Best solution for homebrew + long sleep life

[n3ldan]

Hi all,
I've had my lovely blue NDS for close to two years now, and while I love the thing, I hate carrying games around. So I figured the homebrew scene has probably matured enough that I can get something going for around $50 (it seems like it has...).

So initially I was thinking an R4/M3 Simply (they are nearly identical, correct?), but then I heard that that will kill my battery life, by about an hour of playtime, but a lot more sleep time. One of my favorite things about my NDS is that I can leave it on sleep for weeks at a time. From what I've read, if I flash it the battery life won't be an issue.

Now I would like a slot-1 option, but those seem to all have the sleep issue (correct me if I'm wrong), so I guess I need a slot-2. That means I have the choice of buying a $20 wifi card for wifime, or buying a $20 Max Media Launcher (right..?), or buying an R4/M3 Simply to flash it, and then not using it again, or ebay'ing it.

Now from what I've read, to play NDS dumps on a slot-2 device you need to patch them and somehow deal with game saves. Can you do this on the DS, or do you need to do it on the computer? I don't have a windows comp I can use within about 5 miles, but I could probably borrow a friends laptop for a bit if I really needed to.

Also, what's the average size of a game, like 16MB? I mean, a 1GB TF card is down to $15 with shipping these days, that should certainly be able to hold the ~10 games I have, right? So what is the best slot-2 device that'll work with flashme, sit flush against my phat DS (preferably side loading), and uses TF cards?



As a final note, I just saw "DS link" mentioned somewhere, I can't read their site but I've been told it's a slot-1 storage device without a passme type thing built in. That wouldn't ruin my sleep life, right?



Okay, thanks for reading that stupidly large post, I could use the help :)

[nat1192]

You are right and you post is kinda long so I will break it down.

So initially I was thinking an R4/M3 Simply (they are nearly identical, correct?),
Yes they are almost (or are) identical.

That means I have the choice of buying a $20 wifi card for wifime, or buying a $20 Max Media Launcher (right..?), or buying an R4/M3 Simply to flash it, and then not using it again, or ebay'ing it.
Actually your best bet would be to buy a Max Media Launcher (or a Passcard or a SuperKey they all do the same thing). Buying an R4/M3 would be a waste if you are not going to use it.

Now from what I've read, to play NDS dumps on a slot-2 device you need to patch them and somehow deal with game saves. Can you do this on the DS, or do you need to do it on the computer? I don't have a windows comp I can use within about 5 miles, but I could probably borrow a friends laptop for a bit if I really needed to.
Yes you do have to use the computer to patch your ROMs EDIT: What kind of computer do you have access to?

Also, what's the average size of a game, like 16MB? I mean, a 1GB TF card is down to $15 with shipping these days, that should certainly be able to hold the ~10 games I have, right?
That all depends on what games they are. They range from about 16MB to the new 128MB. 1gb should be enough for 10 games though.

So what is the best slot-2 device that'll work with flashme, sit flush against my phat DS (preferably side loading), and uses TF cards?
I have no idea what a TF card is. I going to assume you mean CF in which there is no option for sitting flush since CF cards are huge. If you want something that sits flush with your DS Phat and want to play NDS roms I would recommend the Supercard mini-SD with a 1 gb minSD card. The Supercard works for 99% of all NDS files and is cheaper than the M3.

I hope I answered all your questions and please post again if you need to know anything else.

[n3ldan]

You are right and you post is kinda long so I will break it down.

Yes they are almost (or are) identical.

Actually your best bet would be to buy a Max Media Launcher (or a Passcard or a SuperKey they all do the same thing). Buying an R4/M3 would be a waste if you are not going to use it.

Yes you do have to use the computer to patch your ROMs EDIT: What kind of computer do you have access to?

That all depends on what games they are. They range from about 16MB to the new 128MB. 1gb should be enough for 10 games though.

I have no idea what a TF card is. I going to assume you mean CF in which there is no option for sitting flush since CF cards are huge. If you want something that sits flush with your DS Phat and want to play NDS roms I would recommend the Supercard mini-SD with a 1 gb minSD card. The Supercard works for 99% of all NDS files and is cheaper than the M3.

