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Disc images (commonly known as ISOs, but ISO is actually a specific format) are faithful software recreations of {{Infobox console|title = Nintendo 3DS|logo = 3ds.png|developer = Nintendo|type = [[:Category:Emulators on handheld consoles|Handheld game discs (when made correctly). However, with disc sizes ranging from 700 MB (CD), 1.4 GB (GC Mini-DVD), 4.7 GB (single-layered DVD), and 25 GB (Bluconsole]]|generation = [[:Category:Emulators on eighth-Ray), they can get pretty taxing for storage, especially when newer generations of generation consoles games are getting bigger in file sizes. |Eighth generation]]|release = 2011|discontinued = 2020|predecessor = [[Emulators on DS|Nintendo DS]]|emulated = {{✓}}}}
It wouldn't be so bad if not for Because of the fact that homebrewing scene the game data itself is often times only 3DS has had, you can install a fraction variety of the actual disc size - for instance, the ''Super Mario 25th Anniversary'' Wii disc itself is a 4emulators.7GBCurrently, when really the actual game data New 3DS is only a single SNES ROM (12 MB capable of useful datarunning much faster than the older models, to be precise) and nothing else. Naturally, one would want to trim this extra "fat" as making it a much as possiblemore ideal platform for emulation, which is what but despite this page aims to help to achievethere are still some emulators that have issues regardless. Most of the For more information here is based partially on this how to homebrew your 3DS, visit [https://www3ds.reddithacks.com/r/emulation/comments/3g933n/guide_reduce_the_size_of_your_ps2_gc_wii_x360_dsguide/ 3ds.hacks.guide].
'''How does one lighten ISO / ROM dumps?''' ==Multi-Systems=====[[RetroArch]]===
'''Archive-quality''' dumps are ones that when converted back to its original state, will have the same checksum as the official uncompressed release<B><code> [http://buildbot. Compressions that can't be reversed, or those that can be but will have missing or altered content whether it interferes with functionality (rebuilt table of content) or not, are not archive-qualitylibretro. For example, the WBFS format, used for shrinking Wii discs, is not archive-quality since it may be missing padding content and upgrade partitions (which have their uses in 3DScom/stable/ Stable]</Wii modding) compared to an intact, uncompressed dump.B></code>
==Applicable to All Platforms=====Audio-CD===PCs, Sega-CD, PC-Engine, PlayStation, Sega Saturn<B><code> [http://buildbot.libretro.. what do these systems all have in common? They all use a regular CD format! Game developers often stored music and other sounds using the Audio-CD format, but it was terribly inefficient when it comes to disc storage as it also had to store the actual game along with the sound files (commonly known as a "mixed CD"), and these sound files are never compressed because the Audio-CD standard simply doesn't allow for sound compression. To put it in perspective, a 700 MB CD containing nothing but Audio-CD data can hold at most around 80 minutes worth of sound data, meaning games that used a lot of sounds were limited in size.com/nightly/nintendo/3ds/ Nightly]</B></code>
Because these mixed CDs are difficult to properly archive just by using standard .ISO files, data-dumping software will usually do one of two things as a workaround<B><code> [https:: '''Full Dump:''' BIN/ISO + CUE:* BIN/ISO is the full disc data, including Audio-CD sound data and game data:* CUE is the datasheet file: '''Light Dump:''' ISO + MP3github.com/libretro GitHub]</WAV + CUE:* ISO is the disc data with only the game data:* MP3code></WAV is the sound data from the Audio-CD, but these formats take much less disk space:* CUE is the datasheet fileB>
Developers have long since stopped using the Audio-CD format, and instead prefer custom audio formats that come included in the "game data" part of the disc. By the launch of the fifth generation CD-based consoles, i.eBIOS : <code><B> [https://github. the [[PlayStation emulators|PS1]] & the [[Sega Saturn emulators|Saturn]com/Abdess/retroarch_system Download], it was more common than not to just use the Audio-CD part for messages like "Don't put this in a CD player!" and little else. That being said, there were still quite a few fifth-gen games that used Audio-CD data for their soundtracks, such as ''Vib-Ribbon'' and the ''Wipeout'' trilogy on the PS1, and ''Battle Garegga'' and ''Daytona USA'' on the Saturn.</code></B>
* '''Archive{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-quality dumpalign:center;"|+ Available cores! Cores! Game/System! Working?''' No ! class="unsortable"|Notes|-| [[FinalBurn Alpha]] 2012| rowspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | [[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]| {{✓}}| <ul><li>Uses FBA v0.2.97.30 ROM sets</li><li>Main core (unless audio is converted fbalpha2012_libretro) does not work, but platform-specific cores run at full speed</li><ul> |-| [[FinalBurn Neo]] NeoGeo| {{✓}}| A few games are unable to be loaded due to memory constraints|-| [[FinalBurn Alpha]] CPS1| {{✓}}||-| [[FinalBurn Alpha]] CPS2| {{✓}}||-| [[FinalBurn Alpha]] CPS3| {{~}}| most games are too slow to and from uncompressed formatsrun even on New 3DS, which is unlikely)though JoJo runs almost full speed|-| [[Gambatte]]| [[Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators|Game Boy/GameBoy Color]]| {{✓}}| |-| [[mGBA]]* '''Gain| rowspan="2" style="text-align:''' Several hundreds of MBs center;" | [[Game Boy Advance emulators|GameBoy Advance]]| {{✓}}| acceptable with Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire, but some games are slow to just a few dozensuse, depending even on how much this specific game relies on the AudioNew 3DS, at present|-| [[gpSP]]| {{✓}}| ~50-60 FPS with dynarec|-| [[Mednafen]] VB| [[Virtual Boy emulators|Virtual Boy]]| {{~}}| ~25-30 FPS|-| [[Mednafen]] PCE fast| [[PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16) emulators |PCE/PCECD/SuperGrafx]]| {{✓}}||-| [[Mednafen]] NGP| [[Neo Geo Pocket emulators|NeoGeo Pocket/Pocket Color]]| {{✓}}||-| [[Mednafen]] WS| [[WonderSwan emulators|WonderSwan/WonderSwan Color]]| {{✓}}||-CD sound format* '''Tools Used| FCEUmm| rowspan="3" style="text-align:''' Load the BIN+CUE using a virtual drivecenter;" | [[Nintendo Entertainment System emulators|NES/FDS]]| {{✓}}| |-| [[Nestopia]]| {{✓}}| ~55-60 FPS, then use a FCEUmm instead|-| [[QuickNES]]| {{✓}}|-| NXEngine| Cave Story| {{✓}}| |-| PCSX-ReARMed| [[PlayStation emulators|PlayStation 1]]| {{✓}}| ~50-60 FPS at standard resolution|-| [[PicoDrive]]| MegaDrive/Genesis/MasterSystem/GameGear/CD dumping tool/32X| {{✓}}* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes| 2D games run full speed, just burn the ISO+MP33D games run about 30 FPS or less|-| [[Genesis Plus GX]]| MegaDrive/Genesis/MasterSystem/GameGear/WAV+CUE again using a CD burner tool /32X/SG-1000| {{✓}}| Redbook audio hangs when suspending or pausing RetroArch||-| [[Snes9x]] 2002 (ImgBurnerPocketSNES) either to a physical disk or as an ISO+BIN file. Lossy audio formats will result in data loss.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No| rowspan="4" style="text-align: center;" | [[Super Nintendo emulators|SNES]]| {{✓}}| less compatible than CATSFC, but can be reverted to beactually run many special chip games at full speed|-| [[Snes9x]] 2005 ([[CATSFC]])| {{✓}}* '''Playable | ~55-60 FPS on standard games, ~50 FPS on Emulators?''' Yes Super FX games|-| [[Snes9x]] 2005+ (use virtual drive if needed[[CATSFC]] Plus). Some aren't compatible | {{✓}}| Same as Snes9x 2005 but with MP3better sound, if that's at the casecost of a few FPS, has more accurate audio, convert them slower|-| [[Snes9x]] 2010 ([[Snes9x]] Next)| {{✓}}| Most accurate but slowest SNES core (~40 FPS),too slow to WAV with MP32WAV. You may need Sega Cue Maker.use even on New 3DS at present| |}
Examples:Using current exploits, the New 3DS is capable of running most of these cores at or nearly at full speed on most games. The only cores the older 3DS can reliably run at full speed are 2048, Gambatte, QuickNES, NXEngine, and some older Sega games using PicoDrive.* Princess Crown (SAT): 574 MB > 72 MB (Game Data) + 50 MB (AudioOpposed to normal use of RetroArch, these are all self-CD data in MP3 format)contained emulators, albeit sharing the same automatic configuration.* Captain Tsubasa (SCD): 512 MB > 146 MB (Game Data) + 3 MB (audio as MP3) > (as 7zip) 34 MB (Game Data) + 3 MB (audio)Screenshot-taking is broken. Upon exiting RetroArch 3DS, press the Start button.
