Nintendo 3DS/Flash Cards

Nintendo produced various kinds of flash cartridges for the Nintendo 3DS.

Most were meant for developers, while some were used in factory testing.

The cartridges can be flashed with a PARTNER-CTR Debugger, PARTNER-CTR Writer or IS-CTR/SPR/SNAKE. Nintendo also offered an upgrade service to allow the IS-NITRO-WRITER to be used.

There are 2 different types of flash cartridges: CARD1 and CARD2. The main difference between them is in how they can be used for storing save data.

• CARD1 is similar to older Nintendo DS cartridges, using an external flash chip for save data.
• CARD2 uses a part of the NAND to store save data.

CARD2 cartridges also normally contain a flash chip for compatibility with CARD1 software.

No new flash cartridges were introduced for the New Nintendo 3DS. Software for the New 3DS uses the same flash cartridges as the original 3DS.

Thanks to Voodooween and j4m13c for some of the information and images.

Standard

These are similar in size to the black label DS developer cartridges, but use a white case with a blue label.

Earlier versions have a slightly different label and use a green circuit board, while the later versions (which are much more common) use a white circuit board.

This revision can only be used with CARD1 software.

There is 1 flash chip on board, a 16 gigabit TC58NVG4S2ELA48, made by Toshiba.

There is a MegaChips MA91707 controller, presumably used to handle communications between the flash chip on the cartridge and the console.

There is no switch on board, even though the footprint for it exists.

A 16 gigabit (2 gigabyte) cartridge of this type is known to exist.

CTR Flash Card 16G (E203344)

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  K01-02 - cart front
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  K01-02 - cart back

CTR FLASH CARD 16Gbit (E203344)

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  K01-03 - cart front
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  K01-03 - cart back
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  K01-03 - board front
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  K01-03 - board back
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  K01-03 - pamphlet

Low Profile

Following the release of "standard" sized developer cartridges, low profile developer cartridges were introduced. These were designed to fit flush with the console, allowing developers to use the Circle Pad Pro on development hardware without obstruction. They are also required for use with the JAN (New 2DS XL) test systems, as the recessed slot doesn't support the "standard" sized cartridges.

There were 2 main designs:

• Early versions (and prototypes): Shaped like retail 3DS cartridges, in a white shell with the notch on the right side.
• Later versions: Shaped like retail DS cartridges, in a black shell. This change was presumably made to ensure physical compatibility with the cartridge slots on the IS-NITRO-WRITER.

16 gigabit (2 gigabyte) and 32 gigabit (4 gigabyte) versions of this type are known to exist.

The board contains a main chip that integrates both the NAND and controller. On 32 gigabit variants, this chip is an R20KG2241A.

A separate flash chip is also present, with either a capacity of 1 Mbit (128KB) or 4 Mbit (512KB; MX25L4001).

The 16 gigabit variants are presumed to support only CARD1 software. The 32 gigabit variants can be used with both CARD1 and CARD2 software.

CTR FLASH CARD 16Gbit Trade Show Sample

This cartridge was not sold to developers and was instead used by Nintendo to showcase game demos at events.

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  D01-01 - cart front
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  D01-01 - cart back

CTR FLASH CARD 4GB Prototype (E203492)

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  D01-10 - cart front
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  D01-10 - cart back
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  D01-10 - board front
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  D01-10 - board back

4GByte CTR Flash Card with 128KByte Backup (E203518)

The backup size on the label corresponds to CARD1 usage.

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  K05-01 - cart front
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  K05-01 - cart back
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  K05-01 - pamphlet

4GByte CTR Flash Card with 512KByte Backup (E203500)

The backup size on the label corresponds to CARD1 usage.

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  K05-01 - cart front
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  K05-01 - cart back
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  K05-01 - board front
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  K05-01 - board back

Save sub-boards

The "standard" sized developer cartridges do not come with built-in save functionality (officially referred to as "backup memory"). To enable saving, a dedicated save sub-board must be attached to the connector on the developer cartridge. This connector is accessed by unscrewing the top lid on the back side of the cartridge.

CTR SUB CARD 1Mbit FLASH (E203328)

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  CTR-SUB01-01 - front
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  CTR-SUB01-01 - back

CTR Sub Card 4M FLASH (E203336)

These go with the earlier version of the cartridge with the green circuit board.

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  Front

CTR SUB CARD 4Mbit FLASH (E203336)

There is a 4 megabit flash chip on the board, a MX25L4001.

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  CTR-SUB01-01 - front
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  CTR-SUB01-01 - back

Factory Testing

These cartridges were used to test 3DS systems in the factory and are commonly seen with 3DS factory software on them (e.g. CTR EVA).

Inspection Flash Card CTR

This cartridge can only be used with CARD1 software.

There is 1 flash chip on board, a 16 gigabit TC58NVG4S2ELA48, made by Toshiba.

There is a MegaChips MA91707 controller.

There is a flash chip on the board which is 4Mbit (512KB), a MX25L4001.

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  FCARD-03 - cart front
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  FCARD-03 - cart back
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  FCARD-03 - board front
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  FCARD-03 - board back

SPI Communication Flash Card CTR

This cartridge is similar to the above, but has the SPI (HDMI style) connector on the top.

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  FCARD-03 - cart front
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  FCARD-03 - cart back
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  FCARD-03 - repro board front
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  FCARD-03 - repro board back

Inspection Flash Card V2 CTR

This cartridge supports CARD2 software.

The main chip on the board, which combines both the NAND and controller, is a 32 gigabit R20KG2241A.

There is a flash chip on the board which is 4Mbit (512KB), a MX25L4001.

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  FCARDC-01 - cart front
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  FCARDC-01 - cart back
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  FCARDC-01 - board front
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  FCARDC-01 - board back

SPI Communication Flash Card V2 CTR

This cartridge is similar to the above, but has the SPI (HDMI style) connector on the top.

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  FCARDC-01 - cart front
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  FCARDC-01 - cart back

CTRC-FMCOM

There is 1 flash chip on board, a 16 gigabit TC58NVG4S2ELA48, made by Toshiba.

There is a MegaChips MA91707 controller.

The port on the top would deliver the save data.

This sub-board can be connected to either a TWLC-WRITEDUMMY or TWLC-FMDUMMY.

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  CTRC-FMCOM-01 - board front

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  TWLC-WRITEDUMMY-X1 - cart front
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  TWLC-WRITEDUMMY-X1 - cart back