Method: SDLoad
Description: Uses Action Replay to boot a .dol file off an SD card.
Benefits: Fast. Takes about 10 seconds from when you turn on the Cube to when GCARS-CS boots.
Drawbacks: Expensive. You'll need an Action Replay ($15 or so), an SD Card Adapter for your GameCube ($30 or so), an SD Card (price depends on capacity), and an SD Card Reader for your PC ($10 or so).
Method: Samson's Loader
Description: Uses Action Replay to boot a .dol file off a standard memory card.
Benefits: As fast as SDLoad. Doesn't require any extra hardware, just an Action Replay.
Drawbacks: You'll need another .dol loading method to intialize the memory card. So this won't work unless you can get a friend to set it up for you or you can rent PSO.
Method: Max Drive Pro
Description: Datel product specifically designed for loading .dol files.
Benefits: Very user-friendly, fast.
Drawbacks: Expensive; costs about $40.
Method: Modchip, e.g. Viper or Qoob
Description: Involves hardware modifications to your GameCube.
Benefits: Fast
Drawbacks: Not user-friendly, will void your GameCube's warrenty.
Unless you have a reason not to, I recommend PSO.
How do I load a .dol using PSO? (Adapted from Psychoticworm's tutorial on SmashBoards)
Be sure that everything is connected correctly, the computer in slot one of the router and Gamecube hooked up to whatever else.
Download PSOLoad 2.0a from
GCDev.com. (Note: GCDev appears to be down at the moment; an alternative download location is
MAXCONSOLE - Playstation 2 Playstation 3 Xbox 360 Nintendo DS PSP Gamecube Nintendo WII Revolution - To the MAX!)
If PSOLoad does not work for you for some reason, try PSUL 1.0, which you can download from
MAXCONSOLE - Playstation 2 Playstation 3 Xbox 360 Nintendo DS PSP Gamecube Nintendo WII Revolution - To the MAX!. I do not recommend this as it is much slower, and lacks some of PSOLoad's features, but if it's the only one that works, use it.