M3U ===[[RetroArch]] (playlistUnofficial) files may be used too for this distribution scheme.===
Sometimes dumps that come this way may not work on some emulators<B>Unofficial <code> [https://gbatemp. This is often due to either an incorrect CUE files using the wrong filenames or using MP3 instead of WAVnet/threads/unofficial-3ds-retroarch-builds.462252 3DS builds]</B></code>
The purpose of doing this can be to fill in spots on the disc so that specific parts of the game's data are in certain areas of the disc. This is done to increase the drive's reading speed so that it's quick enough in certain spots for the game to work properly. It's in the your best interest not to mess with this data arrangement (referred to as LBA and TOC in the case of GC/Wii/PS2/PSP) as it might break the game in some cases.====Ultimate 3DS emupack====
Another reason for having garbage data can be to screw with pirates, who download{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"! class="unsortable"|Version| [https:/upload these games online, by making the ISO bigger and harder to store/github. Some go a step further com/NinjaWeedle/NW-U3DSemupack git]! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and scramble the garbage data, instead of just being a sequence of 00Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>| <B>{{✓}}</FF, to make the ISO much harder to compress using regular archive formats like zip, 7zip, rar, etc. You might be overjoyed to learn this has become the industry standard nowadays.B> Recommended|}
Many compression schemes remove or simplify padding patterns to allow for easier compression{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| Supported Emulators|-| * Nintendo 64 : DaedalusX64 0.2* SNES : Snes9X 1.30* NES : VirtuaNES 1.02* TurboGrafx/PC Engine : TemperPCE 1.02* MasterSystem/MegaDrive/Sega CD/32x : PicoDrive 0.94* CHIP-8 : CHIP-3DS* Atari 2600 : z26 3DS* GB/GBC : GameYob 1.0.8* GBA : mGBA 0.8.4|}
MAME uses the CHD format for disc images in general and includes tools to convert back and forth{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| Linux 3DS| [https://www. Before MAME v145, CHD was in version 4 and it bumped to version 5 from MAME v146 and furtherhomebrewgeneral. The CHD v5 uses 7zip's LZMA compression on the game data and lossless FLAC compression for the audio data to optimize compression even further than using BIN+CUE+MP3net/WAV data separation alone. CHDv5 is truely lossless2020/09/linux-3ds-updated.html?m=1 Update]| ?| {{~}}| {{~}}|}
'''Instructions'''Place chdman.exe and extractcd in the same directory as the dumps you want to compress (dumps must be in BIN+CUE format or GDI). Open Command Prompt and navigate to the directory where you placed chdman.exe and input one of the following:* BIN/CUE-GDI to CHD: <code>for /R %i in (*.cue, *.gdi) do chdman createcd -i "%i" -o "%~ni.chd"</code> (Windows)* CHD to BIN/CUE: <code>for /R %i in (*.chd) do chdman extractcd -i "%i" -o "%~ni.cue"</code> (Windows)Alternatively, if you only need to do one file you can use this: <code>chdman createcd -i "<FILENAME>.cue" -o "<FILENAME>.chd"</code>=Nintendo=
If you have one of the European PSX games that features LibCrypt copy protection, then you will have a .sbi file in addition to the .bin/cue file. You will still need to have the .sbi file in the same directory as the game file (in this case, the newly created CHD file) in order to run.===NES===
* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using the same tools (unECM), however there is data loss (error correction data) which can damage a select few games. Check the hash with Redump to make sure nothing was altered.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Only on recent SVN builds of PCSX-R and ePSXe (they also support 7zip/gzip/zip archives so use them with ECM).===SNES===
PBP is the official format used by Sony for the PS1 Classics on PSP and PS3. Audio tracks may be compressed in ATRAC3 or as raw PCM (unsupported on PS3's ps1_netemu, supported on PSP only by the earliest versions of POPS or the newest ones with the [http://wololo.net/talk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=41330&start=60 cdda_enabler plugin])Nintendo 64===
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (missing data)* '''Gain:''' Not Immediate (ISO dump size the same), however when used with compression the gain is really noticeable.* '''Tools Used:''' UltraISO, USBUtil, ExPERT/Xpert ([http://www.ps2-home.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3419 guides here])* '''Can be reverted?''' Not really. Garbage data here is zeroed out, it's not important and you still have the same disk data structure.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes (after GZIP-decompression) (some games may break)* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PCSX2 (some games may break)==Game Boy===
You may forego the manual scrubbing part entirely. If you feel adventurous you might want to do it to enhance compression though. Let's get to the meaty part though.{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| GameYob| [https://github.com/Drenn1/GameYob git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|-| Cinoop| [https://github.com/CTurt/Cinoop git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
The PCSX2 {| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| GameYob|-| * GameYob - forked from a popular emulator supports opening compressed archives containing ISOsused on the DS. Emulates the Game Boy and Game Boy Color. The best format it supports would be '''GZIP''original DS version is actually more polished than the 3DS port, so some of the more hardware pushing games won't work as well as the DS port. |}
Use 7zip ("Add to archive..." then choose to gzip) or Pigz (multi-threaded, much faster compression) to generate gzip archives containing the ISO file in question. PCSX2 will build an index of each gzip compressed game it loads (as a file in the same directory as the gzip archive), so after the first time where you'll have to wait for the decompression, in all subsequent times there is no speed difference between playing an uncompressed and compressed game. Of course, you can extract the ISO back from the GZIP archive.===Virtual Boy===
A simple method to mass convert a lot of PS2 ISO games to GZIP is this script when run in PowerShell. However, it'll take many hours or days depending on the size of the collection.<blockquote>dir *.iso {| ForEachclass="wikitable" style="text-Object { & align:center;"! scope="C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.execol" a -tgzip -mx9 -sdel ($_.|Name+! scope=".gzcol"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col") $_|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| r3Ddragon| [https://github.Name com/mrdanielps/r3Ddragon git]| Low| {{✓}}| {{~}}|}</blockquote>
For a long time (before the availability of Cobra and Mamba) the only playable format for PS3 backups (relying on little more than "peek and poke" CFW-provided syscalls to mount the game's folder over the currently inserted disc) but also the least accurate one, with significant compatibility issues (varying on whether the backup is stored on an internal or external drive, whether an original game disc is currently inserted, various optional hacks such as "BDMirror" moving the files to the root of the external drive on demand, ...)===Game Boy Advance===
