GBxCart Review and Comparison with GB Operator (GB/GBC/GBA Reader/Writers)

I've covered the GB Operator accessory in previous videos - and here is another highly recommended tool that does similar-but-different jobs with GB/GBC/GBA game cartridges (both real games and flashable carts).
While the GB Operator is more a "player's tool", the GBxCart could be seen more as a "utility accessory".
There are some very interested comparisons and differences - you'll want to check this out.
GBxCart (Retro Gamer Repair Shop)
retrogamerepairshop.com/colle...
GBOperator
www.epilogue.co/product/gb-op...
Flash Carts
www.coolspotgaming.co.uk/prod...
www.coolspotgaming.co.uk/prod...
Patching GBA Roms for Various Save Types
flashcartdb.com/index.php/How...
Chris' channel (Gameboy, Switch and more)
/ wompratz
Chapter Jumps
00:00 - Opening Bumper
00:05 - Introduction
00:30 - The Purpose of These Devices
00:50 - The GB Operator Quick Look
02:15 - The GBxCart Hardware Overview
03:35 - Modifying a GBA case for the GBxCart
04:55 - The GBxCart FlashGBX Software
07:25 - Backup, Restore and Erase Save Data
08:05 - Backup GB Rom Image (GBxCart)
08:45 - Backup GB Rom Image (GB Operator) Comparison
10:22 - Firmware Updates
11:10 - Discussing Flash Cartridges
12:38 - GBA Flashing Considerations
13:35 - Speed Comparison Read/Write on Both Carts
18:20 - GBA Flash Cart Comparison SRAM vs Flash
20:30 - How Each Allows Flashcart Options / Flexibility / Choosing
23:50 - Identifying Chipsets for Flash Carts
25:40 - Which Might Be For You?
26:45 - Built In Emulator Advantages / Some Disadvantages
29:40 - Detecting Dead Batteries in Carts
30:55 - Big Advantage of GB Operator; save game R/W by session
32:30 - Wrap Up / Pros & Cons

[@rafaellum]

Great in depth review and comparison of these two flashers, I feel so much more informed now. Thanks for the video!

[@linc_gb]

One thing I like about the GB Operator is that it backs up your ROMs when you first put the cartridge in and backs up the save data whenever it accesses or overwrites it.

[@sethreign8103]

Thank you for this video. Unfortunately I made my purchase before I saw it but now 7 minutes in I'm convinced I made the right choice buying the GBxCart.

[@Thrashbog]

Great information once agian. These videos have helped me so much today!!

[@RussellTrapp]

Great Side by Side comparison. Hopefully the GB Operator gets those 'coming soon' features in the near future. I think it will put it even closer to the GBXCart. In any case both devices are pretty cool.

[@EmuGamingXD]

Nice video dude very informative 👍

[@Wompratz]

Nice video dude, I'm still leaning in the GBxCart camp. Speed transfers don't concern me, I need the functionality and openness and right out of the box the GB Operator won't even do what I really want it to do - Flash and accept my existing flash carts.

[@Overhawk]

Thanks for the vid, I ended up buying both!!!

[@PS3ClassicGamesHD]

You can write a 4mb game on a rw cartridge with the gb operator. The software just can't recognize it as a 4mb at the moment but it will come in a future update. You have to choose "Yes" when it asks you to proceed.

[@Darkuni]

Yeah I covered all that in a different video. This was more to compare and contrast how each one handled cards...

[@Echoingsunflowers981]

Thank you for the informative video. I’m leaning personally towards the gb operator as I really like the editing saves option as the main reason I want to get a device like this is so I can unlock the gba link exclusives

[@Darkuni]

Feels more like an "end user" product - so you probably trade a boat load of features (GBx) vs a more turn key solution with less-but-adequate features.

