M3
From PHWiki
The M3, also knows as GBA Movie Player version 3, is a DS and GBA Flash Card, using CompactFlash or Secure Digital cards as a storage medium. The M3 is the 3rd version of the GBA Movie Player. It has 32MB of built-in RAM for playing GBA and DS roms.
Contents |
Technical Specifications
- SDRAM for GBA and DS roms, 256 Mbit (M3 Perfect) or 32 Mbit (M3 Pro)
- 8Mbit SRAM for GBA Saves and DS Saves (not confirmed)
- Built-In RTC
- Uses Type I CompactFlash, Secure Digital or Mini-SD and Micro-SD (not yet released) cards for storage
GBA Compatibility
The M3 supports any GBA rom up to 256Mbit (32MByte) without patching. GBA roms can only be run in GBA mode. To access GBA mode, press start at the main menu while in DS mode.
DS Compatibility
A PassMe or NoPass device is required to use the M3 in DS mode. M3 cards are often sold bundled with a Passkey brand PassMe device or a PassCard 3 brand NoPass device. WifiMe does not work with the M3.[1]
Homebrew
Virtually every DS homebrew that reads files from the memory card (such as MoonShell or DSOrganize) supports the M3 CF, as it is so similar to the GBAMP v2 CF. Support for the various M3 SD adapters in homebrew is more spotty and depends on the version of the file system library used in the program.
Piracy
The M3 supports DS roms over 256Mbit (32MByte) by streaming them directly from the CF or SD card. All commercial DS roms must be patched before they will run. The manufacturer released patching software (available on their website) which works on most roms.
Most DS roms can save directly to the CF/SD card for easy storage and backup.
A DS rom compatibility list can be found at the Unofficial M3 Wiki
Another compatibility list in Italian at gbarl.it
Saving Games
The M3 has built-in SRAM capable of saving any DS and GBA game. When loading games onto the flash card using the game manager software, a new file is created in a directory, based on the game system of origin of said game (NDSSAVE or GAMESAVE for DS and GBA respectively). The savefile will be named after the rom file loaded into the game manager software, and from there the sram will be automatically saved into that file, on the media card. When you play that rom again, you will be given the option of loading the backed up save.
Movie Capabilities
The primary function of the original GBA Movie Player was, as the name implies, to play movie and audio files, and not for development or piracy purposes. The M3 includes all of the original functionality of the V1 and V2 models, in addtion to including support for the Nintendo DS' native, and larger, resolution of 256x192.
Versions
CompactFlash
The M3 CF was made available in 2005. It is physically rather large and sticks out of the GBA or DS quite a bit.
SecureDigital
The M3 SD was delayed until late 2005. The first version was the same size as the previous M3 CF, but it was quickly replaced by a smaller SD version by the end of February 2006. The new slim version is slightly smaller than the Supercard, and has the SD card slot on the side.
Mini SecureDigital
The Mini SD version is the second smallest physically.
Micro SecureDigital
M3 Lite fits in the DS Lite GBA cart slot perfectly without sticking out at all.
All the SD versions are technically identical, only the physical size differs.
Battery Drain
Since the M3 has onboard RAM it is likely to have battery drain issues similar to those of Supercard, particularly when used to play GBA roms. However, this has not been verified. The manufacturers themselves claim that their since their design uses static instead of dynamic RAM, the current draw is much lower (as the RAM does not need a constant refresh signal). They claim a current draw of 32mA during GBA play vs 115mA for the "similar Adapter".
The manufacturer's claim that the card uses Static RAM is highly suspicious. NDSTech Wiki claims that the M3 uses SDRAM, not Static RAM. Static RAM prices are approximately $20 per 512KB, so if the M3 really did use Static RAM, the RAM alone would cost over $1000. So more than likely, the "static RAM" in the M3 is a pseudo-static RAM, yet of a more efficient design than the RAM used in Supercard.
See Also
GBA Movie Player, G6 Flash, Supercard
