Last updated: 31MAR2024 (see Changelog for details)
The PowKiddy RGB30 has quickly become one of my favorite budget handhelds. It has a wonderful 720p screen with a 1:1 aspect ratio, which makes it perfectly suited for emulating a variety of retro systems. It’s also comfortable and affordable — only $90 retail with free shipping!
This guide will help you get set up with the device, from the very basics to some of my favorite advanced settings.
Buy one here: PowKiddy website (use code “retrogamecorps” for 5% off your order) AliExpress (frequently has sales/coupons) Amazon (more expensive but faster shipping and easy returns)
Last updated: 02OCT2023 (see Changelog for details)
JELOS (Just Enough Linux OS) is a custom operating system that is generally associated with lower-end hardware, but they also have an x86 (PC) build that works on any number of PCs, including handhelds. In this guide I’ll walk you through the steps of getting set up, and some of the nuances of this setup.
Our example device for this guide is the Loki Zero.
Buy a Loki Zero $10 OFF For Loki Zero: C0E910FZ9ZNA $25 OFF for Loki Max: EM6SK9GBG8AS Note that the discount codes are limited to 100 each.
The x86 version of JELOS can be run from a microSD card, USB flash drive, internal drive, or external (USB) SSD/HDD. In this guide we’ll use a microSD card setup, but the process will be similar for the other storage options.
In general, I recommend the cards listed below, in order of preference. The prices fluctuate all the time, so keep an eye out for deals. In general, I would expect to pay about $12 for a 128GB card and $17 for a 256GB card. I recommend 128GB at a minimum, and 256GB or higher if you plan on playing a lot of higher-end systems, as their file sizes can become quite large.
If your device doesn’t have a built-in keyboard, you may find it easier to use a USB keyboard (or a wireless keyboard with a USB dongle, like this one), in order to enter the BIOS and set it to boot from the SD card. This isn’t necessary since you can navigate it directly on the device (more info in the setup guide below).
Build your ROM library
For a comprehensive list of systems that will run on the x86 version of JELOS, check this page. ROM file sources will not be shared on this website.
When getting ROM files, I recommend using the “No-Intro” naming convention, which is the standard naming used for ROM sets within RetroArch and other emulation communities. By using no-intro naming, you will be more likely to get box art automatically added when you load up your games and scrape their media. If you have a question as to how a game should be named, I recommend checking out the Libretro thumbnails directory. If your game name matches the thumbnail name found in this directory, chances are that it will properly download the media for it.
Additionally, an important component of a ROM library is maintaining BIOS files. BIOS files are system files necessary for some emulators (GBA, Sega CD, or PS1), and are helpful in improving accuracy with other systems. These files are copyrighted so you are on your own to find them, but a quick search for a RetroArch bios pack should get you on your way. Here is more information about BIOS files.
Here is a listing of the most common BIOS files:
GAME BOY (for boot logo):
/roms/bios/gb_bios.bin
GAME BOY COLOR (for boot logo):
/roms/bios/gbc_bios.bin
GAME BOY ADVANCE (for boot logo):
/roms/bios/gba_bios.bin
FAMICOM DISK SYSTEM:
/roms/bios/disksys.rom
SEGA CD:
/rom/bios/bios_CD_E.bin
/roms/bios/bios_CD_J.bin
/roms/bios/bios_CD_U.bin
TURBOGRAFX-CD:
/roms/bios/syscard1.pce
/roms/bios/syscard2.pce
/roms/bios/syscard3.pce
PLAYSTATION 1:
/roms/bios/scph5501.bin
* there are many options for these, this is just one example.
SATURN:
/roms/bios/sega_101.bin
/roms/bios/mpr-17933.bin
DREAMCAST:
/roms/bios/dc/dc_boot.bin
NEO GEO:
/roms/neogeo/neogeo.zip
PLAYSTATION 2:
/roms/bios/SCPH-70012.bin
/roms/bios/SCPH-70012.MEC
/roms/bios/SCPH-70012.NVM
* there are many options for these, this is just one example.