==PlayStation Portable=====CSO (aka CISO)===* The 3DS does include native firmware for a GBA mode which was mainly used to run ambassador releases instead of having to develop an emulator for them. Because it's technically running a "virtual" GBA, it can''Archive-quality dump?''' Maybe: while the actual compression is inherently lossless, depending t provide features that are normally available on the conversion software and/or its configurationother emulators, so-called ripping (deletion or zero-resizing of the system updatesuch as savestates, videosscreen filtering, or other files) may be performed on sleep mode, however it does have high compatibility with the flyexception of cartridges with special hardware.* If you'''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Substantial, depending on game. Higher compression levels generally produce decreasing space gains while potentially increasing load times. Some tools allow for leaving audiore using an old 3DS/video content uncompressed.* '''Tools Used:''' CISO2DS, CISO GUI, maxcso, UMDGen, PSP ISO Compressor, CISO Multi Compressor, CISO XP, ...* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using this is the same tools and saving in ISO (uncompressed) format. No data lossbest option to play GBA games.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - most CFWs (Possibly longer load times though).* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PPSSPP.There are two ways to take advantage of this firmware:
CISO GUI and CISO XP{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: Drag-andcenter;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-drop ISO file on program, Select compression level | New Super Ultimate Injector (1 to 9 (MaxNSUI)), "Compress", and choose directory for saving the | [https://gbatemp.net/threads/discussion-new CSO file-super-ultimate-injector-nsui.500376 Beta 27]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| open_agb_firm| [https://github.com/profi200/open_agb_firm git]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| [[GBARunner2]]| [https://github.com/Gericom/GBARunner2 git]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|}
UMDGen {| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| NSUI|-| * New Super Ultimate Injector - There are other programs that can do injections, but this one is a PSP ISO editornice as it can do other Virtual Console injections and some forwarders for emulators. You The only problem is each ROM must be injected and installed individually, including the [https://3ds.hacks.guide/godmode9-usage.html#restore-gba-vc-saves save files], which makes the number of titles that can save be installed restricted to either the CSO format with thismax the 3DS title limit (300 titles, not including pre-installed system titles).|}
Official format for digitally distributed PSP{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| [[mGBA]]| [https:/minis /github.com/mgba-emu/mgba/releases git]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| CitrAGB <small> (partially related to the one used for PS1 gamesbased on [[gpSP]]), containing a compressed disc image and optionally a custom boot logo</small>| [https://gbatemp.net/threads/citragb-3ds-gba-emulator-wip.376438 1.0]| Low| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
The psvgamesd gamecard backup creation and mounting tools supports mounting a trimmed backup (although no tools exist for dumping directly in trimmed format, or converting between full and trimmed{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| [[TWiLight Menu++]]| [https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/TWiLightMenu git]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| DeSmuME| [https://github.com/shutterbug2000/DeSmuME/releases git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|}
Neither variant of {| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| TWiLight Menu++|-|*[[TWiLight Menu++]] - Not technically an "emulator", rather it's a frontend for a separate program, [[nds-bootstrap]], which allows for an NDS ROM to be loaded from an SD card. The program is originally designed for the DSi, however it's able to work on the 3DS by utilizing the virtual DSi (aka the TWL_FIRM or "DS Mode") that the 3DS has for backwards-compatibility.psv format (unrelated to Compatibility isn't the Cobra Blackfinsame as using a flashcart, however it's still pretty high with only a few games having issues or triggering anti-piracy protections (newer versions now come with AP patches for most games and will patch them if needed at launch).psv format) has caught It also comes pre-bundled with a variety of emulators used onthe DS and a work-in-progress GBA hypervisor, [[GBARunner2]], despite being the most accurate options for physical game backupsthat works to some degree. **[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LRTkXOUXraTMjg1eedz_f7b5jiuyMv2x6e_jY_nyHSc/edit#gid=0 Compatiblity List].|}
NoNpDRM is a Vita plugin Because the firmware that generates decrypted licenses (valid for any console) when running an original Vita title, as well as allowing the system to accept those licenses, allowing 3DS uses for playing backwards-compatibility is actually the encrypted files directly copied from a game card or memory card (by extension same as the name is therefore also used for such filesDSi, or the combination of the gameit's files and a decrypted license)possible to inject DSiWare as an installable <code>.cia</code> file. There's two ways to do this:
NoPsmDRM is the equivalent for PlayStation Mobile titles{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| GodMode9| [https://github.com/d0k3/GodMode9/releases git]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| DSiWare Conversion Script| [https://gbatemp.net/threads/scripts-dsiware-conversion-easily-convert-to-nds-and-cia-files.478575 Script]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
An hypothetical NoPspEmuDRM, allowing for PSP{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| GodMode9|-|* Version 1.8.0 and above has a script that can convert <code>.nds</PS1 eboots code> to be natively runnable and manageable from the LiveArea<code>.cia</Content Managercode>, is currently not known [https://3ds.hacks.guide/godmode9-usage 3ds.hacks.guide] has more information on how to exist nor believed update to be in developmentthe latest version if needed.|}
People used to resort to WiiScrubber (Wii) and GCM Utility (GC) to scrub/trim games to end up [[TWiLight Menu++]] has support for two DSiWare as of v15.1.1 with dumps that while they had no immediate size changea special preview of [[nds-bootstrap]], their randomized garbage data (like "dummy", "padding" or "znull") was still there but zeroed out making archived dumps using zip/7zip/rar formats have stunning gains (from 1.4GB uncompressed to 26MB zipped for Animal Crossing for example!)Pop Island and Pop Island: Paperfield. Of course, These can also run on the file still needed to be uncompressed to its full size everytime you wanted to play itDS.
