Dreamcast GDEMU

Steve X2 · 11-05-2014 04:47PM

So for the guys who got one, how is it going with the GDEmu? My one should be here tomorrow and I'm looking forward to giving it a spin

I see there is one button on the board in the pics, is this just a "Next" button to move folders or is there some other way of doing it?

Cheers

Relikk · 11-05-2014 05:02PM

Steve SI wrote: »

I see there is one button on the board in the pics, is this just a "Next" button to move folders or is there some other way of doing it?

It is, indeed. Folders are numbered... 01, 02, 03 etc. 01 autoloads on startup if you have that option enabled in your dash, so the button shifts up a folder with each press and loads whatever is in those folders. It's like opening the lid and changing a disc as you would with the optical drive still installed.

It's perfect. No issues so far, faster loading too (and that's even with a low class SD card). Only problem is that while using backups on your optical drive you can do multiregion no bother. This needs strict GDI rips so only games that are the region of your console will load, unless you have a region free BIOS.

Steve X2 · 11-05-2014 05:08PM

Relikk wrote: »

It is, indeed. Folders are numbered... 01, 02, 03 etc. 01 autoloads on startup if you have that option enabled in your dash, so the button shifts up a folder with each press and loads whatever is in those folders. It's like opening the lid and changing a disc as you would with the optical drive still installed.

It's perfect. No issues so far, faster loading too (and that's even with a low class SD card). Only problem is that while using backups on your optical drive you can do multiregion no bother. This needs strict GDI rips so only games that are the region of your console will load, unless you have a region free BIOS.

Cheers for the info. I'll region free the bios at some stage.
But I got a complete set of PAL GDI's just there today. Of course I own every single PAL DC game there is so this just saves me ripping them

Now, do you think it'll be handy enough to solder on some external buttons or has he made the headers tiny?
My plan is to use an SD extender to place the sd slot on the front of the DC and have buttons somewhere handy as well.

Relikk · 13-05-2014 01:43PM

Steve SI wrote: »

Now, do you think it'll be handy enough to solder on some external buttons or has he made the headers tiny?
My plan is to use an SD extender to place the sd slot on the front of the DC and have buttons somewhere handy as well.

Should be handy enough. The button and the SD card are already easily accessible under the lid/case if it proves to be any trouble.

TotallyEpic · 13-05-2014 02:20PM

I need to get me one of these, the optical drive on my modded Dreamcast (VGA + BIOS) is starting to go, so this will do perfect.

How easy is it to install? Just flip out the GD-ROM drive and attach the GDEMU?

Relikk · 13-05-2014 03:33PM

TotallyEpic wrote: »

How easy is it to install? Just flip out the GD-ROM drive and attach the GDEMU?

Yep. The plate that the drive sits on, four screws, lift it out and that's it.

moonlighting · 13-05-2014 08:02PM

Got mine today. Works perfectly.

Steve X2 · 16-05-2014 07:35PM

My one arrived eventually today.

Nice and neat little PCB.

I might 3D print some little legs for it or do something with Sugru maybe. Even though the pads included do the job fine.

Steve X2 · 16-05-2014 09:05PM

Had an issue getting games to load, seemed to be related to the VGA box i was using to hook it up to the candy cab. Swapped for another one and all is well. Weird!
Load times are pretty awesome

TotallyEpic · 16-05-2014 09:20PM

Ah, I really want one of these

Steve X2 · 16-05-2014 10:18PM

Quick loading speed test of the GDEMU vs the GD-Rom drive. I should have used a game that's a slow loader to show it off.
Anyone know the slowest loading DC game?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_cXpJP1tC0

The Last Bandit · 16-05-2014 10:48PM

Wouldn't be worried about the speed, in the bloody noise of the GD-Rom I'd be looking forward to getting rid off !!

o1s1n · 16-05-2014 10:56PM

Impressive load times!

The loading screens in Shenmue are starting to annoy me with their length. This would be a great solution to that.

Steve X2 · 16-05-2014 10:58PM

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Wouldn't be worried about the speed, in the bloody noise of the GD-Rom I'd be looking forward to getting rid off !!

Yeah, its a big plus alright.
The fan is also a bit noisy on them so I think I'll look into modding or replacing that.

