Just because this is getting fucking ridiculous, I'm keeping track of every announced/released Slot1 flash kit in this topic. I'm not even going to attempt comparison or anything, this is just a list with a few notes of particularly distinguising features. just because i havent made any notes by a certain flash cart doesn't mean i think it's crap, it just means i'm lazy.
CURRENT CARDS
These are cards that are still being supported by their manufacturers, or at least by significant unofficial development. Unless otherwise stated, all are MicroSD based with SDHC support, support homebrew with automatic DLDI patching and require no additional linker hardware or PC-side patching/transfer software (this has obviously been the standard for a good few years, but it wasn't when I first compiled this list)
Supercard series (http://www.supercard.sc)
iPlayer (http://www.dsiplayer.com/) - Plays common video formats without converting using an extra on-board CPU, also compatible with homebrew (including a GBA emulator that utilises said CPU). Not technically a flash cart in the traditional sense since it doesn't run commercial ROMs. DSi compatible.
The New R4 Clones There are so many of these that I'm not even going to attempt a comprehensive list (unless i get bored), but basically anything currently on the market bearing the "R4" name falls into this category. None of these cards are made by the original R4 team. Numerous manufacturers claim to have one or more former members or some kind of official authorisation to continue using the name, but all these claims should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. Most are now based on some other flash cart's hardware (Acekard 2, EZ-Flash V, DSTT and more) so are not "R4 clones" in the strictest sense of the word, but they usually attempt to replicate R4's familiar interface and popular branding while taking advantage of the higher compatibility of the copied hardware. They do add some features over the original R4, usually DSi and SDHC support, but should probably be avoided.
STATUS UNKNOWN
These cards may or may not still be supported, I'm not entirely sure
Neoflash R6 series http://www.neoflash.com -- Last update March 09
These are all presumed (by me) to be no longer supported - if you know differently let me know
DSGBA Manufactured Cards
CURRENT CARDS
These are cards that are still being supported by their manufacturers, or at least by significant unofficial development. Unless otherwise stated, all are MicroSD based with SDHC support, support homebrew with automatic DLDI patching and require no additional linker hardware or PC-side patching/transfer software (this has obviously been the standard for a good few years, but it wasn't when I first compiled this list)
Supercard series (http://www.supercard.sc)
- Supercard DSONE (AKA Supercard OS One) - can either use clean ROMs or patch for reset functionality etc (this is handled on card now, ext patcher never released). Has real time save, real time game guide, real time cheats, homebrew soft reset etc, but GUI isnt exactly highly regarded. First version did not support SDHC, current version does.
* To be updated with "Evolution OS" based on DS Two's OS. - Supercard DSONEi - Same as above with DSi support. Comes with USB flasher (USB port used for power only) to update internal firmware in case of a DSi update blocking compatibility.
- Supercard DSTWO - Not yet released. Will feature on-board CPU similar to iPlayer, allowing it to run SNES and GBA emulators among other things.
- Acekard RPG - built-in 1GB flash + MicroSD(HC) slot, open-source OS. Note that this card is no longer manufactured or supported by acekard but I'm keeping it in the "alive" section thanks to continuing support AKAIO and WoodRPG
- Acekard2 - closed-source Acekard RPG without built-in memory, basically. nice GUI, but lacks some advanced features like real-time save. AKAIO (semi-unofficial firmware) features a large number of compatibility fixes, UI improvements, bug fixes, support for wifi loader updates and other stuff
- Acekard 2i - same as Acekard 2 with DSi support. internal firmware can be updated using a supported DS.
- EZ-Flash V
- EZ-Flash V Plus
- EZ-Flash Vi ("i" as in DSi, not VI as in 6)
- DSTT (aka TTDS, DS TopToy, NEO TTDS).
- DSTTi - a DSi-compatible update version.
- EDGE - quite similar to CycloDS
- iEDGE - DSi-compatible version.
- M3DS Real
* M3DS Real with URL "m3adaptes.com" is fake (DSTT clone) - M3i Zero - DSi compatible version of M3DS Real. Update internal firmware via USB cable (used for power only)
* M3i Upgrade & M3i SDHC are fake (Upgrade=DSTTi clone again, SDHC=...something else clone) - iTouchDS
- iTouchDS2 - DSi compatible, + real time save
- G6 DS - built-in flash, uses USB 2.0 linker http://www.g6flash.com
iPlayer (http://www.dsiplayer.com/) - Plays common video formats without converting using an extra on-board CPU, also compatible with homebrew (including a GBA emulator that utilises said CPU). Not technically a flash cart in the traditional sense since it doesn't run commercial ROMs. DSi compatible.
