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.

Contents:

1. What is a EverDrive?

2. Who is it for?

3. Why is the Krikzz range the best?

4. How does the EverDrive work?

    4.1. What you need to use the EverDrive

    4.2. SD Cards

    4.3. OS & Games

    4.4 User Interface

5. The EverDrive range

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 back-up your original game files (roms), play translated games & homebrew 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 games (roms) onto a single SD card.

2. Who is it for?

The EverDrive is perfect for retro gamers and collectors who do not want to ruin there original game cartridges due to wear and tear issues so they can back-up the game roms onto a SD card and plug into the EverDrive which then slots into the console cartridge slot. It basically can hold all your game library 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.

Whilst emulation is great, it tends to have lots of issues as games never seem to run perfectly due to sound, graphics and frame rate issues.

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 preserve collectors original game cartridges as they can back-up their entire collection onto one SD card and use with the EverDrive. 

4. How does the EverDrive work?

Using a EverDrive is extremely easy and is virtually plug and play. You simply back-up you original 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 , a EverDrive and the roms of your legally owned games. 

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 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.

You then create a GAMES folder and add your legally owned 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 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 PC Engine & Turbo Grafx 16 cartridge based games so you can enjoy all region games. 

Master System - Master EverDrive

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

Game Gear - EverDrive GG

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

GameBoy Advance - GBA X5

Near to 100% compatibility with GBA game library with all save types supported and instant loading games.

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 wekk 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 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. Both versions offer near to 100% compatibility with n64 game library.

 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 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.

 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 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.