[@Echoingsunflowers981]

@@Darkuni what other features does the gbxcart have? From your video and others I’ve seen it’s basically the same as a gb operator except it writes fast and doesn’t have a built in emulator

[@Darkuni]

@@Echoingsunflowers981 You have a lot more control with the GBx software. The video shows a couple of situations where you have more options and more "things to try" if you have issues.

[@TheGugustar]

Nice video, I wish you could make that kind of comparison between the gbxcart and Bennvenn's Joey Jr v2++ to compare operation, compatibility and speed

[@Darkuni]

Alas, if I had the other one, you would have a video :D

[@misterdneh]

Is there any tests out there to attach the cart version to an Android via USB C port on the device rather than a computer?

[@MegaManNeo]

My GBxCart RW arrives today, I am really happy but really will only use it to write games made with GB Studio to flash carts. Sure, I could get an Everdrive but in my case, I actually plan to make games for friends to make them smile a little. I too have the GB01 from Submodule which is really close to the Operator in terms of looks and functionality but it is no longer in active development and lacks the functionality to write games to memory as well as the built in emulator (which is based on mgba in the Operator's case). Might still go and buy the Operator eventually, it looks really nice and well crafted.

[@jmb95]

Hi there, I’m able to plug a cart in with the GBx and it detects it fine with the analyze button. I have tired flashing a rom of a GBA game I own to it and it says the write is successful, but when I plug it into my GBA the screen is white after the GBA logo? All signs from the PC side look good.

[@Felix-dz3nv]

Great video! Thumbs up! I don‘t really care about the emulating part. But when using the EverDrive GB X7 I still think the GB Operator is the better choice for me. All I want to do is to rip my roms and save states to put them on the Everdrive. Occasionally I want to restore a save state in case one of my game cardriges runs out of battery. I‘m not really intersted in using any other flashcart. Having the option to see if the battery for the RTC is still working would be nice though🤔 Also only having to rip each game once would maybe make amends for being ableb to see the battery status. Ripping the save state is pretty much instant for both, right? Do I miss anything?

[@Darkuni]

Nope. Not missing anything.

[@Felix-dz3nv]

Thanks a lot for the fast reply. I‘m just checking out if the Joey Jr is an option. Not needing any extra software sounds quite compatable/ sustainable.

[@mazzel4488]

So is it possible to download my pokemon save file, edit it with pkhex and then upload it again to the cartridge?

[@Darkuni]

Theoretically, yes. I've never done it - so I cannot give a definitive answer.

[@HitmanMaul]

Do either of these allow you to fix RTC values after a Pokemon battery change? Thanks

[@mannynegron3588]

I’m looking for a solution to preserve my gen 1 Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow saves, as I’m sure the original cart batteries are on borrowed time. My question is, can I back up the save files, change the cart batteries, and then write the original saves back to the Pokémon game cartridges? Not interested in running the saves on emulators. If I’m understanding correctly, would the GBxcart be the solution for me?

[@Darkuni]

I believe we have the winning tool for you!

[@mannynegron3588]

Fantastic! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks the quick response! So second question, can this flash module run with Mac OS? Not a deal breaker if it can’t. Just found your channel, excellent comparison guide for these 2 modules, really enjoying your content so far!

[@Darkuni]

@@mannynegron3588 It says there is Mac and Linux versions of the software - so I think you're good to go. Never used it though.

[@adangonzalez1998]

so do both save and read when you use a emulator and use cheats and exit will it save the progress when you take it out and play it on a regular gameboy ? mostly pokemon

[@michaelrivera4299]

Want that info too

[@ahoragamer3545]

Hello, please, how do I put a hack rom saving on a parallel cartridge with a chip and not a battery? Because I put the ROM I wanted on a cartridge I have, but I wasn't saving it. my cartridge is parallel. The cartridge is from (GB) Pokémon Red.... I'm testing the game that I replaced. It works, but it doesn't save

[@joshua_da4082]

Hey! mainly just looking to backup my emerald GBA saves in-case of corruption before I could transfer my shinies to pokemon HOME. Would you recommend the GB operator or something a bit more cheaper alternative for this one single purpose? Using an authenthic emerald ROM btw!

