Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

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megavolt85
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Posts: 1787

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#11 » Sun Nov 28, 2021 7:49 pm

legolas119 wrote:so it is realy important to find a clone updated to the latest firmware 5.20.3 but it is not easy to do that...it isn't specified the firmware :(


it's simple, one, two


legolas119 wrote:The MODE has a better UI


have you seen the openmenu for GDEMU?

legolas119 wrote:for sure and i know that it runs not original dreamcast games too like games converted from

as far as I know, MODE has problems running some homebrews

legolas119 wrote:atomiswave (Rumble Fish 1&2, Dolphin Blue): is GDEMU able to support these games too?


first of all, atomiswave games were tested on GDEMU

legolas119 wrote:I don't know it is simpler to install GDEMU or MODE...do you have any suggestion about that?

The ODE installation process is the same, but if you need to remove the media to add games in the process, then GDEMU is much more convenient, you don't have to disassemble the console to remove the SD card

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fraggle200
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Posts: 307

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#12 » Mon Nov 29, 2021 3:50 am

I saw this posted elsewhere the other day and it's a GDEMU with the updated fw. https://aliexpress.ru/item/100500346991 ... 21bdfJ2ssV

As for deciding between GDEMU And MODE, I've got both so can give a reasonable rundown on them.

* both as as easy to install as each other. Remove the GD-Rom and place it in.
* OpenMenu on GDEMU really helps get it closer to having better functionality and hopefully over time that will only get better MrNeo does more work on it. the MODE menu is easier to navigate as you can structure your folders how you want them. The cover art for MODE is hit or miss as you're at the mercy of the Terraonion database being updated with all variants, where GDEMU stuff is either reliant on the PVR from the disc or the community updating the covers for OpenMenu.
* MODE accepts more file formats as standard. my understanding of GDEMU is that the file types are based on whichever menu you're using. OpenMenu (last time I checked) didn't officially support CDI which was surprising to me as I just assumed the fieltype was dictated by the device and not the menu. being able to throw any DC file at the MODE is really nice as it's one less thing to worry about as you don't need to think if your ODE can handle it or not.
* MODE is a dream to put games onto. create a folder called dreamcast and anything within that will show up on it. structure it how you want and there's no need to use any apps to sort all the folder structure etc for you like there is in GDEMU. its not a huge ballache but it's another level of annoyance if you run into issues.
* Price. MODE is sooooo much more expensive than a cloned GDEMU, but not too far off an official one if you can get it. that in itself is a deal breaker for some. the price difference between a MODE and cloned GDEMU should give a level of comfort as you're getting an official product that will be supported but with the new clones coming out with the updated fw then it's kind of a moot point.
* as Ian said, Bleemcast stuff doesn't work on MODE. hardly a big ticket item as the Bleem stuff is reasonably niche IMO given how easy it is to play PS1 stuff elsewhere but it's very much a nice addition. I've never lost sleep over the fact I can't play bleem stuff on my MODE but that's just me. you may feel differently.

All in all, it's a tough one as there's merits to both but I think ultimately it'll all boil down to cost. if you can stomach the money and don't mind missing out on Bleemcast.... go for MODE. to me it just seems a little more robust in what it can handle and the drag and drop functionality is nice when putting stuff on it. If you can't afford it and can make use of Dubcity's amazing collections on here pre-formatted for GDEMU then go for that one. there's a little more work involved in getting stuff onto your SD card but once the initial setup is out the way with it shouldn't take too long to do.

legolas119
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Posts: 70

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#13 » Mon Nov 29, 2021 4:21 pm

thank you guys! well, probably i will be able to find the original GDEMU, and it could be better because in the future it will be updated.
Do you mean that in GDEMU too it is possible to have a quite pretty UI with cover or cd image? I checked this video, it is fantastic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah0hEvz5Pbg
are you talking about that?

