The GBxCart is debatably one of the best cart flashers on the market. insideGadgets has packed this flasher with tonnes of features including backing up ROMs and saves and has support for flashing a multitude of carts, including reproduction carts (check out flashcartdb.com for more info).
Functionality
The GBxCart requires software for it to function correctly which can be downloaded from insideGadget’s website. I prefer to use the Command Line Interface tools, but there are Graphic User Interface versions as well. Their website also lists other software that supports the GBxCart such as CartBoy or FlashGBx.
Also available are some miscellaneous softwares that allow for some extra functions. For example, GBxCart Play allows you to play ROMs on a PC then writes the save to your cart, and GB Camera Saverallows you to back up your GB Camera photos.
As mentioned earlier, the GBxCart can flash tonnes of different carts and insideGadgets are regularly adding more to the list. You will first have to identify your cart by comparing them to the FlashCartDB (linked above) then select the correct cart in the menu. Using the auto detect to determine if you have a 5V or 3.3V is useful (typically Game Boy carts are 5V and Game Boy Advance are 3.3V), but it’s wise to double check as some Game Boy flash carts operate at 3.3V, and flashing those at 5V could break them.
I also wrote an article on figuring out which cart you have.
Options
While all the GBxCart device options use the same software, there are 3 models to choose from: The 1.3, 1.3 Pro and Mini. The 1.3 and 1.3 Pro are functionally the same, but the Pro fits inside a Gameboy Advance cartridge shell. This actually looks awesome, almost like a cartridge is being plugged into another cartridge. The 1.3 comes in different colour options, but you will need to supply your own housing for it.
The Mini only supports 5V carts. While it technically can flash 3.3V reproduction carts, it is not recommended. It only comes in green and you will need to supply your own housing.
Note from the Editor for Mac Users: While there are Command Line tools available for using the GBxCart on Mac, the drivers tend to be challenging depending on which version of macOS you are running. For this reason, it’s recommended to use Bootcamp or a Virtual Machine with Windows on your Mac for the GBxCart’s suite of tools.
Final Thoughts
The GBxCart is an amazing piece of hardware coming in at under $30 depending on what options you choose. It’s perfect for building retail carts for GB Studio games without breaking the bank. You can find the GBxCart RW on insideGadget’s website.
Thanks to insideGadgets, we are giving away a GBxCart RW Pro and a 4 MB FRAM Flash Cart (batteryless saves!). Check out this link to learn more about the Giveaway.
Game Boy Enthusiast, Hardware Fanatic, Mad Man. (he/him)
