Cost Effectiveness of Playing DC Backups

[AreaMan]

So I've recently hooked my DC back up after discovering that you could make backup discs at home (wewt!). Now I'm about 15 hours into Grandia II and lo and behold, my DC hates me >_<

One day it works fine, one day it won't read any backups (unless I turn it upside down, which I realize isn't a permanent fix). It still reads factory-pressed discs without issue for now.

I thought it'd be best just to pursue hard copies of some of the games I've liked the most on eBay, but it seems like that would cost a *lot* more than just buying a spare DC and playing the one I have 'til it dies (it was used when I bought it on eBay around early 2003).

It seems blasphemous to be buying up DC's to kill them though. Curious to know the board's thoughts on if my current one is just worn out/unlucky (it's half-yellowed and I remember it being pretty dirty when I got it) or am I destined to be constantly replacing consoles if I keep playing burned discs? =/

[brunoafh]

If you keep playing games that have to access the disc constantly (like Grandia II), then yes, you're going to effectively kill the laser in them all. The problem is that the DC's laser is a GD-ROM reader, and you're straining it by making it read CD-Rs. The data on each of the formats is laid out differently, and making it read CD-Rs will lead to the eventual death of the laser mechanism.

Look into pot tweaking your DC's laser. A temp fix, but you might be able to get some more life out of it.

Also, look into Tuxthewise's DCRES releases over at Snesorama. He makes images that are easier on the DC's laser by making them read more like a GD-ROM would.

[bacardipr05]

Im not an expert but any multiple disc game i just try an get the original. My Dc is my original launch day DC that i just pulled out of a box about a year ago. First my nephew used it for a while(as i had retired from video games) an then laid nly god no where for many years. Ive been playing backup games here an there not much as i dont play video games like that. Well about 2 weeks ago my DC started making strange grinding noises. Like it was off track or the mechanism is starting to wear. I did make prior to that an adjustment to the laser mechanism. Some days it works great some days not so great. Some games load up fine then it wont load. It still works but just in case i picked up an extra DC that should be arriving soon for $30

[Anthony817]

Yes, Tux made many optimized games that have better folder structure, which cuts down on drive reader noise.

Also, if you don't want to use the disc drive at all, and potentially make the system last longer, check into getting the newly released SD adapter for the Dreamcast and seeing what awesome things you can do with them.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 05&start=0

You can even play GDR iso's on them. I got a 32gb card and freaking love it.

[brunoafh]

Yes, Tux made many optimized games that have better folder structure, which cuts down on drive reader noise.

Also, if you don't want to use the disc drive at all, and potentially make the system last longer, check into getting the newly released SD adapter for the Dreamcast and seeing what awesome things you can do with them.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 05&start=0

You can even play GDR iso's on them. I got a 32gb card and freaking love it.

Can any game be booted from a card, or are there limits?

[BRIK]

If you keep playing games that have to access the disc constantly (like Grandia II), then yes, you're going to effectively kill the laser in them all. The problem is that the DC's laser is a GD-ROM reader, and you're straining it by making it read CD-Rs. The data on each of the formats is laid out differently, and making it read CD-Rs will lead to the eventual death of the laser mechanism.

Really
I would think that the fact that its designed to read CD-R's as well wouldn't put any sort of strain on it.

[Hatta]

Reading a CDR isn't going to put any more voltage into the laser, so it's not going to "stress" the laser. Increased movement of the motor is a problem though, so use those optimized rips.

[brunoafh]

I would think that the fact that its designed to read CD-R's as well wouldn't put any sort of strain on it.

It's not the fact that it's a CD-R that strains the laser, it's the fact that the information is physically written on the disc differently than it is on a GD-R. If you actually look at the back of a retail Dreamcast game, you'll notice the data is written in an unconventional way. This makes the laser have to do minimal work. When you burn a random ISO onto a CD-R, the data isn't managed "properly" (in most cases), and forces the actual laser mechanism to do extra work.

Play a GD-R game and then play a back up of the same game. You'll hear the difference in the amount of work the laser has to do.

[Hatta]

Yes, you're thinking of the motor. That's what moves the laser from place to place on the disc. The laser is the part that takes voltage and emits photons. The whole thing is the laser assembly.

[brunoafh]

I think what I mean is fairly obvious. If you want to split hairs and talk about photons, go for it.