Hacking Are there any people with EZ Omega that havent had issues?

[playstays_shun]

Me

And how long ya had it for? That gives me hope

do ya use save states at all or just in game? Does using save state affect reliability ?

 

[Shadow#1]

And how long ya had it for? That gives me hope

do ya use save states at all or just in game? Does using save state affect reliability ?

I have had my 2 since Jan 2nd and I do not use save states

 

[hippy dave]

I've been using save states a fair bit, doesn't seem to cause any additional problems (assuming the patches work with whichever game you're playing)

 

[playstays_shun]

I've been using save states a fair bit, doesn't seem to cause any additional problems (assuming the patches work with whichever game you're playing)

If in game reset works (boot w add on) it’s a safe bet save state works too? How do ya initiate that

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Ez Flash Jr just isn't fully compatible with Super Gameboy. I'm hoping they update it to work with it soon. Yes I know about pressing reset twice but you still don't get SGB borders when you do that.

Does the Super Game Boy even support switching borders like that? It's not just loaded into memory once when the SGB boots the cartridge?

 

[EZ-Flash2]

We can only realy speculate as to why the EZFlash team switched the saving method around on the omega. One possible reason could be down to the battery inside. The omega introduced the RTC which needs a battery to keep the time. Since that clock is always running, the battery cell on the board would run dry faster than if it were to power (only) the SRAM like it does on the EZFlash IV and the EZFlash Reform. Once the battery runs dry on those cards (which can take decades), saving no longer works on the IV and Reform until you replace the battery.
So maybe they just wanted to remove the battery dependency for the saving.
Maybe it's also down to cost - I don't remember if the EZFlash Omega actually has an SRAM chip where it saves the savegame during the runtime or if they use the same storage where they run the ROMs from (one would need to closer inspect the chips on the board) - if they don't use a separate SRAM chip It looks like the Omega doesn't have an SRAM chip, that also saves them money in the manufacturing process because they don't need to buy the chips and they don't have to take it into consideration in the board design. Wether their revised saving system caused them to omit the SRAM or vice versa, we can just guess, though.

It might just be a combination of both (and/or other reasons) and they believed to have the perfect solution to this. But it also seems they learned from their mistakes as they went back to the "old" tried and true system for their EZFlash Jr. GBC flashcard.

The Omega is superior to the EZFlash IV/Reform because it has more features. The Omega has additional features like a Real Time Clock, cheats and savestates. It also loads the game instantly, whereas loading a game on the IV/Reform takes between 10 to 60 seconds (depending on the size) and takes even longer the very first time you boot a game (30 seconds to 2 minutes).

All of this doesn't mean the EZFlash IV or Reform are bad cards or that they should be avoided - they are adequate solutions that are easy to use and do their job well - if updated to a firmware above 2.01.

But since they are EOL, they are harder to find, most resellers will probably be selling the Omega.

You might have noticed me calling the predecessor "IV/Reform" - Ezflash released the "Reform" model about a year before the omega which is functionaly identical to the EZFlash IV but slightly smaller (It comes with a shell that sits flush in a DS lite, just like the Omega). Maybe you'll have more luck finding that one.



If you're happy with the EZFlash IV and don't need any of the additional features of the omega, staying with the IV or Reform is a valid option.

actually. there is SRAM on EZ-FLASH OMEGA, the size is 4Mb. the game save to SRAM at first, then FPGA move the save to MicroSD. any action interrupt the process will cause MicroSD corruption. The whole design of EZ-FLASH OMEGA is not for cost down but play & save without battery completely. Maybe this idea was too aggressive in 2018 and it is unacceptable to most people.

Any way. When you are familiar with its working mode, losing the save is an impossible mission. Unless you intend to interrupt the save process, as I did in the testing work.

 

[hippy dave]

If in game reset works (boot w add on) it’s a safe bet save state works too? How do ya initiate that

Make sure save states are enabled from the settings tab. If you ONLY have save states enabled (or if you copied the game to NOR with addon (which only uses the save state patch), and you're running it from there), then pressing L+R+Select saves your state, and pressing L+R+Start loads it. If you have additional patches turned on in settings (eg. sleep as well as save state), then pressing L+R+Start brings up a menu, where you can load state, save state, or quit to Omega's menu.

 

[realtimesave]

Does the Super Game Boy even support switching borders like that? It's not just loaded into memory once when the SGB boots the cartridge?

Omg jdbye still is here lol I remember u my man. Anyways, when you use the Ezflash Jr on the SGB and try to turn on SGB features such as borders within the SGB menus, it doesn't work. I only could get it to work with competing flash carts such as the Everdrive clone that I bought from Aliexpress.

