Question about DS and RAM issues for Homebrew

[ninjamonkey]

Hey guys,

I just got this idea. Lets say you opened up a bunch of ds's/lites (broken) and removed the RAM from them. Then, made a memory stick (sort oflike the one a computer uses about of them) and soldered it to a DS mobo. Would this have the same effect on the DS as it would to a computer? like faster load speeds and all that good stuff

[nitro2k01]

No. Just no. The software wouldn't even know the extra RAM is there. It is theoretically possible if one of the higher address bits is exposed, but software (even homebrew) wouldn't know it's there. Besides, you'd have a hard time actually desoldering the RAM and soldering the RAM because of the IC package they're using. If I'm not mistaken they're using a so called BGA (Ball Grid Array) package which hides the leads underneath the chip.
So it's a no on every level.

The good news I have for you is that I don't think your DS's are dead. (Is this thread just hypothetical btw?) I think all you need to is probably to replace a couple of broken fuses and you'll be good to go.

[ninjamonkey]

Yea, this was just hypothetical. Unfortunate.


Edit: I remember reading up on someones N64 portable. They said they took the RAM from the expansion pack and soldered it to the mobo. For the system to recognize it, they soldered the card in which the RAM memory was once on, to the mobo. I know you said there is no way to reach the leads of the RAM already on the DS lite. So What I used a wire to attach extra RAM that area. Would this be plausible idea??

[Zero_D]

I believe their is a similar mod for the original xbox. However, the extra ram was only detected by Linux and any homebrew that manually added support for it (not many). However, when it comes to the DS, this mod is not necessary, as a ram pack was officially made by Nintendo and released with the DS web browser. I'm not sure how many homebrew gamess or programs take advantage of this extra ram pack but I'm pretty sure some do.

[ninjamonkey]

I know. The only thing is it annoying the ram pack. Since I only have a ds lite. The ex ram pack sticks out

[nitro2k01]

The difference with the N64 is that he was using a stock memory expansion pack and attached it permanently to save some space. (No connector or plastic casing needed.) My best advice is to get a memory expansion for the GBA port. Some homebrew can use the extra memory, but most of it can't.
(^written hours ago and saved as a text file because the forums went offline)

I know. The only thing is it annoying the ram pack. Since I only have a ds lite. The ex ram pack sticks out

I bought a M3 DS Real which came with both a rumble pack and a RAM pack (Doubling as a GBA flashcart) both in DSLite form factor. (I actually placed the RAM pack board in an old GBA game housing because I had a DS phat)

[Zero_D]

Yea, they make plenty 3rd party ram carts that fit in the DS lite and have other features as well. Here's a popular one that is a GBA flashcart, a ram pack, and a rumble pack, all in one cart.