is the ED64 v3 discontinued?

[spicynugg]

I tried all the links I could find to it on the krikzz website and amazon. They all redirect to each site's respective page for v2.5. I couldn't find any info online about it being discontinued. Hoping to find answers here. (first post btw)

[Link83]

Hi and welcome to the forums!

The ED64 v3 has been replaced with the ED64 X7:-
https://krikzz.com/store/home/55-everdrive-64-x7.html
Functionality wise not much has changed between the v3 and X7, but the X7 now has automatic region detection with the UltraCIC III.

Krikzz has been updating a lot of the EverDrive models that use the Altera Cyclone II FPGA (ED64, EDN8, Mega ED) since its basically been discontinued by Altera and the remaining stock is now more expensive than the superior Altera Cyclone IV FPGA. I expect even the ED64 v2.5 will eventually be replaced with an ED64 X5 model once stocks run low.

<EDIT> Its also currently on sale for black friday on everdrive.me:-
https://everdrive.me/cartridges/ed64x7.html

[spicynugg]

Thanks for the quick reply, i plan on buying an ED64 and selling my N64 collection to pay for it (and make some extra $). You said that the features in the x7 and 3 are the same. From what I've read, the 3 (and the x7, i assume) is the only version that has the NES emulator, the spring loaded sd card slot, and the version that can play stadium 2 and a few other games. But I also read that the 2.5 has the emulator. So i'm getting conflicting information. Do you (or anyone else) mind clarifying what i'm missing if i get the 2.5?

[Link83]

I'm not sure about those specific questions so hopefully somebody else can answer them, but if it helps the chart on the X7 product page gives the main differences between the two:-

IMO the biggest difference is that both the v3 and X7 have save battery backup to retain your save file when you power off the console. On the v2.5 you have to remember to press the N64's reset button before you power off completely so that your save file can be written to the SD card - if you forget to do that you will lose your save progress from that play session.

<EDIT?> Forgot to add, the other main difference between the v2.5/v3 and the X7 is that the v2.5/v3 uses full size SD cards, whereas the X7 uses microSD cards.

[Kerr Avon]

Forgot to add, the other main difference between the v2.5/v3 and the X7 is that the v2.5/v3 uses full size SD cards, whereas the X7 uses microSD cards.

Are you sure? According to:

https://krikzz.com/store/home/55-everdrive-64-x7.html

"Micro SD and SDHC cards are supported."

[Link83]

Pretty sure
https://twitter.com/krikzz/status/1173934870021718016
https://twitter.com/krikzz/status/1178795927059996674

I guess the product description could be worded better, it probably should say "Micro SD and Micro SDHC cards are supported." to avoid confusion.

[lee4]

i can confirmed is mirco sd only

i now own ED64 X7 thanks to amazon for fast shipping

[Kerr Avon]

Pretty sure
https://twitter.com/krikzz/status/1173934870021718016
https://twitter.com/krikzz/status/1178795927059996674

I guess the product description could be worded better, it probably should say "Micro SD and Micro SDHC cards are supported." to avoid confusion.

i can confirmed is mirco sd only

i now own ED64 X7 thanks to amazon for fast shipping

I wonder why that is? By removing the option to use full size cards, the ED64 X7 is a downgrade in one respect, albeit one that won't matter to most people. Then again, for some reason, Everdrive 64s do seem to have more trouble with SD card compatibility than many other consumer gadgets, so perhaps by limiting future ED64s to only microSD, it will stop so many people having problems with their cards.

[Link83]

I wonder why that is? By removing the option to use full size cards, the ED64 X7 is a downgrade in one respect, albeit one that won't matter to most people. Then again, for some reason, Everdrive 64s do seem to have more trouble with SD card compatibility than many other consumer gadgets, so perhaps by limiting future ED64s to only microSD, it will stop so many people having problems with their cards.

The benefits of microSD are that the slot takes up less space on the PCB, and it leads to a cleaner looking finished product since there isn't part of the SD card sticking out. I too would have preferred full size SD cards for easier insertion/removal, but I can understand why krikzz decided to switch.

Krikzz had been considering switching to microSD for many years, even as early as the ED64 v1 in 2011:-
https://assemblergames.com/threads/sd-or-micro-sd-for-everdrive-64.32171/
However at the time microSD's were often considerably more expensive than full size SD cards, which is one of the reasons why the poll ended up in favour of full size cards.

Nowadays the price difference is really not so great, especially when for all the current EverDrive's the maximum you would need is a 32GB card, which currently costs around 6/7 dollars (They were around 200 dollars in 2010) The downside is the fiddly small size, and that you wont be able to use your old full size SD cards with any future EverDrive's, since Krikzz has decided that all future models will use microSD:-
https://twitter.com/krikzz/status/1173939229505871872

[Grizzmeister]

MicroSD is fine with me since that's what's in my Raspberry Pi. However, I'm glad I got one of the EverDrive-64 v2.5 units that accepts full size SD cards since they're easier to handle. For what it's worth, right now I've got my SD card set up with everything I want on it so I never take it out of the ED's slot. In the long run I guess it doesn't really matter what kind of card it uses. 

[spicynugg]

I'll just narrow down my questions to what matters most to me.

To play NES games and Pokemon Stadium 2, the X7 is required?

[nuu]

For Pokemon Stadium 2 yes (Gin Kin version, not to be confused with Japanese Pokemon Stadium 2). NES games no. Old versions have support for the NES emulator as well. The NES emulator is passable but not really comparable to modern NES emulators.

[raccoontwos]

I guess the product description could be worded better, it probably should say "Micro SD and Micro SDHC cards are supported." to avoid confusion.

Krikzz needs to update his Amazon product page as well, as it still doesn't specify that it's micro only, and there are already mixed to negative customer reviews popping up. Not good.

[Grizzmeister]

I wonder if the X7 has SD card compatibility issues like the earlier EverDrive-64's?

[lee4]

i never have any sd card problems with my v2 & 3 before

its should be fix in x series