 

[playstays_shun]

Omg jdbye still is here lol I remember u my man. Anyways, when you use the Ezflash Jr on the SGB and try to turn on SGB features such as borders within the SGB menus, it doesn't work. I only could get it to work with competing flash carts such as the Everdrive clone that I bought from Aliexpress.

I see the value in EZ Omega, its way cheaper than X5 / x5 mini, is smaller than x5 non-mini, and comes in at a third or half the cost roughly. Has save states too and in game reset where there is no X7 tier GBA everdrive. The save method can get screwed but it sounds like for most people if you're cautious and practice good saving, you'll be fine. Also efficiency gains on x5 GBA vs. omega but is it worth it if you have good capacity AA or high mAH SP fresh battery? Micro might make it worth it to go x5 GBA.

--

ON GB front:

...Still not sure I understand the hype with Jr unless you really really care about RTC. Still no save states, where X7 GB has it. No disrespect to EZ Flash team.

And if you dont care about save states, or RTC (maybe this is the main draw? RTC for an affordable price on GB?), X3 is $39 right now on Everdrive's website. Pretty competitive with Jr for a proven product. Better energy efficiency too, especially since it was a big improvement from original EDGB in that regard and load times.

...Unless you hate supporting Krikzz, or are only considering an EDGB Pro clone vs. Jr, then it makes sense. Otherwise not sure. ymmv

I think omega + x3 GB is the perfect combo and best of both worlds, clocking in at the same price as an x5 mini or non mini, and still more affordable than an x7 GB by itself.

x5 GB seems like a waste too, who cares if you have to press the button on the cart to save the game its nice to have flexibility too imo when you dont want to save the game. Not worth price bump of fifty dollars: $89 vs $39.

Aesthetic is a small detail too, but the legit everdrives look way nicer than Jr or the EDGB clones. And you will be looking at it on a GBA since it sticks out.

Open to debating this one!

 

[Localhorst86]

I see the value in EZ Omega, its way cheaper than X5 / x5 mini, is smaller than x5 non-mini, and comes in at a third or half the cost roughly. Has save states too and in game reset where there is no X7 tier GBA everdrive. The save method can get screwed but it sounds like for most people if you're cautious and practice good saving, you'll be fine. Also efficiency gains on x5 GBA vs. omega but is it worth it if you have good capacity AA or high mAH SP fresh battery? Micro might make it worth it to go x5 GBA.

--

ON GB front:

...Still not sure I understand the hype with Jr unless you really really care about RTC. Still no save states, where X7 GB has it. No disrespect to EZ Flash team.

And if you dont care about save states, or RTC (maybe this is the main draw? RTC for an affordable price on GB?), X3 is $39 right now on Everdrive's website. Pretty competitive with Jr for a proven product. Better energy efficiency too, especially since it was a big improvement from original EDGB in that regard and load times.

...Unless you hate supporting Krikzz, or are only considering an EDGB Pro clone vs. Jr, then it makes sense. Otherwise not sure. ymmv

I think omega + x3 GB is the perfect combo and best of both worlds, clocking in at the same price as an x5 mini or non mini, and still more affordable than an x7 GB by itself.

x5 GB seems like a waste too, who cares if you have to press the button on the cart to save the game its nice to have flexibility too imo when you dont want to save the game. Not worth price bump of fifty dollars: $89 vs $39.

Aesthetic is a small detail too, but the legit everdrives look way nicer than Jr or the EDGB clones. And you will be looking at it on a GBA since it sticks out.

Open to debating this one!

Feature wise, the ezflash jr. Is somewhere between the X5 and the X7 so it's better to compare the prices at that range. The x3 for $40 is OK and probably enough for most use cases. Having to press the button to save is not a huge issue or show stopper, it will probably be second nature after a while.

Having to push the button on the x3 might complicate the usage in the Game cube GBPlayer unit where the cartridge sits face down on the table and pressing the button might not be easily feasible because you have to lift, so that's definitely something to at least keep in mind.

Regarding the looks, the EDGB and ezflash jr look pretty much exactly the same in regards to the shell, the only difference is the label, of which I really prefer the simpler Ezflash Jr label over that of my original EDGB. But either way, one can always print their own custom design if they prefer.

BTW, I'd argue the best gbc flashcard available for $40 is the El cheapo SD because it has savestates. Unfortunately, these only become availble occasionally and international shipping can be prohibitively expensive.

