Dreamcast-Talk.com

So after resisting for years, due to not knowing how to solder, I've finally gone for a GDEmu after realising there's no soldering required after all

My question is on disc trays. I've read that by using the GDEmu, you need to redirect the airflow to prevent some sort of power issue. eBay shows two variants, only one of which actually sorts airflow. I'm wondering if there's an important thing I'm missing, as I don't want to damage my Dreamcast.

Also are all games available for GDEmu? I have several Japanese versions of games (such as 18 Wheeler, Soul Calibur, Dead Or Alive 2 etc) because they include internet functionality that doesn't exist in Western iterations. If not, is it a simple process to convert my discs to GDIs?

CDI's and GDI's both work on GDEMU

Oh I know that. It's just that CDIs usually have stuff chopped I believe. I'd imagine sometimes this would have been the internet features as they "no longer work" (at least prior to the revival by cool people here).

Either way my main interest is in disc trays. Am I right that replacing the disc drive with a GDEmu could cause power consumption issues? Or is that only on old revisions of the console?

Roareye wrote:Oh I know that. It's just that CDIs usually have stuff chopped I believe. I'd imagine sometimes this would have been the internet features as they "no longer work" (at least prior to the revival by cool people here).

Either way my main interest is in disc trays. Am I right that replacing the disc drive with a GDEmu could cause power consumption issues? Or is that only on old revisions of the console?

It can cause your dreamcast to get hot since nothing is pulling on the 12v rail. Check out this guide near the bottom to see a simple solution that I've done to my friends gdemu console
https://retrogamesultra.com/2019/02/17/ ... setup/amp/

Basically you just jam some resistors into the power and ground slots and it will reduce the heat

Also check out dreamcast ultimate archive, I have the motherlode of dreamcast gdis. I'd recommend just getting the gdi versions when possible.

I will do, thanks Xiden.

Just to verify. On that link to the guide, it states you need to install resistors only if you're not fitting the 3D Printed Tray then you will need the resistors. Is it one or the other, or is it recommended to do both?

Roareye wrote:I will do, thanks Xiden.

Just to verify. On that link to the guide, it states you need to install resistors only if you're not fitting the 3D Printed Tray then you will need the resistors. Is it one or the other, or is it recommended to do both?

I personally did both + I also did the fan mod as well because it makes the dreamcast near silent
Since the resistors are cheap enough if I were you id go ahead and do it. Its super cheap on ebay.

I don't have to solder them? Just jam them in those sockets? I've tried soldering before and have destroyed everything I've ever soldered XD

Dreamcast PSU is not very successful
you may be out of luck and resistors will not solve the overheating problem
the best solution is to replace the power supply unit with PicoPSU

I've ordered the resistors, the 3D printed tray and the GDEmu.
The PicoPSU seems a lot of effort, if the above will work fine. Mainly due to soldering and a spaghetti of wires. It's also another £50 of cost.