My DS hardware test results

[Pilot_51]

I finally started doing tests with the DS, starting with none other than the battery.
Since the battery was already dead and I figured I had the 4 hours to keep an eye on it, that it should be my first test.

This charge test went for 3 hours, 24 minutes, and 42 seconds.

I plan to go into detailed tests such as with and without the backlight, with wireless active, action/graphics and idle menu, and whatever else I think is worth testing. I'm also including details that I don't think matter such as what's in each slot, since I don't know for sure if it doesn't matter. To get the timing exact, I capture a video of the entire thing (next to my atomic sync clock) with my webcam and analyze the key moments down to the second.

If anyone has any requests, I'll accept them and put them on high priority (assuming I have everything necessary, including time), which means not only would I do it before the others, but I'll feel more determined to do the test ASAP.

I'll have all my test results at http://pilot51.com/_old/handheld/nds_tests.html [server down].

Since the server is down for awhile, I'll post the list here.

Test 1: Recharging
Date: 2/3/05
Power: Off
Lid: Closed
Slot 1: Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt
Slot 2: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Start: 4:18:58PM
Stop: 7:42:43PM
Duration: 3 hours, 24 minutes, 42 seconds

Test 2: Battery life [Focus: Wireless LAN]
Date: 2/12/05 - 2/13/05
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: PictoChat menu
Control activity: None
Backlight: On
Volume: Off
Wireless: LAN
Slot 1: Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt
Slot 2: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Start: 2/12/05 10:33:55PM (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: 2/13/05 4:33:28AM
Stop: 2/13/05 5:20:08AM
Duration: 6 hours, 46 minutes, 13 seconds

Test 3: Battery life [Focus: AI gameplay]
Date: 2/26/05
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: Asphalt: Urban GT
Control activity: None (although I accidentally pressed a shoulder button while adjusting the DS, stopping the demo for 30 seconds)
Backlight: On
Volume: Off
Wireless: Off
Slot 1: Asphalt: Urban GT
Slot 2: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Start: 4:26:31AM (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: 10:50:15AM
Stop: 11:36:14AM
Duration: 7 hours, 9 minutes, 43 seconds

Test 4: Battery life [Focus: Backlight]
Date: 2/26/05 - 2/27/05
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: Main menu
Control activity: None
Backlight: On
Volume: Full speakers
Wireless: Off
Slot 1: Asphalt: Urban GT
Slot 2: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Start: 2/26/05 10:56:24PM (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: 2/27/05 6:48:16-19AM
Stop: 2/27/05 7:18:50AM
Duration: 8 hours, 22 minutes, 26 seconds

Test 5: Battery life [Focus: Backlight off]
Date: 3/13/05
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: Main menu
Control activity: None
Backlight: Off
Volume: Full speakers
Wireless: Off
Slot 1: Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt
Slot 2: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Start: 1:20:26AM (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: N/A
Stop: 5:24:50PM
Duration: 16 hours, 4 minutes, 24 seconds

Test 6: Recharging (revisited)
Date: 3/6/06
Power: Off
Lid: Closed
Slot 1: Animal Crossing: Wild World
Slot 2: N/A
Start: 4:16:43PM
Stop: 7:30:29PM
Duration: 3 hours, 13 minutes, 46 seconds (11 minutes, 56 seconds shorter than Test 1)

Planned Test (low priority): Battery life [Focus: Gameplay]
Date: N/A
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt [survivor]
Control activity: Y or A + L or R (taped down) [with button control settings]
Backlight: On
Volume: Off
Wireless: Off
Slot 1: Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt
Slot 2: N/A<br />
Start: N/A (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: N/A
Stop: N/A
Duration: N/A

Planned Test (low priority): Battery life [Focus: GBA gameplay]
Date: N/A
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: N/A
Control activity: N/A
Backlight: On
Volume: Off
Wireless: Off
Slot 1: N/A
Slot 2: N/A
Start: N/A (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: N/A
Stop: N/A
Duration: N/A

Planned Test (low priority): Battery life [Focus: Sleep mode]
Date: N/A
Power: Sleep
Lid: Closed
Playing: Main menu
Control activity: None
Backlight: Off
Volume: Off
Wireless: Off
Slot 1: N/A
Slot 2: N/A
Start: N/A (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: N/A
Stop: N/A
Duration: N/A

Planned Test (low priority): Battery life [Focus: Wireless LAN gameplay]
Date: N/A
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: N/A
Control activity: N/A
Backlight: On
Volume: N/A
Wireless: LAN
Slot 1: N/A
Slot 2: N/A
Start: N/A (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: N/A
Stop: N/A
Duration: N/A

Planned Test (medium priority): Battery life [Focus: Wi-Fi]
Date: N/A
Power: On
Lid: Open
Playing: Mario Kart DS - Main WFC search screen
Control activity: None
Backlight: On
Volume: N/A
Wireless: Wi-Fi
Slot 1: Mario Kart DS
Slot 2: N/A
Start: N/A (once power cable is unplugged)
Red light: N/A
Stop: N/A
Duration: N/A

[Pat]

Sounds interesting, I will keep an eye on it and good luck.

[Hyjinks]

Finally someone going to find out the run time of DS, instead of just estimating it all the time, good job :D !

[Pat]

Is that 3 hours thing for the battery recharge the first recharge or not?

[chuddy_2001uk]

Yep

This first charge test went for....

Finally we will be able to see the truth behind the Battery life conspiracy.

[Pilot_51]

Originally Posted by Pat

Is that 3 hours thing for the battery recharge the first recharge or not?

It's just a normal recharge after owning it since launch. I'll probably run another recharge test in a couple more months after I do some of the other tests.

Add: I see what's causing the confusion... I'll edit my first post so it doesn't say "first".

[Pat]

Ah ok thanks. Do you have any estimate or anything of how long the first recharge took?

[Pilot_51]

No idea...

[Sepharite]

Good luck on the sleep battery test. It'll go for hours without needing to charge!

[Pilot_51]

I know, that's why I'm probably gonna save it for summer break (I use it at school). Most of the other play tests would probably be on the weekends.