G6DS Real new information

[Destructobot]

AFAICT, the save data for games loaded into PSRAM is stored in battery backed-up SRAM, so the saves can be extracted.
Yes. The saves for the PSRAM games are stored in a different part of the SRAM, so they will not interfere with the save for the NOR game, and vice versa.

Finally, does this combo: r4ds + EZ-3in1 + 3in1 Expansion Pack Tool, allow for Pokemon DS-gba link?

I'm under the impression that it does, from the text: "Soft reset is supported on the R4/M3 Simply ... It also allows the game in PSRAM to be used for DSGBA linkage.", and PKMN Emerald is (for example) "16 Megabyte, 512 Kilobyte FLASH", which is a supported configuration for PSRAM.

That won't work. The Diamond & Pearl roms are programmed to read flash saves, not SRAM like the 3-in-1 uses.

The EZ-V automatically patches Diamond & Pearl at run time to read the save from the 3-in-1, so it will work with that cart. With any other slot 1 cart you will only be able to link with retail GBA Pokemon carts.

The GBA pokemon games use 1024kbit flash saves BTW, so they can't be run from PSRAM.

 

[bugmenot52]

AFAICT, the save data for games loaded into PSRAM is stored in battery backed-up SRAM, so the saves can be extracted.
Yes. The saves for the PSRAM games are stored in a different part of the SRAM, so they will not interfere with the save for the NOR game, and vice versa.

Finally, does this combo: r4ds + EZ-3in1 + 3in1 Expansion Pack Tool, allow for Pokemon DS-gba link?

I'm under the impression that it does, from the text: "Soft reset is supported on the R4/M3 Simply ... It also allows the game in PSRAM to be used for DSGBA linkage.", and PKMN Emerald is (for example) "16 Megabyte, 512 Kilobyte FLASH", which is a supported configuration for PSRAM.

That won't work. The Diamond & Pearl roms are programmed to read flash saves, not SRAM like the 3-in-1 uses.

The EZ-V automatically patches Diamond & Pearl at run time to read the save from the 3-in-1, so it will work with that cart. With any other slot 1 cart you will only be able to link with retail GBA Pokemon carts.

The GBA pokemon games use 1024kbit flash saves BTW, so they couldn't be run from PSRAM.

hmm... That makes sense. A quick Google search had indicated Emerald uses "512 KB [yes Kbyte]". Looking at my VBA save file, i agree it is 128Kbyte or 1024Kbit.

 

[bugmenot52]

Whoo, DLDI and a 3-in-1 competitor. Having no homebrew on my G6 Real is kinda annoying so DLDI support will be very welcome >.>.
I also hope that there is more flash memory for GBA games on this three in one, with the option of having more than one game on there with a loader or one game with no loader (no loader=perfect emulation and loader=more games, obviously).
Also, an RTC in this 3-in-1 would be nice.

oh, that'd be cool) but i'm afraid, there is no much place for both RTC&rumble, as RTC means a battery... i wold like such a thingy, especially if DS-X can understand it)
anyway EZF is good enough at ut, let's see, what's new they can show us..)

I'm pretty sure that room could be made for RTC. It already has a battery for SRAM saves.



To address the issue of how G6DS+3in1 differs (or could differ) from R4DS+EZ-3in1.

Currently the major advantages of this combo over r4ds+ez-3in1 sound like:

• it might have no problem with the singlecart download play (the original review indicates that this not be the case)
• its firmware will likely have the equivlent of "3in1 Expansion Pack Tool", built in, rather than having to be a second program.
• the nand flash means no SD card, so even moist of the problem games for the R4DS will work fine, but the storage space is tightly limited).
• Nicer Firmware.
• It might (probably will) patch PKMN D/P so the GBA-link works properly.
• Option to turn the autoboot bit off.

Most of those could be fixed for the R4 simply by a "firmware" update, although whether the r4 team will work on any of them or not remains to be seen.

Really, though it looks like for those people who are OK with having a non-miniSD system, the G6DS may be the way to go.