Trimming and scrubbing (in Wiiscrubber terms) aren't the same! While they both are terms for "zeroing garbage data" to make it more compression-friendly, trimming does not just that like scrubbing but takes the extra step of relocating the garbage data to the end of the file, hence altering its TOC and requiring the disc to be fakesigned, for a not-so-big compression gain. Hence why scrubbing is by far the most authentic and safe way to solve the garbage data problem.=Sony=
However compressed formats incorporating the "padding zeroing" part were made since then, and Dolphin supports them! These are the WBFS and GCZ formats.===PlayStation===
Dolphin can't play games directly from compressed archives {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| PCSX-ReARMed <small> (7zipRetroArch)</zipsmall>| [https:/gzip/rarwww.libretro.com/index.). Instead, it utilizes its own compression methodphp/retroarch-3ds-full-speed-ps1-now-possible-with-pcsx-rearmed-w-unai-renderer/ Nightly]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|-| CTRX| [https://github.com/machinamentum/CTRX git]| Low| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|}
'''This format has been deprecated in favor of [[#RVZ (Modern Dolphin format) - GC/Wii|RVZ]].'''=SEGA=
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes (if junk data is not removed)* '''Gain:''' Immediate. Depends on the game. It is very minimal if junk data is not removed.* '''Tools Used:''' Dolphin (right-click the game(s) in the games list and select "Convert File..." (or "Convert Selected Files..." if more than one is selected), and select GCZ), or [https:===MegaDrive/Genesis/wit.wiimm.deMasterSystem/ wit (Wiimms ISO Tools)]* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes (In Dolphin, right-click the game, select "Convert File..." and select ISO. Removed junk data is irreversible)* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Only Dolphin32X/Sega CD===
The Dolphin team developed a new compression format based on WIA called RVZ. Unlike all the previous formats, RVZ is lossless and can preserve the padding data on Wii discs as well as the necessary files needed by the Wii's IOS. Usage is very similar to GCZ in Dolphin itself, but it only works on newer Dolphin versions=Atari inc.=
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes (if junk data is not removed)* '''Gain:''' Immediate. Considerable, depending on the game.* '''Tools Used:''' Dolphin 5.0-12188+ (right-click the game(s) in the game list and select "Convert File..." (or "Convert Selected Files..." if more than one is selected), and select RVZ)* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes (In Dolphin, right-click the game, select "Convert File..." and select ISO. Removed junk data is irreversible)* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Only Dolphin===Atari 2600===
Scrubbing games zeros out garbage/dummy data in the ISO file. The resulting file will be the same size, but it will be able to compress better than unmodified ISOs. The difference can be huge depending on the game. Animal Crossing, for instance, will compress to just a 26 MB .gcz file after being scrubbed!===Atari 5200===
Trimming (also known as {| class="trucha scrubbingwikitable", and substantially different from the definition of style="trimmingtext-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope=" used in ROMcol"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-based systems) games will also defragment the files moving them towards the start of the disc image, resulting in a smaller ISO file| Atari800 3DS| [http://www.atari.org.pl/forum/viewtopic. The trimmed file can be used immediately at a smaller size without compression, but the game's internal structure will be wholly modifiedphp?id=13871 0. '''Games relying on direct sector access (as opposed to consulting the filesystem) will break if you trim them3.'''4]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
===WBFS - Wii only===
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly, see note about reversing.
* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Considerable, depending on the game.
* '''Tools Used:''' [http://www.wiibackupmanager.co.uk/downloads.html Wii Backup Manager] (after adding your game, go to "Transfer" and select "WBFS") or wit (Wiimms ISO Tools).
* '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe. WBFS files can always be converted back to ISO, but they will remain scrubbed (can be unscrubbed with NKitRestore) and, depending on settings at the time of conversion to WBFS, may be missing update/extras partitions (can be readded with wit or NKitRestore and a copy of the missing data).
* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - Preferred format by most SD/USB loaders
* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Dolphin
A scrubbed and sparse (gap-dropping) format directly derived from the one used in the obsolete WBFS file system.===Atari Lynx===
Ideal space{| class="wikitable" style="text-saving option for Wii games to be played via an USB loaderalign:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| Handy 3DS| [https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-handy-3ds-atari-lynx-emulator.394329 1.1b]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
A scrubbed and sparse (gap-dropping) format. Unrelated to the PSP's CSO format.===PCE/PCECD/SuperGrafx===
Great space{| class="wikitable" style="text-saving option align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| TemperPCE for Gamecube games to be played on Nintendont3DS| [https://github.com/bubble2k16/temperpce_3ds/releases git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|}
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No* '''Gain:''' Very low with GC ISOs, much better with Wii ones. Can also be combined with classic archives compression (ZIP/RAR/7z etc.) to match WIA and NKit compression ratios.* '''Tools Used:''' [https://wit.wiimm.de/info/composing.html wit]* '''Can be reverted?''' Partially via the align-files.txt created by wit when extracting.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' (GC games on Wii/Vwii): Yes - [https://github.com/FIX94/Nintendont/ Nintendont]. (Other combinations): No* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Dolphin (both GC and Wii)===Vectrex===
This has the advantage of easy experimenting with {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[#Destructive ModificationEmulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| Vex3DS<small> (based on vecx)</small>| [https://gbatemp. Includes all disadvantages of trimmingnet/threads/release-vex3ds-vectrex-emulator.420721 0.4]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
A scrubbed and compressed format designed for maximum space savings without cutting corners on corruption detection, but it's not directly playable or editable. Never really caught on and may be considered de facto deprecated by NKit.===Neo Geo Pocket/Pocket Color===
Apart from its previously mentioned unscrubbing/untrimming features mentioned in the above formats' descriptions, NKit is able to convert any ISO (clean dump or otherwise) to and from an [https://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/NKit/NKitFormat intermediate format applying various reversible changes] that optimize the image for lossless compression, including full decryption and optionally splitting the often non-unique update partitions to separate files.=Microsoft=
NKit-GCZ (as well as plain GCZ) is less space efficient than NKit-ISO compressed with a powerful general purpose archiver (7zip), however it is directly playable in Dolphin.===DOS===
But using it {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| 3DOS| [https://gbatemp.net/threads/wip-demo-3dos-8086-dos-emulator-for emulation has problems, such as slower emulated load times, breaking netplay if load times aren't -the same, and crashing a few games-3ds.394455 1.0]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
Compressing NKit* 3DOS - Based on 8086tiny.ISO with a strong compression format gives the smallest size while being reversibleCan only emulate 8086 CPUs.
By Exzap, Cemu's author ([http://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-image-wud-compression-tool.397901/ release thread]). The tool detects duplicate sectors and only stores them once: all the empty ranges end up removed, storing only ranges which contain file or filesystem data. Of course, the original ISO can be reconstituted.=Sinclair=
Consisting of a folder containing *{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| 3DS Spectrum| [https://www.app, *mediafire.h3, title.cert, title.tik, and title.tmd files, this official Nintendo format is how tiles are stored on discs and some system titles are stored on the console and is very similar to how titles are stored on the CDN (on the CDN the files are named differently, com/file/d1sl4hcdol60loh/3dsspectrum01.app files are encrypted with the title key and common keys and the tmd has a certificate chain on the end that is same for every tmd). This is equivalent to the files contained within a 3DS CIA rar/file; however unlike a 3DS title, converting a disc title to digital does not require modifying the title itself, thus leaving the title's signatures valid0.1]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
Titles installed to USB or MLC are stored in this format, comprised of three "code", "content", and "meta" folders.===Commodore 64===
Can be extracted from disc images with DiscU, UWizard ({| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[http[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| Bread Box| [https://digiexgbatemp.net/guides-reviewsthreads/consolerelease-guides/nintendobread-wiibox-uc64-guidesemulator.397602 1/06/1468016]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|-wii-u-wud-loadiine-gx2-conversion-extract-wud-images-loadiine-use| VICE3DS| [https://github.html follow this guide for usage informationcom/badda71/vice3ds git]) or JWUDTool, and from the installable format using JNUSTool. Can be converted to installable format with NUSPacker.| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
Ideal format for game modding, less so for playing on console due to Loadiine's intrinsic modus operandi (appearing to the OS as the host title, with potentially different permissions) leading to poor compatibility.===Amiga===
See overview of formats [https://yuzu-emu.org/wiki/overview-of-switch-game-formats/ here].=Other=
