Using the chdman tool (part of MAME):
: Say goodbye to folders cluttered with multiple .bin tracks. A CHD merges everything into one neat file, making your library much easier to browse.
Switching your library to is the single best "quality of life" upgrade you can give your retro gaming setup. You’ll fit more games on your Steam Deck, phone, or PC, and your file structure will look cleaner than ever. It is time to retire the messy .bin files and embrace the efficiency of the modern retro scene.
CHD is not playable on original PlayStation consoles without a conversion back to BIN/CUE. psx chds
chdman createcd -i game.bin -o game.chd
: Unlike converting to .pbp (a format used for PSP), CHD is mathematically lossless. You can convert a CHD back to its original .bin/.cue state with 100% accuracy. How to Convert Your Games to CHD
If you have ever tried to organize a PSX library in .bin/.cue format, you know the pain. A single game like Final Fantasy VII or Gran Turismo often splits into multiple .bin files (Track 1, Track 2, etc.) plus a .cue sheet. Using the chdman tool (part of MAME): :
The most immediate benefit is file size. The PSX library is notorious for games that contain large amounts of Red Book audio (CD-quality music) and dummy data.
While the emulators support it, some older "frontend" software (the software that organizes your games) might not scrape metadata for CHD files as easily as it does for standard files, though tools like LaunchBox and EmulationStation handle them fine.
| Emulator / Device | CHD Support | Subchannel | |-------------------|-------------|-------------| | DuckStation | Full | Yes | | PCSX2 (via CDVD plugin) | Partial (requires build) | No | | RetroArch (Beetle PSX HW) | Yes | Yes | | swanstation (libretro) | Yes | Yes | | XEMU (original Xbox) | N/A | N/A | | Original hardware (PSIO, XStation) | No | N/A | You’ll fit more games on your Steam Deck,
Note: Highly compressed games (e.g., Vib-Ribbon with audio) achieve lower ratios; FMV-heavy games compress less.
: Use the Beetle PSX HW or SwanStation cores for seamless CHD support.