R4i Gold Hands-On Impression

[Rydian]

R4i Gold Hands-On Impression
New 3DS revision of the R4i Gold cart.

The newest revision of the R4i Gold cart has arrived, and is undergoing the review and testing process. Since this process takes time to conduct properly, I've created a short hands-on impression of this cart.[/p]

Hands-On Impression

 

[Rydian]

R4i Gold Hands-On

The R4i Gold is a recent flash cart, but the team seems intent on delivering a product that defies the standard R4 "clone" label.
With a simple design and official support from Wood, this cart aims to be a mainstay in the community. How well does it work?


Packaging[/p]
The first thing you experience when you actually receive a flash cart is it's packaging. A noticeable addition to the R4i Gold unit that I received was a red sticker on the package highlighting it's 3DS compatibility.
Since it was a sticker it was clear that this is the standard R4i Gold unit with the 3DS compatibility bootloader update already applied (opposed to a new hardware version like other flash carts).
(The previous line was a mistake, while this cart can be updated for new 3DS firmware versions and older versions of the cart can be updates for new DSi firmware versions, you cannot upgrade an older DSi version of the R4i Gold to have 3DS compatibility like you can with other flash carts.)

As for the quality of the packaging, the R4i Gold's is done simply, but it protects the flash cart. The box isn't larger than it needs to be, and the cart itself is contained within a plastic holding container; it doesn't look like the cart could be damaged during normal shipping conditions if properly packaged. The plastic holding container seems to be used for many flash carts, it can hold two flash or DS game carts at once and is a nice little addition with the purchase.

A standard USB MicroSD card reader is included, though I found it was difficult to remove the MicroSD once it was placed in the reader, as it fit rather snug.



Hardware[/p]
The R4i Gold is a simply-designed flash cart, two clipped-together halves of a shell, and a PCB. One of the first things I noticed is that the MicroSD slot is not spring-loaded. Some people prefer this as it means one less possible point of failure, while others may find the MicroSD hard to remove if you don't have nails.

The cart in general is not thick like some other flash carts, but unfortunately the unit I received has the habit of getting stuck when I tried to eject it, to the point that I can literally pick up the system by holding onto the flash cart. This is not simply friction caused by a tight fit, it feels like the R4i Gold is getting caught on something and I have to wiggle it to the right to free it. This problem was exhibited in both a DSi and 3DS, and none of my other carts (game or flash) do this.

3DS Compatibility[/p]
The unit I received had the 3DS bootloader update already applied, and as suspected after giving it a MicroSD with the proper Wood menu files, the R4i Gold successfully ran on an updated US Nintendo 3DS system, with no noticeable flaws. It's important to note that this flash cart (like all current flash carts) currently runs on the 3DS in "DS mode". This means the cart runs as if it's in a DS. It will not play DSi games, it will not play 3DS games, and no games or homebrew running from the cart can take advantage of any extra DSi or 3DS features.


Game/Homebrew Compatibility[/p]
The Wood R4 firmware for the R4i Gold boasts high compatibility, and is currently one of the top-suggested firmwares. Indeed it seemed to have no problem with many common games, and it would run trimmed ROMs and ROM hacks without a problem, even detecting cheats properly. Save size is detected automatically, and the Wood firmware is compatible with the standard .SAV save type that many flash carts use, so Wood was able to pick up on and use my saves from some other carts without an issue.

A proper test of various problematic ROMs and homebrew will be conducted for the full review.

 

[AlanJohn]

OK why is GBAtemp reviewing a clone?

 

[Zorua]

OK why is GBAtemp reviewing a clone?

Because this is one of the quality clones that work on the 3DS and support wood.

 

[drewmerc]

any internal pics or do i have to wait for the review

 

[ninditsu]

is this the one listed in the shop for around $10?

 

[Zorua]

is this the one listed in the shop for around $10?

I don't see any listing for R4i Gold 3DS on shoptemp yet.

 

[shakirmoledina]

nowadays the clones for r4 seem to be one of the best carts (cost effective if i may rephrase it) due to Wood. If that wasnt there, it would have hid itself like edge these days.
by the way, clones really love the r4 boxart

Msg to wood: have u checked out the 3ds

like yasu did for the dsi with his "hello world"

 

[Rydian]

OK why is GBAtemp reviewing a clone?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Review
Read.

EDIT: This post is worded in such a way because you're questioning the very purpose for the existence of a review. You yourself see people all the time coming here with no clue which carts are good or not. The purpose of a review is to tell a user if a product is any good or not.

Get it?

 

[Aeter]

OK why is GBAtemp reviewing a clone?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Review
Read.

EDIT: This post is worded in such a way because you're questioning the very purpose for the existence of a review. You yourself see people all the time coming here with no clue which carts are good or not. The purpose of a review is to tell a user if a product is any good or not.

Get it?

This and apart from the name, it's actually a very decent cart that actually gets good support and can compete with cards with similar abilities like the Acekard.