Steve X2 · 17-05-2014 01:41AM

So the GDEMU doesn't currently have any on-screen disc/game select interface.
But the DC already has one built in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LQ_FMdEbfE

TotallyEpic · 17-05-2014 02:55AM

Steve SI wrote: »

So the GDEMU doesn't currently have any on-screen disc/game select interface.
But the DC already has one built in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LQ_FMdEbfE

That loading time...you don't have a spare by any chance do you? :P

Steve X2 · 22-05-2014 08:32PM

Anyone else with the GDEMU notice the DC gets super hot around the PSU after about 2-3 hours of use??
How hot does a normal DC get? I know the PSU gets hot but this seems extreme. It was left running Crazy Taxi for 2-3 hours so was pretty much in constant use as the demo kicks in pretty quick.

This seems really hot to me, or is it normal?

Temp around the GDEMU is fine:

Relikk · 22-05-2014 08:40PM

Haven't had mine on for that length of time to notice. Only way to find out if it's drawing more power and overheating is to do it with the GD drive back in place with a disc copy.

Steve X2 · 22-05-2014 08:53PM

Relikk wrote: »

Haven't had mine on for that length of time to notice. Only way to find out if it's drawing more power and overheating is to do it with the GD drive back in place with a disc copy.

Yeah, I might give that test a go and see what the difference is. You can actually smell the electrical heat from it as it is!

I've a few DC's I can swap parts from if its a dodgy PSU, just don't want to damage the GDEMU itself.

The Last Bandit · 22-05-2014 09:33PM

68 is way too hot, the electrolytic caps in the power supply won't last long at those temps.

moonlighting · 22-05-2014 10:07PM

was the case closed while you had it on for a few hours. the fan design on it seems like poor design/placement. but nay-be the lid needs to be closed for proper air circulation.

Steve X2 · 22-05-2014 10:18PM

moonlighting wrote: »

was the case closed while you had it on for a few hours. the fan design on it seems like poor design/placement. but nay-be the lid needs to be closed for proper air circulation.

Yeah the case was on and the lid closed. Might just swap over to another DC and see how it goes.

KeRbDoG · 23-05-2014 09:17AM

My 2cents for what its worth - Dreamcast PSUs run hot from my experience. That fan, while tiny, creates a suction to pull air across the heat pipe setup and also to pull air across the PSU albeit not with a lot of force
The GD-ROM most likely acted like a filler in the top of the case of the Dreamcast, without it being plugged, the air is now most likely getting pulled in through the drive lid and not pulling it across the PSU as effectively as it used to

Steve X2 · 23-05-2014 10:59AM

KeRbDoG wrote: »

My 2cents for what its worth - Dreamcast PSUs run hot from my experience. That fan, while tiny, creates a suction to pull air across the heat pipe setup and also to pull air across the PSU albeit not with a lot of force
The GD-ROM most likely acted like a filler in the top of the case of the Dreamcast, without it being plugged, the air is now most likely getting pulled in through the drive lid and not pulling it across the PSU as effectively as it used to

I was thinking something along the same lines as this after some testing last night.
I'll test it out in a completely different DC and see if it's the same. If it is then maybe I'll need to 3D print up some sort of filler block, which will be a pain.

Myrddin · 23-05-2014 12:22PM

With all that extra room in the DC with the GD-rom unit removed, it'd be handy enough to add in another small/quiet fan & design a basic air-channel in there

o1s1n · 23-05-2014 01:38PM

Myrddin wrote: »

With all that extra room in the DC with the GD-rom unit removed, it'd be handy enough to add in another small/quiet fan & design a basic air-channel in there

That'd be a great solution alright.

It seems like the kind of thing that would have been caught at the testing phase, I wonder is it just happening with this one particular Dreamcast?

Quite the oversight if it's going to happen as standard.

KeRbDoG · 23-05-2014 05:26PM

Would be good to hear the reports of others - after reading more about the GDEMU, suddenly I want one. Would give me extra room for that internal VGA mod someone on here gave me the parts for year ago (can't remember who, but many thanks for doing it!)...luckily they can't be pre-ordered currently so my bank account is safe, for now

Steve X2 · 24-05-2014 02:30PM

Another DC and 1 hour into a test with Crazy Taxi and the temps are looking pretty high

Steve X2 · 24-05-2014 05:00PM

This is after about 2 hours running Crazy Taxi on a different DC(case was on and lid closed)

I'll do some testing later on with the same DC but with the GD-Rom drive in and a retail disc of Crazy Taxi and see how she goes.

o1s1n · 24-05-2014 05:20PM

I wonder, does the the GD Rom drive itself kind of act like a fan when the disc is spinning?

Enternow's Myrddin's (I'll still keep bloody typing Enternow!) fan idea was interesting if it would fit.

Otherwise maybe some sort of case mod to allow more ventilation?

Dreamcast GDEMU

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