M3 Mini SD Review

[Zeus]

Product: M3 Mini SD DS Flashcart
Reviewer: DeVs
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<center><img style="border: none;" alt="" src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/mc_m3_mini_fp.jpg"></center></a></center></a>

Introduction:

For this review I will be reviewing the new and improved M3 Mini SD. Before we begin you want to look over our previous reviews of the M3 SD and a How To for the Passkey 2 <a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=content&itemid=170" target="_blank">here</a> and also our guide on how to use the M3 Game Manager (for patching and loading DS and GBA roms onto your M3) <a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=6979" target="_blank">here</a>.

For those who don’t know the M3 Mini SD is the same great software that was in the previous versions of the M3, but now is in a compact design. The new design makes the M3 Mini SD almost invisible when inserted into the Nintendo DS. I will be concentrating mainly on the new design of the M3 Mini SD as we have already covered the Game Manager software, Passkey2, and Media Converter software in the links above.

Here is a quick run down of what the M3 is capable of doing:

NDS Games:

* Highest DS game compatibility with perfect save function.
* Fast-Read: Game size larger than 256Mb will not be slow-down too by using the Fast-Direct reading mode.
* Support 3 reading mode: Normal, 1X DMA(Direct), 4X DMA mode(Fast Direct).
* Save Management System (SMS) supports storing more than one save file for each game. (Maximum 200 files)
* The save system supports storing game save data safety. No file(s) storing in card will be unexpectedly loss.
* Support playing MP3 files directly. Individual files can place in any directory of SD. (use MoonShell-MP3 player special version for M3, No conversion is necessary before playing MP3 music.)
* NDS Multi-Media Player. Support full-screen viewing, fast and smooth.
Work fine with “FLAHSME”

GBA:

* No games will be slow-down.
* Highest game compatibility. Support running all flashcard games.
* Support running emulator games. (GB, SMS, PCE, NES etc.)
* Best Instant Save Function and Reset function. User friendly design, only one convenience key-combination need to enter, easy for users to control all functions. No complex key-combination needs to enter.
* Build-in RTC IC and battery. Able to run RTC games.
* No patching or conversion is need before playing. Just copy and play.

Movies:

* World’s first full-screen NDS movie Player. Fully compatible with all .GBM movies. And a lot of .GBM movies/cartoons are available for downloading in Internet.
* Build-in “Crystal Engine”
* One 256M-CF card can carry around 120mins cartoon or movie.

Support converting from the most popular A/V sources:

-Dobly AC3 audio frequency file (*. AC3)
target's file of DVD video (*. VOB)
- wave form sound file of Microsoft (*. WAV)
- MPEG-1 Audio Layer-2 file (*. MP2)
- MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3 file (*. MP3)
- Real media file (*. RA, *. RM, *. RAM, *. RMVB)
- MPEG-1 media file (*. Mpeg, *. Mpg)
- MPEG-2 media file (*. M2V)
- Windows media file (*. AVI, *. ASF, *. WMA, *. WMV)
- VCD video file (*. DAT)
- QuickTime media file (*. MOV)
- MPEG-4 media file (*. AVI)
- DivX media file (*. AVI)

Part 1: The Packaging

When I received the M3 Mini it came in a very padded envelope. Coming all the way from Hong Kong it obviously took it’s bumps and bruises, but once opened it was in mint condition. The M3 comes in the same blue box as previous versions but with an updated graphic of the M3 Mini SD on the cover.

<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s01.jpg" height="179" width="161"></center></a>

The contents of the box are:

1x: M3 Mini SD
1x CD w/ M3 Software (Game Manger, Media Converter, ect)

<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s02.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s02.jpg" height="179" width="239"></center></a>

Part 2: The M3 Mini SD

My first impressions were “Damn this is small”. It is smaller then other flash carts on the market and about the same size as a regular GBA cart.

<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s03.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s03.jpg" height="179" width="239"> <a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s04.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s04.jpg" height="179" width="239"></center></a>

It is very small but VERY well built. It is made from a heavy plastic and has a nice heavy feel to it. The slot for the Mini SD card is on the front of the unit so that you are able to remove the Mini SD card and insert it into the M3 without removing the entire M3 cart which a convenient feature. Before loading roms onto my M3 Mini I downloaded the newest firmware update for the M3. To update the M3 you simply downloaded the newest update (in my case it was updagcsd.e19) and put it on your Mini SD card. Boot the M3 and it will recognize that there is an update on the Mini SD card and give you the option to either “Bypass” or “Install”. Choose install and let it do it’s thing until you get a message that says it has completed the update. Once updated remove the update file from you Mini SD card or else it will ask you each time you turn on the M3 Mini if you want to “Install” or “Bypass” the update. Once I loaded my Mini SD card with my roms (refer to <A href="http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=6979" target="_blank">this guide</a> on how to use the M3 Game Manager. I popped it into my DS for a quick spin. Once inserted into the DS you can barely tell anything is in the GBA slot.

