====== Dreamcast Modded with GDEMU SD ======

Acquried a dreamcast around 2016 maybe for about $30. It included some burned CDS. Years later while it sat I learned about and finally purchased some retrofighters controllers because I've always disliked the stock dreamcast controllers. 

Modded the dreamcast in late 2023 with a GDEMU SD card reader that replaced the CD rom. Also modded and replaced the power supply, even though I probably could have just de-soldered part of it to lower the voltage. It would be too much volts given the removal of the CD drive. 

the SD kit came with a semi-enclosure so it looks good inside the dreamcast and has a port right where the CD was for a card, as well as a spare SD slot. Useful. 

I learned to solder doing this project and watching this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iedD9X5lWLc|Dreamcast mod video]]. Did some through-hole soldering and some wicking. I was able to solder on a removeable battery module, LED light (which I thought was RGB but so far has just been green. I might ask for a replacement on that one. 

==== Notes ====

  * hackinformer page - https://hackinformer.com/2022/08/23/easiest-way-to-set-up-a-gdemu-get-more-out-of-your-dreamcast/
  * in UI, images are slow and menu scroll has latency
  * GDI Games recommended (full game with multiple files)
    * GDI on archive - https://archive.org/details/ef_SEGA_GDI_USA
  * Put games in folders starting 02, 03, 04 etc
    * That's the order they show in menu
  * How to switch disks during game? (button press possibly)
  * Get atomis wave games (possibly 30+ more games to library)
  * Dreamconn+ BT controllers - https://www.dreammods.net/dreamconn.html
  * Component video works
  * HDMI can work if converter is good
  * HDMI solder mod not worth it
  * Multiple Region discs can be handled apparently
  * ALL US Dreamcast games - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_q52LmeehY
  * Dreamcast has a better console version of Dave Mirra BMX
  * Old ports might be fixed with Contact cleaner spray

the GDEMU mod requires some software on the SD card, basically an application that the dreamcast reads like a game. 

==== GDMENU ====

  * SD cards above 64gb must be formatted as FAT32 using special software
  * SanDisk 128 GB Ultra USH-I Class 10 SDXC can work 
  * Forum mentioned MadSheep tool to improve Menu speed (can't find it)
  * Themes for GDMENU
    * OpenMenu - 
    * GDMenu Theme Manager - https://segaxtreme.net/resources/gdmenu-theme-manager.61/
      * Video walk through - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gxYiTNOzBE
    * GDMENU card manager - https://github.com/mrneo240/GDMENUCardManager