My Review of the M3i Zero card :)

Yes there's a couple of reviews already but here is mine .....


....Ok so my M3 ZERO review card arrived today!!!.....

Here's My own review ...

note:- (LOTS OF IMAGES to follow so dial up users BEWARE may take some time loading!!!)

Spoiler!

First some screen shots ......


FRONT of card in package


http://img2.raidpic.com/75Box_Front.jpg


BACK of package


http://img7.raidpic.com/15Box_Back.jpg



Unboxing the card It comes with a Mini Usb Card Reader / Update Cable and Dsi/Dsl/Ds Flash card

http://img3.raidpic.com/73reader_card_cable.jpg


http://img4.raidpic.com/52reader_card_cable_back.jpg

Mini Card reader

http://img4.raidpic.com/75Mini_sd_reader.jpg


It Also comes with the All new Usb Hardware Update Cable

(It probably has a cool fangled dongle type name but I just called it a Hardware Update Cable as thats what it does!)

http://img4.raidpic.com/39update_cable.jpg


FRONT of card

http://img3.raidpic.com/29card_front.jpg

BACK of card

http://img3.raidpic.com/87card_rear.jpg


No instructions included no disk .... so you will need to goto the M3 website or other site such as this to download the latest Dat

(Hardware update file) and Loader Kernel files for Sakura/Touchpod.

Main M3 website www.m3adapter.com

Handheld Sources website (M3 updates and Kernels) Link



Linfoxdomain Loader Archives link

Official guide on Handheld Sources link


How to load the Core data file to update the cards hardware..... as follows (Note this is a one time action unless The M3 Zero

has been blocked by a Dsi Firmware update!) ........

First Download this file Link @ Handheld Sources


1. unpack the zip file with winzip/winrar/winace whatever you use and you will see this file ...

http://img3.raidpic.com/12FCORE_DAT.jpg

Now copy and paste or drag the F_core.dat , onto your mem cards root folder. (Note: this is the first folder you see when you

open your mem card in MYCOMPUTER!)

http://img7.raidpic.com/85DRAG_THE_DAT.jpg

(note your icon may look different ..my dat files are associated with a burn program I use so looks like a disk so long as the file

name is the same you have the correct file!)

2) Once this file is copied over you can put your mem card into your M3i ZERO card.


3) Connect the Hardware update cable into the M3i ZERO card ... you do this with the metallic shiney edge of the connector side

upwards (there is a handy guide Arrow <==** on one side of the cable so you will know which way up its supposed to be!

...Hold the M3i ZERO card flipped over with the Sticker faced Downwards *** so you can see the back and connect the cable (see

images)

**http://img2.raidpic.com/90update_cable_close_up.jpg

***http://img5.raidpic.com/43Card_connected_to_cabl.jpg


4. Now plug the USB end of the Hardware update cable into your PC to power up the card ...

5. Your M3i should blink with a Blue or Red LED several times for about 10-20 seconds or so.... this is normal! ...

When it stops blinking, your M3i has been activated!

6. You can now remove the Hardware update cable from your PC and your M3i ZERO and then put your mem card back into your

card reader and delete the F_core.dat file as its no longer needed ...

(If the M3 team release a new core update file .... you will need to update .....repeat the update process from step 1 again

but no doubt this will only need to be re done if they try and block flash cards with a new DSi firmware update)

Part 2 The Loaders/System files Installation

Spoiler!

OK so now on with the review ....

For this test I will be using a 2gb Kingston micro sd ....

download of the latest Update Core Dat file can be obtained from ....

hand held sources (You may have already done so in

the steps above)

current version of the Core Dat file at this time is ..

M3i Zero Core data file V1.0 (17-07-2009)


current version of the System files/ loaders at time of testing are...

The ... M3Sakura System and PC tools (02-06-2009) with RT Save added! This includes M3Sakura Ver1.40 X The Europe/USA

Version and Touchpod V4.3f X(Europe/USA) (although touchpod latest is V4.3h X (Europe/USA)the bundled Sakura/Touchpod

from handheld sources is older :()


Download the latest Sakura and Touch pod you will find an exe file in the zip this is the Installer for the DSM tools and the also the

Sakura/Touch pod system installer files are installed from the DSM tools program once installed.

1) Install the DSM tools from the Installer exe and then run the tools program from the icon on the desktop ..

You will see the following window ..

http://img7.raidpic.com/74sakura_start_button.jpg

2) Once it has loaded make sure you have your mem card in your Mini Sd reader in your usb port and click where it says Setup

Sakura (it should automatically detect the correct port of your mem card! ..If not you need to select it from the dropdown and then click apply) (see image)

http://img2.raidpic.com/96install_system_files_t.jpg

This will start copying the Sakura setup system files to your mem card ....

http://img4.raidpic.com/56process_of_copying.jpg


When its finished it should give you a folder called SYSTEM on your mem card these are the loaders and system files needed to

run games etc from your M3i Zero card (btw this part of the install instructions are the same as M3 REAL! )

http://img7.raidpic.com/97system_files.jpg

You can now make a folder on your mem card called GAMES and put all your NDS game and homebrew roms in this or other

folders you may create :)

Thats basically it you can now remove your mem card from the mini card reader put it in your Ds/Dsl/Dsi (note when it first boots up

you can select SAKURA or TOUCHPOD to switch them hold (A) on bootup of your M3i/M3 REAL card)

Games tested ....

Spoiler!

# (known to of been problematic games with other cards)

42 All Time Classics. Works
#Star Wars Clone Wars Jedi Alliance Works
Pokemon Diamond (USA) Works
Pokemon Platinum (USA) Works
Ultimate Game Room (USA) Works
#Army Men Soldiers of Misfortune Works
#Think Kids retested was a bad dump works fine now!


Homebrew Tested ......

Bunjalloo 0.7.5 Works
Beup Live 0.4 Works
colors 1.06h Works
uapaint102 Works


As this card works on the same Loaders as the M3 REAL all games and homebrew that works on that card will/should in theory work fine with the M3i ZERO card :)

MY SCORES ON THE DOORS for the M3i ZERO

I gave this 8 outta 10 (It would of been 9 out of 10 If I could of got this working with Wii connectivity it kinda looked like it would

connect Pokemon Platinum to Pokemon Battle Revolution but locked up with the screens alternatly flashing on the ds and the Wii

disconnecting the connection!) :(


prices .... around £27,89 GBP ($39,51USD) (€30,99 EU) Other places may vary in price.. But delivery may take longer!

Note these are MY VIEWS THOUGHTS and images etc yours may differ along with other reviewers!
lastly ....thanks goto ..

http://img4.raidpic.com/2601shlogo100x9308102zn7.gif

shop.01media.com

as they are an official distributor for Europe of M3i ZERO cards (Wholesale prices are available) :)


Thanks for supplying my review sample cheers guys!

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