Tell me about Nintendo DS/GBA/Lite cross compatibility!!!!

[Steamflogger Boss]

Absolutely amazing test, Hoagtech.

As expected, the DS Phat is the worst of the bunch. I knew the DS Lite and DSi XL would both come out on top, although I'm surprised the DS Lite had more vibrant colors and higher contrast than the DSi XL. The former uses dual TN screens while the latter uses dual IPS screens, so you'd think it would be the other way around.

Even though you say the black bars in 1:1 pixel DS mode on the 3DS are terrible, the default upscaled DS mode also has black bars as seen in your pictures. I think it's worth showing 1:1 pixel DS Mode on the 3DS, as it is a much better representation of the 3DS's potential. Also, your o3DS XL has dual TN screens. I would like to see how DS games look on a New 3DS [XL] with dual IPS screens. An interesting thing to note is that 1:1 pixel DS mode on a o2DS/o3DS has the smallest picture for DS games in the entire DS and 3DS family, giving it the highest pixels-per-inch. It would be great to see that compared to a DSi XL.

Well, keep in mind as Hoag did mention that the test sample here is literally just one of each of these systems. So pretty far from extensive and from my own experience DS Lites have pretty high variance and of course hours of use is a factor. But, cool that he did it and it's a starting point.

Any model of 2/3DS is going to blur DS games.

[Ikaruga11]

Any model of 2/3DS is going to blur DS games.

If you don't do anything, then yes.

If you hold Start or Select, then the 3DS will boot into a 1:1 resolution mode for DS and GBA games. Picture quality is razor-sharp in this mode.

[ZellSF]

Thought I mention here too that I got a New 3DS XL IPS system and wow so not worth it. It isn't significantly better than the TN displays I have. Hell, without checking viewing angles I wouldn't even be able tell it's the superior display.

Getting a 3DS system from a retailer with good return policies (massive QA issues on those things) is far more important than trying to hunt down a IPS system. Maybe you'll get a IPS, maybe you won't, but if you get a good TN and return it because you want a IPS I think you're crazy.

[Ikaruga11]

Thought I mention here too that I got a New 3DS XL IPS system and wow so not worth it. It isn't significantly better than the TN displays I have. Hell, without checking viewing angles I wouldn't even be able tell it's the superior display.

Getting a 3DS system from a retailer with good return policies (massive QA issues on those things) is far more important than trying to hunt down a IPS system. Maybe you'll get a IPS, maybe you won't, but if you get a good TN and return it because you want a IPS I think you're crazy.

Yeah, the quality control is awful. Even if you miraculously manage to find a dual IPS display, you have to check for dead pixels, dust underneath the screen, or any other defects. Even then, the color, brightness, contrast and white balance calibration isn't usually perfecr and uniform across both screens.

[Einzelherz]

It's almost like these are large scale production items and inferring anything from a few tests here and there is meaningless.

It was super cool to take photos of different consoles though, as comparisons between significantly dissimilar devices still yields good info.

[mvsfan]

I recently picked up a ds lite and am very happy with it. the screens are nice and bright.

It also plays GBA games.

As far as a DSI XL goes, i give it a -because it doesnt have the GBA slot, and as far as i know none of the online stuff works anymore on them, and it cant play GBA games.

[Ikaruga11]

I recently picked up a ds lite and am very happy with it. the screens are nice and bright.

I agree with you. DS and GBA games look incredible on the DS Lite.

It also plays GBA games.

Too bad the GBA cartridges stick out a bit from the DS Lite, unlike on the original DS Phat. What's interesting about the original DS Phat is that it allows you to turn the brightness off completely. The only other Nintendo handheld that allows you to do this is the GBA SP AGS-001, and that's a front light display, not a back light display.

As far as a DSI XL goes, i give it a -because it doesnt have the GBA slot, and as far as i know none of the online stuff works anymore on them, and it cant play GBA games.

The DSi and DSi XL (in fact every DS and 3DS model all the way up to the New 2DS XL) all have native GBA hardware inside. While I don't think it's possible to inject GBA ROMs onto the DSi and DSi XL, you can easily do that on any 3DS or 2DS with HomeBrew.

[Einzelherz]

There is a flash card that's DS and 3DS compatible that has extra hardware for emulating GBA games. It works well.

[mvsfan]

It also plays GBA games.

Too bad the GBA cartridges stick out a bit from the DS Lite, unlike on the original DS Phat. What's interesting about the original DS Phat is that it allows you to turn the brightness off completely. The only other Nintendo handheld that allows you to do this is the GBA SP AGS-001, and that's a front light display, not a back light display.

Wait, so your saying that they Redesigned the DS, took out the gba slot, but left all the other GBA hardware in it?

that almost sounds like good news. other than the room inside the case, is it otherwise possible to add a slot to it?

[Ikaruga11]

There is a flash card that's DS and 3DS compatible that has extra hardware for emulating GBA games. It works well.

Interesting. I'll have to check that out. Which flash card is it, and are Super GameBoy borders supported?

Wait, so your saying that they Redesigned the DS, took out the gba slot, but left all the other GBA hardware in it?

that almost sounds like good news. other than the room inside the case, is it otherwise possible to add a slot to it?

Yes.

Nintendo re-designed the original DS to be smaller, lighter weight and brighter, hence the name DS Lite. The more compact design is probably why GBA cartridges cannot fit all the way inside. They removed the GBA port from the DSi and DSi XL presumably as a cost-saving measure, the dwindling sales and support for the GBA, and the new design of the DSi would not allow it. However, the GBA hardware required to play the games is miraculously still inside 3DS systems to this day.

I'm no hardware modder, but I imagine it would be possible, especially with the DSi XL.

[ZellSF]

There is a flash card that's DS and 3DS compatible that has extra hardware for emulating GBA games. It works well.

If you're talking about the DSTWO, then no, it does not work well. Practically all games require frame skipping and many have compatibility issues.

[Einzelherz]

Worked well for me. But I was running tempgba.