Hacking M3 DS Real 4.3c X or CycloDS Evolution 1.54

[da1writer]

Hi there guys, I've been hovering around these forums/threads for a couple days now and thought I'd join already. First post of course and already got a question for you guys, it's mentioned in the very title of this new thread. Before you answer though, let me explain a bit of myself and the situation.

I've been in the hacking/homebrew scene for a while...
A) Modded my Xbox (soldering)
B) Hacked/replaced parts on my 360 (computer was also involved)
C) 5 of my PSP's were hacked to 5.0 M33-6 (sold 4 of these recently on ebay)

I recently had a friend show me what he had done to his DS and I thought it was pretty cool. He showed me he could carry tons of GBA and DS game with him where he went and showed me emulators and homebrew as well. I liked how it was hackable like my PSP was and so I bought my very first DS yesterday. I went to my friend for help and asked for links to update the firmware into custom Firmware (whether through software or downgrading) and he shook his head. I then thought it was a mod chip I would have to buy and he shook his head again... showed me a card (R4 I believe) and something that looked like a GBA cartridge. He said I needed these and that's it, and advised two brands because his was "old" . The two he mentioned (and said were best) were the:

M3 DS Real or CycloDS Evolution

These two though have got me kinda worried...
I've been doing some research and alot have said (reviewers) the CycloDS Evolution is the better pick but some things have me shying away from the idea...
1) No updates since March (version 1.54)
2) Forums have been down since March
3) No one has heard from the team for a long time...
4) Chinatown wars has a bit of freezing issues (unless you grab this ARM9 fix that I hear...)
5) You need to get EZ 3in1 (sold separately) but only the Plus is available and only has partial support right now

On the other hand, M3 DS Real recently got a update just 2 days ago with 4.3c and includes a rumble/GBA pack with purchase (unlike the CycloDS Evolution).
Doesn't mean it doesn't have it's faults either.
1) Slowdown feature pauses games?
2) Confusing different types of firmwares
3) Real website out of date and wiki is strange to work with...
4) RTS buggy
5) Games like TWEWY and a few other games have issues/freezing

I would like to play ScummVM and GBA games (and do other things requiring more ram) but the ram/GBA pack is needed.
In order to do that for CycloDS Evolution, I would have to buy the EZ 3in1 along with the CycloDS... making the total $70.
In order to do that for M3 DS Real... well, depending on the bundle you grab... it's already ready at $45 altogether (from them).

This is my first time "soft-modding" a console, so please be open and honest...
Which one would you recommend?

 

[Big Green]

It depends on how much money you are willing to spend. You shouldn't be too worried about the Cyclo firmware updates since they happen just about every month. They have much higher compatability than the M3, but there price as you see is way higher. The only reason to get it is for Real Time Save and Real time Guide(an ability that lets you read a text file while playing a game like FAQs and guides). There is also slo mo, but thats in a lot of other cards.

You can load GBA games off of just about every cart with the EZ flash 3 in 1 if you have a homebrew program that allows you to do it. The only thing with the Cyclo is that it allows you to do it natively so it cuts the middle man out.

Also the battery in the EZ 3 in 1 is known to go dry in a relatively short amount of time. That makes it so you can't save games, but you could just open it up an d replace the battery. It seems like you have experience with that type of thing so it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[da1writer]

It depends on how much money you are willing to spend. You shouldn't be too worried about the Cyclo firmware updates since they happen just about every month. They have much higher compatability than the M3, but there price as you see is way higher. The only reason to get it is for Real Time Save and Real time Guide(an ability that lets you read a text file while playing a game like FAQs and guides). There is also slo mo, but thats in a lot of other cards.

You can load GBA games off of just about every cart with the EZ flash 3 in 1 if you have a homebrew program that allows you to do it. The only thing with the Cyclo is that it allows you to do it natively so it cuts the middle man out.

Also the battery in the EZ 3 in 1 is known to go dry in a relatively short amount of time. That makes it so you can't save games, but you could just open it up an d replace the battery. It seems like you have experience with that type of thing so it shouldn't be too bad.

Doesn't the M3 have real time save?
I also have 2 other devices that read TXT/PDF files, so Real Time guide is not "important" to me (sorta).
The EZ 3 in 1 (plus) only has partial support with the CycloDS, should that be a concern.
Don't care too much about the opera browser or rumble (slightly do),
Expansion is all I would need.

I'm looking for good DS and GBA support, with great Homebrew/emulator (new/best ones) compatibility.
Price isn't a problem but...

 

[BoxShot]

Yes the M3 has real time save. I believe that both carts have the same compatabilty with the emulators. If you use the M3 use the touchpod firmware for homebrew. Basically with what you just said you want the M3 would be a cheaper choice to fill your needs. A Cyclo would be more than you need.

 

[da1writer]

Yes the M3 has real time save. I believe that both carts have the same compatabilty with the emulators. If you use the M3 use the touchpod firmware for homebrew. Basically with what you just said you want the M3 would be a cheaper choice to fill your needs. A Cyclo would be more than you need.

Well Toni Plutonij is a cool guy on this forum, convinced me to get a M3 DS Real (along with the few of you guys who also helped in my decision

! )
Thanks goes out to everyone that help me!

 

[rasputin]

M3 has a crap cheat engine, avoid untill they fix it, it causes havoc with the latest game protections.

 

[Big Green]

Yes the M3 has real time save. I believe that both carts have the same compatabilty with the emulators. If you use the M3 use the touchpod firmware for homebrew. Basically with what you just said you want the M3 would be a cheaper choice to fill your needs. A Cyclo would be more than you need.

Well Toni Plutonij is a cool guy on this forum, convinced me to get a M3 DS Real (along with the few of you guys who also helped in my decision

! )
Thanks goes out to everyone that help me!

You shouldn't get the M3 if thats what you are looking for. You should get an Acekard, Edge or CycloDS if its mainly compatibility that you want. Those have the highest rate of compatibility. The Edge costs like 3 times less than the CycloDS and you could get it for about 15 dollars at Dealextreme.com The Acekard 2 is less than the Edge. The CycloDS has the build in EZ 3 in 1 support, but all the cards support it with the e z 3 in 1 homebrew loader on this site. It shouldn't be what you base you decision on. The Edge and Acekard lack Real Time Saving. The Edge has a built in slow motion mode for DS games just like the Cyclo though.

Here are a bunch of reviews for the different flash carts. There are much more details in it.

http://gbatemp.net/index.php?dynamic=8

Also don't base your decision off of the Acekard v1 since thats not even made anymore and its real bad. The Acekard 2 and the Acekard 2i are what you should be judging off of.(The 2i works on DS and DS lites as well as dsi.

 

[Big Green]

oh also, I think that the Edge natively supports the EZ 3 in 1 as well with the newest firmware update so that would mean that the Acekard Edge and Cyclo all support it.

 

[tj_cool]

all flashcarts should have 100% rom compatibility now, so thats not really a thing to decide what one you want.
By the way, the reviews are outdated