Recommended File Types & Compression for ROMS

It's pretty simple, and the optimum file type for every situation is ZIP. Assume you have several Game Boy ROMs, each.GB in size. Windows will ZIP them for you if you right-click on one of them and select Send to Compressed (zipped) folder. After completing that for every game, remove the original.GB files.

I've included the file types below; however, remember that not all devices or emulators can support ZIP files.

Now, let's discuss which file formats work best on each platform.

Arcade – FinalBurn Neo

  • ZIP

Microsoft XBOX

  • ISO

Microsoft XBOX 360

  • ISO

Nintendo 3DS

  • 3DS (Games)
  • CIA (Updates/DLC)

Neo Geo Pocket Color

  • ZIP
  • NGC

Nintendo 64

  • ZIP
  • Z64

Nintendo DS

  • ZIP
  • NDS

Nintendo Entertainment System

  • ZIP
  • NEWS

Nintendo Game Boy

  • ZIP
  • GB

Nintendo Game Boy Advance

  • ZIP
  • GBA

Nintendo Game Boy Color

  • ZIP
  • GBC

Nintendo GameCube

  • RVZ

Nintendo Switch

  • NSP

Nintendo Wii

  • RVZ

Nintendo Wii U

  • WUA

Sega Dreamcast

  • CHD

You should use CHD files for Sega Dreamcast.

This tool can be downloaded at https://www.mediafire.com/file/ts6q224gxu9qn9h/chdman.zip/file.You can now convert yours.GDI to CHD file.

You can only convert from.GDI to.CHD: you cannot convert from. BIN/.CUE. This CHDMAN is exclusive to Dreamcast and is unlike the others on the page.

After extracting the utility and placing your ROMS in the tool's folder, run the GDI to CHD.bat. They will be automatically converted to CHD.

Sega Game Gear

  • ZIP
  • GG

Sega Genesis

  • ZIP
  • MD

Sega Master System

  • ZIP
  • MS

Sega Saturn

  • CHD

You should use CHD files for Sega Saturn.

This utility can be downloaded at https://www.mediafire.com/file/bcid7sw82kbsn8s/chdman.zip/file. It can convert your .cue, .iso, or—gdi files to CHD.

Run the Cue or GDI to CHD.bat after extracting the program and placing your ROMS in the tool's folder. They will be automatically converted to CHD.

Sony PlayStation

  • CHD

You should use CHD files for the Sony PlayStation.

This utility can be downloaded at https://www.mediafire.com/file/bcid7sw82kbsn8s/chdman.zip/file. It can convert your .cue, .iso, or—gdi files to CHD.

Run the Cue or GDI to CHD.bat after extracting the program and placing your ROMS in the tool's folder. They will be automatically converted to CHD.

Sony PlayStation 2

  • CHD

CHD files are what you should use for the Sony PlayStation 2.

This utility can be downloaded at https://www.mediafire.com/file/bcid7sw82kbsn8s/chdman.zip/file. It can convert your .cue, .iso, or—gdi files to CHD.

Run the Cue or GDI to CHD.bat after extracting the program and placing your ROMS in the tool's folder. They will be automatically converted to CHD.

Sony PlayStation 3

  • Multiple ways

There are a few different options for the Sony PlayStation 3. They frequently arrive as.ISO files, which is fantastic. However, certain games are packaged in a folder that contains the PS3_GAME and PS3_DISC.SFB files. RPCS3 will recognize that folder as a game if you add it.

If you need to decrypt a.ISO file, you can do so by following these steps: https://github.com/13xforever/ps3-disc-dumper.

After that, you can use this link to re-download the decrypted ISO: https://www.psx-place.com/resources/ps3-iso-tools.68/.

Sony PlayStation Portable

  • CHD*
  • ISO*

Although CHD files are the recommended format for the Sony PlayStation Portable, many handhelds utilize an older version of PPSSPP that does not support CHD. Hence, it is recommended to maintain a library of both CHD and ISO roms (or simply ISO roms, if you prefer).

To convert to CHD without erasing the original ISO, follow these steps.

This utility can be downloaded at https://www.mediafire.com/file/a5fw1gkh8jpe766/chdman.zip/file. It can convert your .cue, .iso, or—gdi files to CHD.

You should only use this particular CHDMAN for PSP because it uses the CREATEDVD function, unlike the others on this page.

Run the Cue or GDI to CHD – DVD.bat after extracting the tool and placing your ROMS in the tool's folder. They will be automatically converted to CHD.

Sony PlayStation Vita

  • ZIP

Super Nintendo

  • ZIP
  • SFC