Nintendo DS/Flash Cards

Nintendo produced various kinds of flash cartridges for the Nintendo DS and DSi systems.

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

The cartridges can be flashed with an IS-NITRO-EMULATOR, IS-TWL-DEBUGGER, IS-NITRO-WRITER or IS-CTR/SPR/SNAKE.

Thanks to rmc, ufo, xluma and Voodooween for some of the information and images.

Prototypes

As the earliest revision of the developer cartridges, these can be identified by a long circuit board that extends from the top of the cartridge.

There is a dip switch which presumably controls the size of the rom.

512 megabit cartridges of this type are known to exist.

Sharp Flash 512M

There are 4 flash chips on board. Each flash chip is a 128 megabit F128BFHBD-PWTLZ1, made by Sharp.

The serial number on the sticker starts with NTCMA.

M01-X1 - cart front^[1]
M01-X1 - cart back^[2]
M01-X1 - cart front 2^[3]

Micron Flash 512M

There are 4 flash chips on board. Each flash chip is 128 megabit, marked Micron "FW509", presumably a MT28F128J3.

The serial number on the sticker starts with NTCMB.

M02-X1 - cart front
M02-X1 - cart back

White Labels

Following the long prototype cartridges, shorter flash cartridges were released for developers. While still longer than a retail cartridge, this size was adopted for all subsequent developer cartridges until the 3DS.

The earlier cartridges have a white label on the front.

Each flash chip is a 512 megabit F512BFBD-PTSLZ3, made by Sharp.

There is a chip labelled NTR-FCC-01 (Flash Card Controller?), presumably used to handle communications between the flash chip(s) on the cartridge and the console.

There is also a switch on board.

512 megabit and 1 gigabit cartridges of this type are known to exist. These contain 1 and 2 flash chips respectively.

DS Flash Card 512M (E202510)

M10-X1 - cart front^[4]
M10-X1 - cart back^[5]
M10-X1 - board front^[6]
M10-X1 - board back^[7]

M07-01 - cart front^[8]
M07-01 - cart back^[9]

DS Flash Card 1G (E202528)

M11-X1 - cart front^[10]
M11-X1 - cart back^[11]

DS Sub-Joint Card (E202544)

This does not have any flash chips. It is used to read and write to save sub-boards.

M09-01 - cart front
M09-01 - board front
M09-01 - board back

Black Labels

Later cartridges have a black label on the front.

Each flash chip is a 512 megabit GL512N10FFI01, made by Spansion.

There is a chip labelled NTR-FCC-01, and a switch on board.

512 megabit, 1 gigabit and 2 gigabit cartridges of this type are known to exist. These contain 1, 2 and 4 flash chips respectively.

DS Flash Card SP512M (E202650)

M18-X1 - cart front^[12]
M18-X1 - cart back^[13]
M18-X1 - board back
M18-X1 - pamphlet^[14]

DS Flash Card SP1G (E202668)

M17-X1 - cart front^[15]
M17-X1 - cart back^[16]

DS Flash Card SP2G (E202676)

M16-X2 - cart front^[17]
M16-X2 - cart back^[18]

Pink Labels

Together with the introduction of DSi development hardware, DSi development cartridges were released.

These have a pink label, and unlike the previously mentioned DS cartridges, both DS software and DSi exclusive/compatible software can be written to them.

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

A 4 gigabit cartridge of this type is known to exist.

TWL Flash Card 4G (E203088)

L01-X1 - cart front^[19]
L01-X1 - cart back^[20]
L01-X1 - pamphlet^[21]

Save sub-boards

The developer cartridges do not come with backup save functionality. Save sub-boards would have to be attached to the connector on the cartridge to provide save functionality. The connector is accessed by unscrewing the top lid on the back of the cartridge.

These boards come in a variety of types and sizes, supporting EEPROM and Flash saves.

After the prototypes, the white label sub-boards were released first, followed by the black label versions.

Prototype

The serial number on the sticker starts with NTCSD.

NTR-SUB01-X1 - front^[22]
NTR-SUB01-X1 - front 2
NTR-SUB01-X1 - back

DS Sub Card 4K EEPROM (E202387)

NTR-SUB02-X1 - front^[23]

NTR-SUB02-1X - front^[24]

DS Sub Card 4K EEPROM1 (E202874)

There is a 4 kilobit EEPROM on the board, marked ST "504WP", which is a M95040-W.

NTR-SUB02-1X - front^[25]
NTR-SUB02-1X - back^[26]

NTR-SUB02-2X - front^[27]
NTR-SUB02-2X - back^[28]

DS Sub Card 64K EEPROM (E202395)

There is a 64 kilobit EEPROM on the board, marked ST "9564", which is a M95640-W.

NTR-SUB02-X1 - front^[29]
NTR-SUB02-X1 - back^[30]

NTR-SUB02-1X - front^[31]
NTR-SUB02-1X - back^[32]

DS Sub Card 64K EEPROM1 (E202809)

There is a 64 kilobit EEPROM on the board, marked ST "564WP", which is a M95640-W.