[@Darkuni]

I'm such a huge fan of GB Operator and I have far more experience with it. If you're okay being a tinkerer, GBxCart seems very popular. I just like the ridiculous ease of use with the Operator. Shame about the price difference. Did you watch my review of the Operator?

[@joshua_da4082]

@@Darkuni Haven't watched that yet but I do like the simpler UI of the GB Operator! My other main concern is also about the plastic covering which the GBxCart does not normally come with compared to the operator

[@SpikeVanHellsing]

So would you say it may be worth getting both readers? One to play/read and the other to write?

[@Darkuni]

If you're a big aficianado of GB, you might have to own both...

[@poke_hilda6220]

Is it possible to put my save file from pokemon emerald to pc, cheat the old sea map to my file through playing on the emulator and then put it back on the cartridge by using the GB Operator?

[@Darkuni]

I have absolutely no reason to believe that wouldn't work.

[@poke_hilda6220]

@@Darkuni great, thank you! then I'll buy it :)

[@birdiec]

@@poke_hilda6220 make sure the pokemon cart is not a reproduction. They dont use flash saves and cant load a modified version of a rom. It will back up your save file to the computer fine, and that backup can go back on the repro cart just fine, but if you try and put a different sav file onto the cart it will just white screen. For me my first issue was the repro cart .sav file wont load into PKhex... at all. So i downloaded a rom from online and that .sav file loaded into PKhex just fine, but putting the .sav file from my online rom onto the reprp cart just makes it white screen upon loading.

[@angxble9350]

In the case of GBA, could I use GBA Backup Tool from NDS? It worked for me to re-burn bootleg roms from Aliexpress, but I don't know if it works with these FLash PCBs

[@Darkuni]

I'm honestly not sure on that ...

[@pittypatt3]

so do these allow you to back up the save file from your original cartridge, then transfer back once the battery is replaced? that’s my primary usage of looking to obtain a cart reader. i want to back up my existing saves, swap the batteries, then put it back on

[@Darkuni]

That's the number one great use for it!

[@pittypatt3]

@@Darkuni i watched the entire length of your video and which one would you recommend for this practice? are both just as good at performing the functions?

[@Darkuni]

@@pittypatt3 I'm far more comfortable with the Operator. Hard to mess things up. They are both fine for the function!

[@pittypatt3]

@@Darkuni thank you so much for the prompt replies!! appreciate your hard work with all the testing!

[@kingwhatzitbro6933]

I found the website I put in all my information and it says that my card is denied what is up with it

[@Darkuni]

WTF?

[@TheCreativeType]

I do eventually wanna flash a game onto a gba flash cart, so I think I’d wanna get the GBxCart then, right?

[@Darkuni]

I haven't proven that out with that system - just the GB carts. What flash cart would you be getting?

[@michaelrivera4299]

Question, write is a term that is confusing me. I don't want to write to a flash cart. I want to take my pokemon save file, add the mystery gift items to the save file, then send the save file with the mystery gift item back to my cart. Can I do that with the gb operator

[@Darkuni]

I can't imagine any reason why you couldn't do that.

[@michaelrivera4299]

@@Darkuni thank you very much

[@echo5067]

Is there other software to GBxcart to check catridge authenticity?

[@Darkuni]

I'm not really sure. I don't recall seeing anything like that in their UI...

[@T8UFI]

Since the GB operator was updated to version 0.8 recently do you know if the cart writing has improved?

[@Darkuni]

When you say "improved", which aspect are you referring to?

[@T8UFI]

@@Darkuni as regards writing to gba cartridges are any more supported ?

[@Darkuni]

@@T8UFI I haven't seen any info on this, and I don't have any more cards to test :(

[@T8UFI]

@@Darkuni no worries :)

[@vitorcavalheiro2239]

where can I buy empty or rewritable GB or GBA cartridges ?