 

[playstays_shun]

BTW, I'd argue the best gbc flashcard available for $40 is the El cheapo SD because it has savestates. Unfortunately, these only become availble occasionally and international shipping can be prohibitively expensive.

thats cool to know but from a quick read seems like El cheap comes with more headaches than its worth compared to x3 GB and Jr.

also x3 GB benefits from power efficiencies over original EDGB. That alone has some weight.

 

[Localhorst86]

also x3 GB benefits from power efficiencies over original EDGB. That alone has some weight.

I guess that's down to preference, I can see why it can be important for people, though.

I myself don't have any issues with the battery runtime of the ezflash jr, just yesterday I had my backlit modded GBC accidentally running all day. I powered the unit on sometime around noon, started a game and put it on a sideboard to do some chores and have lunch. Forgot I was playing something and went about the rest of the day. I only noticed shortly before going to bed right around midnight because I turned the lights off and noticed that something on the sideboard was still lit up. So, it turns out it can run about 10 - 12 hours on a set of good rechargables - which is plenty for me, tbh. If the EDGB x series lasts a lot longer than that (I'd imagine it could hit about 17h), then that's great and, as I said, that is a reasonable argument to make, other people have different priorities

 

[Iamapirate]

So which kernel/theme/firmware would you guys recommend if I'm looking to backup my saves effectively?

 

[Shadow#1]

So which kernel/theme/firmware would you guys recommend if I'm looking to backup my saves effectively?

Wait a few day for official FW5 release

 

[playstays_shun]

Sometimes I get “read save error” on first launch of a title or fails to launch. Wait a bit , flip the system off and back on and can launch

is this cause of concern? Does boot with add on and reset to menu cause a stronger possibility of issues?
-

also there’s a new firmware soon?

 

[Shadow#1]

Sometimes I get “read save error” on first launch of a title or fails to launch. Wait a bit , flip the system off and back on and can launch

is this cause of concern? Does boot with add on and reset to menu cause a stronger possibility of issues?
-

also there’s a new firmware soon?

Sounds like bad SD card and my bad thought this was the EZ-Flash Jr. Test flight thread so no new updates coming for Omega

 

[playstays_shun]

Gotcha. I don’t think my sd card is bad though and when I had a corrupt rom (indicated with broken image) replacing It and re running chkdsk fixed it

just concerned about long term reliability

I think backing up saves every once in a while is a good idea but wonder if I should’ve just gone for an x5 mini

 

[CubeBag]

For my Omega, everything seems to work perfectly when I run games from the SD card. However, games often crash or become corrupted if I try to run games from the NOR memory. Maybe I have a bad NOR? Games load so fast from SD that I'm sure it's easiest to pretend like the NOR isn't even there.

Also, Super Monkey Ball Jr. doesn't run with the savestate patch in the settings, but savestates for that game didn't work in the Supercard mini SD either. (I bought the Omega after that purple piece of garbage finally bit the dust.) It might be an issue with the ROM itself.

EDIT: Actually, my SD card did get corrupted! I only discovered after I wrote this post. I don't know how since I've been pretty careful about the whole count-to-5 thing but I guess I wasn't careful enough. Luckily my saves were fine despite there being some pretty nasty corruption in the SAVER folder. The Windows corrupted-SD prompt repaired my inaccessible ROMs.

 

[RAHelllord]

I've used my Omega since May '18 and I've only managed to corrupt my saves by being deliberately stupid, or by accidentally opening and closing the Goomba emulator menu in rapid succession. The manual mentions the save is written when you open the emulator menu, and I missed that part.
However, I always clean boot my games, if I want savestates or cheats I'd use an emulator for that particular portion of the game.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

A little late to the party, however I've had an EZ-Flash Omega for about two years now, so I think my experiences count towards this question.

When I first got the flashcart, it was using v1.00 (I don't know if current production models use the first version still or not), I didn't update it right away as I just wanted to see if the flashcart worked first (sometimes a bad batch run can happen), it worked fine when running games and what not, I did notice that saves would get corrupted, however it turned out that v1.00 was just bugged, updating the firmware/kernel fixed this issue. Aside from that issue (which got fixed), my experiences so far have been good with it, I haven't hit the funky issues people have reported about yet. I am not sure what's going on with other people's unfortunately.

As a flashcart collector, the battle between the EverDrive GBA X5/X5 Mini and the EZ-Flash Omega seems kind of pointless. Both are superb flashcarts in their respective ways, true one is much more expensive over the other, but regardless, the experience isn't different between the two at the end of the day, they both do what you want them to do. Just a matter of how much you are willing to spend for one of them.