Trimming involves deleting bytes from the end of the ROM up to until the first different one.=Multi game engine=
However, with no mandatory allocation table, it'{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"|-! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Latest Version! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]! scope="col"|Supported game(s not intrinsecally possible to identify the true end of the used area, and therefore some GBA)|-|[http://xproger.info/projects/OpenLara/ OpenLara]|[https://DS games can be broken by naive automated trimming (for example Golden Sun DS)github.com/XProger/OpenLara/releases git]|{{✓}}|{{~}}|Tomb Raider 1-4|}
Official Nintendo format for developers to install digital titles, later became the most popular format for installable homebrew and game backups owing to the relatively low marketshare of flashcards and emulators (and, for the former, strong impopularity) in favor of CFW{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| [[ScummVM]] 3DS| [https://www.scummvm.org/downloads 2.2.0]| High| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|}
Equivalent of the Wii's WAD (for digital titles only) and the DSi's TAD (again for digital titles only, and with basically no popular support due to the lack of any homebrew title installers supporting the format - not to be confused with an homonymous unofficial format nor with the files produced by the official export-DSiWare-to-SD feature)===EasyRPG===
3DS and CIA files, as well as already installed digital titles, are comprised of one or more NCCHs (also called "partitions" or "contents"): the main content (number 0) can either be an executable CXI for software, or a non-executable CFA for a data title. Additional CFAs may be present, [https://www.3dbrew.org/wiki/NCSD#Overview with conventional index numbers]. [[Citra]] can run CXIs directly.===OpenBOR===
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes=Others====Amiibo===
* '''Squashfs'''{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"* '''Note! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| Chip-3DS| [http:''' you can mount the filesystem and use an overlay file system to add a new file, and then create a new squashfs against an overlay folder//www.mediafire.** '''ReadWriteablecom/?''' No read-onlyy94yjhzf70fsfsi 1.0]| Mid** '''Deduplication?''' Yes, block level.| {{✗}}| {{~}}|-** '''Active Deduplication?''' No, Deduplication is triggered by the user, during filesystem creation.| Chip8-2DS** '''Available compressors| [https:''' zstd, xz(lzma2), lzma, gzip, lz4, lzo//github.com/nopy4869/CHIP8-2DS/releases git]| Mid| {{✗}}** '''Compression level control:''' Depends on the compression algorithm, xz dictionary size depends on filesystem block size.| {{~}}** '''Transparent?''' On Linux and BSD via kernel. Squashfuse avaialble for macOS.|}
* '''Btrfs'''** '''ReadWriteable?''' Yes.** '''Deduplication?''' Yes, file and block level.** '''Active Deduplication?''' No, Deduplication is triggered by the user.** '''Available compressors:''' zstd, zlib, lzo.** '''Transparent?''' On Linux via kernel.===Super Mario 64===
* '''Zfs'''{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name** '''ReadWriteable?''' Yes.! scope="col"|Version** '''Deduplication?''' Yes, file and block level.! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]** '''! scope="col"|Active Deduplication?''' Yes, deduplication happens during writes.(high memory requirements)** '''Available compressors! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| SM64 3DS| [https:''' zstd, zlib, lzo//github.com/sm64-port/sm64_3ds git]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}** '''Transparent?''' On Linux, BSD, via kernel. Openzfs on mac os(?).|}
* '''Xfs'''{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| SM64 3DS port* '''Note:''' Without de|-duplication it is already quiet efficient at storing files.|** SM64 3DS Port - Thanks to the decompilation project, you can now enjoy SM64 on the 3DS with '''ReadWriteable?''' Yes.*analog* '''Deduplication?''' Yessupport and native rendering (compared to the official DS port). Works pretty much at full speed on the New 3DS, file level via duperemovethe original model apparently has some slow downs but still playable.** '''Active Deduplication?''' No You can either build it yourself, or try finding pre-compiled build online (there are multiple versions, deduplication is triggered by the useryou can find some [https://web.archive.org/web/20200924080151/https://gist.github.** com/stranno/2609a82f75ce346d1f1a5b99af94590c here] but it'''Available compressorss no longer up-to-date or a more up-to-date version with 3D support [https:''' None//archive.org/details/sm64-port-3ds-mkst-7b56b78 here]).** '''Transparent?''' On Linux and BSD via kernel.|}
* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes===Virtual Console Injection===
==Destructive Modification==SometimesSome have tried injecting alternate ROMs in the available Virtual Console releases (MD, GG, NES, GBA Ambassador, GBC, the most bloated part Japanese emulated SFC compilations) with varying degrees of success. The emulators used for Virtual Console are not as accurate as other emulators so compatibility isn't perfect (the game only exception is the game itselfGBA since it runs it natively, either intentional or because of poor design choices. For instancenot emulation), many PSP JRPGs Sega systems in particular have a specific FMV movie duplicated a dozen times, high compatibility however.<br> There's an easy tool that will convert and the Megaman Collection on GCN stores inject any supported ROM file as its sound data using associated VC application called [https://gbatemp.net/threads/discussion-new-super-ultimate-injector-nsui.500376/ New Super Ultimate Injector]. It's an uncompressed format bringing all in one tool and can even remotely install the size of that portion alone injection provided your 3DS is connected to 1GBthe same network. In many of these cases, thereIt's just not much you can do about currently in beta, but it without destructively altering the game's datastill really useful.
Note, "deleting" often means replacing the file with a 1KB dummy file to prevent the ISO file structure from collapsing on itself, but sometimes such care isn't even put into ensuring it's still in a functional state. Some examples:==See also==* [[Nintendo 3DS emulators]]
* delete all videos[[Category: this brings Super Smash Bros Brawl to 4.7GB (mainly due to Subspace Emissary).* delete all voice acting and occasionally sound and music: this brings Xenoblade PAL to 4.2 GB with even only one of both dubs removed.* delete unused content you could get with emulator cheats like rooms and stuff.* delete "extra" languages other than the language you need.* If a game has multiple quests, then you could try deleting characters/side-quest you don't like as much. Tools used for this are modding tools for rebuilding file trees, like UMDGen (PSP), Tinke (DS) and also regular ISO tools (PS1, Saturn). Since this results, in most cases, in very noticeable detrimental effects in gameplay (if the game doesn't crash outright), this is nothing short of mutilating the game image. Sadly enough, some of these dumps make it to sharing sites.Emulators on consoles]]Avoid resorting to destructive modifications since it can lead to random crashes and unexpected behavior, especially in games with lots of shared assets. [[httpCategory://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/File_Hashes Verify your dumpsEmulators on handheld consoles]] to make sure you don't have these, and if you still want to reduce size, prefer using other methods or uses decompression on demand. One reason to use a destructively modified dump is for burning your own Dreamcast games as GD-ROMs were over a gigabyte in size and CD-Rs top out at 850MB. * '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (Removes data) =References= [[Category:FAQsEmulators on eighth-generation consoles]]
→MegaDrive/Genesis/MasterSystem/32X/Sega CD
There are many ways, some methods alter the data forever while others can be converted back and forth with generally no loss[https://gbatemp. Some conversions are only playable on specific emulators and may not work on real hardware depending on the console and the method used. It's important to take all this into consideration before attempting as most of these are consolenet/threads/retroarch-emulation-thread-nightly-builds-specificincluded.400913/ preliminary 3DS ports]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"|+ New3DS performance! Core! Game/System! Working?! class=Padding="unsortable"|Notes|-| [[TGB Dual]]| GameBoy/GameBoy Color| {{✓}}| ~60fps|-| GW| Game & Watch| {{✓}}| ~58fps|-| [[FUSE]]| ZX Spectrum| {{✓}}| ~60fps|-| VecX| Vectrex| {{✓}}| ~55fps|-| [[O2EM]]| Odyssey ²| {{✓}}| ~60fps|-| [[Stella]]| Atari2600| {{✓}}| ~60fps|-| Atari800| Atari5200| {{✓}}| ~60fps|-| [[ProSystem]]| Atari7800| {{✓}}| ~60fps|-| [[Handy]]| Atari Lynx| {{✓}}| ~60fps|-| [[FinalBurn Alpha]] CPS3| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[Arcade emulators|Arcade]]| {{~}}| ~35fps/~50fps|-| [[FinalBurn Neo]] NeoGeo| {{~}}Devs often have their games much, much bigger than they need to be by putting in accessible garbage data in the disc. Garbage data isn't useful game data and is just used to bloat the disc size. It's either a sequence of 00| ~40fps/FF ~50fps|-| Virtul Jaguar| Atari Jaguar| {{✗}}| ~10fps (you know what's inside a file if you open it with a hex editorTechnically works but is unplayably slow), random data, unused/cut content left during development, and in rare cases, data that |-| [[Yabause]]| Sega Saturn| {{✗}}| ~5fps (Technically works but is completely unrelated to the game itself. An example of this unplayably slow)|-| [[4DO]]| 3DO| {{✗}}| ~8fps (Technically works but is ''Shrek SuperSlam'' on the PS2 which has a working copy of ''Tony Hawk's Underground 2'' for the PSP hidden in the root of the disc.unplayably slow)|}
=<B>Linux OS</B>==CHD Compression===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes (with CHD version 5)* '''Gain:''' Immediate* '''Tools Used:''' chdman (included with MAME)* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using extractcd (included with MAME)* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' MAME, DuckStation, PCSX2 (since March of 2021) and DEmul. Some libretro cores for other emulators are starting to add support.* '''Can process multi track bin files?''' Yes.