XBOX:
/roms/bios/xemu/mcpx_1.0.bin
/roms/bios/xemu/Complex_4627.bin
PLAYSTATION 3:
/roms/bios/rpcs3/dev_flash
* see notes below
SWITCH:
/roms/bios/yuzu/keys/prod.keys
JELOS setup
This guide assumes you are working with a new, blank microSD card. If you are using a card that is not new, I recommend formatting it using the official tool from sdcard.org before starting.
Download and install Balena Etcher. This is a special software application that will flash the JELOS image to your microSD card.
Download the latest release of JELOS for the x86 devices (ARM64). You can find it on their Releases page, in the section labelled “Installation Package Downloads”.
We are going to assume you are using a handheld PC with a built-in SD card slot. Insert your card, then open up Balena Etcher. Click the “Flash from File” button and navigate to where your JELOS image file was downloaded, and select it. On the next tab, under “Target”, select your microSD card. Finally, click the “Flash!” button to being the process. You will get a prompt asking for your permission, just click through the prompt. The card will flash and verify your image, and once it is done, you can power down your PC.
When you power on the PC again, you want to boot into the BIOS. For this you will need a keyboard, to press the DEL key. If your handheld has a built-in keyboard (like the GPD Win 4), press that. Otherwise, you will need to use a USB keyboard (or a wireless keyboard with a USB dongle, like this one).
Power on the device, then immediately start tapping on the DEL key on your keyboard. This will bring you to the BIOS menu. Using the arrow keys, navigate to the Boot tab, then under “Fixed Boot Order Priorities”, change Boot Option #1 to the microSD reader. Boot Option #2 should now default to Windows Boot Manager, meaning that it will boot from the SD card first instead of Windows. Go to the Save & Exit tab and select “Save Changes and Exit”.
The PC will reboot and JELOS will initialize. It will reboot itself once and then it should go into the main JELOS interface.
Navigating the device without a keyboard: for some devices, you can access the boot menu or BIOS by pressing a special key combination.
AYN Loki devices: Hold the left and right lower buttons while powering on the unit to enter BIOS Anbernic Win600: Hold the Volume Down button while powering on the unit to enter the boot menu AYANEO Air: Hold the LC + Volume Up buttons while powering on the unit to enter the boot menu
In addition to using the gamepad controls on the Loki devices, if you press and hold L1+R1 for a few seconds, the device will switch into keyboard mode. This will allow you to more easily navigate the BIOS menus. The X button will function as enter, and SELECT will function as back. Press and hold L1+R1 to return to gamepad mode.
Adding ROMs and BIOS files
Unfortunately, the x86 version of JELOS stores its data on a Linux file system partition that is not easily readable by Windows or MacOS without special software like those from Paragon Software. What this means is you cannot just insert the SD card into your Windows PC or Mac and start adding your ROM and BIOS files. Instead, we will connect to the handheld PC from our computer via a network tool called Samba, and transfer our files wirelessly.
On the JELOS handheld PC, connect to your local network via the Network Settings section. Also within the Network Settings section, enable both SSH and SAMBA (they are off by default).
Once you are connected to your home network, make note of your IP address at the top of the Network Settings section. It should look like 192.168.86.XXX, with XXX being. a unique identifier for your device.
In the JELOS System Settings section, there is an option to rotate your root password to a string of characters after every reboot. You can leave it like this and make note of the current password, or you can turn it off and set it to something more memorable (in the video above, I set. itto “1234”).
PC connection: open a Windows Explorer window, and in the navigation bar type in “\\192.168.86.XXX”, with XXX being specific to your device. When trying to open one of the folders that appear, you will be prompted for a username and password. The username is “root” and the password will be whatever you set in the step above.
Mac connection: open Finder and in the top Menu Bar select Go > Connect to Server… and in the address bar that appears, type “smb://192.168.86.XXX” with XXX being specific to your device (you can also type “smb://handheld” and that should also work). You will be prompted for a username and password; the username is “root” and the password will be whatever you set in the step above.
