Master EverDrive knockoffs

[ASDR]

When shopping for some Master System cable parts I noticed that you can get cheap Master EverDrive knockoffs on AliExpress for ~30EUR shipped:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000530258278.html

PCB pics:

Spoiler

Are those any good? Will my console explode? I guess there are no level shifters but at least some resistors like on the old ED's which this is likely based on?

[ASDR]

For reference, this is how the old v1.1 and v1.2 PCBs of the genuine Master Everdrive look:

Spoiler

[TooBeaucoup]

While the Aliexpress cart looks like it'll prob work alright, you just never know what you're going to get when you buy from them. You could end up with a board that looks totally different from the pics on their site. And even if it looks the same, you never know what quality of components they're using. Remember, their prices are usually cheap for a reason. I'd say, if you're not worried about gambling a few bucks, go for it. But, if you don't take your purchases lightly, I'd just save a few extra bucks and buy an official one. I'd say it'd be hard for anyone to recommend going with an Ali cart or not, because nobody can guarantee as to exactly what they will actually send you.

[ASDR]

While the Aliexpress cart looks like it'll prob work alright, you just never know what you're going to get when you buy from them. You could end up with a board that looks totally different from the pics on their site. And even if it looks the same, you never know what quality of components they're using. Remember, their prices are usually cheap for a reason. I'd say, if you're not worried about gambling a few bucks, go for it. But, if you don't take your purchases lightly, I'd just save a few extra bucks and buy an official one. I'd say it'd be hard for anyone to recommend going with an Ali cart or not, because nobody can guarantee as to exactly what they will actually send you.

That's good point. I have tons of Chinese products and there always is a variability, they seem to have 5 different models for everything, whatever parts are cheapest, I guess.

I have genuine EverDrives in all my systems, but here the price difference is just to large. The current MED is ~125EUR, but this will just be ~25EUR on sale and even a replacement Master System is just ~30EUR. And it's really just a fun side purchase since I already have a SMS compatible MD1 and a MED X7...

Looking at the PCB, it seems like the really just made a cheaper version of Krikzz's original design, specifically:

- Consolidated all components on one side of the PCB
- Removed the USB port and the FTDI serial/USB interface chip
- Replaced individual resistors with resistor networks
- Swapped the SD for a microSD slot
- Removed the big power filter cap next to the voltage regulator

My main concern is is really just if these cards are safe to use. The original MED is already kinda sketchy since it doesn't use level shifters and just resistors, but then again, has any console ever actually died from using a MED v1 / MED X7?