{| class="wikitable" style=PlayStation 1"text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope=ECM==="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' No (removes error correction data permanently)* '''Gain| VirtuaNES for 3DS| [https:''' Not Immediate (ISO size doesn't change)//github. ECM only zeroes out redundant error correction data, but in some rare cases this data may be used for anticom/TBirdSoars/VirtuaNES/releases git]| Mid| {{~}}| {{✓}}|-piracy, hence corrupting the dump! However it does achieves drastic size reductions when compressed to an archive format (7zip| 3DNES| [https:/gzip/zip) github.com/st4rk/3DNES git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}* '''Tools Used:''' PakkISO or ECM Tools. Drag-and-drop the ISO onto the specified tool, then compress it with 7zip.|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope=PBP (PSP Format for PS1 Images)"col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' No* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO size decreases a lot).| SNES9x for 3DS* '''Tools Used:''' | [https://www.redditgithub.com/r/PSPbubble2k16/wikisnes9x_3ds/psx2psp PSX2PSPreleases git], Popstation MD GUI, | Mid| {{~}}| {{✓}}|-| blargSNES| [httpshttp://wwwblargsnes.psx-placekuribo64.com/threads/w-i-p-utilities-cdda-enabler-for-psx-eboots-on-ps3net 1.23539/ CDDA-ENABLER3b] (optimized for PS3) ...| Mid| {{~}}| {{✓}}|}
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| SNES9x for 3DS|-| * Snes9x for 3DS - runs a good majority of games well, even on old 3DS/2DS's. It''Can be reverted?''' Yes. For homemade EBOOTs it can be done by using the same tool s recommended to generate the BIN+CUE files. For commercial releases from PSN use a New 3DS if you will have want to use [httpsrun games that uses the SuperFX or SA-1 chip properly|}{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width://github.com/xdotnano/PSXtract PSXtract]. There's data loss, but it's negligible in terms of functionality.100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| blargSNES|-* '''Playable on Hardware?''' On PSP, not on PS1.| * '''Playable on Emulators?''' PCSXblargSNES -RIt works well, DuckStation and ePSXe. PlayStation 3's ps1_netemu can also use it after packaging it into a PS1 Classic and installing said packagebut lacks compatibility for games that require enhancement chips <i>(SA1, SuperFX, etc.)</i> |}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope=CHD"col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' Yes* '''Gain| [[DaedalusX64]] 3DS| [https:''' Immediate (better than PBP)//github.com/masterfeizz/daedalusx64-3DS/releases git]* '''Tools Used:''' chdman| Mid* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using the same tool (chdman).| {{✓}}* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No.| {{~}}* '''Playable on Emulators?''' libretro Beetle PSX, Avocado, DuckStation, PCSX2 (since March of 2021, and also because PCSX2 now has PSOne emulation functionality as well, so two-in-one) and PCSX ReARMed.|}
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=PlayStation 2width=="250"| DaedalusX64|-===Manual Scrubbing + GZIP Compression===| Often times you can just open [[DaedalusX64]] - N64 has always been known to be a hard system to emulate, which is why many were skeptical about how feasible it would be to have an emulator for the ISO in UltraISO and find system on the dummy files3DS. Sometimes they are obvious looking files While still in its beta stage, like DUMMY.BIN, DATA0.BIN (or .DAT), DUMMY.DAT, etc.it has shown a lot of improvements thanks to using a dynamic recompiler, or are folders with names like "PADDING" and suchsome games running at a playable state. You can look into the files (with a hex editor) to see if they're obviously padding data It also supports using stereoscopic 3D (usually at the offsets will be full cost of 00/FFslower performance), though sometimes itwhich isn's not as obvious). However, you must never mess with LBA and TOC when removing padding. <!--So you try to change the size t a feature a lot of the padding file inside the ISO to 0 MB or alter it directly with a hex editor so that it's all zeroed outemulators have.--><!--Wording is too weird to figure out what it's say, will fix when more information is obtained-->|}
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=CSO (aka CISO)==2 width="250"| r3Ddragon* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' Yes| * r3Ddragon - It'''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size s kind of surprising that Nintendo never released a Virtual Console for the Virtual Boy on the same). Coupled with manual scrubbing3DS, it can be bigger. Not as much especially given how small the library of a gain as GZIP thoughgames were for the system and how both utilize 3D effects <strike>and cause eyestrain</strike>.* What makes this emulator stand out is the fact that it'''Tools Used:''' maxcso* '''Can be reverted?''' Yess able to display the graphics in 3D the way it was intended, something that is almost impossible to do on other platforms, using the same toolunfortunately compatibility is still low and requires a New 3DS to run. No data lossDevelopment has since opened.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' NO* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PCSX2.|}
===CHDPokémon Mini===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes* '''Gain:''' Immediate (better than GZIP).* '''Tools Used:''' chdman* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using the same tool (chdman).* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PCSX2 (since v1.7.0-dev-1156<ref>Added in 1150 but wasn't built. 1156 is the first release with CHD support. https://buildbot.orphis.net/pcsx2/index.php?m=fulllist</ref>).
