Hacking How good is the CycloDS?

R2DJ · Apr 25, 2008

OK I'm considering of a replacement for my DSTT because of many reasons:

- Crashes sometimes with an Integral card and a Sandisk card
- The plastic case is damaged
- My auntie bought one as well along with an SDHC card. Her DSTT doesn't work on both of our DSes but the SDHC card is fine on my DSTT. (I guess you get what you pay for)
- I heard that the spring can damage the microSD's contacts

Is CycloDS the best in the market right now? I don't care about the price because I'm concerned about the quality. I've learned my lesson with the DSTT....

Also, are there any major problems in CycloDS? The quality of the flashcart? Any other details will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The worst decision you can make is buying a DSTT for a cheap price.

Elisa_ · Apr 25, 2008

It's pretty good. My friend got one as a replacement for an R4. Really good he says.

Bob Evil · Apr 25, 2008

I love the CycloDS ... after trying most of the carts out there, the only ones I can honestly recommend to anyone are the CycloDS & the Acekard R.P.G. ... I hear good things about the Acekard 2, but I have not personally tried it, so I can't recommend it.

You won't regret buying a CycloDS ...

The only thing some people bitch about is the cheat functions, and how it's more complicated, but as I have never used cheat for a game, after 30 years of gaming, I don't find that to be an issue.

altorn · Apr 25, 2008

CycloDS Evo is the best so far, in many aspects.

Hadrian · Apr 25, 2008

No problems with my Cyclo at all, you'll need a decent SD card as Castlevania: PoR may freeze. I've got a A Data Micro SDHC 4 GB card but any class 6 card will do.

It is a costly set up compared to others on the market but its really worth it.

R2DJ · Apr 25, 2008

Hadrian said:
No problems with my Cyclo at all, you'll need a decent SD card as Castlevania: PoR may freeze. I've got a A Data Micro SDHC 4 GB card but any class 6 card will do.

It is a costly set up compared to others on the market but its really worth it.

Will a Sandisk card work (any capacity)?

Toni Plutonij · Apr 25, 2008

My CycloDS is working with sandisk 4 GB class 2 with no problems, even Castlevania: PoR is running fine..But Tony Hawks Downhill Jam has slowdowns, it doesn't freeze, but it's slow!!

unduthegun · Apr 25, 2008

rjbr2000 said:
Hadrian said:

No problems with my Cyclo at all, you'll need a decent SD card as Castlevania: PoR may freeze. I've got a A Data Micro SDHC 4 GB card but any class 6 card will do.

It is a costly set up compared to others on the market but its really worth it.

Click to expand...

Will a Sandisk card work (any capacity)?

1GB and 2GB ones work on mine, never had any problems with my cyclods, I prefer it over the r4 (it hasn't got in-game menu), and the m3 real, which gave me problems reading microsds.

Did I say I love it? ;p

Enter260 · Apr 25, 2008

one thing most cyclo users won't tell you is that there are constant "file system too fragmented" errors. im not sure if its just sdhc cards but my 4gb got it constantly. i guess it's more of an annoyance but it's pretty disheartening to see one when you're trying to load up your favorite game, only to realize that you get the error and can't play it until you go home and defrag your memory card.

Hadrian · Apr 25, 2008

Enter260 said:
one thing most cyclo users won't tell you is that there are constant "file system too fragmented" errors. im not sure if its just sdhc cards but my 4gb got it constantly. i guess it's more of an annoyance but it's pretty disheartening to see one when you're trying to load up your favorite game, only to realize that you get the error and can't play it until you go home and defrag your memory card.

Never had that, on what games?

sk3tch · Apr 25, 2008

Enter260 said:
one thing most cyclo users won't tell you is that there are constant "file system too fragmented" errors. im not sure if its just sdhc cards but my 4gb got it constantly. i guess it's more of an annoyance but it's pretty disheartening to see one when you're trying to load up your favorite game, only to realize that you get the error and can't play it until you go home and defrag your memory card.

It's a known issue that Team Cyclops is working on. Basically, you can get around it by backing up your card and formatting it every once in a while.

It stems from all the features they've packed on thus leading to the OS for the card being a bit bloated. They are using the 1.4 firmware to eliminate a lot of that. Follow the forums at teamcyclops.com...the devs for the card are very involved and update frequently.

My favorite card is the CycloDS. Although I actually love my DSTT, too. I've got an AceKard 2 coming along with an EDGE. Out of all of my cards, I recommend the CycloDS overall and the DSTT for cost.

I have an A-DATA 4GB Class 6 microSDHC that I use with my CycloDS, but with every other card I'm using a Kingston 2GB (primarily Japan, but I have one Taiwan). I recommend the 2GB Kingston Japan since it uses much less battery (3x less power draw than an SDHC). But if you need more space, get the A-DATA.

gratefulbuddy · Apr 25, 2008

Enter260 said:
one thing most cyclo users won't tell you is that there are constant "file system too fragmented" errors. im not sure if its just sdhc cards but my 4gb got it constantly. i guess it's more of an annoyance but it's pretty disheartening to see one when you're trying to load up your favorite game, only to realize that you get the error and can't play it until you go home and defrag your memory card.

