flash cart should I get?" faq but it seems that maybe those flash carts are for 3DS, not DS Lite. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding?

I hope it's OK to ask everyone's opinion just to clarify which flashcart I should get for my DS Lite. I would like to be able to play GBA games perfectly (not through an emulator) and am willing to buy a slot 2 device to make this happen.

Also, if I buy a new non-Cyclo DS flashcart, will my saves still be OK to transfer to the new flashcart?

Although I only post once in a blue moon, I really love the community here and have always recieved such great help and advice. Looking forward to hearing your responses. Thank you!

- Shakedaddy
DSTWO is the logical next step for any CycloDS owner. It has all the same features and more. It costs less than the CycloDS did back in the day but it has an onboard CPU for emulation (SNES, GBA) and works on any DS, DSi, 3DS.
The DSTWO+ is the new version of that, it costs a little more than the DSTWO but it has a faster onboard CPU that should allow perfect emulation of most games, and it also supports 3DS roms on the 3DS. Otherwise it works just like the DSTWO except having a faster CPU.
Of course you can still use your EZ 3-in-1 with it if you want, but if/when you do decide to upgrade to a DSi/3DS you can still play GBA games on it without needing the 3in1 :)
 
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Shakedaddy

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Thank you very much for both of your replies! I really appreciate it.

I have some questions.

1. If I bought a DS XL (not a 3DS XL... Just a normal DS XL) would I still be able to play GBA games perfectly like I can on my DS Lite? Does DS XL have that capability? Or is the only way through the "really, really good GBA emulator" such as on the DSTWO+?

2. If I bought a DSTWO or DSTWO+, you're telling me that I can play SNES games on my DS Lite using that?????????????????????

Once again, thank you for your help I really appreciate it.

NOTE: The reason I've never upgraded from a DS Lite is not because of cost or anything like that. I just... like my DS Lite. I'm comfortable with it. I always like staying a couple of generations behind whatever is most modern. This applies to my console and PC gaming as well. I'm weird like that.
 

nl255

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Thank you very much for both of your replies! I really appreciate it.

I have some questions.

1. If I bought a DS XL (not a 3DS XL... Just a normal DS XL) would I still be able to play GBA games perfectly like I can on my DS Lite? Does DS XL have that capability? Or is the only way through the "really, really good GBA emulator" such as on the DSTWO+?

2. If I bought a DSTWO or DSTWO+, you're telling me that I can play SNES games on my DS Lite using that?????????????????????

Once again, thank you for your help I really appreciate it.

NOTE: The reason I've never upgraded from a DS Lite is not because of cost or anything like that. I just... like my DS Lite. I'm comfortable with it. I always like staying a couple of generations behind whatever is most modern. This applies to my console and PC gaming as well. I'm weird like that.

First, if you are using a DS Lite you can still use your ezflash 3 in 1 or whatever gba slot solution you are using. Note however that this is not emulation, but hardware backwards compatibility.

The DS can't emulate GBA or SNES games full speed, period. The way the DSTwo does it is the DSTwo has it's own CPU, similar to a Dingoo, on the cart. When using DSTwo specific emulators, the DS/DSi/3DS is merely used as the screen and controller, the emulator is running 100% on the DSTwo's internal CPU.
 
D

Deleted User

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Thank you very much for both of your replies! I really appreciate it.

I have some questions.

1. If I bought a DS XL (not a 3DS XL... Just a normal DS XL) would I still be able to play GBA games perfectly like I can on my DS Lite? Does DS XL have that capability? Or is the only way through the "really, really good GBA emulator" such as on the DSTWO+?

2. If I bought a DSTWO or DSTWO+, you're telling me that I can play SNES games on my DS Lite using that?????????????????????

Once again, thank you for your help I really appreciate it.

NOTE: The reason I've never upgraded from a DS Lite is not because of cost or anything like that. I just... like my DS Lite. I'm comfortable with it. I always like staying a couple of generations behind whatever is most modern. This applies to my console and PC gaming as well. I'm weird like that.
first of all AFAIK there's no thing such as DS XL (maybe you're talking about DSi XL?)
1. the DSTWO and the DSTWO+ are using their build-in processors and RAM for GBA emulation AFAIK so any DS\DSi\2DS\3DS would work perfectly with it. if you're talking about DSi XL it has no way to play GBA games as-is, 'cause it has no card 2 (gba slot). same for newer models...
2. yes. BTW on 3ds you can play all SNES, NES, GB\C games on full speed emulation without flashcard, but with only memory card instead... and get all DS games with R4 that's compatible.
 

hundshamer

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DSTWO is the logical next step for any CycloDS owner. It has all the same features and more. It costs less than the CycloDS did back in the day but it has an onboard CPU for emulation (SNES, GBA) and works on any DS, DSi, 3DS.
The DSTWO+ is the new version of that, it costs a little more than the DSTWO but it has a faster onboard CPU that should allow perfect emulation of most games, and it also supports 3DS roms on the 3DS. Otherwise it works just like the DSTWO except having a faster CPU.
Of course you can still use your EZ 3-in-1 with it if you want, but if/when you do decide to upgrade to a DSi/3DS you can still play GBA games on it without needing the 3in1 :)
Does it not have more onboard ram too?
 

Shakedaddy

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First, if you are using a DS Lite you can still use your ezflash 3 in 1 or whatever gba slot solution you are using. Note however that this is not emulation, but hardware backwards compatibility.

Thank you very much for your reply. To be honest, since I've been unable to play GBA games on DS Lite for about a year now, I'm not sure if it's the problem with my CYCLO or with my EZFLASH itself.

