XCKDIY Dreamcast IDE Board: Inexpensive GD-ROM HDD Replacement

Both games work fine for me, no lag at all.
Check the cluster size of your HDD, it should be at least 32K, better with 64K.
Check if the files are fragmented.

Not really, unless your HDD is defective in some way.

 

I tried 2 HDD both 4200rpm, and it lag on both...

Unless both are defective ...

 

Are you using RC4 with DMA option enabled? And what about the cluster size?
I think I have an old HDD 4200 rpm here, if so I'll make a test.

 

Yep RC4 with DMA enabled....

 

Ok i have tested with a 5400 rpm hdd, and it still lagging .... WTF ?!?

[EDIT] Ok, problem solved... My GDIs wasn't optimized... no lagging anymore now...

 

Got one of these myself, but am getting a bootup message:

Checking for G1 ATA devices...
Can't read MBR from IDE by LBA

Then the SD card boots normally, but the HDD isn't available to load ISO's from.

The HDD was formatted in FAT32, and I have a DS folder loaded to the root of the HDD. I put the megavolt85 "DS_CORE.BIN" file on the root of the DS folder, and removed other BIN files from the root.

Anything else obvious I should try?

EDIT: I got it working, I was looking at some photos of HDD's people were using in their DCs, and could just about make out that they were jumpered. So I put a jumper on the two pins that looked like it needed it, and it works great now.

Also, I see 3 solder points which look like they are in the right location for the DCs lid switch. Had anyone installed a switch, and advantage/disadvantage to doing so?

 

Yes, you have to put your HDD in slave mode, either in cable select.

With DS RC4, you just have to put the DS folder on the root.

No need to swap the DS_CORE anymore.

 

Personally as someone who modded my DC to accept a 2.5" laptop HDD (no external power required), this adapter really isn't worth it. I am one of those guys that also wants to keep the GD-ROM drive, which this adapter does not let you do, hence the need for the BIOS mod.

While we are on the subject of the ATA mod for Dreamcast, I remember some website a while back where there was a 3 part ATA adapter where one part attached to the ATA points on the motherboard, and the other part had an IDE connector, both being bridged together by a flat ribbon cable. Anyone know of such an adapter?

 

Is there anyone on these boards that can do the bios mod? I can't believe I overlooked this, this is amazing

 

Me, but i'm in France

 

There is a new player in the market:

 

looks like it could break easily and mess up the motherboard

 

I'd love to see how that fits in the case!

 

It doesnt, you have to cut a slot in the back. But its still a pretty tidy solution.

One I am working on is similar in design, but plan is to have a IDE to SATA bridge chip, then use an ESATA port for easier mounting.

 

PrOfUnD Darkness add on board mx29lv160 in tsop48 package

 

I actually much prefer the internal, replace yo gd drive option, so maybe I'll just order one of the OP units. I have a rev1 JP DC with a bung drive which I'd like to HD-ify.

 

Do you think you'll manage making a design that will fit in the case? I know there's not a lot of room to work with, but only having to cut an ESATA bracket hole would be ideal.

 

Wow, that is pretty awesome!

 

Thats exactly what i was thinking, but wondering if and where to grab one of these ?

And this sounds even more awesome! Any chance you'll have some units for resale when it's done, and maybe a guess when you're gonna be ready to run this ?

 

It's being designed with the sold intention to sell.
No time frame at the moment, but it's the project I'm most currently active on.