I opened my console it shoudl be a VA1, right?
https://i.postimg.cc/zG4hvYpL/IMG-2872- ... imizer.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/rFP0Z2Bh/IMG-2871- ... imizer.jpg

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fraggle200
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Posts: 307

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#14 » Mon Nov 29, 2021 4:53 pm

legolas119 wrote:thank you guys! well, probably i will be able to find the original GDEMU, and it could be better because in the future it will be updated.
Do you mean that in GDEMU too it is possible to have a quite pretty UI with cover or cd image? I checked this video, it is fantastic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah0hEvz5Pbg
are you talking about that?

I opened my console it shoudl be a VA1, right?
https://i.postimg.cc/zG4hvYpL/IMG-2872- ... imizer.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/rFP0Z2Bh/IMG-2871- ... imizer.jpg


yeah that's OpenMenu. there's a post on here from mrneo420 about it with loads of into and github links to it. well worth checking out.

As for your console. 3rd number in the serial gives away the year of manufacture 8=98 9=99 0=2000 1=01 yours is 0 so I'd reckon it's very much a VA1 going by the serial but I can't rem when they switched to VA2.

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megavolt85
Developer
Posts: 1787

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#15 » Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:29 am

fraggle200 wrote:As for your console. 3rd number in the serial gives away the year of manufacture 8=98 9=99 0=2000 1=01 yours is 0 so I'd reckon it's very much a VA1 going by the serial but I can't rem when they switched to VA2.


plastic cooler and CD-ROM from samsung
I bet it's VA1

legolas119
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Posts: 70

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#16 » Tue Nov 30, 2021 4:21 pm

ok, thanks! yes, i suppose the topic is this one: viewtopic.php?style=20&f=5&t=14537
if it is VA!, i decided to buy an original GDEMU, it supports every game i think and it is not so expensive as MODE :)

mrneo240
Rank 9
Posts: 926

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#17 » Tue Nov 30, 2021 5:43 pm

Gdemu lol

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fraggle200
chill
Posts: 307

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#18 » Wed Dec 01, 2021 7:14 am

legolas119 wrote:ok, thanks! yes, i suppose the topic is this one: viewtopic.php?style=20&f=5&t=14537
if it is VA!, i decided to buy an original GDEMU, it supports every game i think and it is not so expensive as MODE :)


yeah that's the topic.

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fafadou
Gold Lion
Posts: 1655

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#19 » Thu Dec 02, 2021 5:38 am

For me the best ODE is the whole dreamshell.

Because :

- @Megavolt85 and @Swat are the best 8-) , who have port atomiswave on dreamcast please ? ;)
- It's free, you can do it by yourself or buy a sd card reader, or of course a hdd "reader" system cheaper than other ODE
- You can manage your vmu and copy your vmu in your hdd, or sd card
- For me with an ssd and the good config, it's the faster system.
- You can use the screenscraper with retrodream

Some inconvenient I must confess :
- Not sure if it will some update anymore ?... :(
- It's the less friendly to use, even with retrodream but you have a compatibility list made by @pcwzrd13 for US and @Drgoncity for europe in order to helping you and when you find your config, it's now saved, you don't need to config the preset again.

I just want to thank them again :)

legolas119
fire
Posts: 70

Re: Best ODE hardware for Dreamcast?

Post#20 » Fri Dec 03, 2021 4:37 pm

thanks, Dreamshell could be the best option because it is not necessary to mod the console. But:

1) i checked this compatibility list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0 and there are some games not supported unfortunately. I think that Dreamcshell isn't supported anymore (http://www.dc-swat.ru/page/dreamshell/) so probably some new games don't work ...and the "yellow/red" games in the compatibility list, will not work properly. I dont' find the compatibility list of @pcwzrd13 and @Drgoncity

2) Isn't available anymore...or better there are a lot of clones..do you suggest a good product? For example: https://www.ebay.it/itm/114565692528?_t ... %3A2047675
Or is it possible to create the cd by myself and use a stanrdard microSD reader?

3) how can i load cover for Dreamshell?

4) I checked Retrodream, it is another front end that can be installed in the microSD, is it better than Dreamshell? It seems that it is still updated (march 2021) and only 28 games has issues: http://dreamshell.infos.st/ I know that dragoncity, the author of the guide, shared covers/video but i'm nor able to find them in his link

thank you very much

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