[@Darkuni]

Check out my original GB operator review. In the description I list a couple of places to get them.

[@FEBRIZIOtv]

How do I get my rom hack games to save on a flash cart ?

[@Darkuni]

I assume the same way you would do a legit rom? Or are you finding that's not the case? I don't hack roms so I have no idea how it works.

[@braxinIV]

Would this program help identify when a save file was either created or check to see if it was modified? Trying to find a legit Old Sea Map in Pokemon Emerald. I have a seller claiming they have one, but I want to verify.

[@Darkuni]

Interesting ... No, I don't believe so. There is nothing in the interface that would lead me to believe that data is possible. I'm not a GB expert by any means, but I do not believe that Emerald had a real time clock - meaning there would be no way to establish dates of modification. Later Pokemons on GBC did, I think, but that doesn't really help you out :(

[@braxinIV]

@@Darkuni hey, thanks for taking the time to respond. If by real time clock, do you mean the battery inside the cart that kept track of the time? Emerald did have a battery like that.

[@Darkuni]

@@braxinIV no actually from what I remember that battery is to protect the non-volatile memory to make sure your saves will stay indefinitely. Or at least as long as the battery is good. That said? Even if it did? I don't see anything in the interface that would lead me to believe that it's keeping track or able to retrieve that save time.

[@braxinIV]

@@Darkuni ah gotcha. Again, thanks for your time anyways!

[@BetagameTest]

Does GB operator update the system and can flash the gba Flashcart cards?

[@Darkuni]

I cannot flash "flash carts" - only rewritable cartridges. Update WHAT system?

[@BetagameTest]

@@Darkuni yes I talk about that rewriting

[@Sr.D]

I prefer the most practical and streamline approach of the gb operator

[@Darkuni]

I agree. My GBxCart is in storage and the GBOperator is plugged into my Steam Deck :D

[@rodrigozbarros]

Can you flash gbc games on gba cardtrisge?

[@Darkuni]

No, not to my knowledge.

[@dragtogo2735]

Does the GB Operator supports mods? Looking for one with better performance and mod support.

[@Darkuni]

If it does, it isn't part of the UI.

[@dragtogo2735]

@@Darkuni Would that break the game if has a security code?

[@Darkuni]

@@dragtogo2735 I don't ... THINK so ... it just likely wouldn't identify the game correctly.

[@zach49490]

My clear case s Doesn't have a hole for the usb cable how does yours have it?

[@Darkuni]

I drilled it :D

[@zach49490]

@@Darkuni ooooh what drill bits did you use?

[@Darkuni]

@@zach49490 I really wish I could remember. All I remember was being hella annoyed that I had to make my own hole LOL

[@zach49490]

I am too... I saw on the images on the website with the cartridge cover over it and assumed it had holes... Mine doesn't so thought it was a manufacturer error :(

[@Darkuni]

@@zach49490 I mean, is it .. expensive to add that to the mold? Maybe it is shared with some other product that doesn't need it? I dunno. I made quick work of it though :D

[@zandatsu07]

Love the review, How much is the shipping fee if i order GBxCart from inside gadgets?

[@Darkuni]

I would contact them for a quote.

[@pokelaboratory]

Does it dump data as .sav file?

[@Darkuni]

They do!

[@pokelaboratory]

@@Darkuni Thank you!

[@KnightCommaJustin]

Here’s some millennial hate mail: Thanks for the thorough videos. They really helped me make a decision on which of these products was a better fit for my recent hobby of buying back the games I traded in as a child.

[@majesticglass]

I would just use the gbxcart or gb operator back up a pokemon ruby to do the battle tower glitch

[@Marc_Wolfe]

I bet it overvolts GBA carts. The switch in the GBA that some mistake for switching modes, is a voltage switch. Doesn't look like that reader has one. Evidence for this is the flash/SD card carts that can run the color games on the micro and DS.