NTR-SUB02-2X - front^[33]
NTR-SUB02-2X - back^[34]

DS Sub Card 512K EEPROM (E202403)

There is a 512 kilobit EEPROM on the board, marked ST "9512", which is a M95512-W.

NTR-SUB02-1X - front^[35]
NTR-SUB02-1X - back^[36]

DS Sub Card 512K EEPROM1 (E202817)

There is a 512 kilobit EEPROM on the board, marked ST "512WP", which is a M95512-W.

NTR-SUB02-2X - front^[37]
NTR-SUB02-2X - back^[38]

DS Sub Card 2M FLASH (E202478)

There is a 2 megabit flash chip on the board, a Sanyo LE25FW203T.

NTR-SUB02-X1 - front^[39]
NTR-SUB02-X1 - back^[40]

NTR-SUB02-1X - front^[41]
NTR-SUB02-1X - back^[42]

NTR-SUB02-1X - front

DS Sub Card 2M FLASH1 (E202833)

There is a 2 megabit flash chip on the board, a Sanyo LE25FW203T.

NTR-SUB02-1X - front^[43]
NTR-SUB02-1X - back^[44]

DS Sub Card 4M FLASH1 (E202841)

NTR-SUB02-2X - front

DS Factory Testing

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

128M Sharp with 64K EEPROM

There is 1 flash chip on board, a 128 megabit F128BFHBD, made by Sharp.

There is a chip labelled NTR-FCC-01.

There is a 64 kilobit EEPROM on the board for saves, marked ST "9564", which is a M95640-W.

NTR-F-CARD-03 - cart^[45]
NTR-F-CARD-03 - board front^[46]
NTR-F-CARD-03 - board back^[47]

128M Spansion with 64K EEPROM

There is 1 flash chip on board, a 128 megabit GL128N10FFI01, made by Spansion.

There is a chip labelled NTR-FCC-01.

There is a 64 kilobit EEPROM on the board for saves, marked ST "564WP", which is a M95640-W.

This cartridge is "low-profile" and of the same size as a retail DS cartridge.

M14-X1 - cart front^[48]
M14-X1 - cart back^[49]
M14-X1 - cart front 2^[50]
M14-X1 - cart back 2^[51]
M14-X1 - board front^[52]
M14-X1 - board back^[53]

DS F Card S SP512M-64KEEP (E202619)

Similar to the 128M Spansion, this cartridge is also "low-profile" and of the same size as a retail DS cartridge.

There is a 64 kilobit EEPROM on the board for saves.

Cart front^[54]

DS F Card S SP512M-2MFLASH (E202635)

Similar to the 128M Spansion, this cartridge is also "low-profile" and of the same size as a retail DS cartridge.

There is a 2 megabit flash chip on the board for saves.

M15-X1 - cart front^[55]
M15-X1 - cart back^[56]

DSi Factory Testing

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

Inspection F Card TWL

There is 1 flash chip on board, a MegaChips MA93104.

There is a 64 kilobit EEPROM on the board for saves, marked ST "564WP", which is a M95640-W.

This cartridge is "low-profile" and of the same size as a retail DS cartridge.

C08-X2 - cart front^[57]
C08-X2 - cart back^[58]
C08-X2 - board front^[59]
C08-X2 - board back^[60]

TWLC-FMCOM

There is 1 flash chip on board, a MegaChips MA93104.

The port on the top would deliver the save data.

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

TWLC-FMCOM-01 - board front^[61]
TWLC-FMCOM-01 - board back^[62]

TWLC-WRITEDUMMY-X1 - cart front^[63]
TWLC-WRITEDUMMY-X1 - cart back^[64]
TWLC-WRITEDUMMY-X1 - cart back 2^[65]
TWLC-WRITEDUMMY-X1 - board front^[66]
TWLC-WRITEDUMMY-X1 - board back^[67]

TWLC-FMDUMMY-X1 - board front^[68]
TWLC-FMDUMMY-X1 - board back^[69]

TWLC-FMDUMMY-X2 - board front^[70]
TWLC-FMDUMMY-X2 - board back^[71]

TWL Wireless Inspection Flash Card

There is 1 flash chip on board, a MegaChips MA93104.

The port on the top would attach to a "SPI USB ADAPTER".

