Piforce SD card questions and other Naomi Q&As

[Pinball]

Q&A time! Maybe this would be useful as an FAQ?

- If you add games to the roms folder, does it automatically update the LED display list on booting or do you need to edit a games list file? If the latter, any tools to help with this, or how do you do this?

- Can larger SDs than 32GB be used? 64GB would probably be ok (I've got up to 44GB all-in), and I've read the Pi can accept these?

- Does the Pi use its own partition for booting (i.e additional to FAT32)? In which case an image would be needed to set up an SD card, but how could a card larger than 32GB be setup (as images will be 32GB)? I assume just copying an SD card to another wouldn't work because of the Pi's partition?

Other Piforce/Naomi questions:

- Do Chihiro games work on a Naomi (as the Piforce lists them)? What does '512MB' at the end of the game name mean apart from the obvious (e.g. converted to work on Naomi)? I'm assuming only Naomi and Atomiswave games work on a Naomi?

- I'm upgrading my DIMM memory from 256MB (single DIMM) to 2 x 512MB DIMMs. Apart from Melty Blood, what other games will now play on a Naomi board?

- Is it worth getting a Naomi 2 board if you have Naomi 1? Only 3 additional games that play on a regular cab, I believe.

- What other arcade boards work with JVS? Worth buying a JVS cab, then?

Other noobs- add your questions here!

 

[Foxe]

- If you add games to the roms folder, does it automatically update the LED display list on booting or do you need to edit a games list file? If the latter, any tools to help with this, or how do you do this?

I added them all without updating any files. Seemed to update the display fine, nothing else to do.

- Can larger SDs than 32GB be used? 64GB would probably be ok (I've got up to 44GB all-in), and I've read the Pi can accept these?

Yup. I'm using a 64gb card.

- Does the Pi use its own partition for booting (i.e additional to FAT32)? In which case an image would be needed to set up an SD card, but how could a card larger than 32GB be setup (as images will be 32GB)? I assume just copying an SD card to another wouldn't work because of the Pi's partition?

Follow the net booting guide. It has links for partition wizard to set up the boot partition and expand the storage partition.

- Do Chihiro games work on a Naomi (as the Piforce lists them)? What does '512MB' at the end of the game name mean apart from the obvious (e.g. converted to work on Naomi)? I'm assuming only Naomi and Atomiswave games work on a Naomi?

Not sure on compatibility list. I know there's some game conversions. With 1gb total memory, you should be able to play everything.

Naomi 2 only has a few exclusive games. Don't think there's any major benefits. Just check out the games and figure out if you want them bad enough.

JVS works with plenty of other arcade cabinets, I don't have a list in front of me, but you should be able to find plenty.

Hope this helps!

-Edit-
(Plenty of better info here)

 

[Pinball]

Great detailed answer- thanks.

Have you a link for the net booting guide? I'd like to copy a 32GB to a 256GB Sandisk FAT32 SD card, preserving the Pi partition for loading, but allowing me to increase the FAT32 partition to add more roms. How do I do this, please?

 

[Foxe]

-Edit-
(Plenty of better info here)

In general I don't think you should try to save partitions or try to copy drives, just set up the new 256gb card instead and expand the storage partition. Then copy over whatever rom files you have to that new card. 256 seems like a bit of overkill. I have a 64gb card and it fits everything.