Inside this card you should find a series of subfolders, all named after various systems that will run on the device. This is where you will add your ROM/game files. For a listing of each system, the corresponding folder, accepted file types, and any requisite BIOS file(s), consult this page from the JELOS wiki and the list above.
Adding BIOS files can be tricky, but most of them will go in the “bios” folder within the roms folder. There are some exceptions; for example, the neogeo.zip BIOS file will go in the neogeo folder. For the best results, follow the table in the list found above.
Games and BIOS files can be added and removed at any time from your device, and every time you boot the device it will detect any changes to your games list and will update accordingly.
Special considerations
Wii U: Start a Wii U game, then plug in a USB keyboard/mouse into the device, press ESC and navigate to the upper menu. Here you can make adjustments to teh emulation settings.
Install the Windows version of Cemu onto your PC, then download the latest graphics packs from the settings menu. Now, find your Cemu installation folder and locate the GraphicsPacks folder, and add it to the config > Cemu > share folder on your JELOS device. This will allow you to go into the Cemu settings and adjust the Graphics Packs, which is essential for games like Breath of the Wild to run at a decent speed (enable FPS++).
If you have a previous installation of Cemu on Windows, you can add your mlc01 folder to the config > Cemu > share folder on your JELOS device to carry over your save games.
Xbox: BIOS must be placed in the roms > bios > xemu folder, into the following subfolders:
Capitalization matters! Press SELECT + START to bring up the Xemu menu while in a game.
PS2: PS2 BIOS must be placed in the roms > bios folder. Press ESC with a keyboard while a game is running to get into the PCSX2 settings and set hotkeys, graphics options, etc.
Switch: Keys must be placed in roms > bios > yuzu > keys
PS3: Because RPCS3 doesn’t have a UI available in JELOS, the only way I was able to get PS3 games working was through decrypted ISO files (in other words, pkg files cannot be installed and run from the JELOS interface).
Take a PS3 ISO file and mount it as a disc in Windows. You can do this by right-clicking on it and selecting “Open With…” and then choose Windows Explorer.
Download and extract ps3-disc-dumper into any folder, then run the exe file. It will detect the mounted disc, and after a moment it will say “Ready to Dump” and you can start the decryption processes. Once complete, you will have a folder in the same location as your ISO file, with the name of your game. Add a “.ps3” extension to the end of the folder name, then add this to your JELOS > roms > ps3 folder. You can unmount your ISO file by right-clicking on it and selecting “eject”.
You will also need to install the PS3 firmware onto your JELOS machine, as a one-time, pain-in-the-butt process. On your Windows PC, download and install RPCS3, and then install the PS3 firmware (follow the RPCS3 QuickStart guide for a demonstration of the process). Then, navigate to your RPCS3 folder, and find the dev_flash folder. Copy this folder into your JELOS > roms > bios > rpcs3 folder.
The first time you boot a PS3 game, it will take forever to compile all the PPU modules. Thankfully, after that first time the game will boot up much more quickly. As of making the video above, controls weren’t working properly in RPCS3.
Configuring JELOS
When first starting up JELOS, here are the steps I recommend to initially set up your device.
Press the START button to bring up the Main Menu. This will be your main location for adjusting JELOS options.
First, go to the Network Settings section and turn on the “Enable Network” option, then add your WiFi credentials to connect to your home network. If you would like, you can also enable Samba or SSH within this menu for wireless file sharing.
In the Game Settings section, you can adjust configurations like overall aspect ratio and integer scaling. If you are just starting out, I recommend using the default options. One exception is the “Auto Save/Load” option, I recommend setting this to “Show Save States if not Empty”. This will auto-save your game when you exit it, and if there is an auto-save associated with your game when you boot it, it will give you the option to choose that auto-save or start the game from the beginning.
Within the Game Settings section, there is an option for Per System Advanced Configuration. Here, you can make adjustments specific to a certain console. Here are some scenarios where this might be important:
If you want to change out the default emulator for a specific console, you can do that here. For example, NES uses Nestopia as its default emulator, but you could change it to FCEUMM, QuickNES, or Mesen instead.
