EverDrive Buyers Guide

June 4, 2018

Great products for developers and playing freeware games. Please read our disclaimer.

With some many different EverDrive flashcarts on the market and multiple versions for each console, it can be hard to pick the correct one. We have created this buyers guide to help and assist you in choosing the correct EverDrive.

1. What is a EverDrive?

An EverDrive is a regular looking game cartridge which has a slot for a SD card at the top of the cartridge which enables you to play freeware game files (roms) and is designed to work on real hardware and certain clone consoles and behave like a real game cartridge without any sound, graphical and lag issues.

The great thing about the EverDrive is that you can store all your freeware games (roms) onto a single SD card.

2. Who is it for?

The EverDrive is perfect for developers, retro gamers and collectors who want to play freeware games that were never released. It basically can hold all your freeware games onto a single SD card and when the console is turned on it will offer a list of all the games you have on the SD card and you can choose which one to load.

3. Why is the Krikzz range the best?

The EverDrive range by Krikzz is regarded as the best available by retro gamers and collectors. Since Krikzz launched his range way back in 2010, other companies started to copy the Krikzz range and attempt to make their own cheap version of EverDrive flashcarts, which have major issues such as lots of games not working, blank screens, crashing, performance & sound issues. The Krikzz range is designed to help developers create new games and gamers experience freeware games.

4. How does the EverDrive work?

Using a EverDrive is extremely easy and is virtually plug and play. You simply put your freeware game roms onto a SD card along with the operating system for the EverDrive which is available to download for free. You then insert the SD card into the EverDrive card slot and plug the EverDrive into your original or clone console, and that is it!

See video in how to insert SD card

4.1. What you need to use the EverDrive?

You need a original or clone console, SD card and a EverDrive. For example, to use a Super EverDrive or SD2SNES you will need a Super Nintendo or a clone console such as the RetroDuo, and a EverDrive.

To use a Super EverDrive or SD2SNES you need:

[1] Super Nintendo console (including power supply, AV cable and controller) or clone console such as RetroDuo

[2] Super EverDrive or SD2SNES

[3] SD card

4.2. SD Memory Cards

The EverDrive range use either SD or micro SD cards to store your freeware games and firmware. It is essential that original cards are used and not fake cards as the EverDrive's are not compatible with fake cards. Always use branded original SD/Micro SD cards with the best being SDHC class 6-10. The cards need to be formatted in FAT/FAT 32.

EverDrive's that work with SD card: EverDrive 64 V2/V3, Super EVerDrive, SD2SNES, N8 & N8 Famicom.

EverDrive's that work with Micro SD card: Turbo EverDrive, GBA X5, GB X3/X5/X7, Mega EverDrive X3/X5/X7 & Master EverDrive.

4.3. Operating System/Games

You can download the relevant OS for the EverDrive below and unzip it then put it into the root of the SD card.

SD2SNES

Super EverDrive

Mega EverDrive X3/X5/X7

EverDrive N8/N8 Famicom

EverDrive GB X3/X5/X7

EverDrive GBA X5

EverDrive 64 V2.5/V3

Master EverDrive

You then create a GAMES folder and add your freeware games (unzipped) into this folder. You can create sub folders for your games as well. The N8 range only support 256 games per folder so you will need a sub folder structure (A-Z, genre) etc.

4.4 User Interface

The user interface is very simple and easy to use on all the EverDrive's. When you turn the video game console on you are presented with a menu as shown below and all you have to do is select a freeware game you want to play from your list and thats it! You can organise your games in folders as you desire, this can be alphabetically, genres, most played or any way you prefer.

5. The EverDrive range

The below consoles only have one version of the EverDrive available

PC Engine/Turbo Grafx 16 - Turbo EverDrive

The Turbo EverDrive works on all PC Engine and Turbo Grafx 16 consoles and allows you to play all region freeware games.

Master System - Master EverDrive

Offers in-game save states and supports upto 1000 per folder.

Game Gear - EverDrive GG

GameGear and SMS freeware games are supported and this EverDrive can also be used on a Game Gear via the Master Gear convertor.

GameBoy Advance - GBA X5

Works on the GameBoy Advance & GBA SP.

The below console's have more than one EverDrive available

Nintendo NES PAL & NTSC

Two EverDrive's are available for the NES, the N8 for the PAL and NTSC US consoles and the N8 Famicom for the Japanese console.

Famicom, NES, and Twin Famicom systems are supported as well as many clones consoles. Save states and fast loading is featured alongside Game Genie cheat codes.

Resetting N8 CIC
If you have issues getting your Everdrive N8 to boot/work then you should reset the CIC Chip. If you notice the LED flashing on the EverDrive then continiously keep pressing the RESET (7-8 times) on the NES console until the LED changes to green.

Super Nintendo/Super Famicom (SNES)

Two different EverDrive’s are available for the SNES which are compatible with all region consoles and many clone consoles. The Super EverDrive is a entry level flashcart and the SD2SNES is the premium version with instant loading freeware games, Real Time Clock and Save feature. The >SD2SNES saves games like real cartridges whilst the Super EverDrive saves by pressing the reset button on the console after saving in-game.

Comparison between Super EverDrive & SD2SNES

Nintendo 64 PAL & NTSC (N64)

Like the SNES, the N64 has two versions of the EverDrive, one titled EverDrive 64 V2.5 which is an entry level whilst the other is EverDrive 64 V3 which is a premium model which offers additional features such as Save Memory, Real Time Clock and a USB port.

Feature	Everdrive 64 V2.5	Everdrive 64 V3
Region Free (A switch inside the cart slot lets you flick regions from PAL to NTSC)	✔	✔
Dedicated Save Memory	✘	✔
Save without reset (After saving you have to press reset on the console to save)	✘	✔
Real Time Clock	✘	✔
USB for Developers	✘	✔
Spring loaded SD card Slot	✘	✔

MegaDrive/Genesis

The MegaDrive has three different versions with the X3 being the entry level, X5 mid level and X7 premium. The three different versions all differ in memory, hardware and features with the X7 offering a huge leap from X5, whilst the difference between X3 and X5 is not as big. The X3 & X5 are aimed at people looking to mainly play freeware games whilst the X7 is aimed at gamers looking for the extra features such as more memory, hacked rom support, USB port and save states.

Feature	X3	X5	X7
Memory Type	8MB	8MB	16MB
Save RAM	128KB	128KB SRAM	256KB SRAM
Hardware	Lattice ICE40 FPGA	Lattice ICE FPGA	Altera Cyclone FPGA+ Max II CPLD
Save State	✘	✘	✔
In-game menu	✘	✘	✔
Hacked ROM Support	✘	✘	✔
USB Developer port	✘	✘	✔
Sega CD RAM Cart Support	✘	✔	✔
OS Update	✔	✔	✔
Harware Mega-key	✘	✔	✔
SMS Pause	✘	✔	✔
Saves without reset	✘	✔	✔

GameBoy

Three different EverDrive’s are available for the GameBoy and similar to the MegaDrive the top end X7 is a huge leap from the X3 & X5 versions. The X3 & X5 are designed for people looking to play freeware games perfectly without the extra features whilst gamers looking for the top end EverDrive which offers extra hardware power, more memory, hacked rom support and in-game saves, the X7 is the perfect choice.

Feature	X3	X5	X7
Instant Loading	✔	✔	✔
Game Genie Support	✔	✔	✔
Return to menu w/o rebooting	✔	✔	✔
Game saves to SD card without reboot	✘	✔	✔
Save State	✘	✘	✔
Real Time Clock	✘	✘	✔

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