The New R4 Clones There are so many of these that I'm not even going to attempt a comprehensive list (unless i get bored), but basically anything currently on the market bearing the "R4" name falls into this category. None of these cards are made by the original R4 team. Numerous manufacturers claim to have one or more former members or some kind of official authorisation to continue using the name, but all these claims should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. Most are now based on some other flash cart's hardware (Acekard 2, EZ-Flash V, DSTT and more) so are not "R4 clones" in the strictest sense of the word, but they usually attempt to replicate R4's familiar interface and popular branding while taking advantage of the higher compatibility of the copied hardware. They do add some features over the original R4, usually DSi and SDHC support, but should probably be avoided.
STATUS UNKNOWN
These cards may or may not still be supported, I'm not entirely sure
Neoflash R6 series http://www.neoflash.com -- Last update March 09
- MagicKey R6 Silver - MicroSD-based, "2008" version supports SDHC
- MagicKey R6 Gold - MicroSD-based, built in motion sensor, "2008" version supports SDHC
- R6 Xtreme 64G - Built in flash memory (USB mass storage)
These are all presumed (by me) to be no longer supported - if you know differently let me know
DSGBA Manufactured Cards
- Ultra FlashPass = Ninjapass (original - not X9) = NDS1:1 - first Slot-1 card, poor compatibility, many clones/OEM versions. 512Mbit memory initially, also available in 256Mbit(why?) and 1GBit. http://www.ndsgba.net / http://www.dsgba.com
- Ultra FlashPass EX (1Gbit, 4GBit and earlier versions) = GD Flash - no reviews so far? higher capacity than original Ultra, claims near-perfect compatibility. requires PC client software. Later versions come with GBA-slot linker (FireLine). Seems to have been largely superseded by N-Card. http://www.ndsgba.net / http://www.dsgba.com
* there also exists a GBA flashcart called GD-Flash, it doesn't have any DS rom/homebrew support - N-CARD = Ultra FlashPass EX (current version) = DS Linker = DS Fire = Express Card = Neoflash MK5 GIGA system = E.fox = Fake R4 = DS-Key-- built-in up to 2GByte (16GBit) (MK5 claims sizes up to 64Gbit/8Gbyte, but these aren't available yet). initial screenshots of N-Card menu and PC software were identical to old UFPEX/GD, but the released version has no PC client (supports mass storage, drag and drop) and has a completely different menu (originally 3D cubes, "DSYSTEM", now replaced by "X-Menu"). reports of 100% compatibility. comes with GBA-slot USB linker. (DSLinker version is distributed by romman/Supercard team, but not designed/manufactured by them) - http://www.superdslink.com / http://www.dslinker.com / http://www.dsfirelink.net / http://www.xpcard.com.cn/ / http://www.neoflash.com / http://www.dskey.com
* Later version of 2, 8 and 16 Gbit (1 GByte) Ultra FlashPass EX is the same as N-Card in terms of menus and drag/drop compatibility. i'm not sure if the older versions are firmware upgradeable.
* DSFLASH 2 is a clone of one of the above, I'm not sure which
* some later versions of this card come with a DS Lite sized linker so aren't compatible with the original DS
* F-Card is the same as N-Card but it comes with a USB writer instead of the GBA-slot one - http://www.dsfirelink.com - Ultra FlashPass TF - MicroSD based. cancelled probably.http://www.ndsgba.net
- NinjaDS - Second removable media based Slot 1. SD version, quite large. http://www.ninjads.com
- MicroNinja = Media Gamer - MicroSD version of NinjaDS. http://www.ninjads.com / http://www.mediagamer2.com
- Acekard - MicroSD, requires its own file system imitating the DS's. Claimed 100% compatible but not perfect speed, esp. with slow MicroSD. http://www.acekard.com
- Acekard + - MicroSD, dual FAT/AKFS support, now works with homebrew via DLDI. apparently still 100% compatible (claimed on release). http://www.acekard.com
- R4 = M3DS Simply - MicroSD, clean roms, drag + drop. Reports of 100% compatibility so far (lol).