[@emfuji]

Hey nooowww Hank Kingsley

[@Dark_Jaguar]

That "some millenial somewhere" comment is all too accurate. We're all the new old after all, and too many of us are dumping way too much cash into buying our youth back. That includes me, but I do set a spending limit for myself. I'm not going to dump money into these copies of pokemon going for over $300. Pokemon games are THE most plentiful games around for any handheld you can name. There's no reason those games should be going for that much. Case in point, the Japanese versions aren't selling for those amounts to our Japanese nerd equivalents. No, something fishy's going on to jack up those prices. Don't fall for it. Just pirate it.

[@Darkuni]

You know that Target sells vinyl records for $35? WTF ... Something wicked is going on ...

[@Dark_Jaguar]

@@Darkuni Hey I'm on your side here. In any case, don't really care about old records suddenly getting reprints I was talking about how something you can find in the hundreds on eBay on any given day is massively overpriced. More specifically, there was that auction house buying up and overcharging things to artificially inflate value in that scam just recently. I suspect something similar's going on with old pokemon games, because those prices just don't make any sense.

[@Darkuni]

@@Dark_Jaguar Didn't mean to insinuate you weren't. As Gen Z/A "discover" things (and thanks to TikTok, these generations have a platform where they can suddenly be the sole purveyors of these "startling new finds" - wait for them to "discover" CDs ... no more thrift store finds), those that own this stuff realize there are new sheep to fleece. Video games seem to be getting an unproportionate amount of price increase, though. Pokemon is something I'll never understand.

[@Dark_Jaguar]

@@Darkuni Fair enough! It's the sheer volume of what's available, the "supply" side, that gets me wondering just how the heck the prices got gouged to this extent. Heck, even Earthbound never reached the prices of some of these games. But, you're right to see it's weird how these "discoveries" are. I'll never understand the revival of old records as a format. CDs simply have better audio quality and it's pretty obvious the grainy fuzz of a record is not something the original artists actually wanted, nor was it present in the original recordings in the audio booth. But, if it keeps record players in production for those who do have an old collection... well I can't complain.

[@Darkuni]

@@Dark_Jaguar Yeah, is there some sort of cap on how many Pokemon carts are out there? I dunno. I assume there was a sufficient number to avoid that artificial price gouging. I understand the love of vinyl. I do. I own a record player and 100 records - but like you, I'm a CD guy. I'm still buying CDs - today - at $0.99 each at Goodwill? Now is the time to buy before GenZ is there paying $8 each for them :D You would probably enjoy hanging out in the channel's discord ...

[@michaelrivera4299]

The gameboy operator seller are trash, Their shipping service is absolutely hot garbage. Don't pay for expedited shipping service because it will cause them to print the table and drop off your order in a timely matter

[@RegisTrickz]

Hello MonroeWorld. Thank you for this video. I have some questions and need some help about the GBxCart. Could you give me a mail adress which I can write to you ? Please. Best regards

[@Darkuni]

You can reach me on my Discord. discord.gg/NBCHAkBx

[@ahoragamer3545]

Hello, please, how do I put a hack rom saving on a parallel cartridge with a chip and not a battery? Because I put the ROM I wanted on a cartridge I have, but I wasn't saving it. my cartridge is parallel. The cartridge is from (GB) Pokémon Red.... I'm testing the game that I replaced. It works, but it doesn't save

[@Darkuni]

Let me call in some help....

[@Wompratz]

What do you mean by 'parallel cartridge'? 🤔 Unfortunately unless the flash cart you are using with this has a battery, games such as Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow, while they will play, they won't be able to save.

[@ahoragamer3545]

@@Wompratz my games are pirated. they save it on the chip itself. But when I changed the ROM I can't save it

[@Wompratz]

@@ahoragamer3545 sorry, hard to help with this without more info. There are too many 'pirated' carts out there. Some can be flashed and some cannot. Some games will require a battery backup method found in an original cart to be present in these pirated carts for it to be compatible though.