I hope I answered all your questions and please post again if you need to know anything else.



TF= TransFlash = microSD
I have access to 4 computers varying from 350MHz/192MB RAM to 2.2GHz/1.25GB RAM. They are all running various Linux/BSD distros though, no windows or mac around.

I realized that wifime won't work with my DS, so I was thinking I'd get an Ez-Flash IV and a superkey-type thing. Flashme doesn't kill the sleep time, but I guess all the passme devices do. A minisd supercard is what, ~$50? A 2gb minisd card with shipping is only $20, and a passcard is $20. So that's ~$90, a bit more than I wanted to spend but not too bad.

Anyhow, thanks for the help, the only question I have left is whether or not you can patch games on a linux/BSD machine, anyone know the answer to that?

[nat1192]

The EZFLASH is kinda rare so you may not get too good support. Go with a SC Lite (if you have a lite) / Superkey bundle.

All your numbers seem to add up about right except you want a superkey instead of passcard. And if anyone charges you more than $20 for it get an MML.

Yes you can patch roms on linux distros. I'll see if I can find the link.

EDIT: Also, what kind of ds do you have phat or lite (or iPAQ)?

[Bamboozle]

I just got my M3Simply and I have been at work for 8 hours playing mp3s on it since I got in. The battery is fine. I haven't read anything about it draining the battery fast. I have a 2g sandisk microsd. 40 bucks at Compusa (until the 24th) which is, imo... a great price.

The games range from around 10megs all the way to 130something(bleach, and I think Jump superstars is around there, most rpgs are up there too like FF3 I think is around 130)

I love my M3 Simply, the thing is great!

[n3ldan]

I just got my M3Simply and I have been at work for 8 hours playing mp3s on it since I got in. The battery is fine. I haven't read anything about it draining the battery fast. I have a 2g sandisk microsd. 40 bucks at Compusa (until the 24th) which is, imo... a great price.

The games range from around 10megs all the way to 130something(bleach, and I think Jump superstars is around there, most rpgs are up there too like FF3 I think is around 130)

I love my M3 Simply, the thing is great!

First off, you must have a lite, the phat just does not get that much batter life. Second off, the issue is battery life in sleep mode, it seems the passme devices still drain battery while it's in sleep mode. Third off, $40 is a rip, you can those for ~$20 shipped off newegg.



The EZFLASH is kinda rare so you may not get too good support. Go with a SC Lite (if you have a lite) / Superkey bundle.

All your numbers seem to add up about right except you want a superkey instead of passcard. And if anyone charges you more than $20 for it get an MML.

Yes you can patch roms on linux distros. I'll see if I can find the link.

EDIT: Also, what kind of ds do you have phat or lite (or iPAQ)?

I've got a phatty, which is one of the reasons I've been having trouble. Everyone seems to make their cards in the lite format exclusively. They ought to sell it with two cases, one for the lite, one for the phat, that would be awesome.

[nat1192]

Actually the old G6 does (well its not that old but still). I would Highly recomend the SC mini-SD with 1gb+ mini-sd card. I love mine.

[Bamboozle]

please, do show me a link from newegg that has a 2g microsd card for 20 bucks... because im quite sure your full of it. Also, the only thing that runs while in sleep mode is moonshell. Nothing else.

[n3ldan]

please, do show me a link from newegg that has a 2g microsd card for 20 bucks... because im quite sure your full of it. Also, the only thing that runs while in sleep mode is moonshell. Nothing else.


My bad, I thought you said minisd (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820208082). 2gb microsds run $35 and up at newegg.

As for sleep mode, I can't find the link at the moment, but people say that leaving an r4ds/m3 in their ds while it sleeps drains the battery, while flashme in sleep more or a regular cart doesn't drain it nearly as much. I've obviously never tried this but it seems to be general opinion. People say you can't even leave it overnight in sleep mode without the batter going red. I often leave mine asleep for 3 or 4 days, sometimes more.