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[Jimmyjangles]

Sorry if this is common knowledge now, but I searched and most of the info was at least some months to a year old.

So, as the title says, is the SCDS1 still heavily dependent on the MicroSD speed?  Or have the newest versions (both hardware and software) reduced or eliminated that problem?

The current MicroSD cards I use are A-Data brand, a 1 gig and a 2 gig, and they've given me absolutely no problems on my SCLite.  I've been very happy with the SCLite and the team's support, which is why I would like to keep using a SC product if possible, but I don't want to be forced to buy another microSD just so it will work correctly. 

Finally, one condition that may render any other answer to the above useless, one reason I want a slot-1 cart is for clean rom support, so that would be the way I'd run them.  I'm tired of the patching process of slot-2 carts.  So if the only way to get things to run well is to use the patch feature, then that just won't work for me.

[cutterjohn]

I think that all of the flash carts have some sort of media speed detection mechanism, it's just that the SCDS1 lets you manually use the auto-set app AND see what the resultant value is, and then modify it fairly easily from a menu.  Other carts AFAIK IF they let you change that value only do so through some obscure settings files, but most AFAIK don't even let you do that.

IMO the worst thing about the SC is their reliance on a database for save size detection.  It's pretty sad considering they were the first to release realtime save to the wild, and in game guides...

[bitblt]

Any DS flash card that uses microSD flash memory is dependant on memory speed.  If you use a slow memory card like Kingston (Taiwan) with any R4/M3/Cyclo/DSONE you will experience slowdown in some games. This is why using a faster Kingston (Japan) microSD is always recommended. DSONE is not a special case.

The only DS flash cards that are not dependant on memory speed are the ones with NAND flash memory built in like DSLinker.

There seems to be a common misconception about save size auto detection.  There is no such thing as save size auto detection!  All R4/M3 does is automatically allocate the largest save size.  The same thing can be done manually with DSONE.  There is no requirement to set the exact save size with DSONE.  It's merely an OPTION to save space . You can always select the largest save size if you want. I never understood the big deal.

[Jimmyjangles]

I understand that all flashcarts are affected by microSD speeds.  But nearly every single review for the SCDS1 clearly points out "Fast memory REQUIRED to avoid problems" and really the only choice that's given is the Kingston (Japan.)  The way I understand it is that there WILL be problems and slowdown unless you use the Kingston memory.

But the other flashcarts are apparently not as sensitive since they seem to work just fine and at top speed with all but the very worst microSD's out there.  Really, it seems the only game that requires fast memory in other flashcarts is Castlevania PoR.

Thing is, most reviews are very old, and most flashcarts, especially the SCDS, have had major software and hardware revisions, and reviews don't really say any detail on the updates, only raising or lowering their score, so it's pretty hard finding info on how performance on these carts is now rather than a year ago.

But I'm not hating on the SC or anything, like I said, I actually would like to get one as my slot-1 cart.  But if it's still picky about what microSD you use on it, then it may not be the best option since I don't want to be forced to buy yet another microSD.

[bitblt]

Kingston (Japan) is not the only memory card that works with DSONE.  The important factor seems to be that the memory is made in Japan (fast) instead of Taiwan (slow), because microSD doesn't have a standard class rating yet.  I'm not sure if DSONE is more picky than R4 when using slow memory? I do know DSONE has had many firmware updates in the past year. I also know Kingston (Japan) is one of the cheapest microSD at Fry's and DSONE runs clean ROMs perfectly with it.

[dantheman]

The general consensus from what I've heard basically agrees with bitblt here.  From my understanding, firmware updates have made the SCDS more tolerant toward microSD card speeds, but it's still recommended that you get one from Japan for the best performance, as it's still pickier than others like the R4 and CycloDS Evo etc.

[Jimmyjangles]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess the SCDS1 probably isn't the best choice for me at the moment then since the A-Data microsd's I have now are made in Taiwan.  I don't want to end up downgrading in performance switching from slot-2 to slot-1.

[tuta]

Actually I would like to reassure u guys that DS1 after subsequent new updates arent really affected by micro sd

I changed my 1gb kingston Japan to a 2gb kingston Taiwan and all games run well including POR which u know causes lock ups
So I believe SCDS is improvin as we speak I love my scds the only thing I am dissapointed is the slot 2's poor GBA support due to the BAD sclite inboard ram. Wished this could have been solved

[anuarbin]

Good to hear that