{| class="wikitable" style=PlayStation 3"text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope=Extracted files (aka JB format/GAMES)==="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' Not directly (BD filesystem metadata lost).* '''Gain:''' Immediate (any padding between files is removed).* '''Tools Used:''' Most on-console file managers and *man homebrews, 7-Zip and other standard ISO extractors on PC.| PokeMini 3DS* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, using PS3 ISO Rebuilder and an | [httphttps://jonnyspgithub.bplaced.netcom/nop90/Pokemini/ IRD filereleases git] representing the original file locations. Generic inaccurate JB to ISO conversions possible with makeps3iso (preferred) or genps3iso.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - on CFW/HEN| Low| {{✗}}| {{~}}* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - RPCS3|}
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=DAX2 width="250"| Open agb firm|-| * open_agb_firm <i>(Name not finalized)</i> - A custom FIRM payload that takes advantage of the built-in GBA firmware, JSOit's still in early development but has an alpha build available. The major advantages of this compared to VC injection is that it performs faster and there aren't any issues with the sound, it utilizes the native hardware (even with VC injection there are issues with the sound, ex.: "Fire Emblem"). It can load the ROM through the SD card instead of having to convert and install them, but needs to be launched on boot instead of being able to use the 3DS HOME Menu (there's ways to make a forwarder for in on the HOME menu, but requires additional setup to get it to work). One major issue is there's a chance that it may not detect the correct save format or will corrupt the existing save file so make sure to backup your saves beforehand (they are currently trying fix it by having a better database for save detection, ZSO===if you're interested [https://github.com/profi200/open_agb_firm/issues/9 you can help]).Three different compressed-ISO formats** To install, simply put the . Significantly lower popularityfirm file in the <code>/support than CSOluma/payloads/</code> folder and hold START to load up the chainloader to launch it. There's no way of exiting out once the program starts, so you will need to turn it off and redo the step to load it if you wanted to change games.|}
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=PBP==2 width="250"| GBARunner2* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' ???| * '''Gain:''' Immediate [[GBARunner2]] - a GBA hypervisor made for the DS(i), can only be ran through [[TWiLight Menu++]] and is included by default with the program (ISO dump size lowerssee below).* '''Tools Used:''' ISO~PBP ConverterCompatiblity can be a hit-or-miss, or Sign~Fake NP Expert* '''Can be reverted?but it''' Yes* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - CFWs (s still in active development with plans to include interesting features such as gyro control emulation and, if signed, OFWs too)local wireless multiplayer in the future.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - PPSSPP.|}
==PlayStation Vita=Nintendo DS====Trimming===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No, but trivially undoable.* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ROM size lowers).* '''Tools Used:''' None - [https://github.com/motoharu-gosuto/psvgamesd#trimming-zeroes manual process]* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes (see above).* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - with psvgamesd.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' ?
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
! colspan=2 width="250"| DeSmuME
|-
|
* DeSmuME - an experimental port of DeSmuME that has since been abandoned, it wasn't very compatible.
|}
===Extracted files (NoNpDRM format)Nintendo DSiware===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No for physical titles, close enough (and generally accepted as such) but no cigar for digital ones.* '''Gain:''' Immediate (compared to ROM).* '''Tools Used:''' NoNpDRM plugin + a file manager like VitaShell.* '''Can be reverted?''' No.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes - with the NoNpDRM plugin.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' ?
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style=Dreamcast=="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width==CHD Archive Format==="250"| DSiWare Conversion Script* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' CHD v4: No (missing data due to lossy compression, no gameplay issues). CHD v5: Possibly Archive-quality.|* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ROM dump size lowers)This script can be used to convert <code>.* bin</code> files from your DSi'''Tools Used:''' GDI s SD card to CHD converter<code>.* '''Can nds</code> which can then be reverted?''' Yes with CHD v5used to convert into <code>.cia</code>.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - DEmul, Reicast, Flycast, and Redream|}
These scripts will <b>ONLY</b> work for DSiWare, <font style==GameCube "color:red"><b>NOT NDS GAMES</b></ Wii==font>.
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=GCZ 2 width="250"| PCSX-ReARMed|-| * PCSX-ReARMed (Dolphin native archive formatRetroArch) - GCThanks to the work of many developers, it is now possible to have full speed 60 FPS emulation for a majority of games and support for .CHD compression formats. Generally, 2D games will perform better than 3D, however you can get some better performance by tweaking the settings if necessary. The nightly builds have seen major improvements since the initial release and can even play some of the more demanding games at full speed ([https://www.reddit.com/r/Wii===3dshacks/comments/jvkotb/full_speed_psx_finally_here_on_new_3ds_new_2ds_xl/ See here] for some tips), so it's better to use that until the next stable release. NOTE: This emulator is mainly targeted for the New 3DS so don't expect the o3DS to run well if at all.|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope=RVZ (Modern Dolphin format) "col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|- GC| PicoDrive for 3DS| [https://github.com/bubble2k16/picodrive_3ds/Wiireleases git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|}{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| PicoDrive for 3DS|-|* PicoDrive for 3DS - 32X and Sega CD are playable on the original 3DS, but works better on New 3DS. Sega CD requires BIOS in order to play, they must be named:"bios_CD_U.bin", "bios_CD_J.bin", and "bios_CD_E.bin" based on the respective regions. BIOS need to be in the <code>/3ds/picodrive_3ds/bios</code> folder. |}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope=Scrubbing and Trimming - GC/Wii"col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' Not directly, see note about reversing.* '''Gain| Z26 3DS| [https:''' Not Immediate for just scrubbing (ISO dump size the same); Immediate for trimming (ISO dump size lowers)//gbatemp.* '''Tools Used:''' GCnet/threads/preview-z26-3ds-atari-2600-Tool ("wipe garbage dataemulator.397827 2.." - Scrubbing for GameCube), GameCube ISO Trimmer (scrubbing and trimming for GameCube), WiiScrubber (scrubbing/trimming for Wii, although compressing with Dolphin will scrub it anyways).0]| Mid* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes, with WiiScrubber's undo file or NKit.| {{✗}}* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes for scrubbing; some games won't work trimmed.| {{~}}* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes for scrubbing; some games won't work trimmed.|}
=NEC==CSO (aka CISO) - GC/Wii===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly, see note about reversing.* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). Less than WBFS.* '''Tools Used:''' Wii Backup Manager (same as above, but select "CISO" - possibly Wii only), wit* '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe (same caveats as WBFS).* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes (on Wii/Vwii only) - Nintendont for Gamecube games, uLoader for Wii games* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Dolphin
===FST (extracted File System) - GC/Wii==GCE=
=SNK==WIA (Wii ISO Archive) - Wii only?===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Not directly unless --raw option is given, effectively preventing any space savings.* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ISO dump size lowers). More than WBFS.* '''Tools Used:''' wit* '''Can be reverted?''' Maybe (same caveats as WBFS).* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope=NKit formats - GC/Wii"col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' Not directly, can be restored with NKit* '''Gain:''' Immediate | NeoPop- (Wii) only for GCZ format.sdl 3DS* '''Tools Used| [https:''' NKit//github.com/nop90/Neopop-SDL/releases git]| Mid* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes.| {{✗}}* '''Playable on Hardware?''' (GC) Yes - ISO-based variant only (Wii) No| {{~}}* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Dolphin|}
