Flash Carts: A Guide to What to Avoid and What to Buy

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'm just overly cautious about these things. I'd be happier if it was paid as a paypal transfer as it's not so much the risk of not getting the item I'm worried about as the risk of credit card abuse. Some of the seller sites I've found since my first post seem.....well, just not quite right.

Possibly the dumbest question asked on this forum, so apologies - but has trading on the empty flashcart (with no games) been deemed illegal then? If so, then there presumably would be the added possibility of seizure if the item was being imported from outside the EU?

 

Oh, there's always a chance of seizure as the item passes through customs wherever it may be. In most cases, the item is perfectly safe, so I wouldn't worry too much, but there is the possibility. Especially over, in I believe it's only the UK for this, but R4 specifically is illegal. Assuming that this spreads to all parts of the flash cart world wouldn't be a bad idea. Most that ship from China ship inconspicuous packages, generally keeping them safe and less suspect for investigation. I can't say if seizures have risen since the outlaw, since there were no stats really to begin with.

The problem is rare though, so I wouldn't waste my time worrying too much. Unless you're buying a DSTwo, you won't be out more than $10 or $12 (USD, of course) anyways. As for the PayPal problem, that option hasn't been removed from Chinese flash cart sellers because they don't want it. PayPal has been freezing most Chinese seller accounts, many of them being the sellers of items deemed illegal in one part of the world or another. With the crackdown, they've had to resort to other methods, none nearly as safe as PayPal, sadly, but your information should still be safe enough to not need to worry, regardless of the payment method granted.

If you aren't already, you can use Shoptemp as an excellent resource for finding a store, and maybe even a deal on the cart you're looking for. Just give it a shot and see what you can find. I'd be lying if I said the entire process was without risk, but it's minimal and easily fixable if anything goes wrong, with plenty of safeguards to make sure you're on the reliable route along the way.

To end, sorry if this is a bit disjointed. Just typing this up before heading to bed. I believe I hit on everything somewhere in there, but if I missed anything, feel free to remind me. If there are any other questions, feel free to ask. I'm happy to help.

 

AceKard all the way for me !!! .... easy to unblock ... fast loading ... + replay action ....
Media compatible (.mp3 music / .dpg movies ) using moonshell stable)
Metal jacket (sturdy / strong construction) ... not plastic crap

An AceKard will last longer than an R4i card in the upgrade cycle world (LOL)

 

I have an R4 Original....It works fine but its limited to 2 gb storage space....
Is there any possibility to make a 4gb microSD work on my R4???

Wen i tried 4gb,the page said 'Loading...'
Nothing else....

 

Dark Infernape ... you need to update your card !!!!
... We here run R4i-3DS cart's with 32GB uSDHC ....... no problems !!!!
2GB is Lamo . . .
Your /// uSDHC = Probably class 2 as well (=not good) . . . =susceptible to file fragmentation problem / issues ????
Update your cart & uSDHC my friend !!!!!

 

It can become an issue if you delete many small game files (leaving small sized chunks of available file space) on your uSDHC
Then a large size game file/s is extracted to the uSDHC
(Spreading the games file all over the disk in a scattered way ... small sized chunks (fragments) = (Not contiguous)

Regular deleting of games without backing up / reformatting and re-loading your uSD/uSDHC memory volume
will cause problems for some R4i-SDHC.COM cart users ability to load games

This is why we many cart users Backup to PC, then use Panasonic Formatter, and then restore games
Especially after many game deletes .... when the uSD/uSDHC is greater than 75% full
The more you fill your uSD/uSDHC - the more this fragmentation is a problem for you

Class # refers to read and write speed of the uSDHC
Depending on what kernel / Firmware / Cart you use - This can be in issue on many cart O/S platforms

Your old R4 cart only supports uSD not uSDHC memory

We here use larger GB uSDHC volumes to accommodate the many,
.dpg movies and .mp3's my kids have (played using moonshell 2.10 stable)
I use Xilisoft PC software app to covert movies from Avi to Dpg format

 

Seek time is not/never ZERO "laughable" ( a uSDHC acts just like a mechanical disk) but they both have I/O throughput issues)
admittedly less of an issue with uSDHC than mechanical disks ( that have physical / movement, head sweep to access, delay times)
You are mis-informed somewhere along the line buddy
Compared to mechanical disks ... admittedly the uSDHC has to a lesser degree ... access time issues

So why, when you get any one of these errcode=
-1
-8
-83
messages after extracting a game to a near full uSDHC volume - When 1st trying the game out
Why . . . does ... backing up / reformatting and re-loading your uSD/uSDHC - FIXIT ???
I have been supporting homebrew cart's for (an opposition website) for 3 years - And I am tech support for memory related products
And have been in the IT industry for over 33 years
My knowledge is firm and always questionable

I know where you are coming from loonylion ,
but class is king (minimum class 4) But Class6 is better (Team Micro) from Taiwan
Game Dumpers use Class6 from (Team Micro) from Taiwan
They know what is best practice

Wear out has become a minor issue, as uSDHC cards are sooo much more reliable than they were
I have sold many carts / cards with no issues of wear out / just straight out uSDHC failure (the whole uSDHC fails)
not bits of it . . . (indicative of wear-out) (excessive toggling of memory bit cells) . . . times have changed
Post Merge: [time]1337004363[/time]
Looks like loonylion and Mr.Heuristic have struck some common ground (we both understand) our stuff
" RESPECT " to loonylion .... not often I get to converse at this technical level
You members are lucky to have loonylion as an Administrator
We are both right here

 

I think you just convinced me of something ... ????
According to industry Spec's MTBF (mean time to between failures ) = Better than ever !!!!
.... with uSDHC technology = 300% ???? An increase of extreme reliability ... considering new density ????
The greater the class of uSDHC ... the more reliable the resource !!!

 

I shall close on this . . .
I know what I know
You know what you know !!!
We have an in difference in knowledge ... It remains ! ! ! ???
But I will not challenge your indifferent viewpoint Bud ! ! !

 

Hi all ,I am new to ds flash carts,I would like to know a good one to buy that is just a matter of pluging it into the DS Lite with no hard setup to do,i am not sure how to update firmware.
I want it for my little boy /5 years old to add some simple game roms.
Hope someone can guide me ,after a google search brought up to many different versions ,i dont know which one.
Thanks.

 

The link i am supplying is to a good cart and a trustworthy UK website http://www.cheapr4i.com/r4i-gold-3ds-for-nintendo-3ds-v4108-and-dsi-v144-p-184.html

If you are not in the UK then this is anoyher trustworthy website http://www.zhuzhuchina.com/store/dsi_r4i_gold_slot-1_flashcard_type_d__www_r4ids_cn__3ds_1_4_4_compatible_wood_3ds.html

 

will these cards play downloaded rom games by just adding to a ,icro sd card,or do i have to update this card to play games on a ds lite.
http://www.r4icarduk.com/categories/R4-Cards-for-DS/

 

You will need just a microSD card

EDIT: If the R4 isn't marked as SDHC then the microSD card can be no larger than 2GB