Which Sega Master System flash cart should I get?

[Mitkraft]

As I understand it my two best options are the Everdrive cart and the Neoflash Myth MKIII cart. Best I can figure, the Everdrive uses SD card (larger and cheaper) but it doesn't have FM sound, and is limited to 8mbit games. The Myth cart uses a NeoFlash drive (harder to find, only 256meg) but has FM sound and can handle 16mbit games.

 

I'd love to hear some opinions of one versus the other as well as any corrections to my understanding between them. Thanks!

[7800fan]

It looks to me that Neoflash holds one game at a time. Everdrive SD can have the entire library on the SD so no need to plug in the computer every time you need to change the game. Beside FM chip can be added to the console, there are addon mod that uses the oft-overlooked expansion port on the back of SMS console. And passthrough cart connector that adds the FM chip to just about anything.

 

If you don't want to bother with the addon mod or don't want a tower of carts sticking out (ie on Game gear), Neoflash is probably better. You won't be able to use the FM sound on Game Gear however.

[Mitkraft]

It only holds one game? Is that true? Because that wasn't my understanding. I was under the impression that it had an internal menu just like all the other flash carts. And since the Neoflash card it comes with is 256meg is should pretty much hold the entire SMS library. I checked and the SMS complete library rom download is only like 43meg zipped. I'll have to check when I get home what the unzipped file size is though.

 

And what did you mean about "use FM sound on Game Gear"? I'm not sure what you meant by that. Are you talking about if you used the myth cart in a Game Gear? I wouldn't know anything about that, I only intend to use it on an actual Sega Master System.

[zetastrike]

SMS flash carts of kind of redundant, unless you really need the FM sound. I would get a Mega Everdrive. That way you'd be set for the SMS and Genesis/32X as well. My $0.02

[Mitkraft]

Ok, maybe I'm dense but I really don't understand what you are saying. How are flash carts redundant exactly (or are you going on the premise that they only hold one game)? Also, how exactly does the Mega Everdrive set me up for Genesis and 32X? I don't understand that either. I'm assuming you mean they somehow work in a Genesis right? Because I can't imagine your saying I could play Genesis/32X games on an SMS. My current intentions aren't to get a Genesis so I really only want it for the SMS. If it only held one game at a time then that would be a dealbreaker though but I'm waiting for someone to confirm that is indeed true

 

SMS flash carts of kind of redundant, unless you really need the FM sound. I would get a Mega Everdrive. That way you'd be set for the SMS and Genesis/32X as well. My $0.02

[+save2600]

I think he's saying get a Mega Everdrive and just play your SMS games on a Genesis/32X.

 

Can't imagine a modern flash cart that only allows one game at a time. If that's true...

[zetastrike]

Ok, maybe I'm dense but I really don't understand what you are saying. How are flash carts redundant exactly (or are you going on the premise that they only hold one game)? Also, how exactly does the Mega Everdrive set me up for Genesis and 32X? I don't understand that either. I'm assuming you mean they somehow work in a Genesis right? Because I can't imagine your saying I could play Genesis/32X games on an SMS. My current intentions aren't to get a Genesis so I really only want it for the SMS. If it only held one game at a time then that would be a dealbreaker though but I'm waiting for someone to confirm that is indeed true

 

 

I meant that since the Genesis can play SMS games, it makes more sense to get a Mega Everdrive for the Genesis. With it, you can play every SMS game, nearly every Genesis game, and every 32X game (provided you have a 32X). From a value point of view, it's much better than getting a Master Everdrive.

 

If you have absolutely no desire to get into the Genesis, then I would go with the Master Everdrive, since the ease of use is so great. On top of that, dbelectronics offers a Powerbase converter that includes the FM chip, so you could plug the Master Everdrive into it, plug that into the Genesis, and play SMS games with FM sound. This setup would require a Genesis, though.

Edited July 15, 2015 by zetastrike

[Mitkraft]

So if I hear you correctly what you are saying is that you really really really love the Genesis?

 

I'm just teasing, I get what you are saying and where you are coming from but from my perspective I'm not looking to collect a ton of consoles. I really have a limited focus on which consoles interest me. I also prefer to play on the original hardware for the few actual consoles I have (Atari 2600, SMS, TI 99/4a) and use emulation for the rest. I did some digging and found a great thread on another forum that has some info and comparison between Everdrive and Myth:

 

http://www.smspower.org/forums/13372-SEGAMKIII256MMythFlashCart

[7800fan]

I should point out you still can't play SMS games when 32x is installed. You would have to remove 32x and a bazillion cables to play SMS on Genesis.

 

You can get Everdrive GG version if you plan to play mostly on Game Gear, SMS games will work right off Everdrive.

[ApolloBoy]

You also can't play SG-1000 games on the Genesis/MD.

[78001987]

You can't play the SMS 3D games on a Genesis Everdrive, because there's no cart slot for the glasses to plug into.

[Mitkraft]

I did some checking and the FM mod that uses the expansion slot in combination with the Master Everdrive is probably the way I'm going to go. The only thing I'll be missing is support for games larger than 8M but I'm not even sure there are any of those and if their are they are later homebrews which I can live without.

[DerekLouden]

If I have a Master System Everdrive, and I use an adapter to play it on a japanese Sega Master System (which has FM sound) will the FM sound work?

[CatPix]

I don't see why not. As far as I remember, there is no difference between them - in fact you can switch any SMS from "Japanese" to "International" and from 60 to 50htz - save for the FM expansion included in the Japanese SMS.