<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s05.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s05.jpg" height="179" width="239"> <a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s06.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s06.jpg" height="179" width="239"></center></a>
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s07.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/m3s07.jpg" height="179" width="239"></center></a>

<b>Part 3: The Software & Games</b>

Once booted up you get the classic M3 OS screen with options to load a game, read text, watch a movie, listen to music, or go into settings. The M3 OS is a VERY nice and easy to navigate gui. I started up a few DS games and had not a single problem getting them to load and didn’t experience any slow downs or graphical errors. This was expected but I had to test them anyway. The real test for me was gonna be running GBA games, as I have had nothing but problems getting certain GBA games to run on other flashcarts. To my surprise the M3 Mini SD tore through every GBA game I threw at it with no slow downs or graphical glitches. Another great feature is that there is no need to patch the GBA games before loading them. This is a huge bonus as it seems there is FINALY an all in one DS & GBA solution.

Closing:

The bottom line is the M3 Mini SD performs as well as her big brothers the M3 SD and M3 CF but looks much much better. It is hands down the number 1 flashcart on the market for the Nintendo DS. There are other clones on the market now, but none have the compatibility, durability, or advanced software that the M3 Mini SD has.

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[dreary79]

Nice review. I love my M3CF, I just wish it wasn't so big. I already had a 2GB CF though. I wish this thing was the same size as a GBA cart. Since SC and the EZ team has ones that small. I'm waiting for reviews to come up the the EZIV before I purchase my second cart.

[Souzar]

Will there be an addendum to the review, maybe with regards to the DS lite perhaps?

[smudgeone]

Lately I've been thinking that this would be a great addition to my slowly growing ds collection (only 8 games vs. NGC count of 28).

My only question is how the miniSD card sticks in. I havent seen any mention of how it stays in. Is it a secure clicking mechanism like the DS cart slot or is is just a simple push-till-it-clicks setup?

The only reason Im asking is that this would look a lot better than anything else sitting a mile away from the body of the DS Light, but I really am not interested in losing a $70 memory card.

[NeoGh0zt]

Lately I've been thinking that this would be a great addition to my slowly growing ds collection (only 8 games vs. NGC count of 28).

My only question is how the miniSD card sticks in. I havent seen any mention of how it stays in. Is it a secure clicking mechanism like the DS cart slot or is is just a simple push-till-it-clicks setup?

The only reason Im asking is that this would look a lot better than anything else sitting a mile away from the body of the DS Light, but I really am not interested in losing a $70 memory card.

A buddy of mine sent me a pic. as I too have been pondering my options for my newly acquired DS LIte. It does stick out quite a bit but since there is no talk of a M3 Lite and Ive heard the next M3 is going to be M3 Pro with NO GBA support, seems the m3 Mini Sd is the best thing to get your DS/GBA game all-in-one.

[pspguru]

how well will an A -DATA 60X 1GB mini SD card work with this?

any one have pics with this and a ds lite im curious to see how far it sticks out

[Kraton]

nice review

I got today few hours ago my M3 MiniSD and its MUCH smaller than the M3 what u got. Pack was same and i got disc and all stuff in it. That adapter looks same but its only lil bit smaller and i cant even see it when i put it to DS :\

I can even take some pics. And it's not fake. that's just smaller o_0

EDIT// HERE

More pics later

[ronyap28]

May I ask, if Micros SD Cards are the same as mini SD Cards? I have heard about the M3 Lite, and was thinking of getting it. It says it uses the microSD Card. Not sure if it is the same as MiniSD. Thanks Btw, Im new ^^

[Kraton]

May I ask, if Micros SD Cards are the same as mini SD Cards? I have heard about the M3 Lite, and was thinking of getting it. It says it uses the microSD Card. Not sure if it is the same as MiniSD. Thanks Btw, Im new ^^

Micro SD is different. It's smaller and works only in Lite.

[ronyap28]

MicroSD only works on the Lite?! They could have at least made it compatible with the DS Classical. Im not getting the classical one anyways

[Kraton]

MicroSD only works on the Lite?! They could have at least made it compatible with the DS Classical. Im not getting the classical one anyways

yep. MicroSD works only on M3 Lite and M3 Lite works only on Nintendo DS Lite. But it's possible to use MicroSD on M3 miniSD if you have MiniSD adapter for MicroSD.

[kensuhan]

Hi, I have NDS and i wanted to know if i buy this :

http://www.divineo.com/cgi-bin/div-us/dd-ds-m3minia

What else will i need to play ds backup

Thx.

[lenselijer]

superkey and minisd card

[Baha]

Hi, I just recently bought a Nintendo DS Lite and I've been reading up on flashcarts for a few days now. As it stands I'm interested in getting an M3 Mini SD + Superkey. My question is, will the M3 Mini SD work on a DS Lite and what should I look for when buying a Mini SD so that it can load and read at fast speeds?

[bigosmallo]

Great review, good job.