DS Shopping List
From PHWiki
Given the number of people on Pocket Heaven Discussion Boards who do not already own a recent handheld system, it is a good idea to give a shopping list to go from zero to homebrew or piracy on a Nintendo DS.
Contents |
Requirements
We need the following:
- a Nintendo DS,
- a flashcart such as an R4 or a CycloDS Evolution
- a microsd card (2GB or under if using an R4)
- a storage medium compatible with the chosen boot method.
The list
Total (as of May 2006): 215 USD plus shipping and tax
Nintendo DS
130 USD at bestbuy.com
Froogle search
It should not be too hard to find a DS. Be prepaired to shell out 130 dollars if you buy one new, however. A used model 1 DS will run you 80 dollars used at Gamestop, while a used DS Lite will cost 110 dollars.
NoPass Device
A device is needed to redirect execution during DS mode to the media that is in the GBA slot. Although using an older PassMe or PassMe2 device is also possible, a NoPass device is recommended due to its smaller size (as compared to its predecessors).
The R4 is available for 13.50 USD (Plus shipping) at Realhotstuff.com ([1]). It's a cheap and effective solution. The R4 DS is probably the most generic DS flashcart, but it's well made, has atomatic DLDI patching, includes action replay codes, and plays mp3s and movies. The main drawback is that it only supports micro sd cards up to 2 gigabytes. But even with the 2gb limit on microsd cards, it still has 100% commercial game computability, works as a passme, and is the most inexpensive solution on the market. There are two clones of the R4, the R4 3 and the R4SDHC, both supporting microsd cards up to 512 Gigabytes in size. Please note that microsd cards over 16 gigabytes do not exist yet. These cards may or may not be as well made or may break easier than the R4, so use cation when buying those cards.
The CycloDS Evolution is considered the best flashcart by the majority of the DS scene. It supports everything the R4DS has, plus no size limit on microsd cards. It also has a function where you can save the game anywhere, along with slow motion and in game lcd brightness controls. The only drawback is the cost. It's price hovers around 45-50 dollars, 4 times as much as an R4.
There are other flashcards, but most of them are inferior or no different to the R4, and often more expensive. It is also cheaper to but a microsd card from ebay than to buy a flashcart plus microsd combo. See the NoPass page for a full listing of other devices.
MicroSD Card
If you chose a CycloDS, you will want a 2-8 GB microsd card. If you have accsess to ebay, you can quite literally buy a 2 gb micro sd for 5 dollars with shipping, or a 4gb one for only 2 dollars more shipped. If you really want to go big, you can pick an 8 gigabyte up for 15 dollars shipped. Brand, or lack of, really doesn't make a difference.
If you took the R4 route, then buy a 2gb microsd card. 1 gb cards are usually the same price, so there is no point of buying a smaller card.
CompactFlash 256 MB memory card
20 USD at various stores
Froogle search
Speed of the flash card does not matter when playing GBA games or during gameplay on Nintendo DS games, but a slower card may cause some pirated Nintendo DS games' full-motion videos to stutter. If you plan on carrying a lot of big games or movies with you, you can upgrade to a larger card for a few dollars more.
