Best method to keep save files for Sega Saturn?

[John845]

What is the best method to save games for the Sega Saturn? When my modchip arrives I plan on getting loads of games. Question is will the onboard harddrive be able to handle all those games? I've looked up various different peripherals for the Saturn, but I'm not sure which I should get. I was hoping there would be a cartridge that has the extra ram and has lots of memory space on the cartridge itself.

Anyways, someone please help me out.

[FreshChurros]

There is no on-board hard drive. The Saturn stores data with a little round battery in a compartment on the back of the console, seen here:

http://www.racketboy.com/store/battery.htm

As for the cartridges, I can't recommend one since I've never used one. I'd recommend getting one though, as the batteries run out rather quickly.

Sorry I can't help much.

[John845]

So the battery is the only way to save you're games?

[FreshChurros]

I believe there are cartridges that do, but I can't recommend one since I haven't tried any.

[John845]

If you're battery dies, does it delete all you're saves?

[Original_Name]

I use the Action Replay, which lets you save on it, and it's been very reliable. It isn't compatible with Panzer Dragoon Saga, though. It makes me remove the memory card every time I play, so I have to save on the internal memory, then transfer it to the cartridge.

[Curlypaul]

Yes, if the battery goes so does all your saves.

I've used both the official memory cart and the Action replay and found them both to be very reliable but I would recommend the Action Replay as it opens up the oppurtunity to play orginal jap games and those games that need the ram expansion.

I would certianly not bother with any other third party memory cards, not if you like to keep your saves anyway

[John845]

So when using the action replay, can you load you're game files directly off of it when in-game? I read that when you save you have to save to you're motherboard battery, but then you simply transfer those save files onto the action replay.

[D.D.D.]

I have had an Action Replay (4MB + save space) for more than 10 years now for the SS. I've also had my battery die several times. If not for the AR, I would have lost a lot of saved games.
Yes, most games you do have to copy the save file back to the SS but at least you have it. Also, never had a problem with the PDS save file on it, or any save file for that matter.
Highly recommended~

[John845]

I have had an Action Replay (4MB + save space) for more than 10 years now for the SS. I've also had my battery die several times. If not for the AR, I would have lost a lot of saved games.
Yes, most games you do have to copy the save file back to the SS but at least you have it. Also, never had a problem with the PDS save file on it, or any save file for that matter.
Highly recommended~

Is this the Action Reply that you have?

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/Raluminat/forsale.html

"Saturn Action Replay 4-in-1"

Scroll down a bit. The one that sells on Rackets Site is simply a ram function and not a memory card/ram combo like the one shown on this other website. Another question I have is how big are the save files for Saturn Games? I'd imagine they would be in the kilobytes. So a 4 meg memory function on the action reply I just linked to would be sufficient enough right?