Hacking Hardware Homebrew Using adapter to achieve 4GB on a OG R4

[Apache Thunder]

I have probably managed to do something very rare. Got a 4GB Topram branded SD card to work on a original R4 via MicroSD to SD adapter. You've read that right. Not a SD to MicroSD adapter but one that does the reverse! A MicroSD to SD adapter!

This 4GB SD card I will demonstrate with this is special in that it isn't a SDHC card and instead is a offspec "v1.1" SD card.

Here I show how it runs. WoodR4 can't boot games that are stored in the 2GB+ area of the SD card. But I did test offscreen that games stored at the start of the SD address space do boot fine. I instead use TWiLight in this video to show that it's mainly just a issue with WoodR4. DLDI access seems to be able to access the full SD card just fine.



I've read that back in the day 4GB non SDHC v1.1 MicroSD cards might have existed too...they are probably impossible to find though. If anyone knows where to find one though be sure to let me know.

 

[4d1xlaan]

something very rare, mostly because probably nobody but you would ever be messing with doing things like this

 

[SylverReZ]

You don't see 4GB SD (non-HC) cards that often. Good job for discovering this!

 

[4d1xlaan]

what about original r4 kernel, also? wood cant handle the last 2gb, but maybe original kernel can

 

[Apache Thunder]

I didn't think to try. og R4's kernel's compatibility isn't very great given how old it is so I didn't bother to try.

 

[4d1xlaan]

if the same dldi was used for wood r4 than for original kernel, then I guess it would have the same limitations. but I assume the dldi was closed source and a different one than what twilight menu uses these days

 

[SylverReZ]

what about original r4 kernel, also? wood cant handle the last 2gb, but maybe original kernel can

It's likely to do with how the firmware interprets card commands, not the DLDI.

 

[4d1xlaan]

If you want to do something even rarer, desolder the game card reader off a ds, hardwire in the r4, and make a custom case with an sd card slot instead of a game card slot. Sd card slot feeds into the r4 using the adapter, and now you have a ds where instead of game cards you just use an sd card directly

 

[SylverReZ]

If you want to do something even rarer, desolder the game card reader off a ds, hardwire in the r4, and make a custom case with an sd card slot instead of a game card slot. Sd card slot feeds into the r4 using the adapter, and now you have a ds where instead of game cards you just use an sd card directly

That's a bad idea. I wouldn't recommend doing this.

My way of attaching the SD to microSD adapter is as follows: The goal would be to fold the ribbon cable so it lays flush on-top of the DS lid. You could attach it with some double-sided tape so it doesn't go anywhere.

 

[4d1xlaan]

That's a bad idea. I wouldn't recommend doing this.

My way of attaching the SD to microSD adapter is as follows: The goal would be to fold the ribbon cable so it lays flush on-top of the DS lid. You could attach it with some double-sided tape so it doesn't go anywhere.

It wasn't supposed to be a good idea lmao