Hacking Feasible R4+M3 lite perfect combo?

[betawind]

actually lemme correct myself.

so the 3-in-1 flashes a GBA rom to PSRAM, so you can play it....
do saved games stay? meaning if i saved a GBA game using 3-in-1, if i turn it off and reflash another game i wanna play, will my saved game still be there, if i reflash it back?

does the m3 lite have to deal with this extra re-flashing step, to play GBA roms?

or can i just pass it using the R4 and load GBA games on the fly?

and if the m3 lite can act as a ram expansion for the DS Browser, do i need to the m3 lite into ram expansion mode like the 3-in-1? or will the patched DS Browser know automatically?

Gah...there really should be a sticky on this...let me explain.

You can play as many games as you want on the 3-in-1, and you won't lose saves. Every time you want to play a game you simply have to flash the game to the cart. Here's how the process works:

1. When you initially set everything up (or add a new game), you patch each rom that requires it with GBATA. This enables the GBA rom to save to SRAM (the RAM used by the 3in1).

2. Next, you move all of your patched GBA roms onto your Slot 1 cart's memory (If space is an issue, upgrade your microsd to a 2gig or just get another)

3. Now you need a loader. The one nearly everyone uses is Rudolph's 3 in 1 ExpPack. There are two other alternatives, outlined here. This homebrew will copy the GBA rom to the 3in1 and start the game. If it detects an existing save on the 3in1, it backs it up appropriately. If it detects an existing backed up save file, it loads it, but only after backing up the save already on the 3in1, so no data is lost. Assuming the game 16MB or less, the flash to the 3in1's PSRAM will take less than a minute. If the game is over 16MB (which is rare), it will have to be flashed to NOR, which will take several minutes. While this takes a while, it will remain in NOR memory until you flash another game, as opposed to PSRAM which you have to flash to every time you play.

I have been working on creating a wiki on GBAtemp that has slightly more detail than outlined here. You can check it out here.

Additionally, if you have anything you would like clarification on or would like added, please send me a PM and I will be happy to help.


Hope this helps,

~Beta

Edit: To answer one of your other questions, yes, the M3 reflashes as well. The only real differences are the non-gba functionality (which you should already have with your R4), its removable memory, and its cost. Its at least 40-60 dollars more than a 3in1. I don't know about the m3 and expansion ram.

 

[milkmandan]

Edit: To answer one of your other questions, yes, the M3 reflashes as well. The only real differences are the non-gba functionality (which you should already have with your R4), its removable memory, and its cost. Its at least 40-60 dollars more than a 3in1. I don't know about the m3 and expansion ram.

Awesome explanation! thanks~


Does anyone know how the m3 lite works with the DS Browser?
any steps?

 

[roguetrip]

this message is from my R4DS+3in1! the sram saves do not delete when u remove power (aslong as battery is good) and can be backed up manually, or auto saves when u load a new game.

 

[milkmandan]

If it detects an existing save on the 3in1, it backs it up appropriately. If it detects an existing backed up save file, it loads it, but only after backing up the save already on the 3in1, so no data is lost. Assuming the game 16MB or less, the flash to the 3in1's PSRAM will take less than a minute. If the game is over 16MB (which is rare), it will have to be flashed to NOR, which will take several minutes. While this takes a while, it will remain in NOR memory until you flash another game, as opposed to PSRAM which you have to flash to every time you play.

so how many saved games will it back up? all of them?
so basically i can play a bunch of GBA games and not worry about having to manually back up my saves?

if i play Golden Sun, save it, and flash a new GBA game (mario kart), save it, and reflash back to Golden Sun, my save for Golden Sun will still be there..and i can continue playing

-------

Anyone have the m3 lite solution for DS Browser?

btw, is YES 2GB the only microSD 2BG card that has no problems with the R4 DS?
http://wiki.scorpei.com/index.php/R4_compa...h_Compatibility
anyone wanna suggest/recommend a 2GB microsd card?

 

[betawind]

so how many saved games will it back up? all of them?

As many as you can fit on your MicroSD card. (and they're quite small, 128k)

so basically i can play a bunch of GBA games and not worry about having to manually back up my saves?

Yep, it does it for you.

QUOTE(milkmandan @ Aug 10 2007, 07:37 PM)if i play Golden Sun, save it, and flash a new GBA game (mario kart), save it, and reflash back to Golden Sun, my save for Golden Sun will still be there..and i can continue playing

Exactly.

Edit: Edited out the goofyness I put in this reply

 

[xcalibur]

If it detects an existing save on the 3in1, it backs it up appropriately.  If it detects an existing backed up save file, it loads it, but only after backing up the save already on the 3in1, so no data is lost.  Assuming the game 16MB or less, the flash to the 3in1's PSRAM will take less than a minute.  If the game is over 16MB (which is rare), it will have to be flashed to NOR, which will take several minutes. Â While this takes a while, it will remain in NOR memory until you flash another game, as opposed to PSRAM which you have to flash to every time you play.
so how many saved games will it back up? all of them?
so basically i can play a bunch of GBA games and not worry about having to manually back up my saves?

if i play Golden Sun, save it, and flash a new GBA game (mario kart), save it, and reflash back to Golden Sun, my save for Golden Sun will still be there..and i can continue playing

-------

Anyone have the m3 lite solution for DS Browser?

btw, is YES 2GB the only microSD 2BG card that has no problems with the R4 DS?
http://wiki.scorpei.com/index.php/R4_compa...h_Compatibility
anyone wanna suggest/recommend a 2GB microsd card?