=Apple=Wii U==All uncompressed WUD dumps are 23.3GB, which makes compression needed de facto. Some examples:* Super Mario World 3D: 23.3GB > =mac 2.61GB (88% gain)* New Super Mario Bros. U: 23.3GB > 1.8GB (92% gain)* Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze: 23.3GB > 11.7GB (49% gain)x===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope=WUX (Wii U Compressed Image Dump Archive)"col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes (lossless, doesn't actually alter the data).* '''Gain:''' Immediate (smaller file than WUD): Around 50% gain usually (depending on the game)* '''Tools Used:''' ! scope="col"|[[http://mega.nz/#!llQwyQQZ!58fErjqM7pyQZKFKe0Qlu1yLP5EbtmOmiDUN1ElW07c wud toolRecommended Emulators|Recommended]]. To use, drag|-and-drop the ISO on the executable.* '''Can be reverted?''' Yes. The wud tool includes a decompression utility, which recreates the original file.| Mini vMac 3DS* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No (can be converted to an installable format using | [https://github.com/FIX94TaraHoleInIt/wud2app wud2appminivmac-3ds git])* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Future releases of Cemu (and potentially other [[Wii U emulators]])| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
===APP (aka NUS/Installable Format)ZX Spectrum===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No in regard to discs; Partially in regard to CDN data.* '''Gain:''' Immediate (Total size decreases, compared to disc image)* '''Tools Used:''' wud2app (disc image to APP), disc2app (original disc to APP), NUSPacker (extracted format to APP), Teconmoon's WiiVC Injector (Wii/Gamecube disc image to Enhanced Vwii APP), ...* '''Can be reverted?''' No* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes (after installation)* '''Playable on Emulators?''' No
=Commodore==RPX/RPL (aka Installed/Extracted/Loadiine Format)===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (dump is extracted to individual files)* '''Gain:''' Immediate (Total size decreases). Can be less than a WUX depending on the game.* '''Tools Used:''' see below* '''Can be reverted?''' No, any padding/file order/signature information is lost.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes, use [https://github.com/dimok789/loadiine_gx2/releases Loadiine GX2]* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes
{| class="wikitable" style=Switch"text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| UAE3DS| [https://github.com/badda71/uae3DS git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
===NSZUzebox===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' Yes* '''Gain:''' Immediate (Total size decreases)* '''Tools Used:''' [https://github.com/nicoboss/nsz nsz]* '''Can be reverted?''' Only NCAs are fully reversible; compressed XCI and NSP files will be different when decompressed* '''Playable on Hardware?''' No* '''Playable on Emulators?''' No
{| class="wikitable" style=Game Boy Advance / Nintendo DS / Nintendo 3DS"text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope=Trimming==="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' No (data removed)* '''Gain:''' Immediate (ROM dump size lowers).| Cuzebox 3DS* '''Tools Used| [https:''' NDSTokyoTrim (GBA/DS/3DS), rom_tool (3DS), GodMode9 (can directly dump DSweb.archive.org/web/3DS cards in trimmed format)<br 20181031230535/>NDSTokyoTrimhttps: Drag-and-drop roms, and press "Trim"//github. The original file will be overwritten! com/ry755/cuzebox3DS/releases git]| Low* '''Can be reverted?''' No. Some GBA/DS games may be broken by meaningful data at the end of the ROM being mistaken for padding.| {{✗}}* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes, same file format.| {{~}}* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes|}
===CIA (CTR Importable Archive, 3DS and DSiWare only)ScummVM===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No in regard to gamecard dumps; Partially in regard to CDN data.* '''Gain:''' Immediate (smaller than original ROM - not applicable to digital titles).* '''Tools Used:''' GodMode9 (can directly dump 3DS cards or installed titles to CIA, as well as converting 3DS to CIA), 3dsconv or 3DS Simple CIA Converter 5.0+ (3DS rom to CIA); makerom (3DS to/from CIA, NCCHs/DSiWare/ELF+RSF to 3DS/CIA), make_cia (DSiWare to CIA)* '''Can be reverted?''' No, if starting from a gamecard dump (update partitions removed, main content's ExHeader modified to change the media type from CARD/NAND to SD Application)* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes, after installation.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes?
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope=NCCHs (CXIs and CFAs, 3DS only)"col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]* '''Archive|-quality dump?''' No (partition table| [[EasyRPG]] 3DS| [https:/ticket/signatureseasyrpg... removed), compared to CCIorg/player/downloads/3DS and CIA* '''Gain:''' Immediate (smaller than original ROM #snapshot- not applicable to digital titles).* '''Tools Used:''' GodMode9, ctrtool, other 0.6.2.3]* '''Can be reverted?''' No (result will be unsigned)| High* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Not really, unless packaged back into a CIA or 3DS.| {{✓}}| {{✓}}* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes|}
{| class="wikitable" style=Xbox 360"text-align:center;"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]It's certainly better than keeping 8.5GB images, but the conversion is too substantial and irreversible to be suitable for archival purposes since it affects data structure tables as well|-| [[OpenBOR]] 3DS| [https://github.com/MrHuu/openbor-3ds/releases git]| Mid| {{~}}| {{✓}}|}
===XEX (Xbox Executable) + Data folder (a.k.a Spilling The ISO Guts)Lua Engine===* '''Archive-quality dump?''' No (dump is collapsed to individual files)* '''Gain:''' Immediate (total file size decreases). It still works with Xenia* '''Tools Used:''' XBOX 360 ISO Extract, Exiso-GUI or Exiso. (These might be useful for rom-hacking too I guess?)* '''Can be reverted?''' ISO could be rebuilt, though not accurately.* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes. Using a JTAG or RGH exploited console.* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes - Xenia.
{| class="wikitable" style==Rebuilt ISO===* '''Archive"text-quality dump?''' No (missing data)* '''Gainalign:''' Immediate (total file size decreases). It still works with Xenia.center;"* '''Tools Used:''' ISO2GOD (also a ! scope="Games on Demandcol" X360 image converter). <br />Under Settings, set the output and rebuild path to the same location. Check |Name! scope="Always save rebuilt ISOcol" and set Padding to |Version! scope="Full (ISO Rebuild)col", then save changes.<br />|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="Add ISOcol", and press |Active! scope="Convertcol"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]|-| CtrµLua 3DS| [https://github. Keep generated ISO, and delete generated foldercom/ctruLua/ctruLua/releases git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|-| LÖVE Potion 3DS| [https://github.com/TurtleP/LovePotion/releases git]| Mid* '''Can be reverted?''' The padding quantity information alongside the original data structure is lost forever.| {{✗}}* '''Playable on Hardware?''' Yes. If the rebuilding process didn't damage anything vital.| {{~}}* '''Playable on Emulators?''' Yes |- Xenia| Lua Player Plus 3DS| [https://github.com/Rinnegatamante/lpp-3ds/releases git]| Mid| {{✗}}| {{~}}|}
=Other TricksGame Creation Systems (GCS)===Storage Tricks==These methods have the advantage of being compatible with EVERY emulator, even those without proper support for compressed ISO/archive formats.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"|-! scope=NTFS Compression"col"|Name! scope="col"|Latest Version! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]You can enable filesystem|-level compression (like "NTFS Compression" in Windows) for the directory containing your ISOs|[https://ROMswww. This has a very noticeable space gain and doesn't affect the emulator's functionalitydigitalmzx. It's surprisingly more effective than many people would like to give this creditcom/ DigitalMZX]|[https://github.com/AliceLR/megazeux git]|{{✓}}|{{~}}|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"! scope=Decompression on Demand"col"|Name! scope="col"|Version! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]! scope="col"|ActiveYou can keep your ROMs/ISOs compressed in a 7zip archive and use RocketLauncher or any other ! scope="col"|[[FrontendsRecommended Emulators|Recommended]] to decompress 7zip archives and pass the contents onto the emulator|-| Wumiibo| [https://github.com/hax0kartik/wumiibo git]| Mid| {{✓}}| {{✓}}|}
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width: 100%;"! colspan=2 width="250"| Wumiibo|-|* '''ArchiveWumiibo -quality dump?''Emulates Amiibo functionality on the 3DS without needing an NFC reader or using tags. You can even use your own Amiibo data, after it' Yess been decrypted, or a generic AmiiboID which are freely available and explains how to get them on the project page.|}
===FileSystem Deduplication, alternative file systemsCHIP-8===If you use macOS, you can look up for fuse filesystems which support compression/deduplication. <br /> If you use windows, you can fire a VM/store your games on ,a pc with a transparent network file server running linux/bsd.(might be viable on low latency networks, and a fast file server) <br /> On linux and bsds one can use, filesystems with de-duplication(and possibly transparent file compression) like:
