Hacking GBA Expansion or EZflash 3-in-1

[strata8]

I'm not sure what to get. I'd like more RAM, and native support for GBA games, but I'd also like to run other games such as Quake and Quake II (which require faster RAM)
Here's what I know so far:

EZFlash 3-in-1
-16MB PSRAM (faster)
-Built in rumble
-Plays GBA games
-Can't run GBA games from within Sakura.

M3 Real GBA Expansion
-32MB RAM (slower, but more of it)
-No rumble (That's OK, I've got the rumble pack)
-Plays GBA games
-Sakura supports it (the main reason I want it)

Once Sakura can natively support the 3-in-1, I'll go with that in an instant. But until then, I'm leaning towards the GBA expansion.

Is it worth the wait?

 

[Toni Plutonij]

Well I'm not completely sure if Sakura will ever natively support 3-in-1......So at the moment, it's better to get Reals GBA expansion....But, if you can wait, give it some more time, and see what will happen in few weeks..

 

[thedicemaster]

actually, m3sakura's internal GBA functions CAN be used to load&play games on your EZ flash 3 in 1.
but you have to set the EZ-flash to ram mode first using GBA exploader.

 

[strata8]

Really... I didn't know that! I guess I'll go with the EZflash 3-in-1 then!

Thanks!

 

[Destructobot]

If I had an M3 Real I would definitely go with the M3 GBA expansion over the 3-in-1 because of the Real's built in GBA support. That combo will give you real time saves for GBA games, and you can't get that with the 3-in-1 no matter what slot 1 cart you use it with.

Also, this is the first time I've ever heard that the 3-in-1 has faster RAM that the M3 GBA cart. Are you sure about that?

 

[Maikel Steneker]

Also, this is the first time I've ever heard that the 3-in-1 has faster RAM that the M3 GBA cart. Are you sure about that?

I've heard it before, but from my experience the difference is very little, if there even is a difference. I wouldn't really care about that.

I'd also just go for the M3 Real GBA Expansion. It's cheaper and has more features. The only reason I also have a 3in1 is because of the Rumble (and, well, because it's useful if I want to play a GBA-game on my GBA or GameBoy Player).

 

[strata8]

If I had an M3 Real I would definitely go with the M3 GBA expansion over the 3-in-1 because of the Real's built in GBA support. That combo will give you real time saves for GBA games, and you can't get that with the 3-in-1 no matter what slot 1 cart you use it with.

Also, this is the first time I've ever heard that the 3-in-1 has faster RAM that the M3 GBA cart. Are you sure about that?

Positive. I heard it in a topic that was discussing a RAM pack for commercial games or something. Wait a minute and I'll try and find it.

EDIT: Is there anyway I can view all my posts this year? The person who posted it was right after me.

 

[Destructobot]

Is there anyway I can view all my posts this year?

http://gbatemp.net/index.php?act=Search&am...sult_type=posts

 

[strata8]

Ah, here we go:

I thought it used 32MB. Even if it does only use 8MB (I think that's the amount?), the EZV DOES use all 32MB.

32MB is NOR RAM, useless as the RAM games would use. (SLOW)
16MB is PSRAM, usable but still slow.

 

[Destructobot]

That is only referring to the 3-in-1, and it is a woefully inadequate description of the difference between NOR flash memory (there is no such thing as NOR RAM) and PSRAM. The M3 Real GBA expansion doesn't have any NOR flash memory or any PSRAM, it only has 32MB of SDRAM (games run from this) and 1MB of SRAM (for saves and saved states).

My friend has an M3 GBA expansion, I'll try to remember to run the speed test app on it next time I get the chance, but I expect that it is just as fast as the 3-in-1.

 

[thedicemaster]

That is only referring to the 3-in-1, and it is a woefully inadequate description of the difference between NOR flash memory (there is no such thing as NOR RAM) and PSRAM. The M3 Real GBA expansion doesn't have any NOR flash memory or any PSRAM, it only has 32MB of SDRAM (games run from this) and 1MB of SRAM (for saves and saved states).

