Welcome to the Flash Cart Buy and Avoid Guide.
Make this your first stop when considering the purchase of a new flash cart, or even just when checking to see if your current cart is any good.

I don’t just want links to what you consider might possibly be a bad cart. Unless it is obviously ridiculous (anything with 3D in it for example), it will go under questionable carts until otherwise listed.

“Fine” does not mean “Buy”. Most of the carts on this page is just stating it’s fine if you have them. They won’t brick your DS unless otherwise stated, and carts with poor compatibility will go under avoid. Note: For things such as the R6, I’ll just need a little info about what games the most recent firmware can play, and even when the firmware was last updated. Obviously a cart with nothing but official firmware that hasn’t been updated in a year or two is better off being put on the avoid list.

One more note: The standing of a cart can change at anytime for the most part with the exception of the carts listed under the avoid section. Once a cart manages to get under the “Avoid” section, it will be very difficult to remove it from that section.

 

Did your cart end up on the avoid list, or are you just plain in need of a good flash cart?

CycloDS
– Easily the best flash cart on the DS. Best support with incredible compatibility.
Does not work on the DSi.

Supercard DSTwo
– The best cart for the DSi on the market as it has the ability to emulate GBA from slot 1. If you don’t care about GBA emulation, look below.
Compatible with all DS models.

Acekard2i
– Another wonderful cart with the incredible AKAIO firmware. A must have for any DSi owner who doesn’t care about GBA emulation.
Compatible with all DS models.

R4’s
R4 cards come in an incredible amount of forms. I’ll have the below separated into R4’s people are happy with, and R4’s that nobody should ever touch. All because R4 is in the name doesn’t mean it is instantly trash, it just means there is better out there in most cases.

Fine Carts
R4 Original
– 2gb capacity is the main limitation of this cart. Otherwise it has compatibility on par with the top carts with Wood R4.
R4 SDHC
– Many use and are satisfied with this card. Can play most newer games.

Questionable Carts
With very little input, I just can’t be sure about these carts. User input would be appreciated from actual owners to refine this section.

R4i Gold

Avoid These Carts
These carts are either just flat out ridiculous, or have proven to be very unreliable for other users in the past.

R4i Advance
R4-III
R4 Platinum
R4i DSiXL 3D v1.45
R4i DSiLL 3D v1.45
R4 King
R4iTT DSiXL 3D
R4 YES Version
R4 Christmas Edition
R4i DSi LL Upgrade
Hyper R4i
R4i NDSILL 3D
R4i SDHC v1.4
R4i SDHC v2.10T
R4 SDHC v2.10T

TTDS’
TTDS has proven to be for the most part reliable, especially with the addition of the ever updated YSMenu.

Fine Carts

TTDS
TTDSi
TTDSi Gold

Questionable Carts

With very little input, I just can’t be sure about these carts. User input would be appreciated from actual owners to refine this section.

TTDSi Gold
TTDS Advance

M3’s

Originally just another R4 clone, the M3 has secured its place among other flash carts.

Fine Carts

M3DS Real
M3i Zero

Questionable Carts

With very little input, I just can’t be sure about these carts. User input would be appreciated from actual owners to refine this section.

M3i SDHC
M3 Upgrade

E7
Avoid These Carts
This cart no longer has new firmware updates, there is no 3rd party firmware for it, and the official site no longer exists. It’s best to avoid this cart.

E7DS

G6
Questionable Carts

With very little input, I just can’t be sure about these carts. User input would be appreciated from actual owners to refine this section.
G6DS Real

R6’s

Avoid These Carts

Fragility and poor support makes these cards not worth owning.

R6DS Silver
R6DS Gold

FireCard DS

Avoid These Carts

The FireCard has little to no support anymore and isn’t supported by most anybody. You are better off avoiding this cart altogether.

FireCard DS

N5’s

Avoid These Carts

The N5 is notorious for bricking DS’s by blowing a fuse in the system. Avoid anything related to N5 at all costs.

N5 DS
N5i DS
Or anything related to ‘N5′.

Datel Carts

The Datel Carts are just poor carts overall for not being able to play commercial roms. You are much better off with just about anything else.

Avoid These Carts

For lack of compatibility, it is recommended that these carts be avoided.

Datel Games ‘n Music
Datel MAX Media Launcher
Or anything related to ‘Datel’.

Acekard’s

Overall, Acekard is easily one of the top flash cart providers. There is one notable fop though listed below.

Avoid These Carts

Only one cart is listed below, and that is for one reason; the other Acekard carts are all very reliable and on par the Acekard2i, while the cart listed below is pretty much complete garbage.

Acekard 2

iTouch

Questionable Carts

With very little input, I just can’t be sure about these carts. User input would be appreciated from actual owners to refine this section.

iTouchds
iTouch2 Enhanced
iTouch2 Regular

EZ Flash

Fine Carts

EZ Flash V
EZ Flash V+
EZ Flash Vi