Hacking CFW noob questions

FrozenDragon150

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Title should give you a hint about the topic.

Since most of the knowledge about the CFW is dispersed/outdated, i would like to ask some questions:

-What EXACTLY is this 3DS Custom Firmware? Is it like Emunand? Or do i need Emunand to use it?

-Why does it say on the 'complete' guide that i need an eshop game or a 3ds flashcart with eshop access?

-What can i do with the CFW? Can i play 3ds ROMs?

- What exaactly is a CIA? Do i need that?

-If the CFW is like the Emunand, can i update? Can i access eshop and dlc? If it is not, and i need Emunand to use it, can i update the emunand and use the aforementioned features?

-and lastly, what are the physical requirements for setting up the CFW? I have a DS mode flashcart (R4i SDHC Dual Core) and a 4 GB SD card (it came with my 3DS) but i don't have a gateway 3ds, 'cause i"m torn since there would be no point in having both the gateway and cfw if they both do the same things, do i need one?

Thanks in advance
 

daxtsu

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What EXACTLY is this 3DS Custom Firmware? Is it like Emunand? Or do i need Emunand to use it?

It's basically emuNAND without requiring Gateway or a 3DS flashcart. It doesn't yet support updating to anything past 4.5.


-Why does it say on the 'complete' guide that i need an eshop game or a 3ds flashcart with eshop access?

It's an outdated message that needs to be removed.

-What can i do with the CFW? Can i play 3ds ROMs?

Anything a 4.5 3DS can do, and yes it can play 3DS games (repacked in CIA format). You can even play some 6.X games (ALBW, Pokémon X/Y (though I can't seem to get saving working in Y USA...)). Also, you can't use it to play retail carts with higher firmwares at this point.

- What exaactly is a CIA? Do i need that?

It stands for CTR Importable Archive. Basically it's like a .wad file for the Wii. It contains info needed to install 3DS applications/games onto your SD card. You need to convert .3DS format files to .CIA if you want to run them on this CFW.

-If the CFW is like the Emunand, can i update? Can i access eshop and dlc? If it is not, and i need Emunand to use it, can i update the emunand and use the aforementioned features?

As I said above, no, you can't update, thus no eShop access at this point (you could with Gateway + CFW, but with the leaked free CFW, not yet).

-and lastly, what are the physical requirements for setting up the CFW? I have a DS mode flashcart (R4i SDHC Dual Core) and a 4 GB SD card (it came with my 3DS) but i don't have a gateway 3ds, 'cause i"m torn since there would be no point in having both the gateway and cfw if they both do the same things, do i need one?

Just a 3DS on 4.5 or below, and some sort of DS-mode flashcart. No Gateway needed unless you want higher firmware versions of emuNAND right now and can't wait for possible future developments.

Basically, it boils down to this:
Gateway + CFW:
-Everything gateway can do up to this point, plus the ability to install CIA files
-Higher compatibility with newer games

Leaked CFW on its own:
-Everything a 4.5 3DS can do on its own, plus the ability to install CIA files
-Some compatibility with 6.x games (it's still new, but people have reported ALBW, Pokemon, and I think Fantasy Life to be working).
 

CIH137

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Nice post daxtsu. I didn't understand the limitations of not having gateway, but now I do.


So I guess I have a question of my own. How exactly does the .cia work with DLC? Will it just install on my 3ds and then the next time I play my rom, the rom will reconize I have the file or will I need to start a fresh rom? Basically I want to keep my save game.
 

RJ Sly 95

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I had some similar concerns too. Thanks daxstu :)

If I understand correctly, as a clone cart owner I can do the same things plus actually more, as playing Pokemon (and being able to save) and running homebrews. Right?

EDIT: completely skipped the part where you said that you can't save in Pokemon. :/
 

FrozenDragon150

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Thanks, that cleared a lot of stuff up.

So, should i buy a gateway 3ds or stick to the cfw? The gateway 3ds would really be a better choice since it has more support, but by buying it i would have to wait another year to get my much awaited HTC One X :(...

Will the CFW get more updates, does it have any hope of eventually being able to match the Gateway 3ds in capabilities?
 

CIH137

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Thanks, that cleared a lot of stuff up.

So, should i buy a gateway 3ds or stick to the cfw? The gateway 3ds would really be a better choice since it has more support, but by buying it i would have to wait another year to get my much awaited HTC One X :(...

Will the CFW get more updates, does it have any hope of eventually being able to match the Gateway 3ds in capabilities?



Personally, I love gateway, but things are happening fast here the past couple days. I would say if there is not a pressing urge to play some of the latest games, I would stick with beating/playing all the games cfw has to offer and then see where the 3ds is at that point.
 

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