 

[The Pi]

It's one of the few "good" clones (I own the non-3ds version) which is slighty too tight in the slot, though that is better than too loose (yay contact issues) overall it's of good build, great with wood and with a nice price to boot.

On par with an AK2i if not better (due to much less common contact issues)

 

[Pyrate02]

I've ordered a bunch of these for family and friends and they are great - no contact issues like the AceKard. As a result of having problems with multiple AceKard, I stopped buying them and now buy the R4i Gold exclusively.

In my opinion, its a great card with great Wood support.

 

[Another World]

this card also has a very supportive team who respond to e-mails. the r4i gold is a great kit which is based off of the r4 ultra (a flash kit acekard designed, produced, and supported, until they sold that design). it receives official support by yellow wood goblin, works on the dsi/3ds, and is cost effective for new users.

as far as 'reviewing clones", if i had it may way gbatemp would review every flash kit ever produced. to be completely honest with you i am forever seeking owners of old gba flash kits who are willing to help with reviews. i think that if it was made and it runs roms on hardware, it should be reviewed. if only we had access to all the old bung flash kits, copy kits, etc, they should all get a review.

great job with the hands-on review, i can't wait to read the final review and see how this card stacks up in your opinion.

-another world

 

[Finwen]

Is there a risk of brick your 3DS or something like that?

 

[MaxNuker]

this card also has a very supportive team who respond to e-mails. the r4i gold is a great kit which is based off of the r4 ultra (a flash kit acekard designed, produced, and supported, until they sold that design). it receives official support by yellow wood goblin, works on the dsi/3ds, and is cost effective for new users.

as far as 'reviewing clones", if i had it may way gbatemp would review every flash kit ever produced. to be completely honest with you i am forever seeking owners of old gba flash kits who are willing to help with reviews. i think that if it was made and it runs roms on hardware, it should be reviewed. if only we had access to all the old bung flash kits, copy kits, etc, they should all get a review.

great job with the hands-on rewiew, i can't wait to read the final review and see how this card stacks up in your opinion.

-another world

if you'd like, maybe i could do a m3i zero review? with unpackaging etc? xD

 

[jabato]

does it have upgradeable bootloader?

 

[Another World]

does it have upgradeable bootloader?

yes, thats the reason for the '3ds' release of the r4i gold. the orignal r4i gold by the .cn (idsn) team could not be upgraded. they probably didn't anticipate that popularity of ds-mode flash kits on the 3ds.

-another world

 

[Clookster]

does it have upgradeable bootloader?

yes, thats the reason for the '3ds' release of the r4i gold. the orignal r4i gold by the .cn (idsn) team could not be upgraded. they probably didn't anticipate that popularity of ds-mode flash kits on the 3ds.

-another world


That is not true.

The 1.4.1 update files are available for the DSi version of this Ultra clone card.

Every R4 Ultra / Acekard clone card can get an update.

They simply don't want that. They want to sell a new card for 3DS. $$$.

CODE

The procedures are list below:

About r4idsn_Upgrade_NDSL_V141.nds
1.r4idsn_Upgrade_NDSL_V141.nds is for NDSL.
2.You should get a NDS Lite.
3.Copy r4idsn_Upgrade_NDSL_V141.nds to the TF card.
4.Start r4idsn
5.Pull out your r4idsn and reinsert it again.
6.Press Key A and the upgrading will begin.
7.If "upgrading succeeds" shows, it means your r4idsn has been upgraded successfully.
8.If Card check fail,please reinsert the card and try once again.
9.Attentionuring the whole process,you should keep your NDSi powered on.
10.This program can be used to upgrade r4idsn continually.You can insert another r4idsn and upgrade it after one is finished.



About r4idsn_Upgrade_NDSi_V141.nds
1.r4idsn_Upgrade_NDSi_V141.nds is for NDSi.

 

[jabato]

Theres so many gold clones.. can someone post the website of the reviewed card?

 

[Another World]

That is not true.

The 1.4.1 update files are available for the DSi version of this Ultra clone card.

Every R4 Ultra / Acekard clone card can get an update.

They simply don't want that. They want to sell a new card for 3DS. $$$.
e-mail from the teamHi: Anohter world.

According to the research of 3DS, we do change the inside structure of the controller IC therefore it can be updated with a patch when 3DS is updated to block the flashcard. As you know, this card is especially designed for 3DS. It's our responsibility to make it run on 3DS with a patch when 3DS is updated everytime.

the card was reprogrammed to allow for the 3ds update. the old cards can not have this with out the coding, from what they told me it means the new card has a new chip with new code. the old card would need this update.

more info for you: http://www.r4ids.cn/r4ids-development-e.html

all of these r4 "clones" are based on the original ak2i, the one with the window shell. if you notice, on the acekard page, they haven't been able to release a 3ds update for that version of the 2i yet. the r4 gold .cn team did this by changing the code on the controller chip. acekard has done the same through chip changes on the various ak2i versions. anyways, this is the reason the hardware needed to be upgraded to work on the 3ds. its really not a money thing, even if it looks like one.

-another world