TWL-FC-MCP-SP-X1 - cart front^[72]
TWL-FC-MCP-SP-X1 - cart back^[73]
TWL-FC-MCP-SP-X1 - board front^[74]
TWL-FC-MCP-SP-X1 - board back^[75]

References

[1] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/o1177513469

[2] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/o1177513469

[3] ttps://assemblergames.org/viewtopic.php?t=56089

[4] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j1182003409

[5] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j1182003409

[6] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[7] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[8] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232932/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/eragon-europe-prototype-cart-front.jpg

[9] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232931/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/eragon-europe-prototype-cart-back.jpg

[10] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232934/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/sansuu-puzzle-game-equal-card-ds-japan-prototype-cart-front.jpg

[11] ttps://ameblo.jp/meijin16shot/entry-12599151245.html

[12] ttps://www.ebay.com/itm/135684909233

[13] ttps://www.ebay.com/itm/135684909233

[14] ttps://x.com/oppoko777/status/1081161474905595904

[15] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232935/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/touchmaster-3-usa-prototype-cart-front.jpg

[16] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232935/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/touchmaster-3-usa-prototype-cart-back.jpg

[17] ttps://ameblo.jp/meijin16shot/entry-12599151245.html

[18] ttps://ameblo.jp/meijin16shot/entry-12599151245.html

[19] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1194844981

[20] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c1198190367

[21] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f1179278122

[22] ttps://x.com/forestillusion/status/1337891400541761541

[23] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232931/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/eragon-europe-prototype-cart-back.jpg

[24] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232949/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/toudai-shogi-meijinsen-dojo-ds-japan-prototype-cart-back.jpg

[25] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f1179278122

[26] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f1179278122

[27] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1194844981

[28] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1194844981

[29] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[30] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[31] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q1195802391

[32] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q1195802391

[33] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f1179278122

[34] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f1179278122

[35] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c1198190367

[36] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c1198190367

[37] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j1182003409

[38] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j1182003409

[39] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k1192103557

[40] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k1192103557

[41] RGD Discord - Kelly

[42] RGD Discord - Kelly

[43] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1194844981

[44] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1194844981

[45] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232933/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/mic-tester-ver-4-0-cart-front.jpg

[46] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1132584830

[47] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1132584830

[48] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232933/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/f-writer-ver1-0k-cart-front.jpg

[49] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232934/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/f-writer-ver1-0k-cart-back.jpg

[50] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232606/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/twl-usg-sequencer-inspection-aug-9-2011-cart-front.jpg

[51] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232605/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/ds/twl-usg-sequencer-inspection-aug-9-2011-cart-back.jpg

[52] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1198378147

[53] ttps://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1198378147

[54] ttps://x.com/blackbe38744062/status/1532155307702763520

[55] ttps://x.com/blackbe38744062/status/1394943614195617797

[56] ttps://x.com/blackbe38744062/status/1394943614195617797

[57] ttps://www.eevitronics.jp/products/nintendo-3ds-factory-development-cartridge-refurbished-spi-v1-type-copy

[58] ttps://www.eevitronics.jp/products/nintendo-3ds-factory-development-cartridge-refurbished-spi-v1-type-copy

[59] VGPC Discord - Kelly

[60] ttps://www.ebay.com/itm/286846756540

[61] ttps://www.ebay.com/itm/267002021692

[62] ttps://www.ebay.com/itm/267002021692

[63] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232929/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/dsi/twl-eva-ver3-1-cart-front.jpg

[64] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232929/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/dsi/twl-eva-ver3-1-cart-back.jpg

[65] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232931/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/dsi/twl-eva-ver3-1-cart-pcb.jpg

[66] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[67] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[68] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[69] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[70] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[71] ttps://docs.randommeaninglesscharacters.com/dscarts.html

[72] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232937/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/dsi/wrfu-tester-v-2-01-cart-front.jpg

[73] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20230403232937/https://forestillusion.com/assets/cart-disc/dsi/wrfu-tester-v-2-01-cart-back.jpg

[74] RGD Discord - Kelly

[75] RGD Discord - Kelly

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Nintendo DS/Flash Cards

Prototypes

Sharp Flash 512M

Micron Flash 512M

White Labels

DS Flash Card 512M (E202510)

DS Flash Card 1G (E202528)

DS Sub-Joint Card (E202544)

Black Labels

DS Flash Card SP512M (E202650)

DS Flash Card SP1G (E202668)

DS Flash Card SP2G (E202676)

Pink Labels

TWL Flash Card 4G (E203088)

Save sub-boards

Prototype

DS Sub Card 4K EEPROM (E202387)

DS Sub Card 4K EEPROM1 (E202874)

DS Sub Card 64K EEPROM (E202395)

DS Sub Card 64K EEPROM1 (E202809)

DS Sub Card 512K EEPROM (E202403)

DS Sub Card 512K EEPROM1 (E202817)

DS Sub Card 2M FLASH (E202478)

DS Sub Card 2M FLASH1 (E202833)

DS Sub Card 4M FLASH1 (E202841)

DS Factory Testing

128M Sharp with 64K EEPROM

128M Spansion with 64K EEPROM

DS F Card S SP512M-64KEEP (E202619)

DS F Card S SP512M-2MFLASH (E202635)

DSi Factory Testing

Inspection F Card TWL

TWLC-FMCOM

TWL Wireless Inspection Flash Card

References

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