Hacking [Guide] Differences between CFW's

[koffieleut]

Because I couldn't find a guide or page on the different CFW that are out there.
I use RX and don't have much experience on other CFW, but it makes me curious what the differences are. So I made a list using the search function on this site, if it's outdated info please let me know in the reply section also if I missed CFW's, please tell it in the answer section with a link for the information of that CFW.
Let's make an awesome CFW guide all

And here is a great installing guide for different CFW
https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-how-to-install-a-cfw-on-a-9-0-9-2-n3ds-without-cn-oot.398394/

Cakes CFW (o3ds CFW 10.3, n3ds 9.6+)

For users:

Features right now:

• SPIDER 4.x-9.2, MSET 4.x and 6.x and Ninjhax 1/2 support for old 3ds/xl/2ds.
• MSET 4.x and Ninjhax 1/2 support for new 3ds/xl.
• Options to boot to sysNAND (for GBA/DSi) and emuNAND up to 10.2 on old 3ds, or 9.5 on new 3ds.
• Emunand supports redNAND and GW emuNANDs.
• Sig patches
• Patches are contained in "cakes". The .cake format is a simple format that bundles FIRM patches, and tells the patcher what those patches need to work.

Autoboot.

• Supports multiple NATIVE_FIRM versions.

ReiNand O3DS 10.3 N3DS 10.5
What is ReiNand?:
ReiNand is a minimalistic custom firmware for N3DS exclusively. I didn't want tons of complex code, just something that load and patches firm basically.

Features:

• Ninjhax 2.5 and MSET support!
• Sig checks disabled
• Basic ARM9 thread capabilies (screenshot and RAM dumping)
• Emunand up to the latest firmware! (with 'Rei' version string)
• Sysnand mode with sig checks disabled, using NAND firm0 [Start + B at menu]

ReiNand Mod [O3DS/N3DS/SysNAND]
Supports 10.5 on both o3ds and n3ds thanks to aurora.

NTR CFW 3.2
A CFW and a great add-on for the different cfw

NTR CFW is a custom firmware designed for New 3DS, with such features:

• Region Free. Region-locked games could be launched in Home Menu directly.
• CFW Menu. Press X+Y in games or Home Menu will show the NTR CFW Menu, to take screenshots or interact with plugins.
• Plugin support. Users can develop or install their own plugins with libntrplg, plugin will run in the background and is callable via NTR CFW Menu. (screenshot is a built-in plugin now)
• Realtime Debugger. Debugging your plugins on wi-fi directly with NTR Debugger: http://gbatemp.net/threads/release-...st-public-real-time-debugger-for-n3ds.384858/
• Savegame Manager. Manage your savegame of genuine gamecards, support migrating savegame from NTR 1.0 to NTR 2.x: http://gbatemp.net/threads/release-savegame-manager-plugin-for-ntr-1-0-2-0.384865/

Real-Time Save feature(Read the following messages before using it)
This is an experimental feature and have some limits in current version:
1 For most games, save/load must be started in the game scene, do not save/load in movies, menus, etc.
2 The real-time savegame is only valid in current instance of game, the savegame won't be loadable after the game was closed or console was turned off.
3 Load/save must be performed in the Home Menu while the game is paused, do not return to game until the operation is finished. (it may take about 30 seconds)
4 Some games are totally incompatible with this feature.

RXTools:
Remember O3DS for 10.5, N3DS is still being worked on.
Features :

• Full and free EmuNAND support, up to the latest version, O3DS 10.4 (N3DS still worked on)
• Access to the eShop and to online playing (requires an updated emuNAND)
• Support for 100% of the games (newer ones will require emuNAND)
• Support for sysNAND, in case an emuNAND is not found
• Support for the latest emuNAND version
• Signatures Checks disabled
• Support for installing FBI (a CIA Manager) in both emuNAND and sysNAND
• Dynamic ram dumping (just for debug purpouses)
• Support for sysNAND, in case an emuNAND is not found
• AGB (GBA Virtual Console) Support
• TWL (DSiWare/DS Cardriges) Support

Missing features on n3ds:

• DevMode
• AGB and TWL patches
• Initial configuration
• Regionfree patch

 

[iAqua]

rxTools?

 

[wormdood]

most people dont know this and i am tired of explaining it so can you include this info

you can use rxTools (some features still don't work on n3ds, refer to this : https://gbatemp.net/posts/5705403/).

taken this n3ds guide [Tutorial] How-to install a CFW on a 9.0-9.2 N3DS without CN/OOT

 

[daxtsu]

It's also worth mentioning that Reinand and Cakes both support emuNAND 9.6+ for N3DS, while RxTools is still working on it.

 

[kehkou]

Good thread! Thanx!

 

[wormdood]

and the fact that ntr is not really a cfw choice per-say because you can run it on top of another cfw and combine there features . . . so even though it is a cfw it is more like a bonus for your existing cfw

 

[koffieleut]

most people dont know this and i am tired of explaining it so can you include this info taken this n3ds guide [Tutorial] How-to install a CFW on a 9.0-9.2 N3DS without CN/OOT

The Tutorial or the post that you linked in the reply?

 

[wormdood]

The Tutorial or the post that you linked in the reply?

the post it list features of rxtools that are not available on a n3ds

Missing features on n3ds:
-DevMode
-AGB and TWL patches
-Initial configuration
-Regionfree patch

it is entirely possible that all of these things will be fixed in the official release of rxtools 3.0 (soon)

 

[koffieleut]

fixed, thanks for the info. We have to make the best of it

 

[Rail Fighter]

So, RXTools is the way to go or I will be fine installing cias in the other ones?

 

[VerseHell]

On O3DS : rxTools
On N3DS : Reinand or Cakes until rxTools supports emunand 9.6+.

 

[wormdood]

RXTools: A CFW and a great add-on for the different cfw

in my opinion this line should be applied to ntr not rxtools

 

[koffieleut]

True that, my mistake

 

[ShadowOne333]

So what's the best option as of today that includes:
a) Latest emunand for N3DS.
b) Booting DS and DSiWare from emunand
?

 

[koffieleut]

N3ds Reinand.
For Dsiware linked nands, to bad it won't start 4 swords though

 

[ShadowOne333]

N3ds Reinand.
For Dsiware linked nands, to bad it won't start 4 swords though

Does it boot DS carts from emunand too?

 

[Cap'n Josh]

Does it boot DS carts from emunand too?

It sure does! You can run cias from your SD card for 3DS games, and a cheap R4 for DS games.

Be careful, though. It will clear out your MSET (if you have one) and kick you back to sysnand (unless you have coldboot from menuhax) when you exit the DS cart.

 

[ShadowOne333]

It sure does! You can run cias from your SD card for 3DS games, and a cheap R4 for DS games.

Be careful, though. It will clear out your MSET (if you have one) and kick you back to sysnand (unless you have coldboot from menuhax) when you exit the DS cart.

Oh great, that's within emunand right?
I might give it a try then.

 

[koffieleut]

Have fun, I will update this guide with the last knowledge from gbatemp .

Can someone give me an update on cakes and reinand? I don't feel like going through 8 pages because of the downgrade questions

I know rei works on n3ds on 10.4 but what about o3ds, and I didn't read a lot about cakes last days.

 

[daxtsu]

Have fun, I will update this guide with the last knowledge from gbatemp .

Can someone give me an update on cakes and reinand? I don't feel like going through 8 pages because of the downgrade questions

I know rei works on n3ds on 10.4 but what about o3ds, and I didn't read a lot about cakes last days.

ReiNand is still N3DS only, except there's an unofficial fork by Aurora Wright that supports O3DS.