the proces of saving on the EZ products is usually that the game you are currently playing gets saved to the Sram
when you change games, it updates your savefile on the microsd and then overwrites it with the save file of the game you are currently playing

the solution for the M3 lite browser is the triforce patch

R4 works fine with all microsd's except for a few games which have been reported to show problems when using a slow microsd card

those games and ONLY those games need a fast microsd , the rest could use a regular microsd without problems

the general reccomendation is japan made 1gb kingston microsd's with 2gb coming second since the random access speed is much faster on the 1gb cards, leading to no lockups ever while the 2gb might have to be formatted a certain way to make it not lockup

 

[milkmandan]

the proces of saving on the EZ products is usually that the game you are currently playing gets saved to the Sram
when you change games, it updates your savefile on the microsd and then overwrites it with the save file of the game you are currently playing

the solution for the M3 lite browser is the triforce patch

R4 works fine with all microsd's except for a few games which have been reported to show problems when using a slow microsd card

those games and ONLY those games need a fast microsd , the rest could use a regular microsd without problems

the general reccomendation is japan made 1gb kingston microsd's with 2gb coming second since the random access speed is much faster on the 1gb cards, leading to no lockups ever while the 2gb might have to be formatted a certain way to make it not lockup

How does the m3 lite handle GBA saved games then? same idea? cept not on the R4 microSD, but on the M3 lites microSD?
do i need to patch any GBA games, if i want the m3 lite to save saved games correctly (eg. the 3-in-1 needs the GBA roms to be patched inorder to save correctly).

with 1GB microSD, about how many games can one card hold?
i am definitely going to end up cramming a whole bunch of NDS games, GBA games and homebrew software on my card.

 

[boandmichele]

betawind - youve helped me a lot over the past several months, but ive never posted.

just wanted to say thanks.

all - im looking for a slot2 solution myself, what is the difference between the EZ 3in1 and the EZ Flash 4 lite deluxe? ive got my cc info ready to buy the 3in1, all ive got to do is hit 'place order'.

i am just anxious, i want to get the best thing out there. im so happy with my r4, and have no regrets, but i dont know what slot2 is best for me. i want GBA support, emulation/homebrew support, and ram expansion. rumble is not important.

 

[betawind]

betawind - youve helped me a lot over the past several months, but ive never posted.

 just wanted to say thanks.

all - im looking for a slot2 solution myself, what is the difference between the EZ 3in1 and the EZ Flash 4 lite deluxe? ive got my cc info ready to buy the 3in1, all ive got to do is hit 'place order'.

i am just anxious, i want to get the best thing out there. im so happy with my r4, and have no regrets, but i dont know what slot2 is best for me. i want GBA support, emulation/homebrew support, and ram expansion. rumble is not important.

Thanks! I'm always happy to help!

As far as I've seen the only real big functionality difference between the two is the NDS functionality, which you don't need being that you have the R4. I am yet to find a reason not to love my 3 in 1, it does all of my GBA play flawlessly. As far as homebrew, it will play GBA homebrew just as well as the 4 lite, including any emulators that are available for the GBA (Goomba is the big one that comes to mind). The expansion portion for opera works great. Some say you can switch the 3 in 1 over to RAM mode using rudolph's (which you can) and boot a clean opera rom. I, however, just downloaded a prepatched version and it works groovy without me changing anything on the 3 in 1. Rumble support isn't important to me either, but you never know when you might want some force feedback

~Beta

 

[boandmichele]

awesome, thanks so much.

just bought it. cant wait for it to get here.

so, to run say, an snes emulator, id put it on my r4, then boot slot2, and then run the emulator? im gonna have to get some more microsd cards.

 

[betawind]

awesome, thanks so much.Â

 just bought it. cant wait for it to get here.Â

so, to run say, an snes emulator, id put it on my r4, then boot slot2, and then run the emulator? im gonna have to get some more microsd cards.

There are homebrew SNES emulators that work on Slot 1 carts, such as SNEmulDS. I don't know if there is better compatibility on GBA homebrew (something I will be looking into now

)

 

[boandmichele]

There are homebrew SNES emulators that work on Slot 1 carts, such as SNEmulDS. I don't know if there is better compatibility on GBA homebrew (something I will be looking into now

)

everything that i have read in all my research has led me to believe that slot 2 emulators are much more evolved and run more roms a lot smoother. snemulds is a great app, but is far from being a permanent reliable solution. just about the only games i can play on it are super mario world and super metroid. both of which id kinda rather just play on the wii.

 

[betawind]

everything that i have read in all my research has led me to believe that slot 2 emulators are much more evolved and run more roms a lot smoother. snemulds is a great app, but is far from being a permanent reliable solution. just about the only games i can play on it are super mario world and super metroid. both of which id kinda rather just play on the wii.

Oh Rearry? What solutions are available? I wasn't able to find much of anything besides PocketSNES.

 

[boandmichele]

everything that i have read in all my research has led me to believe that slot 2 emulators are much more evolved and run more roms a lot smoother. snemulds is a great app, but is far from being a permanent reliable solution. just about the only games i can play on it are super mario world and super metroid. both of which id kinda rather just play on the wii.

Oh Rearry? What solutions are available? I wasn't able to find much of anything besides PocketSNES.

well, dont quote me, snemulds might be the best up to this point, but ive read lots of things saying there are better solutions if you have a slot2 card. check out the pocket heaven wiki. I've heard great things about snezzi and SNES Advance. But...

i havent used either yet, obviously, cause my 3in1 isnt here yet.

on a slightly related note, i cant wait to play some old gameboy stuff i havent played in years