If they do the 3-in-1 correctly, the system would be all but perfect. I will assume that the 3-in-1 mechanically is all but identical to the EZ-3in1, although might use slightly different codes for activating the RAM extension mode and rumble.
To me doing the 3-in-1 correctly means:

• The UI must have some place to enable ram extension mode and rumble. with the Ez-3in1, these features simply need to be enabled, and then they remain active until a hard reset (although it might be possibly to programatically disable them, rather than requiring a hard reset). So some option to do that. The DS Roms would not need to be patched.
• The GBA games system should allow playing compatible games directly from PSRAM. The option to play from NOR should be provided, but not be the default.
• For games that do not support playing directly from PSRAM, only NOR should be provided (duh!)
• An option to load a game onto the cart, but no play it should be available. This is useful for GBA-link.
• Which screen to load the game on should determined from the DS firmware, or at the very least an option in the OS.
• Should really by default automatically load the GBA saves into the 3-in-1, and automatically recove the saves from the 3-in-1's SRAM on the next boot.

Would be nice features:

• GBA border support.
• Per game borders.
• ability to load and extract GBA saves onto/from normal GBA carts.
• Ability to use clean GBA dumps, with patching occurring while in the DS. (Is difficult, but should still be entirely possible).

Basically, the end result would be a new menu or something in which one can enable the ram or rumble.
By default GBA games just work, and most games being loaded into PSRAM should make loading them quick. The games requiring NOR mode would be slower, but would also just work.

Basically, Somebody who knows nothing about any of this stuff should have absolutely no problems with any of it.

The G6DS real+3in1 certainly has the potential.

 

[suske1245]

I for one have a R4 + M3lite and am completely happy with the combo, Would the 3 in 1 combo have a greater memory than my m3lite (32 mb), if so what would that help it with. you can already run opera browser, the only thing M3lite doesn't have is a rumble support but its not necessary. As for the internal memory of g6real, i prefer expansion because its easier to replace and u basically have unlimited space, if the nand flash memory (heard its cheaper) stuffs up then your g6real in gone. as for the 100% download play, its already been proven that thats not true but just boasting.

I am pretty sure there aren't any price guide released so far for the G6real, would be interesting to see though.

Conlusion: R4 is good enough for every thing as for now. lolz

 

[bugmenot52]

I for one have a R4 + M3lite and am completely happy with the combo, Would the 3 in 1 combo have a greater memory than my m3lite (32 mb), if so what would that help it with. you can already run opera browser, the only thing M3lite doesn't have is a rumble support but its not necessary. As for the internal memory of g6real, i prefer expansion because its easier to replace and u basically have unlimited space, if the nand flash memory (heard its cheaper) stuffs up then your g6real in gone. as for the 100% download play, its already been proven that thats not true but just boasting.

I am pretty sure there aren't any price guide released so far for the G6real, would be interesting to see though.

Conlusion: R4 is good enough for every thing as for now. lolz

the 3-in-1's advantages are the rumble, support for un-patched support for the RAM (not critical, but nice if in the future games start using it). Another advantage might be cost, as I believe it was intended to be cheaper than many "normal" flash carts.
So if you have another flash cart, and don't really want rumble support, the 3-in-1 really does not offer any advantage to you.

As for the G6DS, the only advantages to you would be a guarantee of no problems with card speed. The biggest advantage to G6DS is a nicer firmware interface, which is much move novice friendly. This is a real advantage when recommending (or more likely purchasing) a card for somebody who is unfamiliar with any of this, and who simply wants to play games.
I think the G6DS might be more fully skin-able than the R4DS, but i'm not positive of that. You seem to be well aware of the potential disadvantages.

BTW. Memory cards are normally NAND (I believe micro-sd cards are). Also according to Wikipedia, NAND flash typically can be written to 10x the amount that NOR can before wearing out. It is faster to write to NAND than to NOR, but it is faster to read from NOR. NAND is also block-access.

 

[Montero]

Donu if it has been done.. but I am just confirming that the Ezflash 3-1 Expansion / DS-X 16Gb Combo works when playing GBA ROMS.

But this might be wrong Thread.. can't find a suitable please point me to it.