351MP help!!

[Cloud_Strife]

I received my 351MP today. Much to my disappointment, a lot of the games I was hoping would be on the included SD card were absent. Of the games which are there, many are clear fakes, and no where near the originals. For example, Sonics levels are completely different. From seeing YouTube reviews, I really thought that the SD card would have at least some original content (I know this isnt always guaranteed, but seems like I got the short straw here..). I cannot even tell which title I am playing as half the text is cut off and doesnt scroll...

Im new to ROMS and emulators, but was excited to at least have something to play until I added extra content myself.

I am now thinking Ill need to buy a pre-loaded SD card from eBay. A few questions I hope someone can please help with.

1. Does anyone know if these will be a plug and play case?
2. What is the difference between the TF1/INT card and TF2/EXT car?
3. When I quit a game it says "RetroArch". Is this the emulator? I thought Anbernics came with 351ELEC?

 

[BenDroiX]

To answer your questions:

1. It depends entirely on who you buy it from.
The OS will look for games in specific directories. If those directories are absent or not named exactly it won't be able to find the games.
Fortunately it'd probably be a quick fix (just lots of renaming and shuffling around folders really) even if you grabbed a card that wasn't explicitly intended for the RG351MP.

2. They're "Internal" and "External" card slots respectively.
TF1/INT is the "Internal" card. This is where the device looks for the operating system.
TF2/EXT is the "External" card. This is where the device looks for media (games, box art, etc.)
There are some custom firmware that include a games partition on the main (TF1) card, so a second one isn't always necessary, simply recommended.

3. The RG351MP, like all the other RG351 devices, comes with a proprietary version of EmuELEC installed.
EmuELEC is an operating system that is composed of two main parts.:

"EmulationStation" - This is what you use to browse through your games.
"RetroArch" - This is a program that handles the actual emulation.

351ELEC is one of many custom firmware developed by the community.

RG351 Custom Firmware Guide | The Best Custom Firmware For The RG351 Family - DroiX Blogs | Latest Technology and Gadgets

Want to really push your retro handheld to its limits? Check out our guide of all the best RG351 custom firmware available right now!

droix.co.uk

It uses the same base components as EmuELEC, but it does it's own stuff under the hood that leads to more optimization and a bunch of new features.
Honestly I highly recommend it if you get a chance, it's way better than the stock firmware.

 

[Cloud_Strife]

@BenDroiX Many thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

Im planning to copy and paste the contents of the pre-installed INT SD card to another better quality Sandisk SD card. Would a copy and paste of the contents work for this? (copy from old SD card to new)

And then I was going to buy this game card as it appears to have all the games I wanted and put in the EXT slot > RG351P/M - 351ELEC - 128GB SD CARD - 54 SYSTEMS - 25K+ GAMES - 1.9K+ ROM-HACKS | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224539010614?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Thanks again, I am new to all this...

 

[duzmeister50]

Don't buy that card for the RG351 MP @Cloud_Strife , just contact seller on ebay as i did yesterday and he will give you the information and help you need, i'm only a day behind you as i ordered it yesterday and it will turn up this morning and i know some games are missing that i want and that's why i contacted him yesterday too

 

[Cloud_Strife]

Don't buy that card for the RG351 MP @Cloud_Strife , just contact seller on ebay as i did yesterday and he will give you the information and help you need, i'm only a day behind you as i ordered it yesterday and it will turn up this morning and i know some games are missing that i want and that's why i contacted him yesterday too

Cheers. I have asked the seller some questions and they seem to be very helpful. Am sure Ill buy a card from them for the games I wanted to play.

On another note, I purchased the 351MP for full price, and saw the black Friday deal before I even received mine yesterday!! I have asked Droix if they would kindly match the price, no response yet, but fingers crossed...

 

[BenDroiX]

Many thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

Im planning to copy and paste the contents of the pre-installed INT SD card to another better quality Sandisk SD card. Would a copy and paste of the contents work for this? (copy from old SD card to new)

A straight up copy/paste probably wouldn't work. Most internal microSD cards have very specific layouts (multiple partitions, some of which aren't even visible) which means you'd be better off just flashing via image file.

I'd just install 351ELEC on a new card and call it a day (or the same card if you can't get your hands on a high-quality sandisk/samsung one)