You could specify a certain aspect ratio for each console, like 4:3 or 8:7 for SNES.
In the Shader Set section, you can choose a shader to load with each console. For handheld systems, I recommend using the Handheld/LCD3x shader to give an LCD-like feel.
For Game Boy, you can set a colorization option to mimic older LCD panels. My favorite is called “Special 1”.
Finally, at the bottom of the Game Settings section, you can add your RetroAchievements login credentials.
In the System Settings section, you can set your time zone, display options (like saturation level), and update your JELOS firmware.
In the UI Settings menu, you can change your theme or configure the current theme.
Also within the UI Settings menu you can set the EmulationStation language, choose to swap the A and B buttons within the menu, and choose to see the frames per second (FPS) when playing games in RetroArch.
Hotkeys
There are two sets of hotkeys that are important to consider: those while in the main (EmulationStation) menu, and those while in a game (RetroArch for most systems). Note that many of the standalone high-end emulators will require you to force-close the application by pressing L1 + Start + Select.
JELOS hotkeys: X while hovering over a game = Quick Menu X (hold) while hovering over a game = add to favorites L2 + Volume Up = battery status (voice prompt) L2 + Volume Down = toggle WiFi on/off R2 + Volume Up = increase brightness R2 + Volume Down = decrease brightness L1 + Start + Select = force close any app
RetroArch hotkeys: Select + Start (2x) = quit game Select + X = RetroArch quick menu Select + Y = toggle FPS Select + R1 = save state Select + L1 = load state Select + R2 = fast forward Select + L2 = rewind (if enabled in Game Settings)
Some emulators have their own hotkeys. For example, in PPSSPP (PSP emulator), press the L3 button. More info can be found here.
Scraping game media
Once you have added all of your game files, let’s scrape the media to improve the navigation experience.
To start, head over to ScreenScraper and create a free account if you haven’t already. Make note of your login credentials.
On your device, press START to bring up the Main Menu. Navigate to the Scraper section, then in the USERNAME and PASSWORD sections, add your ScreenScraper credentials.
From there, choose which types of media you wish to download. I like to use “Box 2D” as my image source, and I also turn on the “Scrape Videos” option. Everything else I leave unchecked.
Once you are ready to scrape, select the “Next” button and on the next page, under the “Systems Included” menu, choose which systems you want to scrape for media. Then, select the “Start” button and the scraping process will begin. Depending on the size of your library, it may take some time.
If you come across any games that don’t have proper media art, you can hover over the game with your cursor, press the X button, and in the quick menu select “Scrape” to scrape the game individually. This will give you the option to change the search keywords to help you find the correct game.
Last updated: 31MAR2024 (see Changelog for details)
The PowKiddy X55 is a surprisingly good handheld, at an affordable price. It features a beautiful 5.5″ 720p display, decent performance up through N64, Saturn, and Dreamcast, and has official custom Linux firmware that makes the device run like a dream. It’s in a magical category where it gets many things right and doesn’t have any dealbreakers.
This guide will help you get set up with the device, from the very basics to some of my favorite advanced settings.
It’s no secret that the Anbernic RG552 is an expensive device. At its initial starting retail price of $227, it can be disappointing that it’s not powerful enough to run GameCube or PlayStation 2 at acceptable levels (thankfully, as of 2024 it can be found for about $175 on sale). Even with that in mind, there are some aspects of this device that really shine — namely its screen and overall feel when it comes to d-pad-centric gaming — and so in this guide I’m going to walk you through all the little tweaks and tricks I use to get the most out of this device.
At the end of the day, the Anbernic RG552 is one of my favorite consoles for RETRO (i.e. 32-bit and below) gaming, and with these tweaks, I think you might agree.
Several months into its lifecycle, the Anbernic RG552 finally has some great options when it comes to improving the user experience. Let’s take a look at three different firmware options (two on Linux, and one on Android) which will give you better gameplay performance and some nice quality of life upgrades, too.
Retro Game Corps 