Just want to clarify what you're saying - if I bought a DSTWO for my DS Lite, it would work with my EZ Flash? e.g. I could access my GBA roms in the same way that I used to do with my Cyclo. I boot up Cyclo and access the GBA roms through Cyclo.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

first of all AFAIK there's no thing such as DS XL (maybe you're talking about DSi XL?)
1. the DSTWO and the DSTWO+ are using their build-in processors and RAM for GBA emulation AFAIK so any DS\DSi\2DS\3DS would work perfectly with it. if you're talking about DSi XL it has no way to play GBA games as-is, 'cause it has no card 2 (gba slot). same for newer models...
2. yes. BTW on 3ds you can play all SNES, NES, GB\C games on full speed emulation without flashcard, but with only memory card instead... and get all DS games with R4 that's compatible.

Thank you very much for your reply, I really appreciate it. Yes, I meant the DSi XL. Sorry I've been out of the loop for a while so my terminology is rusty.

1. Just want to clarify my understanding - using the DSi XL or a 3DS, there is no way to play GBA games with 100% perfect backwards compatibility. It would only be through a really good, but imperfect emulator. Is that correct, or am I misunderstanding?

2. If I bought a DSTWO, would my saves from my DS and GBA cames on my CYCLO be transferable to it?

Thank you very much!
 
D

Deleted User

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Thank you very much for your reply. To be honest, since I've been unable to play GBA games on DS Lite for about a year now, I'm not sure if it's the problem with my CYCLO or with my EZFLASH itself.

Just want to clarify what you're saying - if I bought a DSTWO for my DS Lite, it would work with my EZ Flash? e.g. I could access my GBA roms in the same way that I used to do with my Cyclo. I boot up Cyclo and access the GBA roms through Cyclo.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------



Thank you very much for your reply, I really appreciate it. Yes, I meant the DSi XL. Sorry I've been out of the loop for a while so my terminology is rusty.

1. Just want to clarify my understanding - using the DSi XL or a 3DS, there is no way to play GBA games with 100% perfect backwards compatibility. It would only be through a really good, but imperfect emulator. Is that correct, or am I misunderstanding?

2. If I bought a DSTWO, would my saves from my DS and GBA cames on my CYCLO be transferable to it?

Thank you very much!
1. Yes. Btw there is an official nintendo's gba emulator for 3ds named "virtual console" only for "ambassador" program(google it) and it's emulating it perfectly.
2.the saves from ds will be transferable natively, gba saves need manipulations.
 

Shakedaddy

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Thank you very much for your reply, Natanelho. I really appreciate it.

I guess I will buy the DSTWO+ and use it for DS games, while using my EZ Flash card for GBA games.

I have one more question if it's OK - which micro SD card should I buy?

I remember back in 2008-2009 I had to buy a special Toshiba micro SD card because it was the only one fast enough to be compatible with the last Castlevania game that came out on the DS. Of course, this may no longer be an issue anymore because flash carts have improved?
 
D

Deleted User

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Thank you very much for your reply, Natanelho. I really appreciate it.

I guess I will buy the DSTWO+ and use it for DS games, while using my EZ Flash card for GBA games.

I have one more question if it's OK - which micro SD card should I buy?

I remember back in 2008-2009 I had to buy a special Toshiba micro SD card because it was the only one fast enough to be compatible with the last Castlevania game that came out on the DS. Of course, this may no longer be an issue anymore because flash carts have improved?
Man I'm using ttds (or dstt) it's a cheap flashcart that runs ds, homebrew and gba (via 3in1 that I don't have) and I'm using sandisk 4gb type 2 which loads Pokemon diamond in 1-2 seconds. I think that it'll be enough for the SCDSTWO+.
Still ya can use yr old toshiba card- just put it into the SCDSTWO with the right files
 

regnad

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I have a DSi XL and a DSTwo (not plus since my 3DS is updated to 10). I love it.

It's not perfect. Several GBA games don't run perfectly but are playable (Golden Sun, Tactics Ogre), some are completely unplayable (Monkeyball, Banjo Kazooie). But most run great. And there are two things the EZ Flash can't do: it plays on the big DSi XL screens, and it has save states. Both of these make it worth the price of admission. I have an EZ Flash IV which I also love, but I play GBA lately more often on the DSTwo for those things.

There's one other BIG advantage DSTwo has: it plays SNES, while not flawlessly, better than any of your other choices. DKC1-3 aren't perfect, but they're absolutely playable, and DSTwo is the only flashcart that can say that.

So go for it!

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

For an SD card I got this. Writes fast as crap, 32 gigs is enough for every SNES, GBA, and DS game you will ever want to play and then some, and it's only 13 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Memory-Adapter-SDSDQUAN-032G-G4A-Version/dp/B00M55C0NS
 
D

Deleted User

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ri
Nope not really. But I can tell that you never used an CycloDS - EZ-Flash 3in1 combination.
I think that the DSTWO supports YSmenu up to 2GB MicroSD cards.
right, I didn't. but I know that using DSTT with 3in1 is as easy as that, if not even easier. just select *.gba and it'll boot up.
 

Shakedaddy

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Thanks everyone for your replies!

I now understand that there is a disadvantage to using the DS Lite for GBA games because of the small screen when compared with the XL, and also the lack of save state. But these are disadvantages that I'm more than willing to put up with in order to have 100% pure backwards compatibility.

Conclusion
- I'm going to buy a DSTwo+ for my DS Lite for DS games
- I'm going to buy a EZ Flash and use it with my DS Lite for GBA games

Does anyone have any recommendations on which EZ Flash I should buy, though? I noticed that there are ones with a built in Micro-SD port now. Maybe I should I get one of those? The one that I currently have needs to open the games through the Cyclo DS.
 

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