DSi has the internal hardware to run GBA? I didn’t know that.
It has the hardware (except for the physical slot) and whilst removing the cart slot they also took away the bios and some supporting software.
But with TwilightMenu, or GBARunner2, and a BIOS file you can play GBA ROMs.
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It can run DS games off the internal SD card but compatibility is nowhere close to using a flash cart that you can get for $10.
There is a way to use GBA games too but it sucks, compatibility is awful. Amazing that it works at all though!
DS compatibility is very high these days, and continues to improve. Initially it was not good.
DS on DSi compatibility list
GBA is more hit and miss.
GBA on DSi compatibility list
I picked up a cheap DS flash cart a few years ago, and it’s been really awesome. No need to install anything on the system or do any modifications.
I run it on my 3DS, and the DS Lite for the kiddo.
That’s fine, you don’t have to 
I use it because my DS cart slot is loose and I’ve lost saves playing that way. Plus, you can play DSi games this way which isn’t possible from a flash cart. Plus the many other benefits of CFW. All for $0 which is less than the cost of a flash cart and MicroSD.
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I just installed CFW and I’m looking forward to the compatibility increasing for both GBA and DS titles as while I have a DSTWO the GBA emulation is average and it draws a lot of power.
All games I’ve reported as not working were fixed. CFW on DSi is still quite new and maturing.
Example True Swing golf USA version didn’t work. Oddly the European and Japanese versions worried fine. They now all work.
The GBA emulation on that thing is downright awful. It caps out around 45 fps due to technical limitations of delivering video through the DS cartridge bus.
And yeah it does draw a lot of power; I tried using it on a 3ds and I’d find the DSTwo would draw extra power even when the system was in sleep mode and I’d have a dead battery in less than a day.
Modern flash carts are really solid though; the DSTwo’s gimmick of having an extra processor was thankfully not taken up by anything else.
Yeah, I got into the habit of ejecting the cart while I wasn’t using it because I noticed the power draw. I’m actually considering getting a replacement even though its working perfectly because all of the extra hardware is just a disadvantage.
I do like the save states though.
The DS library continues to deliver when it comes to finding unexpected gems. I had no idea the long-running “I am an air traffic controller” series was brought west by Majesco, so I’ve ordered a European copy.
Shame about the boxart though, even if the US version has a nod to the series’ Japanese name: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ds/945797-air-traffic-chaos/images
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I recently got a stupidly cheap deal on a pretty much mint condition DSi, and I’m really happy with it. Its such an improvement over the OG DS, and the screen is infinitely better for playing DS games on than any of the 3DS systems. I know with CFW with the 3DS you can rip your own carts to the SD card, and I believe the save files as well. Anyone know if this is possible with CFW on the DSi? I’ve already installed custom firmware on it but my searches have brought up nothing for doing this. I’d basically just like to be able to rip my DS library and its saves, 1 to back them all up, and 2 to just have them on my DSi’s SD card.
So, can I get Shantae on my DSi nowdays?
It was never released in Australia so I had to buy it on 3DS. Would be great to rip it from there and play on DSi now.
Got unlaunch on the DSi, that’s as far as I’ve gone
@ShinJohnpv it’s possible to dump carts on DS(i) using WoodDumper, but it’s much more hassle than using a 3DS.
@D.Lo yes you can, easily, using GodMode9 on 3DS.
Both see ripping thread.
Can you install it properly on DSi? Like on the normal home menu, not one of the jank homebrew menus?
See but I still use my 3DS all normal like. I don’t want to install CFW onto it yet.
@D.Lo yes https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-install-dsiware-onto-the-main-menu-no-twilightmenu-required.517580/
I installed it on my DSi and it works fine for dumping the cart, though it doesn’t seem to dump the save file.
I was going to mention that, seperate app needed to dump/import the save.