Hacking Question about Flashcard Battery

[Vestrill]

Hey guys

So finally got a Flashcard to work but I heard something about they have a battery that can run out. It this true and how long do they last? Does it run out when you use it or is it something that will gradually deplete over time? How does that even work?

I have a R4i Gold 3DS

Thanks in advance

 

[Ryccardo]

Generally, batteries in games are used to keep SRAM and/or RTC running while the console is off.

On most original games of the last century and then some more, plus a large number of (GBA) flashcards they're required to keep a save;
a few DS flashcards also have this (like Supercard DSOne) but the problem can be bypassed by exiting the game with softreset. I don't think anything that has ever been called R4 uses a battery...

The first NES Zelda (SRAM) had a warning in the manual the battery would last about 5 years, many are still going, while Pokemon GSC (SRAM+RTC) are among the shortest lasting due to them having both. The Ez-V 3in1 only has SRAM but needs frequent (1-3 years) replacement because it's pretty small -- DSOne has an even smaller one but my friend's has lasted at least 3 years, design efficiency is very important at these limited capacities

 

[Vestrill]

Generally, batteries in games are used to keep SRAM and/or RTC running while the console is off.

On most original games of the last century and then some more, plus a large number of (GBA) flashcards they're required to keep a save;
a few DS flashcards also have this (like Supercard DSOne) but the problem can be bypassed by exiting the game with softreset. I don't think anything that has ever been called R4 uses a battery...

The first NES Zelda (SRAM) had a warning in the manual the battery would last about 5 years, many are still going, while Pokemon GSC (SRAM+RTC) are among the shortest lasting due to them having both. The Ez-V 3in1 only has SRAM but needs frequent (1-3 years) replacement because it's pretty small -- DSOne has an even smaller one but my friend's has lasted at least 3 years, design efficiency is very important at these limited capacities

Okay awesome thank you for that answer, it is really appreciated. Follow up question. Is it possible to use a DS with a R4i Card to store the GBA games and run them through the 3in1 Flash? So basically using the R4i as the storage.

 

[Ryccardo]

Is it possible to use a DS with a R4i Card to store the GBA games and run them through the 3in1 Flash? So basically using the R4i as the storage.

Sure, in fact that's the only way you can use a 3in1 for GBA mode: the games and saves come from the DS flashcard and are copied to the M3 when you start them (you will still need a battery in the M3 for saves to be kept, as you must power off your console to get back to whatever you used to copy the GBA game -Wood,YSMenu,Exploader- and copy the save to microsd)

 

[Vestrill]

Sure, in fact that's the only way you can use a 3in1 for GBA mode: the games and saves come from the DS flashcard and are copied to the M3 when you start them (you will still need a battery in the M3 for saves to be kept, as you must power off your console to get back to whatever you used to copy the GBA game -Wood,YSMenu,Exploader- and copy the save to microsd)

Okay I think I understand you now. I want to summarize this and then you can correct me if I am wrong.

The 3in1 Flash comes with its own memory to keep temp save files for when you play the game. These files however can be saved straight to the R4i through running the GBA game through Wood Kernel. If launched through the R4i Flashcards Woord Kernel then the games will be played through the 3in1 Flash but will be saved on the R4is micro SD card. So I do not need to worry about the 3in1 flash cards little battery running dead because I will be using the R4is memory anyways and the R4i does not have a battery like the 3in1.

Does that sound about right?

Sorry for all the follow ups, I do appreciate your help a lot I just want to be sure that I understand correctly.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Okay I think I understand you now. I want to summarize this and then you can correct me if I am wrong.

The 3in1 Flash comes with its own memory to keep temp save files for when you play the game. These files however can be saved straight to the R4i through running the GBA game through Wood Kernel. If launched through the R4i Flashcards Woord Kernel then the games will be played through the 3in1 Flash but will be saved on the R4is micro SD card. So I do not need to worry about the 3in1 flash cards little battery running dead because I will be using the R4is memory anyways and the R4i does not have a battery like the 3in1.

Does that sound about right?

Sorry for all the follow ups, I do appreciate your help a lot I just want to be sure that I understand correctly.

They're still saved to the 3in1, they're only backed up to the R4 when you boot back into the R4 menu.

 

[Vestrill]

They're still saved to the 3in1, they're only backed up to the R4 when you boot back into the R4 menu.

Ah okay now I understand. and I assume the 3in1 has a battery life now I understand. It is a pain but I guess it is one of those things. Thanks

 

[Ryccardo]

Ah okay now I understand. and I assume the 3in1 has a battery life now I understand. It is a pain but I guess it is one of those things. Thanks

Ye, mine arrived yesterday already empty, still totally worth it because it's the old model that works directly in Wood

 

[Vestrill]

Ye, mine arrived yesterday already empty, still totally worth it because it's the old model that works directly in Wood

Okay so even if the battery runs dead for the 3in1 then it is not stress as long as you are running your games through the Slot 2 Flashcard

 

[Ryccardo]

Okay so even if the battery runs dead for the 3in1 then it is not stress as long as you are running your games through the Slot 2 Flashcard

Without battery you can run gba games fine but they won't save
No problem for extra ram and rumble

 

[Vestrill]

Without battery you can run gba games fine but they won't save
No problem for extra ram and rumble

but you can still make a save file through the emu right? Like I know the GBC emu has a save slot option. Crap I hope the GBA emu does allow you to make a .save through the emu or this is gonna be pointless but as far as I know it can.

 

[Ryccardo]

but you can still make a save file through the emu right? Like I know the GBC emu has a save slot option. Crap I hope the GBA emu does allow you to make a .save through the emu or this is gonna be pointless but as far as I know it can.

The whole purpose of a 3in1 is to use real hardware instead of virtualization or emulation...

 

[Vestrill]

The whole purpose of a 3in1 is to use real hardware instead of virtualization or emulation...

but if you cannot save then there is no real point but I will check into those things when it arrives and read up more on it