I wouldn't say it happens "constant"ly. It used to be bad with 1.3 ; 1.31 is supposed to have improved this issue. I can testify that running 1.4b2 I haven't seen any more "Too Fragmented" errors.

Unchi-san · Apr 25, 2008

sk3tch said:
Enter260 said:

one thing most cyclo users won't tell you is that there are constant "file system too fragmented" errors. im not sure if its just sdhc cards but my 4gb got it constantly. i guess it's more of an annoyance but it's pretty disheartening to see one when you're trying to load up your favorite game, only to realize that you get the error and can't play it until you go home and defrag your memory card.

Click to expand...

It's a known issue that Team Cyclops is working on. Basically, you can get around it by backing up your card and formatting it every once in a while.

It stems from all the features they've packed on thus leading to the OS for the card being a bit bloated. They are using the 1.4 firmware to eliminate a lot of that. Follow the forums at teamcyclops.com...the devs for the card are very involved and update frequently.

My favorite card is the CycloDS. Although I actually love my DSTT, too. I've got an AceKard 2 coming along with an EDGE. Out of all of my cards, I recommend the CycloDS overall and the DSTT for cost.

I have an A-DATA 4GB Class 6 microSDHC that I use with my CycloDS, but with every other card I'm using a Kingston 2GB (primarily Japan, but I have one Taiwan). I recommend the 2GB Kingston Japan since it uses much less battery (3x less power draw than an SDHC). But if you need more space, get the A-DATA.

so from what you are saying, the A-DATA 4gig SDHC/cyclo combo has 3x less battery power than one w/ a 2gig kingston/cyclo? So if you get 6 hours of play w/ the kingston, you only get 2 hours of play w/ the SDHC?

sk3tch · Apr 25, 2008

Unchi-san said:
so from what you are saying, the A-DATA 4gig SDHC/cyclo combo has 3x less battery power than one w/ a 2gig kingston/cyclo? So if you get 6 hours of play w/ the kingston, you only get 2 hours of play w/ the SDHC?

Yes, if you check my post history here you'll find a link that I give to a Team Cyclops staff member who did tests of battery consumption of the CycloDS and the R4. Basically, with an SDHC card the CycloDS used 3x more power than it did with a non-SDHC card (in the test they used a Kingston 1GB Japan). This is why I've switched to using non-SDHC cards. My A-DATA 4GB microSDHC with my CycloDS equals a lot shorter playtime. One could argue that this isn't a big deal since you can just recharge...but for me it's a convenience thing.

It's up to you to decide how much of an impact this information has on your microSD choice. For me, I don't mind having less storage...so I went for the solution with similar performance (the A-DATA simply cannot be beat for speed, but the Kingston 2GB JPN is pretty damn good) and much better battery life.

Destructobot · Apr 25, 2008

Unchi-san said:
So if you get 6 hours of play w/ the kingston, you only get 2 hours of play w/ the SDHC?

That would only be the case if the card was the only thing drawing power. The DS itself uses a good bit of electricity, so the difference won't be that big.

sk3tch · Apr 25, 2008

Destructobot said:
Unchi-san said:

So if you get 6 hours of play w/ the kingston, you only get 2 hours of play w/ the SDHC?

Click to expand...

That would only be the case if the card was the only thing drawing power. The DS itself uses a good bit of electricity, so the difference won't be that big.

Here's the thread I'm referring to, it has the link to the Team Cyclops member making the power consumption comparison:

http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=83375

The difference is big...because in both cases the DS Lite system is the constant. I.E. it draws the same amount of power no matter what. However, if you're using a CycloDS with an SDHC card it will use 3x more power than if you were using a CycloDS with a non-SDHC card.

Destructobot · Apr 25, 2008

I didn't mean that the difference was insignificant, I meant that a 3x difference in power draw from the card will not result in a 3x difference in total battery life when the DS is also factored into the equation.

Unchi-san · Apr 25, 2008

it just depends on how much power is needed relative to the ds lite itself. If the ds lite needs... say 100 units of power... and the a-data uses 3 units of power instead of kingston's 1 unit of power... overall the microsdhc card doesn't make that big of a difference in terms of battery power.

I don't think the microSDHC vs microSD merits any alerts for anyone who is considering getting a microSDHC but is worried about the battery life.

It seems like people are freaking out at sk3tch's statement so I just want to clarify that.

Destructobot · Apr 25, 2008

It probably makes a much bigger difference at lower screen brightness levels; I think the DS Lite uses nearly 4 times as much power at the highest brightness level as it does on the lowest brightness.

JPH · Apr 25, 2008

You never read the official GBAtemp.net Review of the CycloDS?

Hacking How good is the CycloDS?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

The Department of Home-Made Insecurity

Well-Known Member

Literally as TIGHT as a gnats chuff.

Well-Known Member

*has TrolleyDave & tiny p1ngy on moderating shelf!

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Literally as TIGHT as a gnats chuff.

Well-Known Member

amateur lunatic

Unchi on a stick! yay~

Well-Known Member

Crave the Hammer

Well-Known Member

Crave the Hammer

Unchi on a stick! yay~

Crave the Hammer

Banned!

Similar threads

Popular threads in this forum