My friend has an M3 GBA expansion, I'll try to remember to run the speed test app on it next time I get the chance, but I expect that it is just as fast as the 3-in-1.

blame rudolph for that.
i think his GBA exploader calls it nor-ram

 

[Destructobot]

blame rudolph for that.
i think his GBA exploader calls it nor-ram

No, it doesn't.

 

[Minox]

The difference between Norflash and SDRAM/PSRAM is that Norflash isn't erased when the power is cut. That way the EZ Flash V 3-in-1 can act as a real Gba-cart if you write the games to Norflash.

 

[Fat D]

The M3 uses the fast RAM. Otherwise there would be GBA slowdowns or instabilities, as GBA games use the maximum speed the slot can provide.
The M3 does not include NOR memory, instead opting for higher amounts of RAM. This has two advantages:
- Even big GBA games can be written quickly
- Much RAM for homebrew
However, it cones at the disadvantage of not being able to use the features of non-volatile memory, which are
- the ability to be used as a standalone Game Pak
- using the DS as a dumping tool for saves and ROMs (which can howver still be done via WiFi and an FTP server).
the 3in1 rumble is loud and can barely be felt, so it is not a huge loss, and the M3 Expansion Pack includes both an RTC (Full Pokémon support including the clock) and greater amounts of SRAM (8 Mbit instead of 4), which allow real-time saving of GBA games. Coupled with the cheaper price of the M3 Expansion, this is definitely the way to go (and I, although already owning a 3in1 and not having an M3 Real device, am still interested in buying one). Also, when bought stand-alone, it comes with 4 shells to fit the two major DS Lite colors, as well as the two color/black systems. It also fits into the original DS GBA slot thanks to a GBA replacement shell and there is a transparent Lite shell which makes it look like the DS Lite Option Paks.

 

[Minox]

The M3 uses the fast RAM. Otherwise there would be GBA slowdowns or instabilities, as GBA games use the maximum speed the slot can provide.

Norflash is actually really fast, it's just the "writing to Norflash process" that's slow.

 

[Fat D]

exactly. NOR Flash is fast read, slow write, whereas NAND Flash is medium read, medium write. Which is why NOR is used on Flashcarts and NAND on memory devices.

 

[AXYPB]

actually, m3sakura's internal GBA functions CAN be used to load&play games on your EZ flash 3 in 1.
but you have to set the EZ-flash to ram mode first using GBA exploader.

I discovered this on my own and tried it with some of my games but several of them showed graphical glitches that don't appear when I use the GBA Exploader. Sakura does use the 3-in-1 set to Expansion RAM mode for faster loading and possibly faster media playback. Either way, I wouldn't try playing GBA games using Sakura with anything other than the official expansion because I wasn't able to figure out how to save with the 3-in-1 anyway.

 

[shiroitaka]

Ok my 3 in 1 finally arrived the m3 sakura is not recognising it do i need to do anything to get it to work or is it a duff one?
Sorry if this is a bit n00b but couldnt see any answers!

 

[AXYPB]

Use the GBA Exploader for running GBA games on any flash cart other than the EZFlash V.

 

[shiroitaka]

actually, m3sakura's internal GBA functions CAN be used to load&play games on your EZ flash 3 in 1.
but you have to set the EZ-flash to ram mode first using GBA exploader.

I discovered this on my own and tried it with some of my games but several of them showed graphical glitches that don't appear when I use the GBA Exploader. Sakura does use the 3-in-1 set to Expansion RAM mode for faster loading and possibly faster media playback. Either way, I wouldn't try playing GBA games using Sakura with anything other than the official expansion because I wasn't able to figure out how to save with the 3-in-1 anyway.

Ok im playing about in GBA exploader but i cant see a way to change to ram mode, unless you are referring to loading a game into NOR but then no matter what game i choose to run from my gba folder it only loads the last one loaded in expload mode. The sakura fw doesnt even detect any expansion?